Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Anthony Palumbo Papers, 1947-2008, bulk 1968-2008, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.paluanth
Creators:
Palumbo, Anthony
Dates:
1947-2008
bulk 1968-2008
Languages:
Collection is in English.
Physical Description:
0.6 Linear feet
0.763 Gigabytes
Repository:
The papers of New York painter and art instructor Anthony Palumbo measure 0.6 linear feet and 0.763 GB and date from 1947 to 2008, with the bulk of materials dating from 1968 to 2008. The collection documents Palumbo's work through his writings and drawings mostly used as teaching materials. Also found are exhibition catalogs, clippings, and photographs of his work, and a digital video recording of an interview.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of New York painter and art instructor Anthony Palumbo measure 0.6 linear feet and 0.763 GB and date from 1947 to 2008, with the bulk of materials dating from 1968 to 2008. The collection documents Palumbo's work through his writings and drawings mostly used as teaching materials. Also found are exhibition catalogs, clippings, and photographs of his work, and a digital video recording of an interview.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 5 series.
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, 2002-2008 (Box 1; 1 folder, ER01; 0.763 GB)
  • Series 2: Writings, 1947-2008 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 3: Printed Material, circa 1965-2008 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 4: Artwork and Sketchbook, 1947-2008 (Box 1, OV 2; 0.1 linear feet)
  • Series 5: Photographs, circa 1965-2008 (Box 1, OV 3; 0.8 linear feet)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Anthony Palumbo (1922-2008) was a painter and instructor at the Art Students League of New York. Born in Italy, Palumbo immigrated to the United States in 1929. During the Depression he attended art classes in New Jersey and apprenticed with well-known W.P.A. artists. In the army during World War II, Palumbo served as a radio technician and produced cartoons on GI life for Army publications.
Palumbo then studied at the Art Students League of New York and the New School for Social Research with artists such as Reginald Marsh and Stuart Davis. He also studied privately with Hans Hofmann and Burne Hogarth, working as a cartoonist to sustain his fine artwork. His cartoons were published in the Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Collier's magazine. In the 1950s he traveled to Mexico, where he assisted muralist Rufino Tamayo. Returning to New York, he established a studio and continued to paint until 1960 when he lost his artwork in a catastrophic studio fire. That same year Palumbo was included in the Whitney Museum's annual presentation of contemporary art.
The next years were difficult for Palumbo, but in 1968 he started teaching at the Art Students League of New York, where he remained a highly regarded and well liked teacher until his death at age 85.
Palumbo was married to Phyllis Malinow, also an artist.

Administration

Author
Harriet E. Shapiro
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2013 by Phyllis Tracy Malinow (Phyllis Malinow Palumbo), widow of Palumbo.
Processing Information
This collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared in 2014 by Harriet E. Shapiro. The Archives of American Art has implemented minimal processing tactics when possible in order to increase information about and access to more of our collections.
Minimal processing included arrangement to the series and folder levels. Generally, items within folders were simply verified with folder titles, but not arranged further. Folders within boxes were not numbered. The collection was rehoused in archival containers and folders, but not all staples and clips were removed.
Born-digital materials were processed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2019 with funding provided by Smithsonian Collection Care and Preservation Fund.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Anthony Palumbo papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Preferred Citation
Anthony Palumbo papers, 1947-2008, bulk 1968-2008. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original materials requires an appointment.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art teachers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Study and teaching Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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