Muray, Nickolas, b. 1892 d. 1965
PhotographerNew York, N.Y. (Show Bio)
Nickolas Muray papers, 1911-1978
0.6 linear ft. (on 2 microfilm reels)
Reel(s): 4392-4393
Biographical material, letters, subject files, an interview transcript, notes, writings, art works, photographs, and printed material.
Biographical material includes a membership card and an identity card for the United States Olympic fencing team (1931-1932), 2 biographical accounts, and an 18 p. autobiographical account. Letters and cards, 1925-1965, are from notables photographed by Muray including Judith Anderson, Miguel Covarrubias, John Galsworthy, Martha Graham, Jascha Heifetz, Frida Kahlo, Mary Martin, Claude Monet, Agnes (Mrs. Eugene) O'Neill, the secretary of George Bernard Shaw, H. De Vere Stackpoole, Ruth St. Denis, and H. G. Wells (1925-1965). Seventeen letters include 2 Christmas cards displaying photographs of Muray in costume, a Christmas card from Frank Crowninshield decorated with an etching by Gari Melchers, and 2 condolence letters to Muray's wife.
Subject files contain letters, notes, and printed material concerning a color photography course taught by Muray at New York University (1940-1941), his Signal Corps application (1942-1944), PEOPLES OF THE WORLD trip (1957-1962), and survival of a heart attack (1961-1962). An interview transcript is from Muray's appearance on the Fleischmann's Yeast radio program (1929).
Also included are membership lists for the Coffee House (1963), the Circle of Confusion, and lists of celebrity portraits (1965); Muray's reviews of the performing arts, a profile of Muray by Katherine Ursula Parrott; commentary by Paul Gallico for THE REVEALING EYE, a mock-up for THE GREAT TRIBES OF AFRICA (1969), both books of Muray's work; 4 drawings, 3 by illustrator Willy Pogany; photographs, 1911-ca.1960, of Muray with his family, at work, as a member of the 1928 Olympic Fencing Team, Muray with Miguel Covarrubias, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo; carbro prints of Loretta Young, 3 models, and arrangements of food. Three of the photos of Muray are by Edward Steichen. Additional material includes clippings (1920-1969), a book CELEBRITY PORTRAITS OF THE TWENTIES AND THIRTIES (1978), and printed material (1924-1926).
Donated 1988 by Mimi Muray, the daughter of Muray's fourth wife, Peggy Muray.
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