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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Hilda Pertha Papers, 1938-2018, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.perthild
- Creators:
-
Pertha, Hilda, 1911-2011
- Dates:
-
1938-2018
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
10.5 Linear feet
- Repository:
The papers of painter and author Hilda Pertha measure 10.5 linear feet and date from 1938 to 2018. The collection comprises biographical materials, correspondence, journals, writings, professional and project files, personal business records, printed materials, artwork, and photographic materials that document Pertha's early textile design work, and her subsequent painting, and writing career in Mendocino and Europe.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The papers of painter and author Hilda Pertha measure 10.5 linear feet and date from 1938 to 2018. The collection comprises biographical materials, correspondence, journals, writings, professional and project files, personal business records, printed materials, artwork, and photographic materials that document Pertha's early textile design work, and her subsequent painting, and writing career in Mendocino and Europe.
Biographical materials consist of appointment books, resumes and chronologies, a transcript of an interview of Pertha conducted by Joan Marler, and a recording of family at Christmas. Correspondence is with family, galleries, buyers and collectors, and others including Carl Nesjar, Mirl Simmons, and Justin Stone. The collection also contains 6 journals, writings that include 74 notebooks with notes on museums in Europe, artworks by Pertha, and other topics, as well as manuscripts of articles for the magazine West Art, and drafts for a book about painting.
Pertha's professional files include sound recordings relating to symposiums and workshops, scrapbooks, and guestbooks. Project files include material regarding Pertha's work on the Federal Art Project, and photographs and sketches for floral themed paintings. Pertha's business records include gallery files, consignment and sales records, and artwork and price lists. Printed materials relate to Pertha's career, her exhibitions, and writings for art magazines. Artwork consists of nature sketches and drawings, ink and abstract sketches, and designs for textiles. Photographic materials include photographic prints, negatives, slides, and transparencies of Pertha, friends, exhibitions, Norway, and artwork along with digital images of Pertha's artwork that were cataloged by Connie Korbel-Mickey.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 10 series.
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1944-2010 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1948-2018 (1.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-3)
- Series 3: Journals, 1982-2002 (0.2 linear feet; Box 12)
- Series 4: Writings and Writing Projects, 1938-2018 (3.0 linear feet; Boxes 3-5)
- Series 5: Professional Files, 1950s-2002 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 5-6)
- Series 6: Project Files, circa 1940s-2000s (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 6-7)
- Series 7: Personal Business Records, 1955-2010 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 7-8)
- Series 8: Printed Materials, 1940-2011 (0.6 linear feet; Boxes 8-9, 11)
- Series 9: Artwork, 1940s-circa 2010 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 9-11)
- Series 10: Photographic Materials, 1950s-2011 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 10-11)
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Hilda Pertha (1911-2011) was an author and painter in Mendocino, California and Europe, who worked primarily in oil.
Born in Pensauken, New Jersey, Pertha studied at the Philadelphia College of Art, the Barnes Foundation, and Settlement Music School. In the 1950s she worked as a textile designer in New York City and Europe while trying to grow her painting career. Pertha spent time in Norway where she felt a strong connection to the land and people. She befriended Norwegian artists like Carl Nesjar with whom she kept in touch throughout her life. Pertha exhibited in Norway, as well as other parts of Europe. In Mendocino, she was active at Mendocino Art Center as an exhibitor and teacher after being invited to teach by founder William (Bill) Zacha. She also wrote over 200 articles for the magazine West Art. Pertha died in 2011 in Mendocino.
Administration
Author
Sarah Mundy
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Hilda Pertha papers were donated in 2013 by Mila Ahern, Hilda Pertha's daughter, and in 2019 and 2022 by Connie Korbel-Mickey, Pertha's biographer.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2023.
Using the Collection
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.
Conditions Governing Use
The donor has retained all intellectual property rights, including copyright, that they may own.
Conditions Governing Access
Hilda Pertha's journals in Series 3 are access restricted; written permission is required. Contact Reference Services for more information.
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. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
Preferred Citation
Hilda Pertha papers, 1938-2018. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Women artists | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Sound recordings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Diaries | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Scrapbooks | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Painters -- California -- Mendocino | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Authors -- California -- Mendocino | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Interviews | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Nesjar, Carl, 1920-2015 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Federal Art Project | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
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