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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Cleve Overton Papers, circa 1928-2022, bulk 1948-2020, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.overclev
- Creators:
-
Overton, Cleve
- Dates:
-
circa 1928-2022bulk 1948-2020
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
3.8 Linear feet
- Repository:
The papers of Washington, D.C.-based mixed media artist Cleve Overton measure 3.8 linear feet and date from circa 1928-2022, bulk 1948-2020. Included are biographical materials; correspondence including letters from Overton to his wife Jude Andreasen while she was in various countries in Africa; writings, exhibition files, project files, printed materials, subject files, and photographs and photograph albums of Cleve, family, events, artwork, events and exhibitions.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The papers of Washington, D.C.-based mixed media artist Cleve Overton measure 3.8 linear feet and date from circa 1928-2022, bulk 1948-2020. Included are biographical materials; correspondence including letters from Overton to his wife Jude Andreasen while she was in various countries in Africa; writings, exhibition files, project files, printed materials, subject files, and photographs and photograph albums of Cleve, family, events, artwork, events and exhibitions.
Biographical material includes award certificates, biographical profiles, family history, travel documents, memorial records and obituaries, and an audiovisual recording from Cleve Overton's 80th birthday celebration. Also included is a disbound binder of biographical material compiled by Overton.
Correspondence mostly consists of Cleve Overton's letters to his wife Jude Andreasen while she lived in several countries in Africa as well as some letters he wrote to "Dear Ones," presumably friends and family. There are some letters from various correspondents addressed to Cleve Overton and there is one folder of condolence letters.
Writings include articles, essays, notes, and letters to the editor written by Cleve Overton. There is also one binder of book production records that was compiled by Overton and his wife Jude Andreasen about books they collaborated on and published.
Exhibition files consist of catalogs and announcements, clippings, photographs, artist statements, price lists, video recordings of receptions, and guestbooks of group and solo exhibitions of Cleve Overton's artwork.
Project files include correspondence, printed material, photographs, and other documentation related to Overton's art projects.
Printed material is mostly comprised of clippings, magazines, and books about Cleve Overton and his artwork, whereas subject files include a mixture of printed material, photographs and documents that were compiled by Overton on topics and artists that interested him.
Photographs are of Cleve Overton, his artwork, friends and family, exhibitions (images are of the opening receptions as well as the art), military service in Japan, and various protests and marches he participated in. Most of the series is comprised of snapshots but there are also some slides and digital photographs.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 7 series.
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1928-2020 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1948-2021 (0.8 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 3: Writings, circa 1969-circa 2020 (0.3 linear feet; Box 2)
- Series 4: Exhibition Files, 1992-2015 (0.6 linear feet; Boxes 2, 5)
- Series 5: Project Files, 1987-2018 (0.4 linear feet; Boxes 2-3, OV 6)
- Series 6: Printed Material and Subject Files, 1948-2022 (Boxes 3, 5)
- Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1935-2020 (Boxes 3-5)
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Cleve Overton (1928-2020) was an African American mixed media artist based in Washington, D.C. Overton was born in Staten Island, New York on September 17, 1928. From 1945 to 1948, Overton served in the military in an All-Black army unit, the 76th/933rd AAA battalion in Japan. He studied art at the New School and other New York schools. He also ran his studio, the Potter's Wheel, where he offered pottery classes, and later he founded and managed his business, Earthworks. He was a skilled welder. He also taught as an adjunct professor of art at Baruch College and the College of Staten Island, CUNY.
Overton collaborated on many projects with his wife, Jude Andreasen. They moved to Washington, D.C. in 1989. Overton traveled extensively and lived in many countries in Europe and Africa. His time in Senegal led to the creation of a photographic series which were exhibited in IFAN National Museum in Dakar and later became a book The Doors of Senegal that he published with Andreasen. The couple published a second book of photography together, and Overton wrote three other books of his own: a memoir, a book of essays, and a novel.
Overton exhibited widely and often. His mixed media art often reflected his profound commitment to environmental, social, and racial justice. He passed away in 2020.
Administration
Author
Rihoko Ueno
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of the the Cleve Overton papers was provided by the donor. Funding for the digitization of this collection was provided in part from the donor and the Walton Family Foundation.
Existence and Location of Copies
The bulk of the collection was digitized in 2023 and is available on the Archives of American Art website.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Cleve Overton papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2022 by Jude Andreasen, Cleve Overton's wife.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, prepared for digitization, and described in a finding aid by Rihoko Ueno 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.
Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
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
Cleve Overton papers, circa 1928-2022, bulk 1948-2020. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed-media artists -- Washington (D.C). | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| African American artists | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Video recordings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Mixed-media artists -- New York (State) -- New York | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Andreasen, Jude | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
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