Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Kevin MacDonald papers, 1958-2006, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.macdkevi
Creators:
MacDonald, Kevin John, 1946-2006
Dates:
1958-2006
Languages:
Collection is in English.
Physical Description:
8 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of Washington, D.C. painter and printmaker Kevin MacDonald measure 8 linear feet, and date from 1958-2006. The collection contains correspondence with friends and colleagues; journals, notebooks, and other writings; printed material; artwork by MacDonald and others; 29 sketchbooks; sound and video recordings; and home movies. Of note are several files regarding his work with the Washington Project for the Arts.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of Washington, D.C. painter and printmaker Kevin MacDonald measure 8 linear feet, and date from 1958-2006. The collection contains correspondence with friends and colleagues; journals, notebooks, and other writings; printed material; artwork by MacDonald and others; 29 sketchbooks; sound and video recordings;, and home movies. Of note are several files regarding his work with the Washington Project for the Arts.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection is arranged as 8 series.
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1968-2006 (1.9 linear feet:; Boxes 1-2)
  • Series 2: Notebooks and Journals, 1968-2005 (1.3 linear feet; Boxes 2-4)
  • Series 3: Writings, 1970s-1999 (0.3 linear feet; Box 4)
  • Series 4: Project Files, 1958-2005 (1.1 linear feet; Boxes 4-5, 9)
  • Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1970-2004 (1.0 linear foot; Boxes 5-6, 9)
  • Series 6: Artwork, 1960s-2000s (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 6, 9)
  • Series 7: Sketchbooks, circa 1969-2006 (1.1 linear feet; Boxes 6-7, 9)
  • Series 8: Sound Recordings and Moving Images, circa 1970s-1990s (0.8 linear feet; Boxes 7-8, FC 10-12)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Kevin MacDonald (1946-2006) was a painter and printmaker in Washington, D.C. He received a BFA from George Washington University in 1969, and also took courses at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. From 1967 to 1977 he worked at the Phillips Collection. After leaving the Phillips he worked full-time as an artist, taking an active role in the D.C. arts community. He was co-curator of "The Washington Show" at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1986, and served on the Board of Directors for both the Washington Project for the Arts (1986-1992) and Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (1991-1997). MacDonald regularly exhibited his work at the Lunn Gallery and David Adamson Gallery, and had artist residencies at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (1995) and Oglebay Institute (1993). MacDonald also had an interest in music, and served as art director of a short-lived music fanzine called "Infiltrator." He was in Twisted Teenage Plot, a band organized by fellow artist Michael Clark, and worked with artist and musician Robin Rose on a collaboration called "Scriptronics." He lived most of his life in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of D.C., and was married to art consultant Robin Moore.

Administration

Author
Erin Kinhart
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated in 2012 by Robin Moore, Kevin MacDonald's widow.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Erin Kinhart in 2014-2015. The collection has been minimally rearranged and retains the existing/original folder titles when possible. All materials have been rehoused in archival folders and boxes for long-term stability, but often staples and other fasteners have not been removed. Materials within folders have not been rearranged. Motion picture film reels were inspected and re-housed in 2017 with funding provided by the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. research facility. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
Preferred Citation
Kevin MacDonald papers, 1958-2006. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
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
Sound recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Video recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- Washington (D.C.) Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printmakers -- Washington (D.C.) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Notebooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures (visual works) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diaries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Washington Project for the Arts (D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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