Archives of American Art

Ralf E. Nickelsen papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.nickralf
Creators:
Nickelsen, Ralf E. (Ralf Edgar), 1903-1990
Dates:
1929-1993
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.3 Linear feet
4 Items
rolled docs
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Biographical materials, correspondence, business records, writings, art works, photographs, and printed material.
Scope and Contents
Biographical material includes ID cards and an autobiographical statement. Correspondence, 1935-1964, includes letters sent to Nickelsen as Supervisor for the WPA Massachusetts Federal Art Project; correspondents include Beaumont Newhall and muralist Elizabeth Tracy. Project files regard mural and stained glass commissions, among them the East Boston murals; Nebraska capitol murals; Springfield, Mass. Museum of Fine Arts library murals; Worcester, Mass. Parcel Post Building murals; and stained glass commissions, ca.1938-1942. Files contain correspondence, art work, including large mural cartoons, reference photographs, photographs of works of art, and printed material. Also included are a list of mural ingredients and notes; business records, 1927-1937; photocopies of articles and writings, 1930-1967; art work by Nickelsen including stained glass rendering and mural drawings by Elizabeth Tracy Montminy; exhibition catalogs, clippings, photographs of Nickelsen and his art work, including one of him painting a window for St. Patricks Church, N.Y. in the Charles Connick Studio, Boston, 1950; and of Montminy and her murals.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Stained glass artist; mural painter; Boston, Mass. Born in Hamburg, Germany. Initially studied at the stained-glass studio of his father, John R. Nickelsen, and later went to the State Art School, Hamburg. He came to the United States in 1922 and attended the Art Students' League, N.Y. and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Participated as an artist and as a supervisor on the WPA Art Project in Boston, and was associated with the stained-glass design firm of Charles J. Connick Associates for many years.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1991-1999 by Nickelsen's widow, Ingeborg R. Nickelsen.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.

More Information

Other Finding Aids

Other Finding Aids
Inventory of works of art located at Archives of American Art's Washington, D.C. office collection file.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Artists' preparatory studies Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mural painting and decoration, American Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mural painting and decoration -- 20th century -- Massachusetts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Muralists -- Massachusetts Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artisans Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stained glass artists -- Massachusetts Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Glass art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Montminy, Tracy, 1911-1992 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newhall, Beaumont, 1908-1993 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal art project (Mass.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Works Progress Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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