O'Connor, Francis V. (Francis Valentine), b. 1937

Francis V. O'Connor papers, [undated] and 1936-1968

10.6 linear ft. (partially microfilmed on 8 microfilm reels)

Research papers for O'Connor's publication, FEDERAL SUPPORT OF THE VISUAL ARTS: THE NEW DEAL AND NOW, which studied government art patronage in New York City and New York State and ART FOR THE MILLIONS, edited by O'Connor.

Reel 1084-1089: Photocopies of selected Works Progress Administration documents; questionnaires, sent by O'Connor, filled out by Federal Art Project artists and administrators, 1967-1968; copies of Federal Art Project personnel transcripts; computer printouts of summaries of his data; correspondence relating to the research; and miscellaneous photographs and biographical material.

Reels 1090-1091: Biographical sketches of and essays by 103 Federal Art Project artists and project administrators originally solicited by Emanuel M. Benson for an annual report of the Federal Art Project in 1936. They comprise his unpublished manuscript, ART FOR THE MILLIONS, later edited by O'Connor.

Unmicrofilmed material: ca. 4,000 IBM computer cards with accompanying data sheets regarding employment transcripts for New Deal art programs, part of O'Connor's research which culminated in the publication of FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR THE VISUAL ARTS: THE NEW DEAL AND NOW, 1969.

Francis V. O'Connor gave his papers to the National Collection of Fine Arts, now the National Museum of American Art, which subsequently transferred the papers, with O'Connor's permission, to AAA.

How to Use this Collection

• Artists' questionnaires (reels 1087-1089): Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce, including photocopying must be obtained from: the individual artist.
• Microfilmed portion must be consulted on microfilm. Use of unmicrofilmed portion requires an appointment and is limited to the Washington, D.C. storage facility.
• Microfilm reels 1084-1091 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
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