Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Peter Hopkins Papers, 1823-2001, bulk 1935-1994, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.hopkpete
Creators:
Hopkins, Peter, 1911-1999
Dates:
1823-2001
bulk 1935-1994
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.4 Linear feet
Repository:
The Peter Hopkins papers measure 2.4 linear feet and date from 1823-2001, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1935-1994. Writings, letters and diaries make up most of the collection. Printed materials relate to exhibitions of Hopkins' artwork and theatrical performances of his wife, Gertrude Beach Hopkins. There also are writings by both Hopkins and his wife that appeared in the Christian Science Monitor. Of particular interest is a group of vintage family photographs and family papers dating from the 19th century, as well as diaries Hopkins kept while traveling and working in a mental hospital in inland China in the mid 1930s.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content Note
The Peter Hopkins papers measure 2.4 linear feet and date from 1823-2001, with the bulk of materials dating from 1935-1994. Writings, letters and diaries make up most of the collection. Printed materials relate to exhibitions of Hopkins' artwork and theatrical performances of his wife, Gertrude Beach Hopkins. There also are writings by both Hopkins and his wife that appeared in the Christian Science Monitor. Of particular interest is a group of vintage family photographs and family papers dating from the 19th century, as well as diaries Hopkins kept while traveling and working in a mental hospital in inland China in the mid 1930s.
Manuscripts by Hopkins include his theories on perspective (the subject of his lectures at The Art Students League of New York) and the artistic methods of great masters. Hopkins also wrote about his theories concerning anthropological matters, world politics, over population, and the meaning of life. Much of Hopkins' correspondence concerns his efforts to explore career opportunities and find audiences for his ideas and writings.
The collection contains one intact scrapbook consisting of materials spanning Hopkins' art career, a substantial quantity of photographs and slides of Hopkins' paintings, some drawings and sketches, and a few sound and video recordings. In addition, there are writings by fathers of the couple, Charles R. Hopkins and Joseph Beach.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 11 series. Records are generally arranged by material type and chronologiclly thereafter.
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1823-1995 (Box 1; 0.1 linear feet)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, 1934-2001 (Box 1; 0.4 linear feet)
  • Series 3: Writings, 1908-1997 (Boxes 1-2; 0.7 linear feet)
  • Series 4: Diaries, 1945-1998 (Box 2; 0.3 linear feet)
  • Series 5: Subject Files, 1966-1990 (Box 2; 3 folders)
  • Series 6: Printed Material, 1945-1980 (Box 2; 2 folders)
  • Series 7: Scrapbook, 1949-1997 (Box 2; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 8: Artwork, 1943-circa 1980s (Box 2; 1 folder)
  • Series 9: Sketchbooks, 1963-1982 (Box 2; 2 folders)
  • Series 10: Photographic Materials, 1864-1990s (Box 3; 0.4 linear feet)
  • Series 11: Sound and Video Recordings, circa 1976-1977 (Box 3; 0.3 linear feet)

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Peter Hopkins (1911-1999) was an artist, educator and writer, who lived and worked in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Hopkins, the son of a theatrical producer, was educated at the prestigious Hotchkiss School. Despite limited formal education, he became a lecturer at the Art Students League of New York and an instructor at the New York Phoenix School of Design. Hopkins' paintings were exhibited in the 1950s-1960s. Hopkins wrote numerous unpublished manuscripts and was a columnist with the Christian Science Monitor in the 1970s. He was married to Gertrude Beach Hopkins (d.1997) an actress, who in later years was a poet.
Peter Hopkins (1911-1999) was an artist, educator and writer, who lived and worked in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Hopkins, the son of a theatrical producer, was educated at the prestigious Hotchkiss School. Despite limited formal education, he became a lecturer at the Art Students League of New York and an instructor at the New York Phoenix School of Design. Hopkins' paintings were exhibited in the 1950s-1960s. Hopkins wrote numerous unpublished manuscripts and was a columnist with the Christian Science Monitor in the 1970s. He was married to Gertrude Beach Hopkins (d.1997) an actress, who in later years was a poet.

Administration

Author
Harriet E. Shapiro
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2009 by the artist's neighbor, James McGuane.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Harriet E. Shapiro in 2012.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Peter Hopkins papers, 1823-2001, bulk 1935-1994. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Restrictions on Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment. Use of audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
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.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Paianters -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketches Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Philosophy Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diaries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Study and teaching Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beach, Joseph Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art Students League (New York, N.Y.) -- Faculty Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hopkins, Charles Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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