Archives of American Art

Betty Freeman papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.freebett
Creators:
Freeman, Betty
Dates:
1951-1969
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.2 Linear feet
(on 2 microfilm reels)
32 Items
Addition
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Research material on painters Clyfford Still (1904-1980) and Sam Francis (1923-1994), including correspondence, photographs, notes, and unpublished drafts of manuscripts.
Scope and Contents
The Still material includes detailed notes from various interviews with Still (none of which were tape recorded); correspondence between Freeman and Still; and photocopies of letters from Still to Alfonso Ossorio, Mark Tobey and others, which Freeman obtained from Still; copies of letters from Still to Betty Parsons; an interview with Claire Falkenstein on the subject of Still's paintings; texts by other authors, some annotated by Still; and photographs of Still and his paintings .
Scope and Contents
Sam Francis material includes several files of research notes and approximately 375 photographs of Francis and his paintings.
Scope and Contents
Draft manuscripts include Clyfford Still: A Critical Study (1963, 200 pages), Clyfford Still: A Study (1968, 212 pages), and Sam Francis: Ideas and Paintings (1969, 212 pages). Freeman did not have any of these writings published. The manuscript on Sam Francis coincided with the publication of another book on Francis by Peter Selz, and the manuscript on Still was blocked when Still rescinded his permission to quote and to use illustrations of material which he controlled.
Scope and Contents
ADDITION: Biographical information on Sam Francis and postscript.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Writer, art historian; Beverly Hills, Calif.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 4060-4061 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
At the time that the letters were given to Betty Freeman, Clyfford Still held the original letters.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1986, 2001 and 2002 by Betty Freeman.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Patrons must use microfilm copy.

Related Materials
Papers of Betty Freeman, 1965-2008, are also located at the Mandeville Special Collections Library.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Interviews Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art historians -- California -- Beverly Hills Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Francis, Sam, 1923-1994 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Still, Clyfford, 1904-1980 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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