Archives of American Art

Oral history interview with Joseph H. Hirshhorn

Summary

(Electronic Resource)

Oral history interview with Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1976 Dec. 16, Transcript
Collection ID:
AAA.hirshh76
Creators:
Hirshhorn, Joseph H.
Cummings, Paul
Dates:
1976 Dec. 16
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2 Sound tape reels
Sound recording
5 in.
48 Pages
Transcript
Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
An interview of Joseph H. Hirshhorn conducted 1976 Dec. 16, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art.
Scope and Contents
Hirshhorn discusses his childhood; working as a stockbroker; his first art acquisition of two Durer engravings; buying Barbizon paintings; his relationship with the A.C.A. Gallery, Milton Avery, David Burliuk, the Collectors Club, Willem de Kooning, Louis M. Eilshemius, Lloyd Goodrich, Edith Gregor Halpert, Abram Lerner, Louise Nevelson, and others. Hirshhorn also describes the alternative plans he considered before giving his collection to the Smithsonian Institution.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Joseph H. Hirshhorn (1889-1981) was an art collector from New York, N.Y. Hirshhorn agreed to donate his collection of modern and contemporary art to the Smithsonian in 1966. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden opened in 1974.
Administration
Sponsor
Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.
Existence and Location of Copies
Transcript available on line.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This interview is part of the Archives' Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Digital Content

(Electronic Resource)

Oral history interview with Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1976 Dec. 16, Transcript

(Sound Recording)

Oral history interview with Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1976 Dec. 16, Digital Sound Recording (Excerpt)
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- Interviews Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art, Modern -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sound recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Avery, Milton, 1885-1965 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Burliuk, David, 1882-1967 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
De Kooning, Willem, 1904-1997 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Eilshemius, Louis M. (Louis Michel), 1864-1941 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lerner, Abram Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Repository Contact
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions