Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Robert Vickrey Papers, 1951-2008, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.vickrobe
Creators:
Vickrey, Robert, 1926-2011
Dates:
1951-2008
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
4.3 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of painter and illustrator Robert Vickrey measure 4.3 linear feet and date from 1951 to 2008. The papers document his career as a portrait painter and illustrator in Massachusetts through correspondence with artists and galleries, draft articles and manuscripts of personal written works, and writings about him by colleagues. Also found are professional files documenting activities with various galleries and museums; printed materials such as newspaper clippings and exhibition catalogs; and sound and video recordings of interviews and the production of a documentary on his career.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of painter and illustrator Robert Vickrey measure 4.3 linear feet and date from 1951 to 2008. The papers document his career as a portrait painter and illustrator in Massachusetts through correspondence with artists and galleries, draft articles and manuscripts of personal written works, and writings about him by colleagues. Also found are professional files documenting activities with various galleries and museums; printed materials such as newspaper clippings and exhibition catalogs; and sound and video recordings of interviews and the production of a documentary on his career.
Correspondence consists primarily of letters to museums, galleries, and colleagues. Also included is correspondence from family and friends.
Writings include articles by Vickrey for various publications, including Cape Codder, The Oracle, The Chronicle, The Cape Paper, and The Review; a draft manuscript by Philip Eliasoph for his book "Robert Vickrey: Lyrical Realist"; a manuscript of Vickrey's unpublished memoir, "Time Traveler", concerning his career at Time magazine; and a manuscript by Donald Miller, "Creatures of the Spirit: Robert Vickrey's Nun Paintings". Also included is Vickrey's notebook, "Tiny Trims," containing reel splices.
Printed material consists mainly of newspaper and magazine clippings of Vickrey's artwork and participation in exhibitions. There are also exhibition catalogs and announcements.
Approximately half of the collection consists of VHS tapes, sound reels, and audio casettes documenting Vickrey's various projects.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 6 series.
  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1967-2007 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Writings, 1974-2008 (0.7 linear feet; Box 1-2)
  • Series 3: Personal Business Records, 1983-2001 (0.3 linear feet; Box 2)
  • Series 4: Professional Activity Files, 1973-1998 (0.3 linear feet; Box 2)
  • Series 5: Printed Material, 1951-2006 (0.8 linear feet; Box 2-3, 5)
  • Series 6: Sound and Video Recordings, 1984-1997 (1.7 linear feet; Box 3-4)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Robert Vickrey (1926-2011) was a portrait painter and illustrator, from Cape Cod, Mass. and Naples, Fla. Vickrey mastered Egg Tempera painting and is well known for his illustrations for the cover of "Time" magazine. Throughout his career, Vickrey also painted portraits of nuns from the order of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In addition to his artwork, Vickrey wrote numerous newspaper articles, published three books, and was the subject of a PBS documentary.

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 Robert Vickrey papers were donated by Robert Vickrey in 2007. Additional records were donated by R. Scott Vickrey, son and executor of Vickrey's estate, in 2016.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid was written by Ricky Gomez in 2019.

Using the Collection

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.
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
Robert Vickrey papers, 1951-2008. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Illustrators -- Massachusetts Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Portrait painters -- Massachusetts Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sound recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Video recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions