Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Bernard and Phyllis Fischer papers, circa 1905-1983, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.fiscbern
Creators:
Fischer, Bernard, 1900-1986
Fischer, Phyllis Potter
Dates:
circa 1905-1983
bulk 1928-1977
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3.4 Linear feet
Repository:
The Bernard and Phyllis Fischer papers measure 3.4 linear feet and date from circa 1905-1983 with bulk dates from 1928-1977. The papers document the Fischers' careers as art teachers and craft business administrators through biographical material, correspondence, writings and personal business files. Also found are printed material, photographs and an extensive amount of artwork.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Bernard and Phyllis Fischer papers measure 3.4 linear feet and date from circa 1905-1983 with bulk dates from 1928-1977. The papers document the Fischers' careers as art teachers and craft business administrators through biographical material, correspondence, writings and personal business files. Also found are printed material, photographs and an extensive amount of artwork. Biographical material consists of resumes for both Fishers and a copy of their marriage certificate along with certificates corresponding to the Fishers respectively, such as Bernard Fischer's baptismal certificate and Phyllis college diplomas. Also found is an essay documenting Bernard Fischer's family history. Correspondence is foremost professional in nature with a marginal number of personal letters and holiday greeting cards from friends. Professional correspondence relates to job opportunities, Phyllis Fischer's WPA work, project manufacturing costs and supplies, project designs and price quotes.
The writings series contains fourteen of Phyllis Fischer's diaries which span nearly sixty years, along with the notes on multiple subjects such as art projects and techniques, planning advertising and manufacturing of their enamel works, and resume drafts. The personal business series documents the Fischers' careers through financial material along with Phyllis Fischer's Works Progress Administration records, professional organization memberships and Bernard Fischer's teaching records. Printed material includes advertisements for the Fisher's commercial work and exhibition announcements along with pamphlets and event flyers related to unionizing and socialist organizations the Fishers were interested in. Photographic material contains many photographs of the Fishers spanning most of their lives along with a substantial number of photographs of the Fishers' sculptural and functional artwork. Also found are a small number of photographs of the Fishers' paintings. The artwork series includes thirteen sketchbooks, approximately two hundred loose drawings plus an additional 16 drawings done on hard plastic sheets. Also found are watercolors, prints and paper cutouts.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as seven series.
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, 1918-1983 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 1, 4)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1928-1972 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 3: Writings, circa 1914-1977 (0.5 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 4: Personal Business, 1928-1961 (0.6 Linear feet: Box 2)
  • Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1939-1960 (7 Folders: Box 2)
  • Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1905-1977 (0.8 Linear feet: Box 2-3)
  • Series 7: Artwork, circa 1915-1979 (0.8 Linear feet: Box 3-5)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Bernard and Phyllis Fischer were a New York City based artist couple who operated a crafts business specializing in enamels and exhibited their work in galleries and at crafts exhibitions. Bernard Fischer (1900-1986) was a painter, sculptor, designer, puppetteer, art teacher. Bernard taught Industrial Arts in the New York City schools for over 20 years, along with courses at museums and crafts organizations in the city. Phyllis, born 1899, was a decorator, designer, and painter. She also worked as a Works Progress Administration craft teacher and project supervisor in New York City as a part of a WPA recreation project initative.

Administration

Author
Sabine Lipten
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1986 by Norma Kerlin, the Fischers' niece.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sabine Lipten in 2023.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Conditions Governing Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
Bernard and Phyllis Fischer papers, circa 1905-1983. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Handicraft Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Enamel and enameling Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Decorative arts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Designers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art teachers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Recreation and Education Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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