About the Alma Thomas papers

A Finding Aid to the Alma Thomas Papers, 1894-2000, in the Archives of American Art, by Jean Fitzgerald (Download PDF Version, 86 KB )

Biographical Information | Description of the Collection | How to Use the Collection | Series Descriptions

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Biographical Information [+]

Alma Woodsey Thomas was born in Columbus, Georgia on September 22, 1894, the eldest of the four daughters of John Harris Thomas and Amelia Cantey Thomas. The family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1906. Alma Thomas graduated in 1911 from Armstrong Technical High School where she was first introduced to art classes. From 1911 to 1913, she took a course in kindergarten teaching at the Miner Normal School, Washington, D.C. Because of the lack of permanent positions in the D.C. public school system, she accepted substitute work until early 1914 when she received a teaching position on the Eastern shore of Maryland. Then, from 1916 to 1923, she taught kindergarten at Thomas Garrett Settlement House in Wilmington, Delaware. READ MORE

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Description of the Collection

Overview - Scope and Contents [+]

The papers of African-American painter and art instructor Alma Thomas date from 1894-2000 (bulk 1936-1982), and measure 4.4 linear feet. They provide documentation of Thomas' artwork, exhibitions, teaching career at Shaw Junior High School in Washington, D.C., and her relationships with friends and colleagues. READ MORE

Arrangement and Series Description

The papers have been arranged into 8 series:

• Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1911-1995 (Box 1; 20 folders)
• Series 2: Letters, circa 1935-2000 (Box 1; 33 folders)
• Series 3: Business Records, circa 1960-1994 (Box 1; 11 folders)
• Series 4: Notes and Writings, circa 1936-1983 (Box 1-2; 23 folders)
• Series 5: Scrapbooks, 1930-1946 (Box 2; 16 folders)
• Series 6: Exhibition Files, 1951-2000 (Box 2-3; 42 folders)
• Series 7: Printed Material, circa 1903-2000 (Box 3-5; 1.9 linear feet)
• Series 8: Photographs, circa 1894-1972, undated (Box 5; 20 folders)

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Subjects

This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Archives of American Art under the following terms:

• Subjects:
  
  • Sarg, Tony, 1882-1942
  • Martha Jackson Gallery
  • Art in Embassies Program (U.S.)

• Subjects-Topical:
  
  • Women painters -- Washington (D.C.)
  • Painting, American
  • African American artists -- Washington (D.C.)
  • Art teachers -- Washington (D.C.)

• Types of Materials:
  
  • Audio cassettes
  • Video recordings
  • Photographs
  • Scrapbooks

• Names:
  
  • Taylor, Joshua Charles, 1917-
  • Breeskin, Adelyn Dohme, 1896-
  • Bader, Franz, 1903-1994
  • Johnson, Nathalie J. Cole
  • Tarbary, Celine
  • Thomas, J. Maurice

Provenance

The Alma Thomas papers were donated in several accretions between 1979 and 2004 by J. Maurice Thomas, the artist's sister.

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How the Collection was Processed

All accretions of the Alma Thomas papers were merged and processed by Jean Fitzgerald in August 2007.

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How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The Alma Thomas 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.

Available Formats

Portions of this collection and the separated materials lent for microfilming are available on 35 mm microfilm reels 1541-1543 at Archives of American Art offices, and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the collection as described in this finding aid does not reflect the order of the collection on microfilm.

Separated Materials

In 1979, J. Maurice Thomas loaned papers for microfilming. Most, but not all, of the loaned material was later donated and is described in this finding aid. Loaned materials not donated at a later date are available on reels 1541-1543 and are not described in the container listing of this finding aid.

How to Cite this Collection

Alma Thomas papers, 1894-2000 (bulk 1936-1982). Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Series Descriptions

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1911-1995 (Box 1; 20 folders)

This series includes identity cards, chronologies, biographical accounts, an audiocassette of an unidentified broadcast of Thomas discussing her life history, report cards, and letters and teacher's rating reports from Shaw Junior High where she taught art classes for 36 years. There are individual files concerning Thomas's early teaching career at the Thomas Garrett Settlement containing clippings and photographs of Thomas, her training at Tony Sarg's marionette class containing letters, a notebook, printed material, an illustrated diploma, and Thomas's sketch of a skeleton marionette, her trip to European art centers containing Thomas's passport, receipts, notes, and printed material, and her painting of Pearl Bailey for Scott Kirpatrick containing a sketch, clippings, and playbills for Hello Dolly from 1967 and 1995.

