Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to Tom Ray Letters from Henry Bridgewater, 1992-1999, in the Archives of American Art

Summary
Collection ID:
AAA.raytom
Creators:
Ray, Tom
Dates:
1992-1999
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
Repository:
Tom Ray letters from Henry Bridgewater measures 0.2 linear feet and consists of forty-five letters to Tom Ray from Henry Bridgewater dating from 1992-1999, written during his incarceration at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Bridgewater writes about his works of art, in particular, lamps he created that he would send to Ray for him to trade and sell to other folk art collectors.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Tom Ray letters from Henry Bridgewater measures 0.2 linear feet and consists of forty-five letters to Tom Ray from Henry Bridgewater dating from 1992-1999, written during his incarceration at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Bridgewater writes about his works of art, in particular, lamps he created that he would send to Ray for him to trade and sell to other folk art collectors.
Arrangement
Arrangement
Due to its small size, this collection is arranged into one series.
  • Series 1: Tom Ray Letters From Henry Bridgewater, 1992-1999 (0.2 Linear Feet: Box 1)
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Henry Bridgewater (1925-2001) was a sculptor and outsider artist in Angola, Louisiana known for his wood-carved lamps of iconic figures and celebrities including cowboys, Wyatt Earp, Dolly Parton, Madonna, and Tina Turner. Tom Ray was a patron and informal art dealer for Bridgewater after befriending him in the early 1990s, while Bridgewater served two live sentences at the Lousiana State Penitentiary, Angola.
Administration
Author
Ryan Evans
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated in 2019 by Tom Ray.
Processing Information
The collection was processed in 2021 by Ryan Evans.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Conditions Governing 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
Tom Ray Letters from Henry Bridgewater, 1992-1999. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Outsider art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Self-taught artists -- Louisiana Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arts in prisons Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors -- Louisiana Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art dealers -- Louisiana -- New Orleans Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bridgewater, Henry 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