Focus Gallery records, 1966-1987
Focus Gallery,
est. 1966
- 1985
Art gallery
San Francisco, Calif.
Collection size: 11.8 linear ft.
Collection Summary: Exhibition files and administrative records, including scattered records of Johnston's bookshop. The exhibition files make up the bulk (8 ft.) of the collection, and consist of files on 238 exhibitions of 231 individual photographers and 90 group shows, 1966-1985. The files contain correspondence with artists, biographical material, loan forms, consignment forms, price lists, press releases, clippings, photographs and negatives. Among the photographers are Berenice Abbott, Ansel Adams, Bill Brandt, Wynn Bullock, Paul Caponigro, Imogen Cunningham, Judy Dater, Robert Heinecken, Eliot Porter, Aaron Siskind, Jerry Uelsmann, and Brett Weston. Group shows include the Annual San Francisco Women Artists photography show and the San Francisco Art Institute show. Also found are artists' biographical files (ca. 1 ft.), containing correspondence and resumes from various photographers and several guest books, ca. 1966-1985. The remainder consists of administrative records, including an exhibition schedule, 1966-1985; policies and procedures; history and founding files; director Helen Johnston's notes; general correspondence, ca. 1966-1987; Imogen Cunningham Trust Foundation files; legal papers such as leases and insurance documents; financial records, including accounting records, invoices and checks, tax papers, records of the bookshop and receipts for photographs; scattered business records of inventories and customer files and general pricing information; exhibition catalogs; miscellaneous press releases; clippings; press releases; miscellaneous photographs and negatives; and a file on Torren Gallery containing correspondence, invoices and printed material.
Biographical/Historical Note: Photography gallery; San Francisco, Calif., founded by Helen Johnston in 1966. Located on Union Street until its closing in 1985, the gallery exhibited American and international photographers. Johnston's bookshop was also located at the gallery, and continued on at another location from 1985 to 1987.
Donated by the Helen Johnston estate via Gerald O'Connor, 1990.
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