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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Frances and Mary Virginia Greer papers relating to Grandma Moses, circa 1890-1981, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.greefran
- Creators:
-
Greer, Frances, d. 1978Greer, Mary Virginia, b. 1889
- Dates:
-
circa 1890-1981
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
0.2 Linear feet
- Repository:
The scattered papers of Frances and Mary Greer relating to folk artist Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses) measure 0.2 linear feet and date from circa 1890 to 1981. Found are letters from Grandma Moses and members of the Moses family, including daughters-in-law Dorothy and Molly, to Frances and Mary Greer, and scattered notes, photographs of the Moses family and others, and printed material.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The scattered papers of Frances and Mary Greer relating to folk artist Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses) measure 0.2 linear feet and date from circa 1890 to 1981. Found are letters from Grandma Moses and members of the Moses family, including daughters-in-law Dorothy and Molly, to Frances and Mary Greer, and scattered notes, photographs of the Moses family and others, and printed material.
Arrangement
Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Frances Greer (1895-1975) and Mary Greer (1889-1993) were sisters who lived near Staunton, Virginia. They were acquainted with the Moses family when Anna Mary Robertson Moses (1860-1961) and her family settled in Staunton in 1887. When the Moses family moved back to New York in 1905, Grandma Moses and daughters-in-law Mary and Dorothy corresponded with the Greers.
Grandma Moses was a self-taught, "modern primitive" painter, who did not start painting until she was seventy-seven years old when arthritis forced her to give up yarn needlework. She initially sold her work at county fairs but became known across the country when Hallmark purchased the rights to reproduce her paintings on greeting cards. At the time of her death at 101, she had painted more than fifteen hundred images.
Administration
Author
Jayna M. Josefson
Sponsor
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection is available on 35mm microfilm reel 4131 at Archives of American Art offices. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1988 by Miss Frances G. Brown, the niece of the Greers.
Processing Information
The papers received a preliminary level of arrangement upon receipt and was microfilmed on reel 4131. The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2022 with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
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
Frances and Mary Virginia Greer papers relating to Grandma Moses, circa 1890-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Women artists | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Women painters | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Folk artists | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Self-taught artists | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Moses, Grandma, 1860-1961 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Moses, Dorothy | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Moses, Molly, d. ca. 1976 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
