Skip to main content

Betty Parsons Gallery records and personal papers, circa 1920-1991, bulk 1946-1983

Share page with AddThis

Make a Request

  • To request an appointment to view materials, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reading Room" button. Please note, you will receive the full box.
  • To request reproductions, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reproduction" button.

Series 2: Exhibition Files , 1941-1983
Boxes 18-21, 51, 55, OVs 54, 61; 3.8 linear feet

Exhibition files primarily document the gallery's infrequent group or themed exhibitions, and the general administration of exhibitions. Also found are files for exhibitions Parsons organized for other galleries and institutions, and for the short-lived Section Eleven Gallery, an adjunct to the Betty Parsons Gallery that focused on new artists. While some exhibition material related to solo exhibitions can be found here, most of the exhibition material related to one-man/person exhibitions are found in the artists files.
Exhibitions of particular note for which there are files in this series include The Ideographic Picture, which was organized by Barnett Newman and included his work, as well as that of Pietro Lazzari, Boris Margo, Ad Reinhardt, Mark Rothko, Theodoros Stamos, and Clyfford Still.
The Exhibition Files series is arranged into six subseries:
  • 2.1: Group Exhibitions, 1944-1983
  • 2.2: Loan Exhibitions, 1949-1979
  • 2.3: Section Eleven Exhibitions, 1958-1961
  • 2.4: General Exhibition Files, 1941-1983
  • 2.5: Announcements and Catalogs, 1943-1983
  • 2.6: Guest Books, 1969-1983
This series has been mostly scanned in its entirety, except for duplicates and photographs of works of art. Photographs of exhibition installations have been scanned.
2.1: Group Exhibitions, 1944-1983
Files consist of correspondence, notes, lists, schedules, loan receipts, shipping invoices, press releases, announcements, catalogs, clippings, and photographs, related to group exhibitions at the Betty Parsons Gallery, beginning with the first one, Northwest Coast Indian Painting in 1946 and ending with the planned memorial exhibition, "Betty Parsons and Her Artists/Works on Paper," which was ultimately cancelled.
Description Container
Northwest Coast Indian Painting (1946), 1946-1947
(2 folders)
18
36-37
Northwest Coast Indian Painting (1946), Printed Material, 1944-1946
18
38
Northwest Coast Indian Painting (1946), Photographs, circa 1946
(Not scanned)
18
39
The Ideographic Picture (1947), 1947-1949, 1967, 1980
18
40
Ten Years (1955), 1955-1956
(2 folders)
18
41-42
Ten Years (1955), Photographs, Installations, circa 1955
18
43
Ten Years (1955), Photographs, Works of Art, circa 1955
(2 folders; not scanned)
18
44-45
Paintings for Unlimited Space (1958-1959), 1958-1959
(Partially scanned)
18
46
Amlash Sculpture from Iran (1963), 1963-1977
(4 folders)
18
47-50
Amlash Sculpture from Iran (1963), Printed Material, 1963-1964
18
51
Amlash Sculpture from Iran (1963), Photographs, circa 1963
(2 folders; partially scanned)
18
52-53
Toys by Artists (1963-1964), 1963-1964
(2 folders)
19
1-2
Toys by Artists (1963-1964), Printed Material, circa 1963
19
3
Toys by Artists (1963-1964), Photographs, circa 1963
(Partially scanned)
19
4
Pattern Art (1966), 1966
19
5
Pattern Art (1966), Photographs, circa 1966
19
6
Four British Painters (1967), 1967
19
7
Four British Painters (1967), Printed Material, 1967-1968
19
8
Four British Painters (1967), Photographs, circa 1967
(Not scanned)
19
9
The World of the Zoo (1969), 1969
19
10
The World of the Zoo (1969), Photographs, 1969
(Partially scanned)
19
11
Reductive Vision (1969), 1969
19
12
Group Sculpture Show (1970), Photograph, 1970
19
13
New Talent (1973), 1970-1973
19
14
New Talent Festival (1974), 1974
(3 folders)
19
15-17
Group Exhibition (1978), Photographs, 1978
19
18
Group Show (1979-1980), circa 1979
19
19
Group Exhibition (1982), 1982-1983
(2 folders; slides not scanned)
19
20-21
Painting (1983), 1983
(2 folders)
19
22-23
Painting (1983), Slides, circa 1983
(Not scanned)
19
24
Betty Parsons and Her Artists / Works on Paper (1983, canceled), 1983
19
25
2.2: Loan Exhibitions, 1949-1979
Files consist of a wide variety of materials, such as correspondence, notes, lists, schedules, loan receipts, shipping invoices, press releases, announcements, catalogs, clippings, and photographs, relating to exhibitions in other galleries or institutions organized by Betty Parsons and/or for which the gallery loaned artwork.
Description Container
Paintings and Sculpture by Walter Murch and Adaline Kent (1950: Art Center Association, Louisville, Kentucky and Southbend Art Association, South Bend, Indiana), 1949-1950
19
26
An Exhibition of Contemporary Religious Art (1953: The Church of the Ascension, New York City), 1953
19
27
The Artists' Vision (1958: Signa Gallery, East Hampton, New York), 1958
19
28
ART:USA:58 (Madison Square Garden, New York, New York), 1957
19
29
American Abstract Painters (1961: Arthur Tooth and Sons, London, England), 1960-1961
19
30
Four American Painter (1962: Moulton Gallery, London, England), 1961-1962
19
31
Seattle World's Fair (1962), 1961-1962
19
32
Salon International de Galleries-Pilotes (2nd : 1966: Lausanne, Switzerland), 1965-1967
(6 folders; see also box 51)
19
33-38
Documenta (4th : 1968: Kassel, Germany), 1967-1968
19
39
Barbara Chase-Riboud (1973: Indianapolis Art Museum and Detroit Art Institute), 1973
19
40
New York: The Last Ten Years (1979: Otis Art Institute of Parsons Design School, Los Angeles, California), 1979
(2 folders)
19
41-42
New York: The Last Ten Years (1979: Otis Art Institute of Parsons Design School, Los Angeles, California), Photographs, circa 1979
(Not scanned)
19
43
Oversize, Salon International de Galleries-Pilotes (2nd: 1966: Lausanne, Switzerland), 1965-1967
(Scanned with Box 19, F38)
51 (sol)
2.3: Section Eleven Exhibitions, 1958-1961
Files consist of correspondence, notes, lists, schedules, loan receipts, shipping invoices, press releases, announcements, catalogs, clippings, and photographs, relating to various group exhibitions held in the Section Eleven Gallery, which operated for a short time, from 1958-1961, as an adjunct to the Betty Parsons Gallery and showcased the work of new artists.
Description Container
Opening, 1958
19
44
New Names (December 20, 1960 - January 7, 1961), 1959-1962
19
45
New Names (December 20, 1960 - January 7, 1961), Photographs, circa 1960
(Not scanned)
19
46
Various Exhibitions, 1958-1961
(4 folders)
19
47-50
Announcements and Catalogs, 1958-1961
(3 folders)
19
51-53
2.4: General Exhibition Files, 1941-1983
Files consist of materials relating to the general planning, production, and administration of exibitions, as well as sales relating to exhibitions. Includes are artists biographies, exhibition schedules, price lists, and other lists. The bulk of the documentation relating to solo exhibitions of particular artists can be found amongst the artist files.
Description Container
Exhibition Lists, Schedules, and Price Lists, 1950-1980
19
54
Group Exhibition Price Lists, 1950-1959
19
55
Group Exhibition Price Lists, 1960-1969
19
56
Group Exhibition Price Lists, circa 1969-circa 1972
55
28
Group Exhibition Price Lists, 1970-1979
19
57
Group Exhibition Price Lists, 1980-1983
19
58
Solo Exhibition Price Lists, 1970-1971
19
59
Solo Exhibition Price Lists, 1972-1973
19
60
Solo Exhibition Price Lists, 1974-1978
19
61
Solo Exhibition Price Lists, circa 1971-circa 1975
55
29
Price Lists for Exhibition Posters, 1960s
19
62
Lists of Gallery Artists, 1947-1983
19
63
Lists of Artists Represented, circa 1947-1983
19
64
Biographies of Gallery Artists, General List, circa 1967
19
65
Biographies of Gallery Artists, A-B, circa 1947-1983
19
66
Biographies of Gallery Artists, C-F, circa 1947-1983
19
67
Biographies of Gallery Artists, G, circa 1947-1983
19
68
Biographies of Gallery Artists, H, circa 1947-1983
19
69
Biographies of Gallery Artists, J-M, circa 1947-1983
19
70
Biographies of Gallery Artists, O-P, circa 1947-1983
19
71
Biographies of Gallery Artists, R-S, circa 1947-1983
19
72
Biographies of Gallery Artists, T, circa 1947-1983
20
1
Biographies of Gallery Artists, V-Z, circa 1947-1983
20
2
Exhibition Chronology (including Wakefield Gallery and Mortimer Brandt Gallery), before 1968
20
3
Exhibition List (by artist and title of show), circa 1960
20
4
Exhibition Schedules, 1941-1950
20
5
Exhibition Schedules, 1951-1954
20
6
Exhibition Schedules, 1954-1960
20
7
Exhibition Schedules, 1960-1976
20
8
Exhibition Schedules, 1977-1983
20
9
Exhibition Schedules , 1975-1976
55
30
2.5: Announcements and Catalogs, 1943-1983
Found here are exhibition announcements and catalogs, and a few exhibition posters, for the Betty Parsons Gallery. Exhibition announcements and catalogs can also be found amongst the artists files.
Description Container
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1946-1950
20
10
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1950-1956
20
11
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1957-1959
20
12
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1950-1959
55
31
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1960-1962
20
13
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1963-1965
20
14
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1966-1969
20
15
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1960s
55
32
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1970-1973
20
16
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1974-1976
20
17
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1970-1975
55
33
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1977-1979
55
34
Exhibition Announcements, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1979-1983
20
18
Exhibition and Other Announcements, Betty Parsons Gallery, undated
20
19
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1980s
55
35
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Betty Parsons Gallery, undated
55
36
Exhibition Posters, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1962-1972
Oversized posters housed in OV 54 and OV 61
20
20
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Other Galleries, 1958-1979
20
21
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Other Galleries, circa 1970-1981
55
37
Oversize, Exhibition Posters, Betty Parsons Gallery, 1951-1972
(Scanned with Box 20, F20)
OV 54
Oversize, Exhibition Posters, Betty Parsons Gallery from Box 20, Folder 20
OV 61
2.6: Guest Books, 1969-1983
Guest books contain signatures and comments from visitors to exhibitions at the Betty Parsons Gallery. There is no guest book for 1977.
Description Container
Guest Book, 1969-1970
20
22
Guest Book, 1970-1971
20
23
Guest Books, 1972
(2 folders)
20
24-25
Guest Book, 1973
20
26
Guest Book, 1973-1974
20
27
Guest Book, 1975
20
28
Guest Book, 1976
20
29
Guest Book, 1976 March-October
20
30
Guest Book, 1978
20
31
Guest Book, 1979
20
32
Guest Book, 1979-1980
20
33
Guest Book, 1980-1981
20
34
Guest Book, 1981-1982
20
35
Guest Book, 1982-1983
21
1

Make a Request

  • To request an appointment to view materials, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reading Room" button. Please note, you will receive the full box.
  • To request reproductions, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reproduction" button.