Archives of American Art

James Hampton writings

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.hampjame
Creators:
Hampton, James, 1909-1964
Dates:
circa 1950-1964
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Microfilm reel
71 items on partial microfilm reel
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This microfilm collection contains writings by African American self-taught artist James Hapton in an unknown script. These writings are sometimes accompanied by notes in English, quotations from the Bible, or the word "Revelation." The writings are on loose leaf paper, in a 108-page notebook entitled "St. James: The Book of the 7 Dispensation," and in seven notebooks with only a few inscribed pages each. Also included in the collection is a Bible once owned by Hampton containing an inscription in the back. Only the Bible's cover and the inscription were microfilmed.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
James Hampton (1909-1964) was an African American self-taught artist in Washington, D.C. Hampton worked as a janitor and created a large assemblage of religous art in a garage which was only opened after his death. His work, The Throne of the Thrid Heaven of the Nation's Millenium General Assembly, is an assemblage of furniture, light bulbs, cardboard, foil, and other assorted items.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm roll 3851 available Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals in: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The writings were found in a garage on 7th Street, N.W. Washington D.C., with Hampton's work, The Throne of the Thrid Heaven of the Nation's Millenium General Assembly. The work, along with the papers, were purchased by the National Museum of American Art, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Archives of American Art borrowed the writings for microfilming in 1987.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Citation
James Hampton writings, ca. 1950. Owned by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, filmed by Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Instituion.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Self-taught artists Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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