About the Bernice West Beyers papers
A Finding Aid to the Bernice West Beyers Papers, 1912-1987, in the Archives of American Art, by Jean Fitzgerald
(Download PDF Version, 74 KB ![[Download PDF Version]](/images/website/pdficon_small.gif)
)
)
Biographical Information | Description of the Collection | How to Use the Collection | Series Descriptions
Biographical Information [+]
Bernice Delemar West was born on April 26, 1906 in New York City, the daughter of Abigail Palmer and E. Lovette West, an engineer. In 1925 she graduated from the Bennett School in Millbrook, New York, where she took diplomas in both drama and fine arts. After a summer trip to Europe with classmates, she spent the next year studying drama with Winifred Lenihan at the Theatre Guild. In the summer of 1926, she did summer stock in Binghamton as a member of Actors Equity. In 1927 she began to pursue a career in sculpture and pottery. READ MORE
Description of the Collection
Overview - Scope and Contents
The papers of sculptor Bernice West Beyers measure 1.7 linear feet and date from 1912-1987. Found within the papers are biographical material that reflects her education and early interest in the performing arts; letters that discuss sculpture commissions and exhibitions; business records, primarily receipts and price lists; notes and writings, including a notebook and transcripts of radio interviews; a sketchbook; printed material including scrapbooks of clippings; and photographs of Beyers and photograph albums of her art work.
Arrangement and Series Description
The collection is arranged as 7 series. All series are arranged chronologically. All oversized material has been housed in Box 3 (sol) and is referenced in the folder headings of the Series Description/Container Listing.
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1923-1935, undated (Box 1; 2 folders)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1928-1974, undated (Box 1; 16 folders)
- Series 3: Business Records, 1923-1960, undated (Box 1; 11 folders)
- Series 4: Notes and Writings, 1925-1967, undated (Box 1, 3; 10 folders)
- Series 5: Art Work, undated (Box 1; 2 folders)
- Series 6: Printed Material, 1912-1987, undated (Box 1, 3; 33 folders)
- Series 7: Photographs, 1937-1956, undated (Box 1, 2, 3; 29 folders)
Subjects
This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Archives of American Art under the following index terms. People, families and organizations are listed under "Subjects" when they are the topic of collection contents and under "Names" when they are creators or contributors.
- Subjects-Topical:
- Sculpture, Modern -- 20th century
- Women sculptors -- New York (State)
- Sculptors -- New York (State)
- Types of Materials:
- Works of art
- Sketchbooks
- Photographs
Provenance
The Bernice West Beyers papers were donated in 1988 by Robert West Beyers, the artist's son.
How the Collection was Processed
The papers were processed in November 2005 by Jean Fitzgerald.
How to Use the Collection
Restrictions on Use
The Bernice West Beyers papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
The collection is open for research. Use requires an appointment.
How to Cite this Collection
Bernice West Beyers papers, 1912-1987. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Series Descriptions
Series 1: Biographical Material, 1923-1935, undated (Box 1; 2 folders)
Biographical material consists of report cards from the Bennett School of Liberal and Applied Arts, membership certificates including an Actors' Equity card, and an award certificate.
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Report Cards, 1923-1924 | |
| 1 | Membership Certificates and Award Certificate, 1926-1935, undated |
Series 2: Correspondence, 1928-1974, undated (Box 1; 16 folders)
Correspondence consists of letters exchanged between Beyers, members of her family, and colleagues. Many letters discuss commissions and exhibitions of her sculpture. There is one letter, 1951, signed by Alexander Archipenko.
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Correspondence, 1928-1974, undated (16 folders) |
Series 3: Business Records, 1923-1960, undated (Box 1; 11 folders)
Business records primarily consist of miscellaneous receipts, price lists, and patent records relating to Beyers' designs for an ashtray and for an automobile hood ornament.
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous Receipts, 1923-1960, undated (9 folders) | |
| 1 | Patent Records, 1928-1929 | |
| 1 | Price Lists, 1933, undated |
Series 4: Notes and Writings, 1925-1967, undated (Box 1, 3; 10 folders)
Notes include a notebook listing information about miscellaneous art work, transcripts of radio interviews, and miscellaneous notes. Writings consist of miscellaneous typescripts written by Beyers.
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notebook Concerning Art Work, 1931-1939 | |
| 1 | Transcript of Radio Interviews, undated (2 folders) | |
| 1 | Notes on Etching, undated | |
| 1 | Caption Cards for Art Work, 1967, undated | |
| 1 | Miscellaneous Notes, 1925-1933, undated (See Also Box 3) | |
| 1 | Miscellaneous Typescripts, 1933-1941, undated (3 folders) |
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 3 (sol) | Oversized Blueprint of Portrait Plaque of Fred H. Albee, 1925 | |
| 3 (sol) | Oversized Blueprint of a Wooden Easel, 1933 |
Series 5: Art Work, undated (Box 1; 2 folders)
Art work consists of a sketchbook containing geometric designs, and an abstract pencil drawing.
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sketchbook, undated | |
| 1 | Drawing, undated |
Series 6: Printed Material, 1912-1987, undated (Box 1, 3; 33 folders)
Printed material consists of clippings, scrapbooks of clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, programs primarily from Beyers' plays and readings, brochures including one from the General Bronze Corporation, and miscellaneous printed material.
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clippings, 1912-1966, undated (12 folders; See Also Box 3) | |
| 1 | Scrapbook 1, 1921-1927 (6 folders; See Box 3 for Scrapbook 2) | |
| 1 | Scrapbook 3, 1938-1939 | |
| 1 | Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1933-1987, undated (7 folders) | |
| 1 | Programs, 1917-1926, undated (2 folders) | |
| 1 | Brochures, 1932, undated | |
| 1 | Reproductions of Art Work by Others, undated | |
| 1 | Picture Postcards, undated |
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 3 (sol) | Oversized Clippings, 1931 | |
| 3 (sol) | Scrapbook 2, 1934-1946 |
Series 7: Photographs, 1937-1956, undated (Box 1-3; 29 folders)
This series consists primarily of photographs of art works, both unbound and in albums. There are also photographs of Beyers and her exhibitions.
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photographs of Bernice West Beyers, 1937, undated | |
| 1 | Photographs of Art Exhibitions, 1941,undated | |
| 1 | Photograph Album 1, undated (See Also Box 3; 4 folders) | |
| 1 | Photograph Album 2, undated (3 folders) |
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 2 (hol) | Photograph Album 3, undated (2 folders) | |
| 2 (hol) | Photograph Album 4, undated (2 folders) | |
| 2 (hol) | Photograph Album 5, undated | |
| 2 (hol) | Photographs of Art Work by Beyers, 1956, undated (13 folders) | |
| 2 (hol) | Photographs of Art Work by others, undated |
| Box |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 3 (sol) | Oversized Cover for Photograph Album 1, undated |