Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Bashka Paeff Papers, 1920-1981, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.paefbash
Creators:
Paeff, Bashka, 1894-1979
Dates:
1920-1981
Languages:
Collection is in English.
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of sculptor Bashka Paeff measure 1.5 linear feet and date from 1920 to 1981. The small collection documents her work as an artist in Boston, Massachusettes, through biographical material, two diaries, printed material, and photographs of Bashka Paeff and her artwork. Also found are an autograph book containing signatures and notes from MacDowell Colony members, one clippings scrapbook, and four photograph albums, including one from a trip to Europe in the 1920s.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of sculptor Bashka Paeff measure 1.5 linear feet and date from 1920 to 1981. The small collection documents her work as an artist in Boston, Massachusettes, through biographical material, two diaries, printed material, and photographs of Bashka Paeff and her artwork. Also found are an autograph book containing signatures and notes from MacDowell Colony members, one clippings scrapbook, and four photograph albums, including one from a trip to Europe in the 1920s.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 4 series.
  • Series 1: Biographical Material 1922-1981 (0.2 linear feet; Boxes 1, 3)
  • Series 2: Diaries, 1924-1925 (2 folders; Box 1)
  • Series 3: Printed Material, 1920-1979 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 4: Photographs, circa 1920s-1977 (1.1 linear feet; Boxes 1-3)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Bashka Paeff (1894-1979) was a sculptor in Boston, Massachusettes. Paeff was born in Minsk, Russia and moved to Boston with her parents when she was a year old. She studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, with Bela Pratt in 1914. Later she worked at the McDowell Colony and married Boston University professor Samuel M. Waxman. Paeff was known for realistic animal sculptures as well as war memorials, fountains, and portraits. Notable works include the Boy and Bird statue in the Boston Public Gardens, the Lexington Minute Men Memorial, and a statue of President Harding's pet terrier, Laddie Boy, which was cast from pennies collected by newsboys and became part of the Smithsonian Institution collection.

Administration

Author
Erin Kinhart
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated in 2012 by Don Richard Lipsitt, Bashka Paeff's nephew.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Erin Kinhart in 2014. The collection has been minimally rearranged and retains the existing/original folder titles when possible. All materials have been rehoused in archival folders and boxes for long-term stability, but often staples and other fasteners have not been removed. Materials within folders have not been rearranged.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Facility.
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
Bashka Paeff papers, 1920-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Sculptors -- Massachusetts -- Boston Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Autograph albums Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photograph albums Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diaries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
MacDowell Colony Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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