A Finding Aid to the National Association of Women Artists Records, 1926-1971, in the Archives of American Art

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Summary
Collection ID:
AAA.natiasso
Creators:
National Association of Women Artists (U.S.)
Dates:
1926-1971
Languages:
The collection is in English.
Physical Description:
1.6 Linear feet
Repository:
The records of the National Association of Women Artists measure 1.6 linear feet and date from 1926 to 1971. Found are administrative and membership records from the 1960s, exhibition records, printed material, and three scrapbooks. The bulk of the collection consists of catalogs and correspondence regarding the Association's annual exhibition from 1926 to 1971.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The records of the National Association of Women Artists measure 1.6 linear feet and date from 1926 to 1971. Found are administrative and membership records from the 1960s, exhibition records, printed material, and three scrapbooks. The bulk of the collection consists of catalogs and correspondence regarding the Association's annual exhibition from 1926 to 1971.
NAWA's administrative and membership records includes general writings and notes, board meeting notes, constitution and by-laws, mailing lists, and membership forms from 1963 to 1964.
Exhibition records date from 1926 to 1971 and are not complete. Files may include artist and price lists, catalogs and printed material, correspondence, itineraries, and photographs. Notable correspondents and institutions included are Mildred Baker, Vernon Bobbitt, the Butler Institute of American Art, Sylvester Jerry, Grace Morley, the Museum of New Mexico, the Newark Museum, and the Texas Fine Arts Association.
Additional printed materials include a certificate of community service, press clippings, press releases, and printed material from other art-related sources, such as newsletters and exhibition catalogs.
Three mixed media scrapbooks date from 1951 to 1963. Scrapbooks include photographs, clippings, and exhibition catalogs.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 4 series.
  • Series 1: Administrative and Membership Records, 1947-1970 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 2: Exhibition Records, 1926-1971 (Box 1; 0.7 linear feet)
  • Series 3: Printed Material, 1957-1967 (Box 1; 0.1 linear feet)
  • Series 4: Scrapbooks, 1951-1963 (BVs 2-4; 0.3 linear feet)
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
The National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) was founded in 1889 and remains the oldest women's fine arts organization in the country.
Founded under the name the Woman's Art Club of New York, the National Association of Women Artists established a space for women to exhibit, create work, and learn about art. Artists Anita Ashley, Adele Frances Bedell, Elizabeth S. Cheever, Grace Fitz-Randolph, and Edith Mitchill Preilwitz established the organization in 1889. Also known as the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors from 1913, NAWA adopted its current name in 1941.
NAWA's annual exhibition of member artworks gained recognition for the association. The organization also promoted membership by sending out traveling exhibitions across the world. The National Association of Women Artist currently has hundreds of members from all across the United States.
Administration
Separated Materials
Additional records on the National Association of Women Artists can be found at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Zimmerli Art Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Ryerson & Burnham Libraries, Frick Art Reference Library, New York Public Library, Film and Fine Art Library, and Library of Congress.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and described in a finding aid by Kelly Overstreet in 2017.
Author
Kelly Overstreet
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Printed material, 1926-1971, donated by Jane Gray, historian for the NAWA, 1971. Scrapbooks donated by the NAWA, 1981, and the traveling exhibition records donated by NAWA, 1980.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Wasington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
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
National Association of Women Artists records, 1926-1971. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Women artists -- United States Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Traveling exhibitions Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Societies, etc. Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arts administrators -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Type Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Type Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Baker, Mildred, 1905- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum of New Mexico Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Butler Institute of American Art Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Texas Fine Arts Association Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Morley, Grace, 1900-1985 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jerry, Sylvester, 1904-1990 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newark Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bobbitt, Vernon L., 1911-1992 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
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
https://www.aaa.si.edu/