Lee Nordness business records and papers, circa 1931-1992 (bulk 1954-1984)

Nordness, Lee, b. 1922 or 4 d. 1995
Dealer
New York, N.Y.

Collection size: 117.4 linear feet

Collection Summary: Records of seven art-related companies founded and run by Lee Nordness in New York City, including: Lee Nordness Gallery; Lee Nordness Galleries Exhibition Section; Forms and Objects; The Little Studio; Lee Nordness Art Advisory Section; American Art Expositions; and the Talent Discovery Company. Also included is a small group of personal papers.

ADDITION: Financial records including cash reciepts, ledgers, acounts receivable and cashed checks.

Biographical/Historical Note: Art dealer; New York City. Born 1924 Olympia, Washington. Died 1995. Studied art and journalism. Primary business was Lee Nordness Galleries, but owned other galleries and art-related businesses. Assembled collection of 102 contemporary American paintings for S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. which traveled extensiveley before being donated to the National Collection of Fine Arts (Smithsonian Institution). Also involved in American craftsmen through his company Forms and Objects, Inc.

Donated 1976 and 1986 by Lee Nordness. Nordness' arrangement of papers was originally divided by firm or gallery. This arrangement was destroyed when Nordness had the papers moved. AAA has attempted to place papers in Nordness' original order based on discussions with Nordness and evidence from the records. Additional material received as a bequest, 1996.

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