Fischbach Gallery records, 1937-1977, bulk 1963-1977

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A Finding Aid to the Fischbach Gallery Records, 1937-1977, bulk 1963-1977, in the Archives of American Art, by Jayna Hanson

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Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art

Table of Contents:

• Historical Note
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Historical Information

The Fischbach Gallery was founded in 1960 by Marilyn Cole Fischbach at 799 Madison Avenue in New York City. The gallery was noted for its stable of minimalist young artists in the 1960s, and the work of the painterly realists in the 1970s. The gallery remains open today.

During its early years, the gallery was among the first to focus on 1960s avant-garde and minimalist artists. Marilyn possessed a talent for discovering young artists and for helping them advance their careers. Many of these young artists became well-known including Ronald Bladen, Eva Hesse, and Alex Katz. Other artists represented by the gallery include Allan D'Arcangelo, Les Levine, Robert Mangold, Robert Ryman, George Sugarman, and Robert Swain.

The gallery also had an active exhibition schedule and organized and hosted group exhibitions of modern art including "According to the Letter" (1963), "Hard Center" (1963), and "Direct Representation" (1969). Additionally, the Fishbach Gallery hosted "Eccentric Abstraction" in 1966, an exhibition organized by Lucy Lippard.

Later, the gallery moved to W. 57th Street in Manhattan. Fischbach hired A. Aladar Marberger as director of the gallery. Under his direction, the Fischbach Gallery shifted from the avant-garde to contemporary American realism and minimalist sculpture. In the 1980s, Marilyn Fischbach brought three investors into the gallery. She remined a co-owner, but lived in Paris, France for many years prior to her death at the age of seventy-two. The Fischbach Gallery remains open at 210 West 11th Street at 25th Street in New York City.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

The records of New York City Fischbach Gallery measure 24.9 linear feet and date from 1937 to 1977 with the bulk of materials dating from 1963 to 1977. The majority of the collection consists of artists files containing a wide variety of materials documenting the gallery's relationship with its stable of modern and avant garde artists, as well as gallery exhibitions. Files include biographical materials, correspondence, printed materials, and photographs. Gallery records also include general business correspondence, access-restricted financial records; and additional printed materials.

Artists and Exhibition Files contain information on over one hundred Fischbach Gallery artists and measure 18 linear feet. The contents of each file varies, but typically may include biographical information; correspondence between the artist, museums, and other galleries; scattered consignment information; printed materials including articles, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and press releases; photographs of the artist, installations, constructions, and works of art; and negatives, slides, and transparencies. Substantial files are found for John Altoon, Stephen Antonakos, Ronald Bladen, Wynn Chamberlain, Allan D'Arcangelo, Gene Davis, Anne Dunn, Piero Gilardi, Eva Hesse, Alex Katz, Nicholas Krushenick, Les Levine, Robert Mangold, Doug Ohlson, Anne Ryan, Robert Ryman, Arlene Slavin, Tony Smith, George Sugarman, and Robert Swain, among others. Also included are files pertaining to group exhibitions including "According to the Letter" (1963), "Hard Center" (1963), "Six Women" (1965), "Game Without Rules" (1966), "Direct Representation" (1969), and "Eccentric Abstraction" (1966) which was organized by Lucy Lippard.

General gallery correspondence is business correspondence between the gallery and companies, individuals, museums, galleries, dealers, new or non-Fischbach artists, and institutions. Additional business records consist of an address book, lists of Fischbach artists, gallery plans, a notebook, as well as guest lists, mailing lists, and press lists.

Financial records are access restricted and require written permission from the donor's representative for use. The files document financial transactions for many of the artists represented in the artists files and includes sales records, invoices, artists' payments, and correspondence about sales and possible sales. The alphabetical financial files document routine gallery business, such as framing, shipping, insurance, messenger, publicity, etc. and are organized by name of business. General financial files consist of accounting ledgers, banking documents, insurance claims, and travel accounts.

Printed materials consist of various business cards, clippings concerning the Fischbach Gallery, and a pamphlet by Ron Williams as a guide to New York galleries. The bulk of printed materials are found in the Artists and Exhibition Files.

A small series of photographs include those from the Thiabaut Gallery, and unidentified photos of landscapes. It is likely that Fischbach Gallery occupied the space previously used by the Thiabaut Gallery and some materials were included in the collection for that reason. The bulk of photographic materials are found in the Artists and Exhibition Files.

Arrangement and Series Description

The collection is arranged as 6 series:

• Series 1: Artists and Exhibitions Files, 1937-1977 (Boxes 1-18, 27; 18 linear feet)
• Series 2: Gallery Correspondence, 1962-1974 (Boxes 18-20; 1.75 linear feet)
• Series 3: Business Records, 1969-1971 (Box 20; 0.3 linear feet)
• Series 4: Financial Records, 1963-1975 (Boxes 20-25; 0.4 linear feet)
• Series 5: Printed Material, 1963-1972 (Box 26; 6 folders)
• Series 6: Photographs, circa 1960s (Box 26; 2 folders)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

Gallery founder Marilyn C. Fischbach and director A. Aladar Marberger donated the majority of the Fischbach Gallery records in 1978. Additional records were donated in 2001 by Maureen Dawley on behalf of the Carnegie Mellon University.

How the Collection was Processed

The records donated in 1978 were minimally arranged shortly after receipt. In 2009, the two accessions were merged and fully processed by Jayna Hanson with funds provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Use of original papers requires an appointment. Written permission from the donor is also required to view the series of financial records. Contact the Reference Services Department for more information.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Fischbach Gallery records 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.

How to Cite this Collection

The Fischbach Gallery records, 1937-1977, bulk 1963-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Artists and Exhibitions Files, 1937-1977 (Boxes 1-18, 27; 18 linear feet)

Artists and exhibitions files are found for over one hundred artists either represented by the gallery or exhibiting with the gallery. Files contain a wide variety of materials, and the extent and type vary for each artist. Typically files contain biographical information; correspondence between the artist, museums, and other galleries; scattered consignment and loan information; printed materials including articles, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and press releases; photographs of the artist, installations, constructions, and works of art; and negatives, slides, and transparencies. Substantial artist files are found for John Altoon, Anne Arnold, Ronald Bladen, George Brecht, Wynn Chamberlain, Allan D'Arcangelo, Gene Davis, Robert Grosvenor, Ira Joel Haber, Eva Hesse, Yvonne Jacquette, Alex Katz, Les Levine, Robert Mangold, Doug Ohlson, Ray Parker, Anne Ryan, Robert Ryman, Tony Smith, and George Sugarman. Of special note are photos of portraits by Alex Katz depicting his friends including Richard Bellamy, Edwin Denby, Al Held, Elaine de Kooning, and Neil Welliver.

Also included are files pertaining to group exhibitions either organized or hosted by the gallery, including "According to the Letter" (1963), "Hard Center" (1963), "Six Women" (1965), "Game Without Rules" (1966), "Direct Representation" (1969), and "Eccentric Abstraction" (1966) which was organized by Lucy Lippard.

Artists Files are arranged alphabetically by artist and further divided by types of materials. Correspondence is in rough chronological order due to previous arrangements made by the Fischbach Gallery.

Materials relating to financial transactions including sales and payment are found in Series 4: Financial Records, which are access restrited.

Series 2: General Gallery Correspondence, 1962-1974 (Box 18-20; 1.75 linear feet)

General Gallery Correspondence consists of correspondence between Fischbach and other galleries, museums, and clients. Generally, the correspondence concerns client development, loans, consignments, exhibitions, framing, transportation, and a variety of topics. The many museums and galleries with which Fischbach Gallery corresponded includes the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the New Gallery, San Francisco Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum, along with many colleges and university art galleries and museums. Correspondence is in alphabetical order by name business, company, museum, organization, or person.

Series 3: Business Records, 1969-1971 (Box 20; 0.3 linear feet)

Business records consist of an address book, materials regarding the production of art posters, gallery floor plans, schedules of exhibitions shown at the Fischbach Gallery, guest lists, mailing lists, and a roster of Fischbach artists among other scattered records.

Series 4: Financial Records, 1963-1975 (Boxes 20-25; 4.5 linear feet)

Financial records document sales, payments, and loans between the Gallery, buyers, and artists. Many of the artists are also represented in the Artists and Exhibition Files series. Additional financial records document framing, transportation and delivery, publicity, insurance, and other routine gallery business. General financial records which include bank statements, ledgers, insurance, and travel accounts.

The series is arranged as 3 subseries:

• Subseries 1: Artists Financial Records, date
• Subseries 2: Alphabetical Financial Records, date
• Subseries 3: General Financial Records, date

4.1: Artists' Financial Records, 1963-1975

4.2: Alphabetical Financial Records, 1963-1974

4.3: General Financial Records, 1967-1973

Series 5: Printed Material, 1963-1972 (Box 26: 6 folders)

This small series consists of miscellaneous business cards, clippings, non-Fischbach exhibition announcements, and a guide to New York art galleries by Ron Williams dated 1972.

Series 6: Photographs, circa 1960s (Box 26: 2 folders)

Photographs include several photos from the Thiabaut Gallery and unidentified photographs of landscapes.