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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Chuck and Jan Rosenak Research Material, circa 1938-2008, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.rosechuc
- Creators:
-
Rosenak, Chuck
- Dates:
-
circa 1938-2008
- Languages:
-
The records are inEnglishandSpanish.
- Physical Description:
-
17.6 Linear feet
- Repository:
The Chuck and Jan Rosenak research material dates from circa 1938-2008 and measures 17.6 linear feet. The collection contains research files for four books by the Rosenaks and includes letters, writings, notes, printed matter, tape-recorded interviews with artists, and photographic material.
Scope and Content Note
Scope and Content Note
The Chuck and Jan Rosenak research material dates from circa 1938-2008 and measures 17.6 linear feet. The collection contains correspondence, writings, notes, printed matter, tape-recorded interviews of artists, and photographs and slides of artists and artwork. The records document the Rosenak's research and collecting trips in the United States, often to isolated locales, in pursuit of new art and insights for their writing projects. The collection relates primarily to their research for Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American Folk Art and Artists, The People Speak: Navajo Folk Art, Contemporary American Folk Art: A Collector's Guide, The Saint Makers: Contemporary Santeras y Santeros, and are an important source of information on twentieth-century folk art.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 5 series:
- Series 1: Research Files, circa 1938-1999 (Boxes 1-9, 19; 9.2 linear ft.)
- Series 2: Loans to Exhibitions, circa 1991-1997, undated (Box 10; 0.4 linear ft.)
- Series 3: Miscellaneous Files, circa 1969-2003 (Boxes 10-12; 2.0 linear ft.)
- Series 4: Interviews of Artists, circa 1990s (Box 12-13; 1.5 linear ft.)
- Series 5: Photographs and Slides, circa 1990s (Boxes 13-18; 4.5 linear ft.)
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
Chuck and Jan Rosenak are widely regarded as authorities in the field of American folk art. They amassed one of the finest collections of contemporary folk art in the United States and authored four books: Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American Folk Art and Artists (New York: Abbeville, 1990), The People Speak: Navajo Folk Art (Flagstaff, Arizona: Northland Publishing, 1994), Contemporary American Folk Art: A Collector's Guide (New York: Abbeville, 1996), and The Saint Makers: Contemporary Santeras y Santeros (Flagstaff, Arizona: Northland Publishing, 1998).
Administration
Author
Liza Kirwin, Stephanie Ashley, and Carrol Park
Provenance
The collection was donated by Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1998-1999.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level by Liza Kirwin between 1998 and 2000. Additional work on the collection was completed by intern Carrol Park in 2012. Box 13 was merged into box 12 in 2023, so the current collection inventory goes from box 12 to box 14.
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
Chuck and Jan Rosenak research material, circa 1938-2008. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-7950
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
