This Guide to the Papers of Women Artists highlights hundreds of unique collections in the Archives of American Art which demonstrate the involvement and influence of women artists in America.
The collections presented here consist of oral history interviews and personal papers of visual artists, gallery owners, and critics, the earliest of which date from the 19th century. Notable among them are the papers of Berenice Abbot, Peggy Bacon, Florence Knoll Bassett, Joan Brown, Imogen Cunningham, Jay DeFeo, Elaine de Kooning, Lee Krasner, Lucy Lippard, Louise Nevelson, Hedda Sterne, Kay Sage, and Honoré Sharrer.
In addition, collections which provide information about the lives and work of women artists are highlighted. These include the records of art galleries, feminist collectives, and organizations, such as the Womanspace Gallery, Double X, and Soho 20.
Please note that a reference to reels indicates that the collection is available on microfilm. Learn more about using these collections on our Ask Us page.
The creation of this guide was made possible by a generous grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art.