Box	Folder
1	1	Identity Cards, 1956-1957, undated
1	2-3	Chronologies, 1968-1980 (2 folders)
1	4	Biographical Accounts, 1960-1961, undated
1	5	Audiocassette of Thomas Describing her Life History, undated
1	6	Graduation Program from Armstrong Technical High School, 1911
1	7	Annotated Booklet Used at Miner Normal School, 1912
1	8	Howard University Play Programs (Photocopies) Listing Alma Thomas as Costume Designer, 1921-1924
1	9-10	File Concerning the Tony Sarg Marionette Class, 1934-1936 (2 files)
1	11	Report Cards, 1930-1971
1	12	File Concerning the Thomas Garrett Settlement, 1920
1	13	Letters of Employment and Promotion at Shaw Junior High School, 1924-1960
1	14	Teacher Rating Sheets from Shaw Junior High School, 1925-1957
1	15-16	Awards, 1967-1975 (2 folders)
1	17-19	File Concerning the European Trip, 1958 (3 folders)
1	20	File Concerning Thomas's Painting of Pearl Bailey, 1967-1995

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Series 2: Letters, circa 1935-2000 (Box 1; 33 folders)

Letters are primarily from colleagues and art institutions concerning the exhibition of Thomas's work and related activities. There are scattered letters from Franz Bader, Adelyn Breeskin, poet Nathalie J. Cole Johnson, Celine Tabary, and Joshua Taylor. Following Alma Thomas's death, her sister J. Maurice Thomas dealt with the various galleries interested in exhibiting her sister's work. Many letters have been annotated by J. Maurice Thomas.

Box	Folder
1	21	Letters with Unknown Surnames, undated
1	22	Letters with Surnames "A-M," undated
1	23	Letters with Surnames "N-Z," undated
1	24	Letters, 1935-1939
1	25	Letters, 1941-1946
1	26	Letters, 1953-1959
1	27	Letters, 1960-1964
1	28	Letters, 1965-1969
1	29	Letters, 1970
1	30	Letters, 1971
1	31	Letters, 1972
1	32	Letters, 1973
1	33	Letters, 1974
1	34-35	Letters, 1975 (2 folders)
1	36-40	Letters, 1976 (4 folders)
1	41	Letters, 1977
1	42	Letters, 1978-1979
1	43	Letters, 1980-1985
1	44	Letters, 1986-1989
1	45	Letters, 1990
1	46	Letters, 1991
1	47	Letters, 1992
1	48	Letters, 1993
1	49-50	Letters, 1994 (2 folders)
1	51	Letters, 1995
1	52	Letters, 1996-1997
1	53	Letters, 1998
1	54	Letters, 1999-2000

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Series 3: Business Records, circa 1960-1994 (Box 1; 11 folders)

Personal business records include price lists, miscellaneous receipts and individual files concerning the Art in Embassies Program, the Martha Jackson Gallery, and a benefit auction for the Corcoran School of Art. There is also a file concerning J. Maurice Thomas's successful efforts to have the Thomas family home designated as a historic property.

Box	Folder
1	55	Price Lists, 1960, undated
1	56	Lists of Art Work, 1983
1	57	Loan Receipts, 1969-1977
1	58	File Concerning the Art in Embassies Program, 1969-1994
1	59-60	File Concerning the Martha Jackson Gallery, 1971-1977, undated (2 folders)
1	61	File on Benefit Auction for Corcoran School of Art, 1977
1	62	Shipping Receipts for Household Items, 1978
1	63	Miscellaneous Receipts, 1971-1982
1	64-65	File Concerning Historic Designation for Thomas Home/House, 1985-1987 (2 folders)

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Series 4: Notes and Writings, circa 1936-1983 (Box 1-2; 23 folders)

This series includes four notebooks, a briefly annotated engagement calendar, "Alma's Birthday Book" containing listings of friends' birthdays, a hand-written statement by Thomas with a painted sketch on the reverse, miscellaneous notes by Thomas and her sister, and miscellaneous writings about Alma Thomas.

