Abercrombie, Gertrude, b. 1909 d. 1977

Gertrude Abercrombie papers, 1888-1986

5.7 linear ft. (partially microfilmed on 7 reels)
Reel(s): 1429-1435

Letters, diary, sketchbooks and other art works, photographs, business records, printed material, sound recordings, and a scrapbook reflecting Abercrombie's artistic career and her association with many literary and jazz figures; and records of the Gertrude Abercrombie Trust, 1977-1986, regarding the settlement of her estate.

REELS 1429-1435: Biographical sketch (4 p.); ca.400 letters and ca. 1400 postcards received, including illustrated letters and Christmas cards from Karl J. Priebe, letters from Dudley Huppler, Karl Priebe, James Purdy, Sonny Rollins, Ned Rorem, Carl Van Vechten, Wendell Wilcox, Thorton Wilder, and others; a diary with brief entries for 1919 and 1924; files on artists, writers and musicians containing brief correspondence, printed material, and photographs, on Dudley Huppler, Jerome Karidis, Karl Priebe, James Purdy, Sonny Rollins, Carl Van Vechten, Wendell Wilcox, John Wilde, and Thorton Wilder; 2 sketchbooks and 41 sketches (36 x 29 or smaller) in ink, pencil, and wash of figures, landscapes and interiors, 4 woodcut Christmas cards by Abercrombie, a woodcut by Emil Armin, 2 pencil sketches by Naomi Hirsch, and an ink sketch by John Wilde. Also included are exhibition catalogs, announcements, and invitations; articles and clippings; sales and expense account books; a catalog file of paintings; mailing lists and guest lists; address books; a photograph album, and loose photographs of Abercrombie, her family and friends, including Louis Armstrong, Arnold Blanch, Erroll Gerner, Dizzy Gillespie, Orlando, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughan, and of works of art; memorabilia; and a scrapbook.

UNMICROFILMED: Autographed first editions, some relating to jazz, and record albums. Among the authors are James Purdy, Dudley Huppler, Ned Rorem, James Blake, Thornton Wilder, Paul Warren (Gertrude's husband), Richard Armour, Nelson Algren, Studs Terkel, Gladys Campbell (Young), Mezz (Milton) Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, Ross Russell, Oscar Tarcov, and Mark Turbyfill. One album, "Orlando," has a cover designed by Abercrombie.

Remainder of the unmicrofilmed material consists of papers of the Gertrude Abercrombie Trust, 1977-1986, primarily correspondence of Donald Baum, executor of the estate. Also included are financial papers, printed material and photographs of Abercrombie's paintings. Correspondence, arranged alphabetically, concerns the donation of Abercrombie's art collection to various institutions and galleries mainly in the Midwest and the settling of the estate with Abercrombie's daughter, Dinah Livingston Dady. Financial papers include completed tax forms, inventories, receipts and copies of checks relating to the estate. Printed material includes an exhibition announcement and priced catalog of a retrospective show at the Hyde Park Art Center, and clippings about Abercrombie's work.

Donated 1978 and 1986 by Don Baum, executor of the Gertrude Abercrombie Trust.

How to Use this Collection

• Open for research. Use requires an appointment. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm.
• Microfilm reels 1429-1435 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
• Selected images of documents in this collection are online.
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