Clement Haupers and Clara Gardner Mairs papers

Scope and Contents

Biographical material (1931-1982), correspondence (1920-1983), business records (1958-1973), subject files concerning the WPA's Federal Art Project (1934-1976) and printed material (1918-1981) reflect the activities and careers of Clement Haupers and Clara Mairs.

Scope and Contents

Biographical material concerning Clement Haupers consists of 2 portrait drawings, an autobiographical account, a biographical account written by Les Grunwald, 6 clippings (1974-1982), an essay "Clement Haupers: Art Appreciation, Arlington Library" by Romeo Gutsche, a transcript of an interview conducted by Peter Lewson, and a resume (1943). Biographical material for Clara Mairs includes 2 biographical accounts, 2 exhibition catalogs (undated and 1976), and a clipping of her obituary (1963).

Scope and Contents

Correspondence (1920-1983) consists of letters exchanged between Haupers, Mairs, their family members, and colleagues. Letters exchanged between Haupers and Mairs primarily concern the annual Minnesota State Fair exhibitions (1933-1936) and Haupers' involvement in the Federal Art Project in Washington, D.C. (1943). Other letters concern the couple's art-related activities and Haupers' teaching and art restoration work, and include magazine illustrations by Haupers and Mairs. Correspondents include artists Cameron Booth, Andre Boratko, Floyd E. Brewer, Alida Flexer, Frances Cranmer Greenman, Patsy Reed High, LeRoy Neiman, Alexander Oja, James E. Rea, and Erik Smith.

Scope and Contents

Business records (1958-1973), primarily Mairs' estate documents, include her will (1958), correspondence relating to her death, probate court documents and inheritance tax documents. Financial material consists of sales receipts for the sale of art work (1969-1973). Printed material consists of clippings (1918-1981) and exhibition catalogs (1929-1979).

Scope and Contents

A subject file on the St. Paul Arts and Crafts Center (1934-1935), which was supported by the State Emergency Relief Administration, contains a description of the Art Center, a list of classes, clippings, and photographs of classes and students' work. A second subject file on the Haupers' work for the Work Projects Administration's Federal Art Project (1937-1976) includes reports, an essay "Minnesota Artist" (1938), exhibition catalogs, brochures, and photographs.

Biographical / Historical

Artists; St. Paul, Minn. Clement Bernard Haupers was born in St. Paul and was employed as a secretary by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad from 1917-1920. In 1918 he studied art and joined Clara Mairs' Art League of St. Paul. Clara Gardner Mairs was born in Hastings, Minn. and received art training at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. During the late 1920s, Haupers and Mairs traveled to Europe and studied in Paris and Northern Africa. In 1929, they returned to St. Paul and established studios. Between 1931-1943, Haupers was involved in many of the federal government's art programs, including teaching at the St. Paul Arts and Crafts Center. In 1935, he was appointed the Minnesota state director of the WPA-FAP. Haupers later returned to teaching and art restoration.