Box	Folder
1	66	Notebook 1, undated
1	67	Notebook 2, undated
1	68	Notebook 3, undated
1	69	Notebook 4, undated

Box	Folder
2	1	"Alma's Birthday Book," 1936
2	2	Engagement Calendar, 1968
2	3	Miscellaneous Notes by Alma Thomas, 1952-1975, undated
2	4-12	Miscellaneous Notes by John Maurice Thomas, undated (9 folders)
2	13	Autobiographical Writings by Alma Thomas, undated
2	14	Statement by Alma Thomas with Painted Sketch on Reverse, undated
2	15	Outline for Exhibition The Black Woman by Unidentified Author, undated
2	16	Typescript about Alma Thomas by Jacob Kainen, undated
2	17	Biographical Writings by John Maurice Thomas, undated
2	18	Manuscript about Alma Thomas's March on Washington, D.C. by John Maurice Thomas, 1983
2	19	Miscellaneous Writings about Alma Thomas, 1978, undated

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Series 5: Scrapbooks, 1930-1946 (Box 2; 16 folders)

These eleven Shaw Junior High School Scrapbooks were compiled for a variety of school activities initiated by Alma Thomas in order to stimulate her students to appreciate the arts. They contain letters, notes, clippings, programs with block print covers designed by students, miscellaneous printed material, and photographs.

Box	Folder
2	20	Scrapbook 1, "C1a Exhibit 3," 1930-1940
2	21-23	Scrapbook 2, "C1b Exhibit 6," 1930-1939 (3 folders)
2	24-26	Scrapbook 3, "C2 Exhibit 2," 1937-1939 (3 folders)
2	27	Scrapbook 4, "C3b Exhibit 1," 1937-1939
2	28	Scrapbook 5, "C3b Exhibit 2," 1938
2	29-30	Scrapbook 6, "C3b Exhibit 3," 1936-1946 (2 folders)
2	31	Scrapbook 7, "C3b Exhibit 4," 1936-1939
2	32	Scrapbook 8, "C3b Exhibit 6," 1935-1939
2	33	Scrapbook 9, "C3b Exhibit 8," 1936
2	34	Scrapbook 10, "C3b Exhibit 9," 1938-1939
2	35	Scrapbook 11, "C4 Exhibit 1," 1934

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Series 6: Exhibition Files, 1951-2000 (Box 2-3; 42 folders)

Found here are Alma Thomas exhibition files which contain a variety of materials, including letters, receipts, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and photographs. The file for Alma W. Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings at the Columbus Museum also contains two videotapes.

Box	Folder
2	36	First Annual Exhibition of the Little Paris Studio Group, Inspiration House, Washington, D.C., 1951
2	37	Alma Thomas / Hilda Shapiro, Watkins Gallery at American University, Washington, D.C., 1959
2	38	Watercolors by Alma Thomas, Dupont Theatre Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1960
2	39	Negro Artists in Washington, George Washington University Art Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1968
2	40	Alma Thomas: Recent Paintings, Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1968
2	41	1969: Twelve Afro-American Artists, Lee Nordness Gallery, New York, New York, 1969
2	42	Washington Painters, Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, 1969
2	43	Alma Thomas: Earth and Space Paintings, Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1970
2	44-45	Alma W. Thomas: Recent Paintings, Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, 1970-1972 (2 folders)
2	46-49	Alma W. Thomas, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York, 1970-1973 (4 folders)
2	50-52	Alma W. Thomas Retrospective, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1972 (3 folders)
2	53	Alma Thomas Paintings, Martha Jackson Gallery, New York, New York, 1973
2	54-56	Alma Thomas, Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1974 (3 folders)
2	57	Heritage Days: The Black Perspective, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, 1976
2	58	Black American Artists: 1750-1950, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, 1975-1977
2	59-63	A Life in Art: Alma Thomas, 1891-1978, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1981-1983 (5 folders)
2	64	Twenty Works by Alma Thomas and Her Contemporaries, Alma Thomas Memorial Gallery, Shaw Junior High Community School, 1982
2	65	A Life in Art: Alma Thomas, 1891-1978, Columbus Museum of Arts and Sciences, Columbus, Georgia, 1982
2	66	Grand International Mail Art Exhibition of Visual Message, Kwan Hoon Museum of Fine Art, Seoul, Korea, 1982

Box	Folder
3	1-6	Alma W. Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1994-1999 (6 folders)
3	7	Alma W. Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings, Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, Florida, 1999
3	8	Alma W. Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings, New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, New Jersey, 1999
3	9	Alma W. Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings, Anacostia Museum Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1999
3	10-11	Alma W. Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings, The Columbus Museum, Columbus, Georgia, 1999-2000 (2 folders)

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Series 7: Printed Material, circa 1903-2000 (Box 3-5; 1.9 linear feet)

Printed material includes primarily clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs for Thomas and others. Also found are calendars of events, programs, brochures, booklets, and reproductions of art work.

