Archives of American Art

Adja Yunkers papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.yunkadja
Creators:
Yunkers, Adja, 1900-1983
Dates:
1939-1983
Languages:
Reel D251 portions are in Swedish, German, French, and Spanish.
Physical Description:
2.32 Linear feet
(partially microfilmed on 3 reels)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
REEL N70-16: A typescript (42 p.) address delivered at the Corcoran Museum of Art, 1967, by Yunkers describing his student years in Russia, and later years in Germany, France, and Mexico, ca. 1917-1928, and relating political, social, and cultural events to the development of modern art. He describes Russia before and during the Revolution and Germany during the Weimar Republic. Also included are a resume; a critical bibliography of Yunkers work; typescripts of 2 articles; and clippings.
Scope and Contents
REEL D251: Printed material, 1941-1965, including newspaper clippings, magazine articles, reviews, exhibition catalogs and announcements, and press releases.
Scope and Contents
REEL 1023: "Prints in the Desert: New Mexico," 1950, a limited edition book of prints and poetry produced by a collaboration of artists under the leadership of Yunkers.
Scope and Contents
UNMICROFILMED: Biographical material, including naturalization papers and a passport; files of letters from Mikael Bjornstjerna (1977-1983), Cheryl Bowers (1978-1983), Morton and Chris Grossman (1979-1982), Donna Haley (1982-1983), Denis Wood (1978-1983), Yunker's daughters, including Nina (1979-1983); business and personal correspondence, 1960-1983; files on galleries handling Yunkers' work, including Smith Andersen Gallery (Palo Alto, Calif.), Alice Simsar Gallery (Ann Arbor, Mich.), and Impressions Gallery (Boston, Mass.) containing correspondence, price lists and receipts; a few sketches and a collage; 2 portfolios, "Creation" (1941) and "Ars: Tidskrift for Konst Litterature Och Veteskap" (1942) containing original prints and collages by Yunkers; 2 appointment books, 1980-1983; notes and writings; photographs of Yunkers, Yunkers at work, his family, friends, studio, and art work; photograph albums, including 2 of Yunkers' studios in Stockholm, Sweden, New Mexico, and New York City (1942-1980) and one of exhibition installations, undated; photographs by Denis Hare of the making of Octavio Paz's book BLANCO, illustrated by Yunkers, and slides of prints included in BLANCO; and printed material, including exhibition announcements, clippings and miscellany.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Abstract painter and printmaker, collagist, and art instructor; New York, N.Y. Died 1983. Born in Riga, Latvia. Studied in Leningrad, Paris, Berlin, and London. He moved to the United States in 1947. Faculty member of the New School for Social Research, 1947-1956; Cooper Union, 1956-1967.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials on reels D251, N70-16, and 1023 donated by Adja Yunkers, 1966-1970, and transferred to NMAA-NPG Library vertical files after microfilming, except "Prints in the Desert: New Mexico" (REEL 1023). Unmicrofilmed material donated 1984 by Marina and Alexandra Yunkers, Yunkers' daughters.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm.
Conditions Governing Access
Unmicrofilmed: ACCESS RESTRICTED; written permission required.

Related Materials
Adja Yunker papers also at Syracuse University.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Abstract expressionism Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painting, Abstract -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Prints, Abstract -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists' illustrated books Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Prints -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art teachers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printmakers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Collagists -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bjornstjerna, Mikael Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Olsen, Cheryl Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Grossman, Morton, 1926- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Haley, Donna Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wood, Denis Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smith Andersen Gallery Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Alice Simsar Gallery Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Impressions Gallery of Photography Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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