Joseph White papers, circa 1870-2010, bulk 1971-2008

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A Finding Aid to the Joseph White Papers, circa 1870-2010, bulk 1971-2008, in the Archives of American Art, by Erin Kinhart

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Table of Contents:

• Biographical Information
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Biographical Information

Joseph White (1938- ) is a painter in Washington, DC. White works with a grid system and photographs to create his paintings. In 1963 he received a B.A. from the San Francisco State University. He then moved to New York City where he exhibited abstract paintings at the 1964 and 1967 Whitney Biennials. In 1976 he moved to Washington, D.C., and focused on representational painting. He has frequently exhibited his works in Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY, and is included in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, National Gallery of Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art, and San Francisco Museum of Art, among others.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

The papers of Washington, DC, based painter Joseph White measure 1.7 linear feet and date from circa 1870 to 2010, with the bulk of the material from 1971 to 2008. White's career as an artist is documented through scattered biographical material, correspondence with family and friends, poetry, plays, exhibition catalogs, news clippings, and photographs of White, family, friends, artwork, and source material.

Biographical material consists of documentation on White's band, Twisted Teenage Plot, as well as resumes documenting his career as a painter. Correspondence includes five letters sent to White from various people, a few postcards from White to his wife, Renee Butler, postcards to his brother, Lito White, and postcards to White from fellow artist and bandmate, Michael Clark. Writings include plays and poetry in manuscript and typescript form. Several of these writings are illustrated. Printed material consists of catalogs and announcements for exhibitions of artwork by White, as well as newspaper and magazine articles about his career. Photographs include family portraits from the late 1800s and photographs from White's childhood. Also found are handmade books of digital prints of his paintings and watercolors. Source photographs for White's paintings depict people, places, and objects. Many of these photographs include grid lines and masked-out details.

Arrangement and Series Description

The collection is arranged as 5 series:

• Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1973-2004 (Box 1; 2 folders)
• Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1971-1999 (Box 1; 4 folders)
• Series 3: Writings, circa 1970s-1990s (Boxes 1, 3; 0.7 linear feet)
• Series 4: Printed Material, 1944-2006 (Box 1; 6 folders)
• Series 5: Photographs, circa 1870-2010 (Boxes 1-3; 0.8 linear feet)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

Donated by Joseph White in 2010.

How the Collection was Processed

The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Erin Kinhart in 2011.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Joseph White 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.

How to Cite this Collection

Joseph White papers, circa 1870-2010, bulk 1971-2008. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1973-2004 (Box 1; 2 folders)

Found here are clippings, a press release, flyers, and a 45 rpm recording by Joseph White's band, Twisted Teenage Plot. Also found are White's resumes written at several points in his career.

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1971-1999 (Box 1; 4 folders)

This series contains five letters sent to White from various people. One letter contains biographical information about a relative, Bishop William White. Also found are a few postcards sent by White to his wife, Renee Butler, postcards to his brother, Lito White, and postcards to White from fellow artist and bandmate, Michael Clark.

Correspondence is arranged chronologically within each folder.

Series 3: Writings, circa 1970s-1990s (Boxes 1, 3; 0.7 linear feet)

Writings include typescripts and manuscripts of unpublished poems and plays by Joseph White. Many of the draft manuscripts were written in notebooks, and some of his writings are illustrated. Also found is a cloth bag which originally contained a few of White's notebooks.

Titled works are arranged alphabetically.

Series 4: Printed Material, 1944-2006 (Box 1; 6 folders)

This series contains catalogs and announcements for exhibitions of artwork by Joseph White. Also found are newspaper and magazine articles about White, including a folder of reviews of his 2004 solo show at the Edison Place Gallery in Washington, DC.

Items are arranged chronologically.

Series 5: Photographs, circa 1870-2010 (Boxes 1-3; 0.8 linear feet)

Photographs are of White, his family, friends, works of art, and source material. Included are family portraits from the late 1800s and photographs from White's childhood. Also found are handmade books of digital prints of his paintings and watercolors. These digital images are also found on DVD. Source photographs for White's paintings depict people, places, and objects. Many of these photographs include grid lines and masked-out details. Miscellaneous photographs include a few images of musical instruments made by White.