Archives of American Art

Research material on Ralston Crawford and Niles Spencer

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.freerich
Creators:
Freeman, Richard B., 1908-
Dates:
1934-1986
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Linear foot
(partially microfilmed on 1 reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Freeman's research materials on Ralston Crawford and Niles Spencer include biographical material, letters (1941-1983), writings and notes by Freeman (1967-1970) and Crawford (1953-1966), clippings, exhibition catalogs and photographs.
Scope and Contents
REEL 3667: Letters (1941-1976) from Ralston Crawford to Freeman, his close friend and business associate, concern Crawford's artistic thoughts and developments, his works of art including paintings, photographs, and films, his exhibitions, sales, teaching positions, travels, and other personal experiences. Also included are letters from Crawford's wife Peggy to the Freemans and letters to Crawford and Berman from others on related subjects.
Scope and Contents
UNMICROFILMED: Other correspondence includes 10 letters (1971-1977) from Crawford to Edward Weigand regarding the consignment and sale of Crawford's work through the Bienville Gallery, New Orleans, and additional letters (1960-1983) between Freeman and the Crawfords. Other materials include notes and writings by Freeman, and Crawford's lecture notes on lithography, painting and art in the university (1953-1966). Printed materials consist of clippings (1945-1986), press releases (1962-1985), exhibition announcements and catalogs (1934-1986), and brochures on art courses (1960-1962). Photographs and a metal offset printing plate show Crawford (1971-1975), his funeral procession, the exterior of his studio, and works of art.
Scope and Contents
UNMICROFILMED: Research material relating to Niles Spencer includes 2 biographical accounts (1954, 1965), typescripts of Freeman's articles "Niles Spencer: An Early Painting (1967) and "Disaster in Aliquippa" (1970), 3 clippings (1965-1971), 3 exhibition catalogs (1965-1979), a photograph of Spencer and 65 works of art. Thirty-one letters (1965-1972), primarily from Spencer's colleagues, including Alexander Brook, John Dos Passos, Isabella Howland, Robert Laurent, and Henry Strater, discuss Spencer and his work.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Art administrator; Lexington, Ky. Died 1987.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 3667 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Material donated 1978 and 1985 by Richard B. Freeman; and additional material donated 1988 by Freeman's widow Barbara B. Freeman.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painting, Modern -- 20th century -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art historians -- Kentucky Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- United States Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Crawford, Ralston, 1906-1978 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Spencer, Niles, 1893-1952 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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