Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Gordon Kelly Papers, 1942-1988, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.kellgord
Creators:
Kelly, Gordon Ray, 1924-2018
Dates:
1942-1988
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of portrait painter and art teacher Gordon Kelly measure 0.4 linear feet and date from 1942 to 1988. The collection primarily documents Kelly's brief tenure at the Art Students League and his extensive correspondence and collaboration with artist Kenneth Hayes Miller. The papers include correspondence, contracts, writings, artwork, printed material and four photographs.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of portrait painter and art teacher Gordon Kelly measure 0.4 linear feet and date from 1942 to 1988. The collection primarily documents Kelly's brief tenure at the Art Students League and his extensive correspondence and collaboration with artist Kenneth Hayes Miller. The papers include correspondence, contracts, writings, artwork, printed material and four photographs.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
Series 1: Gordon Kelly papers, 1942-1988 (Box 1; 22 folders)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Gordon Kelly (1924-2018) was a painter born in Wells County, Indiana. While a student at the Art Students League of New York, Kelly was a promising portrait painter and a protege of Kenneth Hayes Miller. Kelly also studied with Reginald Marsh. Kelly helped Miller develop his (unpublished) manuscript "The Third Dimension in Painting" and Miller supported Kelly's teaching appointment at the League. Kelly taught at the Art Students League for one year before moving back to Indiana and finally settling in Maryland.

Administration

Author
Caroline Donadio
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Gordon Kelly papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 1987 by Mark Kelly, the son of Gordon Kelly.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level shortly after donation. A finding aid was created by Caroline Donadio 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. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Preferred Citation
Gordon Kelly papers, 1942-1988. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art teachers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art teachers -- Indiana Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Portrait painters -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Portrait painters--Indiana Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Miller, Kenneth Hayes, 1876-1952 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art Students League (New York, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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