Baker, Richard Brown, b. 1912 d. 2002

Collector
Calif. (Show Bio)

Richard Brown Baker papers, 1941-1979

1.2 linear ft. (ca. 550 items partially microfilmed on 7 reels)
Reel(s): D105, 132, 1045, 1754-1755, 2786, and 3482

Primarily material relating to Baker's contemporary art collection. Also included are taped excerpts from journals, and 3 family letters from Alphaeus P. Cole. REELS 1754-1755: Files on 27 exhibitions of contemporary art, 1959-1979, selected from Baker's collection, containing correspondence with curators, press releases, clippings, diary excerpts, catalogs, and photographs of exhibition installations. REEL 132: Exhibition catalogs, 1964-1969, tour itineraries for the collection; and clippings. REEL 1045: A card file on Baker's collection, arranged by artist, listing title, size, material, provenance, and exhibition history; and an acquisition book for the collection, arranged by numbers corresponding to the date acquired, 1941-1976. REEL 2786: Four letters, 1961-1963, to Baker including one about a proposed article by James Fitzsimmons on Baker for ART INTERNATIONAL and typescripts of two lectures delivered by Baker at Drew University on February 18, 1962 and Wellesley College on May 6, 1963. REEL D105: Five catalogs, two clippings, one manuscript and typescript "Notes on the Development of My Collection." REEL 3482: Letters, 1948-1949, from portrait painter Alphaeus P. Cole to Baker's father, Harvey Baker, and his sister, Marion Baker Freeman, Providence, R.I., regarding a portrait by Cole of Freeman, commissioned by Harvey Baker through Grand Central Galleries. UNMICROFILMED: 44 untranscribed tapes (5") containing excerpts from Baker's journals, 1963.

Location of Originals: Reels D105, 1045 and 1754-1755: Originals returned to Baker after microfilming.

Material on reels D105, 1045 and 1754-1755 lent for microfilming 1962-1980 by Baker. He donated the Cole letters on reel 3482 in 1963, and material on reels 132 and 2786, and tapes, in 1971.

How to Use this Collection

• Microfilmed portion must be used on microfilm. Use of untranscribed tapes requires an appointment.
• Microfilm reels D105, 132, 1045, 1754-1755, 2786, and 3482 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
• For more information on using resources at the Archives of American Art, please visit our Ask Us page