Archives of American Art

Helen Stein papers relating to Marsden Hartley

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.steihele
Creators:
Stein, Helen, 1888?-1965
Dates:
[undated] and 1934-1949
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
(on partial microfilm reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Primarily letters to Helen Stein from Marsden Hartley, with typed transcriptions and 25 typed pages of anecdotes about Hartley, probably written by Stein. The letters provide intimate information about Hartley's activities, interests, and state of mind for the last 9 years of his life, revealing his thoughts about artists, dealers, artistic styles, critics, and describing his progress in painting and in sales of his paintings. (Included with a letter of September 10, 1939 is a snapshot of Hartley.) Similar information is included in the anecdotes, which recount Hartley's comments on many topics.
Scope and Contents
There are also catalogs for exhibitions of Hartley's work, a press review, and a letter from Stein to Paul Rosenberg in which she mentions the Hartley letters.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Painter. Born Helen Steinberg in Odessa, Russia, Stein came to the United States at the age of two. She studied at the Art Students League with Max Weber and at Cooper Union. Her benefactor, Sir Michael Crozer-Gielberg, commissioned Le Corbusier to design a studio for her in Paris (1927-29). She met Marsden Hartley, who greatly admired her work, ca. 1930, and painted him ca. 1932. They were close friends for the last ten years of his life.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 4130 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were gathered and donated by Jay Friedline, a friend of Stein and Hartley, 1988.

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
Women painters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hartley, Marsden, 1877-1943 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rosenberg, Paul, 1881-1959 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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