Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the J.L. Hudson Gallery Records, 1958-1973, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.jlhuds
Creators:
J.L. Hudson Gallery
Dates:
1958-1973
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.8 Linear feet
Repository:
The records of Detroit's J.L. Hudson Gallery measure 2.8 linear feet and date from 1958 to 1973. The collection comprises administrative records consisting of card files, early gallery records, and a few other administrative files; correspondence with artists and galleries; artist files for Romare Bearden, Childe Hassam, Isamu Noguchi, and others; exhibition files for the gallery's first exhibition, The W.R. Valentiner Memorial Exhibition (1963-1964), and several other exhibitions held at the gallery; client files documenting business transactions with numerous organizations, galleries, and art schools; and printed materials consisting of exhibition catalogs, announcements, and posters for J.L. Hudson Gallery and other galleries.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The records of Detroit art gallery J.L. Hudson Gallery measure 2.8 linear feet and date from 1958 to 1973. The collection comprises administrative records consisting of card files, early gallery records, and a few other administrative files; correspondence with artists and galleries; artist files for Romare Bearden, Childe Hassam, Isamu Noguchi, and others; exhibition files for the gallery's first exhibition, The W.R. Valentiner Memorial Exhibition (1963-1964), and several other exhibitions held at the gallery; client files documenting business transactions with numerous organizations, galleries, and art schools; and printed materials consisting of exhibition catalogs, announcements, and posters for J.L. Hudson Gallery and other galleries.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as six series.
  • Series 1: Administrative Records, 1960-1970 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, 1963-1971 (0.6 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 3: Artist Files, 1963-1973 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)
  • Series 4: Exhibition Files, 1958-1972 (0.6 linear feet; Boxes 2-3)
  • Series 5: Client Files, 1962-1972 (0.3 linear feet; Boxes 3-4)
  • Series 6: Printed Materials, circa 1965 (5 folders; Box 4)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The J.L. Hudson Gallery (est. 1963-1974) was a commercial art gallery in Detroit, Michigan. The gallery was founded in 1963 by Joseph L. Hudson, the president of the Detroit based J. L. Hudson Company, who had an interest in bringing high quality art to Detroit. Albert Landry, who had previously owned a gallery in New York, was hired as the gallery's first director. The gallery, located in the downtown branch of Hudson's, opened on November 18, 1963 with an exhibition of the W. R. Valentiner Collection. Although the gallery had some exhibitions which included 18th and 19th century art, it concentrated primarily on the 20th century, bringing the work of the best contemporary artists to Detroit. Oscar Piagentini succeeded Landry as gallery director in 1967. The gallery closed in 1974.

Administration

Author
Sarah Mundy
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Smithsonian Women's Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The J.L. Hudson Gallery records were donated by former gallery director, Joy Emery, as a representative for the J.L. Hudson company in its donation of the material.
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection is also available on 35mm microfilm reels 4081-4084 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2021.

Using the Collection

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 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.
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.
Preferred Citation
J.L. Hudson Gallery records, 1958-1973. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art galleries, Commercial -- Michigan Function Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bearden, Romare, 1911-1988 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hassam, Childe, 1859-1935 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Noguchi, Isamu, 1904-1988 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Valentiner, Wilhelm Reinhold, 1880-1958 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hudson, J. L. (Joseph L) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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