Archives of American Art

David Smith miscellaneous papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.smithdav
Creators:
Smith, David, 1906-1965
Dates:
[ca. 1940]-1964
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
4 Items
(on partial microfilm reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Writings; printed material, including an exhibition catalog, Medals for Dishonor, for an exhibition of Smith's antiwar and violence medals and writings at the Willard Gallery, November, 1940, including a forward by authors William Blake and Christina Stead and a photograph of Smith; a typescript of Smith's essay, "Modern Sculpture and Society"; and a copy of Smith's essay, edited, as it appeared in Francis V. O'Connor's book, Art for the Millions; a 1942 press photograph of Smith at work on a marble sculpture; and a note written by Dorothy Dehner explaining the photograph.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Sculptor; Bolton Landing, N.Y. Smith's Medals for Dishonor, completed in 1940, were explicit statements of protest against the horrors of war and violence. Smith befriended the writers, Williams Blake and his wife Christina Stead, after having read and been influenced by Blake's novel, THE PAINTER AND THE LADY. Dorothy Dehner, painter and sculptor, was Smith's first wife. They were married in 1927 and divorced in 1952. ART FOR THE MILLIONS, edited by Francis V. O'Connor, was originally intended to be published by the Federal Art Project but went unfinished. O'Connor took up the project and completed it in 1972.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 3472 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Material on frames 54-89 provenance unknown. Material on frames 89-96 donated by Katharine Kuh, art critic, consultant, and friend of Dorothy Dehner.

Using the Collection

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

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Sculpture, Modern -- New York (State) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Medals -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- Bolton Landing Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Metal-work Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Blake, William J. (William James), 1894-1968 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stead, Christina, 1902- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
O'Connor, Francis V. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dehner, Dorothy, 1901-1994 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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