Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Jan Stussy Papers, 1955-1985, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.stusjan
Creators:
Stussy, Jan, 1921-1990
Dates:
1955-1985
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.2 Linear feet
(partially microfilmed on 3 reels)
Repository:
The papers of Jan Stussy measure 1.2 linear feet and date from 1955 to 1985. The papers document the career of painter and educator Jan Stussy through correspondence; a resume and other professional documentation; clippings and exhibition announcements; and photographs and slides of Stussy and his artwork. The papers also document the life of artist Stanton MacDonald-Wright through correspondence with Stussy; manuscripts and other writings; lectures and discussions with Stussy; clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and other printed material; and photographs of MacDonald-Wright.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of Jan Stussy measure 1.2 linear feet and date from 1955 to 1985. The papers document the career of painter and educator Jan Stussy through correspondence; a resume and other professional documentation; clippings and exhibition announcements; and photographs and slides of Stussy and his artwork. The papers also document the life of artist Stanton MacDonald-Wright through correspondence with Stussy; manuscripts and other writings; lectures and discussions with Stussy; clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and other printed material; and photographs of MacDonald-Wright.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into five series.
  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1955-1973 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Writings, 1970-1974 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 3: Professional Activity Files, circa 1977-1985 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 4: Printed Material, 1956-1985 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 5: Photographic Material, 1956-1985 (0.6 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Jan Stussy (1921-1990) was a painter and educator primarily in Los Angeles, California. Stussy was born in 1921 in Benton County, Missouri, and he taught at UCLA. Stussy studied with Stanton MacDonald-Wright and remained life-long friends with him. Stussy was married to artist Maxine Kim Stussy.
Stanton MacDonald-Wright (1890-1973) was a modern American artist and co-founder of Syncromism, an early abstract, color-based mode of painting, which was the first American avant-garde art movement to receive international attention. MacDonald-Wright was born in Charlotteville, Virginia in 1890. He moved to Los Angeles in 1918 where he would serve as director of the Southern California division of the Works Project Administration Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1943. He also taught art at UCLA.

Administration

Author
Ricky Gomez
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Jan Stussy papers were donated to the archives between 1976-1985 by Jan Stussy.
Existence and Location of Copies
Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 3976, 2728, 2200 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Ricky Gomez in 2020.

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 audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
Citation
Jan Stussy papers, 1955-1985. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painters -- California -- Los Angeles Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Study and teaching -- California -- Los Angeles Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sound recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Video recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- California -- Los Angeles Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Synchromism (Art) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Macdonald-Wright, Stanton, 1890-1973 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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