Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Humberto Dionisio Papers, 1919-1990, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.dionhumb
Creators:
Dionisio, Humberto, 1950-1987
Dates:
1919-1990
Languages:
The records are in
English
and
Spanish
.
Physical Description:
2.7 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of Cuban born American painter Humberto Dionisio measure 2.7 linear feet and date from 1919 to 1990. The collection primarily documents Dionisio's relationships with his family, particularly his mother, through letters, photographs, financial records, printed material, and family memorabilia collected by Dionisio himself and by his mother, Zaida Ortega Dominguez.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content Note
The collection measures 2.7 linear feet, dates from 1919 to 1990, and includes letters, photographs, financial records, printed material, and family memorabilia. The papers of Dionisio primarily document his relationships with other family members and friends through photographs and letters received from his mother, Zaida Ortega Dominguez, and others. The collection also contains papers, photographs and original sketches (by Dominguez) collected by Dominguez herself which were in Dionisio's care. Papers relating specifically to Dionisio's work as an artist are represented to a lesser degree in this collection and consist primarily of printed material and photographs of Dionisio at work and at an exhibition of his work. There is also one original watercolor by Dionisio from 1985.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series. Each series is arranged into subseries according to record type.
  • Series 1: Humberto Dionisio Papers, 1926-1990, undated (Boxes 1-3; 1.7 linear feet)
  • Series 2: Zaida Ortega Dominguez Papers, 1919-circa 1980s, undated (Boxes 4-6; 0.9 linear feet)

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Humberto Dionisio was born in Cuba in 1950. During the 1970s he became a noted poster artist and completed his studies in Graphic Design at the Consejo Nacional de Cultura in Cuba in 1975. He arrived in Miami, Florida, via the Mariel boat lift in 1980, and achieved success in Miami as a painter from the mid to late 1980s. He died in March 1987 at the age of thirty-six.

Administration

Author
Stephanie L. Ashley
Provenance
The Humberto Dionisio papers were donated by Jim Kitchens, a friend of Dionisio, in 1996.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Rosa M. Fernández in 1997.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
The collection is open for research. Use requires an appointment and is limited to the Washington, D.C. research facility.
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
Humberto Dionisio papers, 1919-1990. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Latino and Latin American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuba -- Social life and customs Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuban Americans -- Florida -- Miami Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuban American art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Expatriate artists -- Florida -- Miami Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists -- Cuba Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuban American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Saavedra, Nelia Dominguez Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rodriguez, Zoraida Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dominquez, Zaida Ortega Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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