Archives of American Art

Glenn Wessels papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.wessglen
Creators:
Wessels, Glenn A. (Glenn Anthony), 1895-
Dates:
[ca. 1932-1982]
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Biographical material, 1953-1981; 15 letters from Hans and Maria Hofmann, and two from Wessels to Hofmann, 1952-1964; correspondence with Ila Limerick and Peace and Pauline Alvarez regarding mostly their planned but uncompleted biography of Wessels, ca. 1959-1968; miscellaneous correspondence; typescripts of lectures by Wessels; photographs of Wessels, including one by Imogen Cunningham, 1956, Wessels with others, one of his work, and one by Wessels (?) of an outdoor scene; newspaper clippings and printed material, undated, 1959-1967 and 1982; and miscellany, 1932-1966.
Scope and Contents
The Hans Hofmann letters, written from New York and Provincetown, discuss the importance of painting, his and Wessel's work, his plans to come to Berkeley to accept an honorary doctorate, and his feelings toward Wessels, Erle Loran, and others. Three of the letters are written by his wife Maria. Wessels' letters to Hofmann relate to the University's choice of Erle Loran to present Hofmann's honorary doctorate.
Scope and Contents
The correspondence with Ila Limerick, and Peace and sometimes Pauline Alvarez, contain lengthy, detailed reminiscences by Wessels on personal and professional topics. The later correspondence with Peace Alvarez relates mainly to the deteriorating health of Wessels' wife, Kay.
Scope and Contents
The miscellaneous correspondence includes a letter from Wessels to Worth Ryder, 1943, relating to Erle Loran and John Haley; a letter from Alfred Frankenstein thanking Wessels for sending his paper "The New Approach to Nature in Painting"; a letter from Worth Ryder congratulating Wessels on his exhibition, 1959; a letter from Ansel Adams praising Wessels' work done at a Polaroid Corp. Workshop, 1965; and letters regarding a controversy surrounding credit for bringing Hofmann to U.C. Berkeley, including a copy of a letter from John Haley to Paul Cummings; from Wessels to Haley, 1978; and from Wessel's brother-in-law Willis Foster to James Elliott, Director, University Art Museum, 1986.
Scope and Contents
Included in the printed material are an issue of The Fortnightly (Feb. 26, 1932) which Wessels helped found and served as art editor, and The Argonaut (July 16, 1937), containing Wessels' weekly column on art.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Painter, lecturer, critic, and teacher; Berkeley, Calif. Born Captown, South Africa. Studied with Hans Hofmann in Munich. Professor of Art at University of California at Berkeley.

Administration

Reproduction Note
Hofmann letters and miscellaneous correspondence: photocopies.
Existence and Location of Originals
Hofmann letters and miscellaneous correspondence: Location of originals unknown.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1991 by Willis Foster, Wessels' brother-in-law.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Fortnightly Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Argonaut (Periodical) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Haley, John, 1905-1991 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Loran, Erle, 1905-1999 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ryder, Worth Allen, 1884-1960 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cunningham, Imogen, 1883-1976 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Limerick, Ila A. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Alvarez, Peace K. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hofmann, Hans, 1880-1966 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Adams, Ansel, 1902-1984 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
University of California, Berkeley. Department of Art Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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