Archives of American Art

Norman Lewis papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.lewinorm
Creators:
Lewis, Norman, 1909-1979
Dates:
1919-1971
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
5 Microfilm reels
770 items on 5 microfilm reels
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This microfilm collection of the papers of African American painter Norman Lewis consits of correspondence, a scrapbook, sketches, photographs, personal documents, and printed material including exhibition catalogs, exhibition announcements, and clippings.
REELS 52-53: Eight sketchbooks, 1935-1957; several pages from the diary of Lewis' wife, Joan, ca. 1948, commenting on their marriage; and an undated postcard from Ad Reinhardt.
REELS 91-92: Correspondence with author Millen Brand and artist Jim Yeargans; unidentified authors and actors; and museums, many arranging exhibits by Black artists and political action organizations. Also includes a scrapbook of catalogs, clippings, photographs, letters, and announcements, 1934-1968, concerning African American art exhibits, the training of African American artists, particularly during the Depression, WPA-New York projects, and Lewis' World War II work as a shipyard employee and poster artist.
REEL N69-47: Personal documents, correspondence, catalogs, announcements, photographs, articles, and clippings.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Norman Lewis (1909-1979) was an African American painter in New York, New York. He began his career painting mostly figurative work, but is now associated with abstract expressionism as his work became more abstract in the late 1940s. Lewis was a founding member of Spiral, one of the groups of artists and writers who protested the controversial Harlem on My Mind exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1968.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 52-53, 91-92 & N69-47 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals returned to Norman Lewis after microfilming.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lent for microfilming 1969-1971 by Norman Lewis.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painting -- New York (State) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal aid to the arts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brand, Millen, 1906-1980 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Yeargans, Jim Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lewis, Joan Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Work Projects Administration (N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Art
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