Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

Volkmar Wentzel Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
FSA.A1998.02
Creators:
Wentzel, Volkmar Kurt, 1915-2006
Dates:
1947-1994
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
59 Items
items (5 linear ft.)
20 x 24 or smaller
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Papers, 1947-1994, of photographer and author Volkmar Kurt Wentzel, regarding a two year survey conducted for the National Geographic Society during 1946-1947, to visually document caves, temples, and sculpture of India, including: his typescript draft (photocopy), [after 1946], written for the National Geographic Magazine on the Ajanta and Ellora temples; a proof, 1953, of his article entitled "India's Sculptured Temple Caves"; a lecture typescript entitle "A Walter Mitty Fantasy," presented to the Literary Society, 1994, along with a brochure and checklist for his related exhibition of photographs of Indian rock-cut temples and sculptures held at the Cosmos Club, Washington, D.C.; and 54 photographs, silver prints and five cibachromes, 1947, many signed by the photographer, dated, and captioned. Photographs depict the temples, sculpture, and frescoes of Ellora, Ajanta, Khajuraho, Halebid, Fatehpur Sikri, and Red Fort ,Delhi.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Records; Organized in four boxes ; Arranged by form of material: Boxes 1-3: Photographs. Box 4: Typescript, Brochure, Printed Material, Photographs.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Volkmar Kurt Wentzel (1915-2006) was an accomplished photographer, particularly in the 1940's. Born in Dresden, Germany, he emigrated to the United States at around the age of 20 and immediately began work as a photojournalist at Underwood and Underwood. He served as an aerial photographer and photo-intelligence officer during World War II. After the war he spent extensive time photographing Ladakh (western Tibet), Nepal, and India. He photographed widely in the United States, Europe, and Africa as well. He wrote and documented photographically cave temples in India as a correspondent for the National Geographic Society between 1946-1946. He received many accolades for his photography and has exhibited his work both in the United States and abroad.

Administration

Custodial History
Donated by Volkmar Wentzel, 1998

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Volkmar Wentzel Papers. FSA.A1998.02. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

More Information

Local Numbers

Local Numbers
FSA A1998.02


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Indian art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cave temples Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ajanta Caves (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ellora Caves (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Khajuraho (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fatehpur Sikri (India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lal Qila (Delhi, India) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1940-1950 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1940-1950 -- Color -- Reproductions Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Typescripts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Papers Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
National Museum of Asian Art Archives
Washington, D.C. 20013
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