Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Stephen Radich Gallery Records, 1942-1979, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.stepradi
Creators:
Stephen Radich Gallery (New York, N.Y.)
Dates:
1942-1979
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
8.2 Linear feet
Repository:
The records of Stephen Radich Gallery measure 8.2 linear feet and date from 1942 to 1979. The collection comprises administrative files documenting the New York gallery's daily activities and seven exhibitions; correspondence with museums, galleries, and arts organizations and publications; artist's files for Peter Agostini, Ethel Edwards, Xavier Gonzalez, Dimitri Hadzi, Will Horwitt, Matsumi Kanemitsu, Marc Morrel, George Sugarman, and others; financial and sales records that include check registers, consignment records, price lists, sales invoices, and shipping records; and exhibition announcements and catalogs, booklets, and clippings in printed materials. Material created by the Martin Widdifield Gallery can be found throughout the collection, particularly material dated before 1960.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The records Stephen Radich Gallery measure 8.2 linear feet and date from 1942 to 1979. The collection comprises administrative files documenting the New York gallery's daily activities and seven exhibitions; correspondence with museums, galleries, and arts organizations and publications; artist's files for Peter Agostini, Ethel Edwards, Xavier Gonzalez, Dimitri Hadzi, Will Horwitt, Matsumi Kanemitsu, Marc Morrel, George Sugarman, and others; financial and sales records that include check registers, consignment records, price lists, sales invoices, and shipping records; and exhibition announcements and catalogs, booklets, and clippings in printed materials. Material created by the Martin Widdifield Gallery can be found throughout the collection, particularly material dated before 1960.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as five series.
  • Series 1: Administrative Files, 1956-1976 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, 1956-1979 (2.0 linear feet; Boxes 2-4)
  • Series 3: Artist's Files, 1956-1973 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 4-5)
  • Series 4: Financial and Sales Records, 1956-1978 (3.0 linear feet; Boxes 5-8)
  • Series 5: Printed Materials, 1942-circa 1970 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 8-9)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Stephen Radich Gallery was owned by Stephen Radich (1922-2007) and located in New York, N.Y. Radich was the director of the Martin Widdifield Gallery on 818 Madison Ave. in 1959. In 1960, he purchased the lease on the gallery building and changed the name to the Stephen Radich Gallery. The gallery represented artists George Sugarman, Dimitri Hadzi, Ethel Edwards, Yayoi Kusama, and Xavier Gonzalez among others. In 1966, the gallery held an exhibition of artwork by Marc Morrel who incorporated the American flag in his sculpture as a means to protest the Vietnam War. The artworks, as well as the gallery, attracted the attention of police resulting in a lawsuit and conviction against Radich. Eventually Radich's conviction was overturned by a federal court in 1974. The gallery closed in 1969.

Administration

Author
Sarah Mundy
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Smithsonian Women's Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Stephen Radich Gallery records were donated from 1979 to 1980 by Stephen Radich.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2021.

Using the Collection

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.
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
Stephen Radich Gallery records, 1942-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Materials
Also found at the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Stephen Radich conducted February 18-29, 1972 by Paul Cummings for the Archives of American Art.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art galleries, Commercial -- New York (State) Function Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Martin Widdifield Gallery (New York, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Edwards, Ethel, 1914-1999 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Morrel, Marc Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kanemitsu, Matsumi Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sugarman, George, 1912-1999 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Radich, Stephen Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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