A Finding Aid to the Marcia Marcus Papers, 1928-2016, bulk 1950-2000, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.marcmarc
- Creators:
-
Marcus, Marcia, 1928-
- Dates:
-
1928-2016bulk 1950-2000
- Languages:
-
Collection is in English
- Physical Description:
-
0.389 Gigabytes8.42 Linear feet
- Repository:
The papers of New York painter and educator Marcia Marcus measure 8.42 linear feet and .389 gigabytes (1 computer file), and date from 1928-2016, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1950-2000. The papers include biographical material, correspondence, interviews, writings (including two diaries), project files, personal business records, printed material, photographic material, eight sketchbooks, and artwork. Extensive personal and professional correspondence is with her husband and close friends, galleries, museums, and other arts organizations. Notable correspondents include Sally Avery, Dody Müller, and Robert (Bob) Richenburg, and, to a lesser extent, Dorothy Gill Barnes, Elaine Benson, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, and Myron Stout. Photographic material includes photographs of Marcus at all stages of her life and photographs and slides documenting her paintings.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The papers of New York painter and educator Marcia Marcus measure 8.42 linear feet and .389 gigabytes (1 computer file), and date from 1928-2016, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1950-2000. The papers include biographical material, correspondence, interviews, writings (including two diaries), project files, personal business records, printed material, photographic material, eight sketchbooks, and artwork.
Biographical material includes address books, diplomas, certificates, identification documents, resumes, and other material.
Extensive personal and professional correspondence is with Marcia Marcus's husband and close friends, galleries, museums, and other arts organizations. Notable correspondents include Sally Avery, Dody Müller, and Robert (Bob) Richenburg, and, to a lesser extent, Dorothy Gill Barnes, Elaine Benson, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, and Myron Stout.
Interviews include 2 sound cassettes and a few transcripts. Writings by Marcia Marcus consist of diaries, artist statements, notebooks, notes, lists and poems. There are also a few writings by others about Marcus. Project files mostly consist of grant applications, a mail art project, information on exhibitions curated by Marcus, and other material.
Personal business records include receipts, ledgers, prices lists, leases, and other documentation. Photographic material includes photographs of Marcus at all stages of her life and photographs and slides documenting her paintings. There are eight sketchbooks and artwork, mostly in the form of small sketches and watercolors.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as ten series
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1928-2000s (0.7 linear feet; Box 1, OV 9)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1948-2016 (4.0 linear feet; Box 1-5)
- Series 3: Interviews, 1970s-1980 (3 folders; Box 5)
- Series 4: Writings, 1970s-2014 (0.3 linear feet; Box 5)
- Series 5: Project Files, 1962-circa 2000 (0.2 linear feet; Box 5-6)
- Series 6: Personal Business Records, 1960s-2000s (0.3 linear feet; Box 6)
- Series 7: Printed Material, 1950s-1990s (0.8 linear feet; Box 6-7, OV 10-11)
- Series 8: Photographic Material, 1950s-1990s (1.3 linear feet; Box 7-8)
- Series 9: Sketchbooks, circa 1954-2000 (0.3 linear feet; Box 8)
- Series 10: Artwork, 1950s-1990s (0.4 linear feet; Box 8, OV 12)
Missing Title
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Marcia Marcus (1928- ) is a figurative painter working in New York, New York.
Born in New York City, Marcus earned her bachelor's degree in fine arts from New York University in 1949, studied at the Cooper Union from 1950-1952, and studied at the Art Students League with Edwin Dickinson in 1954. In 1951, Marcus exhibited her first painting in a group exhibition at Roko Gallery in New York City. Since then, she has been the subject of over a dozen solo shows and participated in many group exhibitions.
Marcus had an exhibition of self-portraits (1960) at the Delancey Street Museum, where the artist Red Grooms, one of her many friends in the art world, was one of the founders. She also directed and performed a "Happening" there. In 1961, Marcus studied Byzantine and fresco painting in Florence, Italy. She then traveled to France from 1962-1963 on a Fulbright fellowship, and was the recipient of many other grants throughout her career including a Esther and Adolph Gottlieb grant and a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Marcus has taught as a visiting artist at a number of colleges and universities, including Vassar College, New York University, and Purdue University.
Marcus married Terrence (Terry) Barrell in 1959 and they have two children, Kate and Jane.
Administration
Author
Hilary Price and Rihoko Ueno
Sponsor
Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the family of Marcia Marcus, and the Lily and Earle M. Pilgrim Art Foundation.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Marcia Marcus donated her papers in multiple increments between 1974-1984. Her daughter Kate Prendergast donated additional papers in 2016.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Hilary Price in 2017. The collection was fully processed, prepared for digitization, and described in the finding aid by Rihoko Ueno in 2018 with funding provided by the family of Marcia Marcus, and the Lily and Earle M. Pilgrim Art Foundation.
Existence and Location of Copies
The bulk of the collection was digitized in 2018 and is available on the Archives of American Art website. Materials which have not been digitized include blank pages, blank versos of photographs, and duplicates. In some cases, exhibition catalogs and other publications have had their covers, title pages, and relevant pages digitized.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings and born-digital records with no duplicate copy requires advance notice.
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
Marcia Marcus papers, 1928-2016, bulk 1950-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Related Materials
Related Materials
Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Marcia Marcus conducted by Paul Cummings in 1975.
More Information
Keywords
Repository Contact
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
