Archives of American Art

A Finding aid to the Edwin Ziegfeld papers, 1917-1986, bulk 1930s-1970s, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.ziegedwi
Creators:
Ziegfeld, Edwin, 1905-1987
Dates:
1917-1986
bulk 1930s-1970s
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of artist and art educator Edwin Ziegfeld measure 3 linear feet and date from 1917 to 1986, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1930s to 1970s. The papers document Ziegfeld's career through biographical materials, files comprised of writings and talks, professional files, and printed materials.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of artist and art educator Edwin Ziegfeld measure 3 linear feet and date from 1917 to 1986, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1930s to 1970s. The papers document Ziegfeld's career through biographical materials, files comprised of writings and talks, professional files, and printed materials. Biographical materials include a list of Ziegfeld's publications and field contacts, resumes, biographical summaries, certificates and awards, miscellaneous receipts, membership cards, one interview transcript, mixed professional and personal correspondence, and more. Writings and talks include drafts, transcripts, notes, and outlines of Ziegfeld's articles, speeches, and essays. Also found in this series is a travel log he carried through Europe, Egypt, and Lebanon. Professional files shed light on Ziegfeld's various projects and professional undertakings including his teaching positions, the Owatonna Art Education Project, National Art Education Association, International Society for Education Through Art, and others. Folders include writings and drafts, editions of Art Today (1935-1944) and Art For Daily Living (1944), photos, transcripts, teaching files, and correspondence. Printed materials consist of published articles by Ziegfeld, clippings about Ziegfeld, artists, art education, the Prisendam fire in 1980—Ziegfeld and his wife were passengers on the cruise ship; ephemera from Ziegfeld exhibitions and speaking engagements; and a print of his drawing of "Sibley house."

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as four series.
  • Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1917-1986 (Box 1; .2 linear feet)
  • Series 2: Writings and Talks, 1930s-1983 (Box 1; .8 linear feet)
  • Series 3: Professional Files, 1930s-1986 (Box 2-3; 1.6 linear feet)
  • Series 4: Printed Materials, 1930s-1986 (Box 3; .2 linear feet)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Edwin Ziegfeld (1905-1987) was an artist and art educator in Minnesota, New York, and Washington, D.C. He attended Ohio State University for his bachelor's degree and Harvard University for his master's. After completing his education, Ziegfeld was an instructor of landscape architecture at Ohio State and soon after began working for the Owatonna Art Project. He served as the program's resident director from 1934 to 1939 and published the book Art For Daily Living, co-authored by Mary Elinore Smith, about the project in 1944. Toward the end of this project, Ziegfeld taught art education at the University of Minnesota. In 1943, Ziegfeld began working for the Bureau of Navy Personnel in its education services department. From 1944 to 1946, he served as the officer-in-charge for the educational program of the U.S. Navy; and completed his doctorate in educational psychology with a minor in architecture in 1946. After the war, Ziegfeld took a position as an art professor in the Department of Fine and Industrial Arts at Teachers College, Columbia University. He ultimately became chairman of the department and served as editor of Art Education Today, the department's annual publication. He remained at Columbia until his retirement in 1970.
Ziegfeld was a founding president of the National Art Education Association and International Society for Education Through Art; and a member of the Eastern Arts Association and Museum of Modern Art committee on art education. In addition to numerous published articles, Ziegfeld edited five editions of Art Today from 1941 to 1963, and wrote "Art and Education: A Symposium," published by UNESCO in 1953. Though most well-known for his work in art education, Ziegfeld's watercolors were exhibited a number of times throughout his career, most notable in group shows at the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts and Baltimore Museum of Art.

Administration

Author
Christopher DeMairo
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 collection was donated in 1987 by Ernest Ziegfield, Ziegfield's brother.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Christopher DeMairo in 2023.

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.
Preferred Citation
Edwin Ziegfeld papers, 1917-1986. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing 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.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Interviews Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art teachers Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printmakers -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Draftsmen (artists) -- New York (State) Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
International Society for Education Through Art Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Art Education Association Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Owatonna Art Education Project Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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