About the Adolph A. Weinman papers
All information on this page comes from A Finding Aid to the Adolph A. Weinman Papers, ![[Download PDF Version]](/images/website/pdficon_small.gif)
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Biographical Information | Description of the Collection | How to Use the Collection
Biographical Information [+]
American sculptor, Adolph Alexander Weinman was born on December 11, 1870 in Germany and came to New York City in 1880. At the age of fifteen, he attended evening classes at Cooper Union. He later studied at the Art Students League. When he was twenty years old, he entered the studio of Philip Martiny and later worked with Olin Warner, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Charles Henry Niehaus, and Daniel Chester French. In 1904, Weinman opened his own studio, and in the same year created the Destiny of the Red Man for the St. Louis Exposition. In 1923, he moved his studio to Forest Hills, New York, where he lived until his death. READ MORE
Description of the Collection
Overview - Scope and Contents [+]
The papers of American sculptor Adolph Weinman measure 10.1 linear feet and date from 1890 to 1959. Found within the collection are scattered biographical materials; project files for Weinman's sculpture and commissions; correspondence with colleagues, friends and family, and letterpress books containing copies of letters concerning specific sculpture commissions; a substantial body of files concerning Weinman's membership in the National Sculpture Society and the National Academy of Design; records concerning works of art held by dealers and in exhibitions and other miscellaneous financial materials; notes and a notebook; writings and speeches by Weinman; sketches and sketchbooks; printed materials; photographs and glass negatives. This material not only reflects the diversity of projects executed by this prolific sculptor, but illustrates the process of creation for many of his more important works. READ MORE
Arrangement and Series Description
Most materials have been arranged in chronological order, except for artwork and photographs which are arranged primarily according to subject matter. Glass plate negatives from the Project Files Series and Photographs Series have been removed and housed separately in Boxes 10-19 and are so noted in the Series Description/Container Listing Section at the appropriate folder title. Oversized material from various series has been housed in Box 20 and OV folders 21-28 and are listed with each appropriate series.
The collection has been arranged into 10 series:
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1890-1950 (Boxes 1, 20, OVs 21, 28; Reel 5884; 4 folders)
- Series 2: General Correspondence, 1897-1954 (Boxes 1-2, OV 21; Reels 5884-5886; 1.4 linear feet)
- Series 3: Organization Files, 1916-1952 (Boxes 2-3; Reels 5886-5887; 0.9 linear feet)
- Series 4: Financial Material, 1910-1953 (Box 3; Reel 5887; 3 folders)
- Series 5: Notes, 1918-1952 (Box 3; Reel 5887; 14 folders)
- Series 6: Writings, 1929-1952 (Box 3; Reel 5887; 14 folders)
- Series 7: Artwork, 1892-1933 (Boxes 3, 20, OVs 22-25; Reels 5887-5888; 0.4 linear feet)
- Series 8: Project Files, 1896-1955 (Boxes 3-8, 10-20, OVs 21-28; Reels 5888-5891; 6.4 linear feet)
- Series 9: Printed Material, 1891-1959 (Box 8, OV 27; Reel 5892; 0.4 linear feet)
- Series 10: Photographs, 1903-1950 (Boxes 9, 19, OV 27; Reel 5892; 0.2 linear feet)
Subjects
This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Archives of American Art under the following index terms. People, families and organizations are listed under "Subjects" when they are the topic of collection contents and under "Names" when they are creators or contributors.
- Subjects:
- National Academy of Design (U.S.)
- National Sculpture Society (U.S.)
- Subjects-Topical:
- Sculpture, American
- Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews
- Types of Materials:
- Photographs
- Sketchbooks
- Drawings
- Sketches
Provenance
The Adolph A. Weinman papers were donated by Weinman's sons, Howard K. Weinman in 1972, and Robert A. Weinman in 1976.
How the Collection was Processed
The collection received a preliminary level of processing at some point after donation and was microfilmed on reels 5884-5892. The collection was processed by Jean Fitzgerald in January 2004. The microfilm for the collection was digitized in 2006-2007 with funding provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
How to Use the Collection
Restrictions on Use
The Adolph A. Weinman 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.
A digitized version of the microfilm of this collection is available online via the Archives of American Art website.
Available Formats
This collection has been digitized. View the Adolph A. Weinman papers online
The microfilm for this collection has been digitized and is available online via the Archives of American Art website.
Separated Materials
In 1971 and 1972, Howard and Robert Weinman loaned selected documents for microfilming that are only available on microfilm reels 283 and 414. The loaned material is not included in this finding aid. Reel 283 contains biographical materials, a contract, correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous printed materials, dating from 1888-1952. Correspondence exchanged between Weinman and the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Medallic Art Company between 1930 and 1952 is available on microfil reel 414.
How to Cite this Collection
Adolph A. Weinman papers, 1890-1959. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.