Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Paul Hollister Papers, circa 1883-2004, bulk 1947-1996, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.hollpaul
Creators:
Hollister, Paul M., 1918-2004
Dates:
bulk 1947-2004
circa 1883-2004
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
9.4 Linear feet
Repository:
The Paul Hollister papers measure 9.4 linear feet and date from circa 1883 to 2004, with the bulk of the papers from 1947-1996. Biographical material and correspondence both personal and professional are included, in addition to project files documenting various writing, teaching and curatorial projects, as well as ongoing working relationships with various institutions. Also included are topical projects that overlapped with specific research interests, containing a considerable amount of research material. Writings by Paul Hollister include manuscript material spanning the breadth of his professional writing career, from his work as a columnist, to his articles on glass, as well as some works of fiction. Also included is a full manuscript of one of Hollister's books on glass paperweights. The published portion of this content is mirrored in the printed material series. The business records of Paul Hollister contain financial information about his household and collections, as well as his family's estate. Also included are records relating to Paul Hollister's art studio and an inventory of his paintings and other works of art in the form of index cards. Select photographs of Hollister's collection of art objects are included, along with images of Paul and Irene Hollister.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Paul Hollister papers measure 9.4 linear feet and date from circa 1883 to 2004, with the bulk of the papers from 1947-1996. Biographical material and correspondence both personal and professional are included,in addition to project files documenting various writing, teaching and curatorial projects, as well as ongoing working relationships with various institutions. Also included are topical projects that overlapped with specific research interests, containing a considerable amount of research material. Writings by Paul Hollister include manuscript material spanning the breadth of his professional writing career, from his work as a columnist, to his articles on glass, as well as some works of fiction. Also included is a full manuscript of one of Hollister's books on glass paperweights. The published portion of this content is mirrored in the printed material series. The business records of Paul Hollister contain financial information about his household and collections, as well as his family's estate. Also included are records relating to Paul Hollister's art studio and an inventory of his paintings and other works of art in the form of index cards. Select photographs of Hollister's collection of art objects are included, along with images of Paul and Irene Hollister.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged in seven series:
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1944-1988 (0.2 Linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1933-1999 (2.5 Linear feet; Boxes 1-3)
  • Series 3: Project Files, circa 1923-1997 (3.5 Linear feet; Boxes 3-7)
  • Series 4: Writings, circa 1930-1999 (1.3 Linear feet; Boxes 7-8)
  • Series 5: Business Records, circa 1942-1995 (0.9 Linear feet; Boxes 8, 10)
  • Series 6: Printed Material, circa 1883-2004 (0.9 Linear feet; Box 9)
  • Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1940-2000 (0.1 Linear feet; Box 9)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Paul M. Hollister (1918-2004) was a glass historian, collector, painter, and writer in New York, NY. Hollister wrote on the topics of art history, journalism and fiction and is most well-known for his numerous books published about glass paperweights, and later a variety of other topics in the history of glass production in the decorative arts. Hollister was born in Boston and raised in New York City, where he worked as a journalist and simultaneously pursued his career as a widely-exhibited painter after graduating Harvard College with a degree in fine arts. After inheriting a small collection of European glass paperweights from his mother, Hollister developed a passion for the study of these objects, which led to him publishing books including the Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights (1969) and Glass Paperweights of the New-York Historical Society (1974). Hollister traveled extensively lecturing at various museums and colleges, as well as occupying a regular adjunct position at Bard Graduate Center, where he later donated his personal library, and his estate would endow a lecture series in 2007.

Administration

Author
Ryan Evans
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Paul Hollister papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 1978 by Paul Hollister, with additions in 1999 and 2000. One further addition of photographs was donated by the Estate of Irene Hollister in 2018.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Ryan Evans in 2018.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Terms of 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
Paul Hollister papers, circa 1883-2004, bulk 1947-1996. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Materials
Related materials include the Paul M. Hollister Collection, circa 1806-2004 at the Rakow Research Library, The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art -- Study and teaching Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists' studios Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Decorative arts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Paperweights Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hollister, Irene Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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