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

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7.5: Annotated Sketchbooks , circa 1920s-1981

According to biographical accounts, Betty Parsons was an avid sketcher, having acquired the habit dating from her studies with the English artist Arthur Lindsay in the 1930s. This subseries includes thirty-two of her sketchbooks of varying sizes, many of which are annotated with diary entries and other notes, such as 1951 notes for her WNYC Radio Arts Festival Interview, a transcript of which can be found in 7.2: Biographical Materials. The sketchbooks contain abstract, landscape, and figurative drawings and paintings in ink, felt tip marker, gouache, pencil, and other media.
Also found are two notebooks containing dress patterns by Parsons.
This series is partially digitized. The 2017 addition has not been digitized.
Description Container Select
Sketchbooks, circa 1920s-circa 1930s
57
22
Sketchbooks, 1930
57
23
Sketchbooks, 1933, 1935
57
24
Sketchbook, circa 1940s
57
25
Sketchbooks, 1948, 1950
57
26
Sketchbook, 1951
42
21
Sketchbooks, 1951
57
27
Sketchbooks, 1952, 1953
57
28
Sketchbooks, 1953-1954
57
29
Sketchbooks, 1955, 1958
57
30
Sketchbooks, 1959
57
31
Sketchbooks, 1966, 1969
57
32
Sketchbook, 1967
42
22
Sketchbook, 1969
42
23
Sketchbook, 1970
58
1
Sketchbook, 1975
58
2
Sketchbooks, 1976-1977
58
3
Sketchbook, 1981
58
4
Dress Patterns, 1922
58
5
Dress Patterns, 1922
58
6

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.