Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Doris Meltzer papers, 1930-1976, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.meltdori
Creators:
Meltzer, Doris, 1908-1977
Doris Meltzer Gallery
Dates:
1930-1976
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.6 Linear feet
Repository:
The Doris Meltzer papers which measure 2.6 linear feet and date from 1930-1976 document Meltzer's career as an artist, gallery owner and art dealer. The papers also document Meltzer's involvement with the National Serigraph Society, which influenced the popularization of screen printing as a fine art medium. Materials in this collection include correspondence, gallery records, professional files such as fellowship applications and artwork sale records, printed materials and photographic materials.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Doris Meltzer papers which measure 2.6 linear feet and date from 1930-1976 document Meltzer's career as an artist, gallery owner and art dealer. The papers also document Meltzer's involvement with the National Serigraph Society, which influenced the popularization of screen printing as a fine art medium. Materials in this collection include correspondence, gallery records, professional files, printed materials and photographic materials. Correspondence is largely personal in nature and documents Meltzer's friendship with other members of the art world including Edward Cleghorn, an assistant director of the Montreal Museum of Fine Art, artist Carl E. Pickhardt Jr and his wife Rosamond Forbes, daughter of Fogg Museum director Edward W. Forbes. Professional correspondence consists of letters regarding the loaning and exhibition of artwork, along with the establishment of Doris Meltzer Gallery. Gallery records document the management and dealings of the Doris Meltzer Gallery through appraisal, inventory, sales and consignment of artwork records as well as compiled subject files on artists that the gallery held shows for. Professional files document the sale of Meltzer's own artwork along with her participation in different juried exhibitions. The series also includes different applications for various teaching and arts fellowships. Professional files also contain information related to Meltzer's tenure as the director of the National Serigraph Society. Printed materials include publicity materials, exhibition catalogs and announcements related to Meltzer, her gallery and the National Serigraph Society. Photographic material is of exhibitions and artwork represented and sold by the Doris Meltzer Gallery along with images of Meltzer working and attending events there. Also found are photographs of exhibitions, events and the office of the Serigraph Gallery.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as five series.
  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1944-1976 (0.6 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 2: Gallery Records, 1951-1976 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 1-2)
  • Series 3: Professional Files, 1930-1967 (0.3 Linear feet: Box 2)
  • Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1935-1976 (0.3 Linear feet: Box 2)
  • Series 5: Photographic Material, circa 1946-1971 (1 Linear foot: Box 2-4)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Doris Meltzer (1908-1977) was an art dealer and printmaker from Ulster County, New York. While a frequent traveler, Meltzer established her life and career in New York City by attending the Art Students League of New York, before joining the American Federation of Arts and starting the Doris Meltzer Gallery. Meltzer also served as the director of the National Serigraph Society from 1945 to 1962 where she organized and participated in several the society's exhibitions and workshops. Her work was also included in the 1940 Museum of Modern Art show American Color Prints Under $10 and is now in the collection of the National Gallery of Art and the Virginia Museum of Art.

Administration

Author
Sabine Lipten
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Samuel C. Miller, Director of the Newark Museum and friend and executor of Meltzer's estate.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sabine Lipten in 2023.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Conditions Governing 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
Doris Meltzer papers, 1930-1976. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art dealers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women art dealers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printmakers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Serigraph Society Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
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