Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Patricia Jordan Papers, 1870, 1949-1984, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.jordpatr
Creators:
Jordan, Patricia M., 1937-1989
Dates:
1870
1949-1984
Languages:
Collection is in English
Physical Description:
2.4 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of San Francisco based Beat photographer Patricia Jordan measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1870, 1949-1984. The papers include correspondence, much of it illustrated and with Beat artists and poets, writings, exhibition files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of San Francisco based Beat photographer Patricia Jordan measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1870, 1949-1984. The papers include correspondence, much of it illustrated and with Beat artists and poets, writings, exhibition files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork.
About one-half of the collection consists of correspondence; many items of which could be considered works of art or mail art. There are letters, illustrated letters, photographs, collages, postcards, greeting and holiday cards, and exhibition invitations. Letters are addressed to Patricia Jordan, her husband Larry, and/or daughter Lorna and are from family and friends, including many Beat artists and poets such as Kenneth Anger, Steve Arnold, Paul Beattie, Wallace Berman, Stan Brakhage, Jess Collins, Joseph Cornell (with whom Larry Jordan studied in 1965), Robert Duncan, George Herms, and Gary Snyder. Family letters are from Patricia's parents, sisters, daughter, and husband Larry.
The papers contain a large number of photographs and are primarily portraits taken by Patricia Jordan of friends and family including her husband Larry, daughter Lorna, Geroge Herms, and Wallace Berman. Many of the subjects are not identified. Some photographs are candid snapshots, while others are prints and test prints of images featured in the 1975 exhibition, "A Kind of Beatness," at Focus Gallery in San Francisco.
The remainder of the collection is comprised of scattered writings, exhibition files, printed material, and artwork.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 6 series
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Correspondence, circa 1950-1977 (1.1 linear feet; Box 1, OV 4)
  • Series 2: Writings, circa 1959-1970s (0.1 linear foot; Box 2)
  • Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1962-1978 (0.1 linear foot; Box 2)
  • Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1920-1984 (0.2 linear feet; Box 2)
  • Series 5: Photographs, circa 1870-1970s (0.7 linear feet; Box 2-3)
  • Series 6: Artwork, 1949-circa 1970s (0.2 linear feet; Box 2-3)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Patricia Jordan (1937-1988) was a photographer and integral part of the Beat circle in San Francisco during the late 1950s and 1960s. Through her photography, she captured intimate portraits of the artists and poets in San Francisco at that time. Patricia Jordan, née Topalian, married Larry Jordan, assemblagist and avant-garde filmmaker, in the late 1950s. They lived in San Francisco, Larkspur, and finally settled in San Anselmo, California. Patricia and Larry Jordan had one daughter, Lorna, born in 1960.

Administration

Author
Hilary Price
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Patricia Jordan donated her papers to the Archives of American Art in 1988.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Hilary Price in 2015.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
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
Patricia Jordan papers, 1870, 1949-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographers -- California -- San Francisco Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beat generation Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women photographers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Illustrated letters Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mail art Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Berman, Wallace, 1926-1976 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jordan, Larry, 1934- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cornell, Joseph Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jess, 1923- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Duncan, Robert Edward, 1919- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brakhage, Stan Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Snyder, Gary, 1930- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Herms, George, 1935- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anger, Kenneth Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beattie, Paul, 1924-1988 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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