Box	Folder
3	12	Clippings, undated
3	13	Clippings Concerning the Howard Theater, Washington, D.C., 1903-1999
3	14	Clippings, 1919-1928
3	15	Clippings, 1937-1939
3	16	Clippings, 1944-1949
3	17	Clippings, 1951-1959
3	18	Clippings, 1960
3	19	Clippings, 1961
3	20	Clippings, 1962
3	21	Clippings, 1963
3	22	Clippings, 1964-1969
3	23-24	Clippings, 1970 (2 folders)
3	25-26	Clippings, 1971 (2 folders)
3	27	Clippings, 1972
3	28	Clippings, 1973
3	29	Clippings, 1974
3	30-32	Clippings, 1975 (3 folders)
3	33-34	Clippings, 1976 (2 folders)
3	35	Clippings, 1977
3	36	Clippings, 1978-1979
3	37	Clippings, 1980-1982
3	38	Clippings, 1983
3	39	Clippings, 1985-1986
3	40	Clippings, 1987
3	41	Clippings, 1988
3	42-43	Clippings, 1989 (2 folders)
3	44-45	Clippings, 1990 (2 folders)
3	46	Clippings, 1991
3	47	Clippings, 1992-1993
3	48	Clippings, 1994-1995
3	49	Clippings, 1996
3	50	Clippings, 1997
3	51	Clippings, 1998-1999
3	52	Clippings, 2000
3	53-55	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, undated (3 folders)
3	56	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1952-1954
3	57	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1955
3	58	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1956
3	59	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1957-1958
3	60	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1959
3	61	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1960
3	62	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1961
3	63	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1962
3	64	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1963
3	65	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1964-1965
3	66	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1966
3	67	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1967
3	68-70	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1968 (3 folders)
3	71	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1969

Box	Folder
4	1-3	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1970 (3 folders)
4	4-7	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1971 (4 folders)
4	8-9	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1972 (2 folders)
4	10	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1973
4	11	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1974
4	12	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1975
4	13-15	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1976 (3 folders)
4	16	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1977
4	17	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1980
4	18	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1981
4	19	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, 1982-1989
4	20	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, undated
4	21	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1931-1949
4	22	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1953-1959
4	23	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1961-1962
4	24	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1967
4	25	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1968
4	26	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1970
4	27	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1971
4	28	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1972
4	29	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1973
4	30	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1974-1975
4	31	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1976
4	32	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1977-1978
4	33	Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs for Others, 1982-1998
4	34	Prospectus, undated
4	35	Press Releases, 1971-1975
4	36	Calendars of Events, 1977-1993, undated
4	37-43	Programs, 1944-1998, undated (7 folders)
4	44	Annual Report from the Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1976
4	45	Annual Reports from The Columbus Museum, Columbus, Georgia, 1994-1995
4	46-48	Brochures, 1969-1988, undated (3 folders)
4	49-51	Booklets, 1952-1989 (3 folders)
4	52	Modern American Painting and Sculpture by Sam Hunter, 1959
4	53	Black Dimensions in Contemporary American Art by J. Edward Atkinson, 1971

Box	Folder
5 (Hol)	1-3	Unannotated Engagement Calendars Containing Reproductions of Art Work, 1969-1994 (3 folders)
5 (Hol)	4	Miscellaneous Reproductions of Art Work, undated

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Series 8: Photographs, circa 1894-1972 (Box 5; 20 folders)

Photographs are of Alma Thomas, family members, friends and colleagues, her residence and garden, miscellaneous exhibition openings not contained in exhibition files, and art works. There is a photograph of Prof. James V. Herring with Sam Gilliam, and photographs of poet and founding member of UNICEF, Nathalie V. Cole Johnson.

Box	Folder
5 (Hol)	5-8	Photographs of Alma Thomas, 1915-1972, undated (4 folders)
5 (Hol)	9-10	Photographs of Family Members, 1894-1971 (2 folders)
5 (Hol)	11-16	Photographs of Friends and Colleagues, 1911-1968, undated (6 folders)
5 (Hol)	17	Photographs of Thomas's Residence and Garden, 1970-1972, undated
5 (Hol)	18	Photographs of Exhibition Opening at Barnett Aden Gallery, undated
5 (Hol)	19-20	Photographs of Exhibition Openings at Howard University, 1966, undated (2 folders)
5 (Hol)	21	Photographs of Exhibition Opening at Martha Jackson Gallery, undated
5 (Hol)	22	Photographs of Art Work by Alma Thomas, 1969-1970, undated
5 (Hol)	23	Photographs of Art Work by Others, undated
5 (Hol)	24	Miscellaneous Negatives, undated

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