Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Susan Conway Gallery Records, circa 1928, circa 1940s-2003, bulk 1987-2003, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.susacong
Creators:
Susan Conway Gallery (Washington, D.C.)
Dates:
circa 1928, 1940s-2003
bulk 1987-2003
Languages:
The collection is in English.
Physical Description:
23.9 Linear feet
0.001 Gigabytes
Repository:
The modern and contemporary art gallery records of the Susan Conway Gallery in Washington, D.C. measure 23.9 linear feet and 0.001 GB and date from circa 1928, circa 1940s-2003, with the bulk of the material dating from 1987-2003. Nearly half of the collection documents the gallery's work as the sole representative of artist and political cartoonist Pat Oliphant through administrative records, exhibition files, press clippings, and a handful of photographs. Also found in the collection are artists' files of other artists represented by the gallery, client files, administrative records, printed and digital materials, and the records of the Susan Conway Conservation Studio.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The modern and contemporary art gallery records of the Susan Conway Gallery in Washington, D.C. measure 23.9 linear feet and 0.001 GB and date from circa 1928, circa 1940s-2003, with the bulk of the material dating from 1987-2003. Nearly half of the collection documents the gallery's work as the sole representative of artist and political cartoonist Pat Oliphant through administrative records, exhibition files, press clippings, and a handful of photographs. Also found in the collection are artists' files of other artists represented by the gallery, client files, administrative records, printed and digital materials, and the records of the Susan Conway Conservation Studio.
The exhibitions and sales of artwork by artists represented by the gallery are documented through biographies, correspondence, exhibition printed materials, newspaper clippings, notes, price lists, photographs and slides, sales invoices, and shipping records. Artists of interest include Eric Aho, Will Barnet, Leonard Baskin, Dorothy Dehner, Mary Ellen Doyle, Brece Honeycutt, Ross M. Merrill, Otto and Gertrud Natzler, Sam Scott and Edward Sorel. Sales records can also be found in Client Files, along with correspondence with individual clients and galleries, notes, and shipping records.
Nearly half of the collection documents the exhibitions, loans, promotion and sales of Patrick Oliphant's artwork. Materials found include contracts, correspondence with galleries, museums, and clients, exhibition printed materials, notes, scattered photographs, price lists, proposals, sales invoices, and shipping records. Much of the material relates to Oliphant's numerous traveling exhibitions, including "Oliphant: The New World Order in Drawing and Sculpture," "Oliphant's Presidents: 25 Years of Caricatures," and "Seven Presidents."
Administrative and Miscellaneous Records includes records related to the daily operation of the gallery space and promotion of the gallery, such as contracts, a guest book, documents created for Conway's public talks, scattered documentation regarding gifts of artwork, and other miscellaneous records.
The bulk of the printed materials are Susan Conway Gallery exhibition announcements. Also found are some catalogs, clippings and a brochure. The records of the Susan Conway Conservation Studio include condition reports, correspondence with clients, notes, and photographs and slides of artwork.
None of the gallery records of the Santa Fe location are included in this collection. The outlying dates of this collection include older photographs and a negative found in the Artists' Files.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 7 series.
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Artists' Files, circa 1928, circa 1940s-2003 (7.6 linear feet; Boxes 1-8, 26, OV 27, ER01; 0.001 GB)
  • Series 2: Client Files, 1987-2003 (1.85 linear feet; Boxes 8-10, 26)
  • Series 3: Exhibition and Loan Files, 1987-2003 (0.85 linear feet; Boxes 10-11)
  • Series 4: Records Regarding Patrick Oliphant, 1976-2003 (11.5 linear feet; Boxes 11-22, 26, OV 27, ER02; 0.001 GB)
  • Series 5: Administrative and Miscellaneous Records, 1978-2003 (0.5 linear feet; Box 22)
  • Series 6: Printed Materials, 1987-2002 (0.4 linear feet; Box 23, OV 27)
  • Series 7: Susan Conway Conservation Studio Records, before 1970s-1993 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 23-26)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Susan Conway Gallery was founded by Susan Conway in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in 1987. In 1991, the gallery relocated in Georgetown to the Glackens House, former home of painter William Glackens. In 1998, Conway opened a second location in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Prior to opening the gallery, Conway ran her own fine arts conservation studio.
The gallery represents modern and contemporary artists including Eric Aho, Will Barnet, Leonard Baskin, Dorothy Dehner, Mary Ellen Doyle, Brece Honeycutt, Ross M. Merrill, Otto and Gertrud Natzler, Sam Scott and Edward Sorel. The gallery is also the sole fine arts representative of sculpture, painting, and drawings by Patrick Oliphant, a Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist.

Administration

Author
Sarah Haug
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Smithsonian Institution Collection Care Preservation Fund.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Susan Conway Gallery records were donated by Susan Conway in 2004 and 2007.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Haug in 2013, with funding provided by the Smithsonian Institution Collections Care Preservation Fund. Born-digital materials were processed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2019 with funding provide by Smithsonian Collection Care and Preservation Fund.
The Archives of American Art has implemented minimal processing tactics when possible in order to increase access to more of our collections. Minimal processing included arrangement to the series and folder levels. Generally, items within folders were simply verified with folder titles and dates, but not arranged further. Folder titles were transcribed from original folder headings. The collection was rehoused in archival containers and folders. Staples and other fasteners were not removed, but correspondence was removed from envelopes and filed behind the envelope. Materials were removed from binders or damaged binding when necessary.
Materials with Social Security numbers and personal financial information were redacted with copies left in the collection. The original documents are maintained separately.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Terms of 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
Susan Conway Gallery records, circa 1928, circa 1940s-2003. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Visitors' books Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art galleries, Commercial -- Washington (D.C.) Function Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Natzler, Gertrud Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Merrill, Ross M. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Honeycutt, Brece Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sorel, Edward, 1929- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scott, Sam Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Doyle, Mary Ellen, 1938- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oliphant, Pat, 1935- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Susan Conway Conservation Studio Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aho, Eric, 1966- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Barnet, Will, 1911-2012 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Natzler, Otto Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Baskin, Leonard, 1922-2000 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dehner, Dorothy, 1901-1994 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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