Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Tamara Webster Papers Relating to Frederick Hammersley, circa 1917-circa 1920s, 1961-1996, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.webstama
Creators:
Webster, Tamara, 1917-2011
Dates:
circa 1917-circa 1920s
1961-1996
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
Repository:
The Tamara Webster papers relating to Frederick Hammersley measure 0.2 linear feet and date from circa 1917-circa 1920s, and 1961 to 1996. Webster was a mixed-media artist who operated the Tamara Webster Gallery in Cambria, California and was a friend of Frederick Hammersley. The papers include letters and holiday cards all written by Hammersley to Webster, and some Hammersley exhibition catalogs and clippings Hammersley sent to Webster. Also found are photographs of Hammersley in his Albuquerque studio, and photos of his artwork, his exhibitions, and other subjects.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Tamara Webster papers relating to Frederick Hammersley measure 0.2 linear feet and date from circa 1917-circa 1920s, and 1961 to 1996. Webster was a mixed-media artist who operated the Tamara Webster Gallery in Cambria, California, and a friend of Frederick Hammersley. The papers include letters and holiday cards all written by Hammersley to Webster, and some Hammersley exhibition catalogs and clippings Hammersley sent to Webster. Also found are photographs of Hammersley in his Albuquerque studio, and photos of his artwork, his exhibitions, and other subjects.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 3 series.
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Letters, 1970-1996 (3 folders; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Printed Material, 1961-1990 (2 folders; Box 1)
  • Series 3: Photographs, circa 1917-circa 1920s, 1972-1995 (8 folders; Box 1)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Tamara Webster (1917-2011) was a gallery owner and mixed-media artist in Cambria, California.
Webster incorporated painting, weaving, mosaic, ethnic jewelry, furniture, woodwork, and sculpture into her artwork. She moved to Cambria in the early 1970s and operated the Tamara Webster gallery in two locations before moving it to her home studio. Webster befriended abstract painter Frederick Hammersley while living in California. After Webster moved to New Mexico in 1971 the two artists corresponded and remained friends for many years.

Administration

Author
Rihoko Ueno and Stephanie Ashley
Sponsor
The collection was digitized in 2022 with funding provided by the Frederick Hammersley Foundation.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Tamara Webster papers relating to Frederick Hammersley were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2015 via Karen Kile, the director of the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.
Processing Information
This collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Rihoko Ueno in 2015. The collection was prepared for digitization by Stephanie Ashley and digitized in 2022 with funding provided by the Frederick Hammersley Foundation.
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection was digitized in 2022 and is available on the Archives of American Art website.

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.
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
Tamara Webster papers relating to Frederick Hammersley, circa 1917-circa 1920s, 1961-1996. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Materials
The Archives of American Art also has the Frederick Hammersley papers, 1897-2008 and the Bardene Allen Papers, circa 1965-2009.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art dealers -- California -- Cambria Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women art dealers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gallery owners -- California -- Cambria Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mixed-media artists -- California -- Cambria Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hammersley, Frederick, 1919-2009 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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