Archives of American Art

Charles and Leta English Hess papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.hessleta
Creators:
Hess, Leta English, 1921-
Hess, Charles, 1921-
Dates:
1895-1987
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.1 Linear feet
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Biographical material, correspondence, photographs, writings, a scrapbook, and printed material document the Hess family and the painting and teaching careers of Leta English Hess and her husband Charles Hess.
Scope and Contents
Biographical materials (1921-1986) include birth and death certificates, documents pertaining to Leta Hess' father Joe English, a memoir written by her mother, Mae Serrano English (1975), diplomas, teaching certificates, awards, resumes, and her diary (1935-1939). Correspondence consists of letters received (ca. 1940-1980); files for individual correspondents, including Alan Bayles, Charles Hess, Leta's son Chuck Hess, Mimi Lawrence, and Frank Rivera; and files for the Corcoran Biennial Exhibitions (1956-1961) and the Leta and Charles Hess Retrospective Exhibition (1983-1986). Also found are ten letters from Stanton Macdonald-Wright to Hess (1954-1965) relating to his views of the relationship between patrons and artists, the 1956 Paris art scene, contemporary art criticism, the art market, and his break with the Duveen Graham Gallery.
Scope and Contents
Photographs show Leta Hess (1920s, 1940s), her paintings and exhibition installations (ca. 1942-1985), and family members, including Joe and Mae Serrano English, Charles Hess, and their children (1950s-1980s); and slides of Hess' work. Writings by Leta Hess include term papers, a statement of intent for her Master of Arts degree (1954), notes on painting (1960, 1975-1986), some written jointly with Charles Hess, and lecture notes (ca. 1953-1964). A scrapbook pertaining to her art and teaching contains a curriculum vitae, a 2 p. essay on painting, clippings of reviews, exhibition announcments, photographs of exhibitions, and copies of letters concerning awards and exhibitions.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Painters, art instructor; California.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
Ten letters from Stanton Macdonald-Wright to Charles Hess (1954-1965) were microfilmed on reel 4386 and are available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1990 and 1997 by Charles Hess.

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
Painters -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art teachers -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painting -- Study and teaching Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painting, American Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women painters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hess, Leta English, 1921- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Macdonald-Wright, Stanton, 1890-1973 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