Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Audrey McMahon Papers, 1935-1980, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.mcmaaudr
Creators:
McMahon, Audrey, 1900?-1981
Dates:
1935-1980
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
Repository:
The scattered papers of Audrey McMahon measure 0.4 linear feet and date from 1935 through 1980. Found are correspondence, writings, notes and research files, and printed material assembled mainly during the late 1960s while assisting Francis V. O'Connor complete Federal Support for the Visual Arts: The New Deal and Now (1969) and The New Deal Art Projects: An Anthology of Memoirs (1970) and, to a lesser degree, miscellaneous files relating to McMahon's activities as Regional Director of the WPA Federal Art Project for New York and New Jersey . Included are photocopies of original correspondence (1935-41) between McMahon and Holger Cahill and Brehon Somervell, held by the National Archives.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content Note
The scattered papers of Audrey McMahon measure 0.4 linear feet and date from 1935 through 1980. Found are correspondence, writings, notes and research files, and printed material assembled mainly during the late 1960s while assisting Francis V. O'Connor complete Federal Support for the Visual Arts: The New Deal and Now (1969) and The New Deal Art Projects: An Anthology of Memoirs (1970) and, to a lesser degree, miscellaneous files relating to McMahon's activities as Regional Director of the WPA Federal Art Project for New York and New Jersey . Included are photocopies of original correspondence (1935-41) between McMahon and Holger Cahill and Brehon Somervell, held by the National Archives.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as one series:
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Audrey McMahon's Papers, 1935-1980 (Box 1; 0.4 linear feet)

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Audrey McMahon served under Holger Cahill as Regional Director for the WPA Federal Art Project for New York and New Jersey from 1935 to 1939. She died at age 87 in 1981.

Administration

Author
Barbara Aikens
Provenance
The Audrey McMahon papers were donated to the Archives in 1997 by Geraldine Rhoads, executor of McMahon's estate. The collection includes photocopies of papers most likely held by the National Archives.
Processing Information
The papers were processed to a preliminary level in 2003 by a volunteer in the AAA New York Regional Office.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
The collection is open for research. Use requires an appointment.
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
Audrey McMahon papers, 1935-1980. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Material
The bulk of Audrey McMahon's papers reside in the National Archives, together with the records of the WPA Federal Artist Project files. The Archives of American Art holds a 1964 interview with McMahon done by Harlan Phillips as part of the Archives New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
New Deal, 1933-1939 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art and state Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal aid to the arts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cahill, Holger, 1887-1960 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Works Progress Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal Art Project (N.J.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal Art Project (N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
O'Connor, Francis V. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Somervell, Brehon Burke, 1892-1955 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions