Anton Refregier papers, ca. 1900-ca. 1990

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A Finding Aid to the Anton Refregier Papers, circa 1900-circa 1990, in the Archives of American Art, by Stephanie L. Ashley

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Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art

Table of Contents:

• Biographical Information
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory
• Appendices

Biographical Information

Russian-born Woodstock painter Anton Refregier (1905-1979) immigrated to the United States in 1920. Refregier was well-known for his sometimes controversial social realist murals for the WPA.

After an apprenticeship to the sculptor, Vasilief, in Paris, Anton Refregier attended the Rhode Island School of Design from 1920-1925 and studied with Hans Hoffman in Germany in 1927. He had his first one-man show at ACA Galleries in New York City in 1942 and settled in Woodstock, New York, with his wife, Lila, and three children Anton, Jr., Brigit and Aleksandre, where he became a prominent member of the artist community.

Refregier completed several social realist murals for the federal Works Progress Adminstration (WPA) program, including one at the New York Worlds Fair in 1939 and the controversial Rincon Annex Post Office mural in San Francisco begun in 1941. He also completed interior design installations for businesses such as the nightclub, Cafe Society Uptown, and the restaurant, The Cookery, in New York City. In addition to being an easel and mural painter Refregier worked in tapestry, mosaic, ceramic, and collage, and completed many commissions for hotels, banks, hospitals, restaurants, synagogues, supermarkets and deparment stores throughout the country.

Refregier taught at various institutions including Stanford University, the University of Arkansas, and Bard College and his publications inlcude Natural Figure Drawing (1948), An Artist's Journey (1965), and Sketches of the Soviet Union (1978). He traveled regularly to the Soviet Union to explore and exchange ideas about art and culture and as a representative of the World Peace Council.

Anton Refregier died in Moscow in October 1979 while visiting the Soviet Union. His work can be found in many museums including the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

The papers of Woodstock area painter, muralist, and designer, Anton Refregier (1905-1979) date from circa 1900 to circa 1990 and measure 35.3 linear feet. The collection records Refregier's early commercial work and murals for the Works Progress Adminstration (WPA) and documents his career through to the 1970s with records of commissions for many public and private buildings, exhibitions in the United States and abroad, teaching positions, essays and publications, and extensive travel, particularly to the Soviet Union and Mexico. The collection contains scattered biographical material, personal and business correspondence, notes and writings, diaries and journals, mural and tapestry files, exhibition files, personal business records, printed material, scrapbooks, artwork including sketches and cartoons for murals, and photographs of Refregier, his friends, family and travels.

Biographical material contains legal records such as Refregier's will and marriage and death records, passports, resume material and 2 interview transcripts.

Correspondence, both chronological and alphabetical, constitutes almost a third of the collection and documents all aspects of Refregier's career including his work for the WPA, private commissions, representation by ACA Galleries, his involvement with groups such as the Woodstock Artists Association and his teaching work for institutions such as Bard College. Also documented are his involvement with local political groups and international organizations such as the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship and the World Peace Council, and travels including visits to the Soviet Union. Notable correspondents include Henry Dreyfuss, Philip Evergood, Rockwell Kent, Emmy-Lou Packard, and Byron Randall. Correspondence also includes family letters written primarily by Refregier to Lila Refregier, in addition to greeting cards received by the Refregier family, many of which contain original arwork.

Writings are primarily by Refregier and include drafts of many essays and autobiographical writings, in addition to copies of published works including Natural Figure Drawing, An Artists Journey and Sketches of the Soviet Union.

The collection contains diaries and journals from 12 years in various formats including published and handmade day planners and typed and handwritten journal entries. They include sketches and primarily record travel and daily activities including specific projects such as the New York World's Fair mural (1938-1939).

Mural and Tapestry files document individual commissions bid on and/or completed by Refregier. The creation of the Rincon Annex Post Office mural and subsequent controversies over its subject matter are well-documented here, as are many of Refregier's commissions for banks, hospitals, hotels, shopping centers, and schools.

Exhibition files document at least 15 of Refregier's exhibitions, including his first one-man show at ACA Galleries (1942) and his exhibition of paintings at the Hermitage Museum (1967) in what was then Leningrad.

Personal business records contain addresses of contacts. Scattered records referencing market values for Refregier's work can be found throughout the series in records such as bills and receipts, financial notes and tax records.

Printed material provides extensive coverage of Refregier's entire career through announcements, invitations, catalogs, and news clippings. His interests in art, literature, music, theater and politics are also well-represented in these files.

The collection contains 10 scrapbooks, mostly in fragmented condition, which contain a mixture of photographs, sketches and other artwork, notes and fragments of writings, and printed material. The scrapbooks document a variety of subjects including Refregier's family life, travels to Guatemala and the Soviet Union, and the artist at work.

Artwork consists primarily of artwork by Refregier in the form of mural design sketches and cartoons in various media, including pencil, ink and pastel, in addition to 21 sketchbooks, many of which also contain journal entries and notes. Also found here are prints and reproductions of Refregier's "Peace card" block engravings for every year from 1950-1973, with the exception of 1970.

Photographs document all phases of Refregier's career and include family photographs dating from circa 1900, photos of Refregier in the studio including work for the WPA, Refregier and other artists and individuals at events and parties from the 1940s-1970s, travel snapshots probably taken in Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, and the Soviet Union, and photographs of artwork and installations. Individuals pictured include Julio de Diego, Marion Greenwood, Rockwell Kent, Pablo O'Higgins and David Siqueiros; also, a series of press photographs by Albert A. Freeman pictures Refregier with Howard Fast, Norman Bel Geddes, Marion Greenwood, John Kingsbury, Yasuo Kuniyoshi and Harry Stockwell. One photograph by Eliot Elisofon, 2 by Eugene Morley and 4 by Max Yavno can also be found here.

Arrangement and Series Description

The collection is arranged as 11 series:

• Series 1: Biographical Material, 1925-1980 (Box 1; 0.25 linear ft.)
• Series 2: Correspondence, 1912-circa 1990s (Boxes 1-11, 36, OV 38; 10.2 linear ft.)
• Series 3: Writings, circa 1930s-circa 1970s (Boxes 11-14, OV 38; 3.3 linear ft.)
• Series 4: Diaries and Journals, 1923-1979 (Box 15; 0.6 linear ft.)
• Series 5: Mural and Tapestry Files, circa 1930s-circa 1970s (Boxes 15-18, 36, OV 38, RD 42; 3.75 linear ft.)
• Series 6: Exhibition Files, 1942-1981 (Boxes 18-19; 0.6 linear ft.)
• Series 7: Personal Business Records, 1920s-1980s (Boxes 19-20; 1.8 linear ft.)
• Series 8: Printed Material, circa 1920s-1980s (Boxes 21-28, 36; 7.4 linear ft.)
• Series 9: Scrapbooks, 1930s-1960s (Boxes 28, 37; 0.6 linear ft.)
• Series 10: Artwork, circa 1930s-circa 1970s (Boxes 28-30, 36, OVs 40, 41, RDs 42-44; 2.3 linear ft.)
• Series 11: Photographic Material, ca. 1900-1980s (Boxes 31-35, 39; 4.5 linear ft.)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

Donated 1983 by Lila Refregier, widow of Anton Refregier, and in 1992 by Brigit R. Sutton, Refregier's daughter.

Separated and Related Materials

Also found in the Archives of American Art are an oral history interview with Anton Refregier, 1964, Nov. 5 by Joseph Trovato; and Papers regarding Anton Refregier mural controversy, 1953.

How the Collection was Processed

The collection was processed to a preliminary/intermediate level and a finding aid prepared by Stephanie Ashley in 2011 with funding provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art. Preliminary/intermediate processing included arrangement to the series, subseries and folder levels, following the original order for the most part. Generally, items within folders were simply verified with folder titles but not arranged further with the exception of some chronological arrangement by year or decade. The collection was rehoused in archival containers and folders, but not all staples and clips were removed.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Anton Refregier papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. They may be used for research, study and scholarship. Authorization to quote or reproduce for purposes of publication must be obtained from: Brigit R. Sutton, Box 344D, Woodstock, New York, 12498.

How to Cite this Collection

Anton Refregier papers, circa 1900-circa 1990. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1925-1980 (Box 1; 0.25 linear ft.)

This series includes Refregier's marriage, naturalization and death certificates, passports and other travel documentation, wills, interview transcripts, membership cards and awards, and resume material.

Series 2: Correspondence, 1912-circa 1990s (Boxes 1-11, 36, OV 38; 10.2 linear ft.)

This series provides extensive documentation of Refregier's personal and professional life through correspondence in addition to notes, financial and legal records, printed material and some photographs and sketches. It includes family correspondence consisting primarily of letters written by Refregier while traveling and working in Mexico, San Francisco (on the Rincon Annex Post Office mural) and the Soviet Union. Chronological and alphabetical correspondence contains correspondence with artists including Henry Dreyfuss, Philip Evergood, Rockwell Kent, Emmy Lou Packard, and Byron Randall, colleagues who worked with Refregier on murals and tapestries such as Walter and Bundy Illsley, WPA administrators, galleries and museums, public and corporate business clients, and national and international political organizations in which Refreigier was extensively involved, such as the World Peace Council. The series also documents Refregier's participation in artist organizaitons such as the Woodstock Artists Association and his teaching work for institutions such as Bard College, where he was professor of painting from 1962-1964.

Files relating to the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship contain correspondence with Rockwell Kent who was involved extensively with this organization and with the World Peace Council.

Researchers should note that chronological correspondence in Series 2.2. supplements documentation of subjects found in the alphabetical files of Series 2.3. Correspondence files relating to mural and tapestry commissions should also be used in conjunction with Series 5: Murals and Tapestry Files where more detailed information about certain commissions can be found.

The series is arranged as 4 subseries:

• 2.1: Family Correspondence, 1940s-1970s
• 2.2: Chronological Correspondence, 1912-circa 1990s
• 2.3: Alphabetical Correspondence, 1930s-1982
• 2.4: Greeting Cards, circa 1940s-circa 1970s

2.1: Family Correspondence, 1940s-1970s

2.2: Chronological Correspondence, 1912-circa 1990s

2.3: Alphabetical Correspondence, 1930s-1982

Records are arranged alphabetically by name or subject.

2.4: Greeting Cards, circa 1940s-circa 1970s

This series contains greeting cards, primarily seasonal, received by Refregier and his family. The first group of 13 folders contains many homemade cards and includes original artwork by artists such as Emmy Lou Packard and Byron Randall, and one greeting recorded on a phonograph record.

Series 3: Writings, circa 1930s-circa 1970s (Boxes 11-14, OV 38; 3.3 linear ft.)

This series contains primarily drafts of many unpublished essays and autobiographical writings by Refregier, in addition to copies of several of his published works including Natural Figure Drawing, An Artists Journey and Sketches of the Soviet Union. Typescript drafts of "Diary of a Mural" appear to document Refregier's experience while working on his mural for the Rincon Annex Post Office.

The series is arranged as 2 subseries:

• 3.1: Writings by Refregier, circa 1930s-circa 1970s
• 3.2: Writings by Others, circa 1930s-circa 1970s

3.1: Writings by Refregier, circa 1930s-circa 1970s

Writings include typescripts, notes, layout material including sketches and photographs, and published copies of books. Records relating to Art in Architecture include photos of Refregier

See Appendix for a partial list of the writings not listed individually in this series.

Writings by Refregier are arranged in rough chronological order, with groups of writings that appear to be from the same decade grouped at the beginning of the files for that decade. A partial list of the writings in the group files can be found in the Appendix.

3.2: Writings by Others, circa 1930s-circa 1970s

Writings by others includes primarily typescripts about Refregier and on various other subjects by authors including Howard Koch, Rockwell Kent, Walter Lowenfels, and possibly some of Refregier's students.

Series 4: Diaries and Journals, 1923-1979

Fifteen diaries and journals from circa 12 years are found in the form of typescripts and handwritten journals and day planners. Many contain sketches and were created primarily by Refregier to record travel and day-to-day activities including specific projects such as the New York World's Fair Mural in 1938. One 1923 journal is handwritten in Russian.

Diaries are arranged chronologically, with 2 items belonging to Lila Refregier and 1 item probably belonging to Anton Refregier Jr.'s (Toto) wife, placed at the end of the series.

Series 5: Mural and Tapestry Files, circa 1930s-circa 1970s (Boxes 15-18, 36, OV 38, RD 42; 3.75 linear ft.)

This series documents Refregier's work on many mural and tapestry projects for private and corporate clients such as Bowery Savings Bank, Cafe Society Uptown, Sheraton Hotels, anbd First National Bank. It also documents commissions for state and federal government agencies, including the WPA and commissions such as the post office in Plainfield, NJ, Rikers Island Prison, and the Rincon Annex Post Office. Files contain correspondence, notes, many loose sketches and cartoons, printed material and photographs. Additional records relating to these files can be found in Series 2: Correspondence.

The series is arranged as 2 subseries, with files arranged alphabetically by name of project or subject:

• 5.1: Murals, circa 1930s-circa 1970s
• 5.2: Tapestries, circa 1940s-circa 1970s

5.1: Murals, circa 1930s-circa 1970s

5.2: Tapestries, circa 1940s-circa 1970s

Series 6: Exhibition Files, 1942-1981 (Boxes 18-19; 0.6 linear ft.)

Files primarily contain correspondence and notes relating to exhibition arrangements and lists of exhibited works. Additional announcements, catalogs, invitations and exhibition reviews can be found in Series 8: Printed Material, Refregier.

Series 7: Personal Business Records, 1920s-1980s (Boxes 19-20; 1.8 linear ft.)

Scattered but limited financial documentation relating to Refregier's work can be found throughout this series in addition to addresses in 6 sets of index cards including 3 alphabetical sets, and groupings for "Owners of my work," "Sources," "New materials and processes" and a mixed set.

Series 8: Printed Material, circa 1920s-1980s (Boxes 21-28, 36; 7.4 linear ft.)

1.5 linear feet of printed material documenting Refregier's career can be found here, including invitations to events, exhibition announcements and catalogs and news clippings about the artist. Also found is printed material in which illustrations by Refregier were published.

The remainder of the series consists of printed material reflecting Refregier's interest in subjects including art, literature, music, theater, and local, national and international politics, particularly in the countries of the Eastern bloc. The series contains issues of popular magazines such as Life and Look, newspapers such as The Worker, Daily Worker, and National Guardian, foreign publications such as Rumania Today, Korea, Neue Berliner Ilustrierte, and a folder of 2 tourist information brochures from circa 1933 Nazi Germany. News clippings from the series provide coverage of some of the most defining events of the twentieth century including World War II, events in the Soviet Union, John F. Kennedy's assasination, the Vietnam War, and the civil rights movement in the United States.

Printed material relating to the World Council of Peace, includes records of related organizations, councils and committees, and includes Council bulletins, official statements, resolutions, articles and reports, minutes of meetings, and press releases.

Printed material on miscellaneous other subjects includes some issues of the local Woodstock newspaper Woodstock Week and a small group of clippings files with Refregier's original labels.

The series is arranged as 3 subseries:

• 8.1: Printed Material, Refregier, circa 1920s-circa 1980s
• 8.2: Printed Material, Other Artists/Art-Related, circa 1920s-1980s
• 8.3: Printed Material, Other Subjects, circa 1920s-1980s

8.1: Printed Material, Refregier, circa 1920s-circa 1980s

8.2: Printed Material, Other Artists/Art-Related, circa 1920s-1980s

8.3: Printed Material, Other Subjects, circa 1920s-1980s

Series 9: Scrapbooks, 1930s-1960s (Boxes 28, 37; 0.6 linear ft.)

Scrapbooks are generally in fragmented condition and contain a mixture of photographs, sketches, notes and fragments of writings, and printed material.

Scrapbook 1 contains clippings, announcements and catalogs; Scrapbook 2 includes photos of Lila Refregier and the Refregier children, agricultural work, and unidentified people, probably including Philip Evergood; Scrapbook 3 contains a mixture of photos and sketches with notes, and draft fragments of essays; Scrapbook 4 contains primarily photos of Guatemala; Scrapbook 5 includs greeting cards with original artwork in addition to several sketches by Refregier; Scrapbook 6 includes printed material related to Refregier's visits to the Soviet Union; Scrapbook 7 relates to a University of Kentucky mural and includes photos of Refregier at work in addition to some FAP photographic division photos; Scrapbooks 8 and 9 contain photos of murals and installations and original artwork; and scrapbook 10 contains news clippings.

Series 10: Artwork, circa 1930s-circa 1970s (Boxes 28-30, 36, OVs 40-41, RDs 42-44; 2.3 linear ft.)

Artwork by Refregier in the form of loose sketches, primarily in pencil, and 21 sketchbooks, constitutes the bulk of this series. Sketches and cartoons document the development of many of Refregier's mural and tapestry designs. Many of the sketchbooks also contain journal entries and notes. Also found here are prints and reproductions of Refregier's "Peace card" block engravings for every year from 1950-1973, with the exception of 1970.

Material related to Natural Figure Drawing includes photos and sketches by Refregier and others used in the book and 2 marked up copies of the book. A folder of sketches and text regarding publications for labor organizations, includes two issues of Labor Defender from 1933 and 1934.

Artwork by others contains artwork by Refregier's children and other unidentified children, and one folder of artwork by others including 7 copies of a woodblock print by Manuel Q. Hernandez, and a pencil sketch and woodblock print by unidentified artists.

Series 11: Photographs, circa 1900-1980s (Boxes 31-35, 39; 4.5 linear ft.)

Photographs include photographs of Refregier with family, friends and colleagues; Refregier in his studio, including photos of models used for mural painting and for his 1948 book Natural Figure Drawing; Refregier at events such as exhibition openings and parties; and Refregier on trips to the Soviet Union, Mexico and other locations. Also found here are photos of Refregier's artwork and exhibition installations.

Family photographs include some presumed to picture Refregier's family taken around circa 1900, possibly including the sculptor Vasilief with whom Refregier apprenticed in Paris. Reference to a first wife of Refregier is also inscribed on the verso of one of the photographs.

Photographs of Refregier at work in the studio and with models, include FAP Photographic Division photos and photos of many models from that period including those used for Refregier's New York World's Fair mural. Some sketches can also be found here.

Friends and colleagues pictured include Julio de Diego, Marion Greenwood, Rockwell Kent, Pablo O'Higgins and David Siqueiros. There is also a 1936 photo of Margaret Bourke-White, Stuart Davis, Doris Lee, Paul Manship and Lewis Mumford and a group of snapshots from a visit to see Rockwell and Sally Kent at Asgard Farm.

Photos of events and parties include a dismantled scrapbook and photos from an exhibition opening in 1945 and press photos by Albert A. Freeman, picturing Refregier with Howard Fast, Norman Bel Geddes, Marion Greenwood, John Kingsbury, Yasuo Kuniyoshi and Harry Stockwell. Other events include an exhibiton of Refregier's work in Moscow at the Pushkin Museum of Art.

Travel photographs of Mexico include a series of photographs and part of a dismantled scrapbook showing Refregier and others at work on the tapestry process.

The series also contains slide transparencies, primarily of artwork by Refregier and travel to the Soviet Union, circa 1959 and 1960s.

Of additional note are photographs by others including a photograph by Eliot Elisofon, 2 photographs by Eugene Morley and 4 photographs by Max Yavno, including one of Refregier at work.

Writings by Refregier Not Listed Individually

• "American Artists Gift Exhibition," circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• "An Art Exhibition," circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• "Art Student," circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• "Artist Should Be consulted," circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• "Cooking for Pleasure," circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• Decorating with sandblasting, circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• Line and drawing, circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• "Message to the National Mural Conference," circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• Need to establish a federal program with the power to give grants for art and culture, circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• Scottsboro Ballet, circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• "Spring in New York City," circa 1940s-circa 1970s
• "Artists Life in the U.S.," 1950s
• "Having a Wonderful Time," 1950s
• "Murals for your Home," 1950s
• Picasso, 1950s
• Rockwell Kent's 75th anniversary, 1950s
• "School Architecture," 1950s
• "Art for our Schools," 1960s
• "Eugene Morley," 1960s
• "Karl Kanol," 1960s
• "Harvey Fite," 1960s
• Letter to Editor re: WPA, 1960s
• Re: Soviet artists, 1960s
• "Spring in New York City"
• "Statement in Connection with Forthcoming Exhibition in Moscow," 1960s
• "A Draft of an Article on the Cultural Scene-USA," 1970s
• "An Artist's Journey to Mexico" (includes photo of artist Pablo O'Higgins), 1970s
• Bernal, John Desmond, 1970s
• "Cathy," 1970s
• Dedication to Rockwell Kent, 1970s
• "My Friend David," 1970s
• "Salaspil," 1970s
• Tribute to Philip Evergood, 1973
• Painting "The Strike" (San Francisco Waterfront Strike painted in 1934), 1973
• Article for Soviet Union magazine Rovesnick, 1977
• Daily World question and answer page, 1977
• Book review of Towards a People's Art: The Contemporary Mural Movement, 1977