Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Elizabeth Basye Gilmore Holt Papers, 1923-1987, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.holteliz
Creators:
Holt, Elizabeth Basye Gilmore
Dates:
1923-1987
Languages:
The diary is in Italian. Some research notes and materials in project files are in German and French.
Physical Description:
13.1 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of Elizabeth Basye Gilmore Holt measure 13.1 linear feet and date from 1923 to 1987. The papers document Holt's career as an art historian, educator, and author based in Washington, D.C., and Georgetown, Maine, through biographical material; correspondences with friends, colleagues, and publishers; writings in the form of one diary and notes, lectures, and essays; extensive project files related to her various books as well as several film projects; printed material such as clippings, brochures, and reference material; and photographic materials that largely consist of lecture slides.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of Elizabeth Basye Gilmore Holt measure 13.1 linear feet and date from 1923 to 1987. The papers document Holt's career as an art historian, educator, and author based in Washington, D.C., and Georgetown, Maine, through biographical material; correspondences with friends, colleagues, and publishers; writings in the form of one diary and notes, lectures, and essays; extensive project files related to her various books as well as several film projects; printed material such as clippings, brochures, and reference material; and photographic materials that largely consist of lecture slides.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 6 series.
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, 1954-1987 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1, OV 15)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, 1934-1987 (0.7 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 3: Writings, 1925-1986 (2.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-4)
  • Series 4: Project Files, 1946-1986 (8.7 linear feet; Boxes 4-12, OVs 16-19)
  • Series 5: Printed Material, 1923-circa 1980 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 12-13)
  • Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1935-circa 1980 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 13-14)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Elizabeth Basye Gilmore Holt (1905-1987) was an art historian, educator, and author largely based in Washington, D.C. and Georgetown, Maine. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin (1929), a master's degree from Radcliffe College (1932), and her doctoral degree at the University of Munich (1934). From 1935-1936 she worked as a technical supervisor for the Works Progress Administration's Federal Arts Project and opened a community art center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Holt taught at Duke University, Michigan State University of East Lansing, Boston University, and other universities over the course of her career.

Administration

Author
Rihoko Ueno
Existence and Location of Copies
Only one folder of material about Elizabeth Holt's work for the Works Progress Administration is available on 35mm microfilm reel 2814 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. The rest of the collection is not microfilmed.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Elizabeth Basye Gilmore Holt papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in several installments from 1988 to 1991 by Holt's daughter, Elizabeth Holt Muench, and her brother, John A. Gilmore.
Processing Information
The collection received a preliminary level of arrangement by Jean Fitzgerald after donation in the late 1980s to early 1990s and one folder was microfilmed on reel 2814. Multiple accessions were merged and a finding aid prepared by Rihoko Ueno in 2023.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Conditions Governing 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 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
Elizabeth Basye Gilmore Holt papers, 1923-1987. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Related Materials
Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Elizabeth Basye Gilmore Holt conducted by Josephine Withers in 1978.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Women art historians Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art historians -- Washington (D.C.) Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- Washington (D.C.) Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diaries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women authors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Authors -- Washington (D.C.) Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- Maine -- Georgetown Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Authors -- Maine -- Georgetown Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art historians -- Maine -- Georgetown Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Work Projects Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal Art Project (N.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
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