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Claire Falkenstein papers, circa 1914-1997, bulk 1940-1990

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Series 6: Writings , circa 1929-1993
(Box 22-26, 42, 55; 4.6 linear feet)

Falkenstein's work as a prolific writer, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s, is well-documented here through her numerous published articles in Arts and Architecture magazine, and the New York Herald-Tribune. Her work for Arts and Architecture was primarily written for the "Art Comments from San Francisco" section. She was living in Paris when she contributed an art news column to the New York Herald-Tribune.
Also found here are five diaries and one journal dating from circa 1929-1978. The entries are inconsistent and concern mostly travel. The diaries from 1929 and 1934 are more personal. Falkenstein also maintained extensive notes and notebooks about artwork ideas, observations about art, research, and even drafts of letters. There are also many notes about various topics, including art and class notes. Additional writings are eclectic and cover a wide range of topics of interest to Falkenstein, including music, poetry, the script for Falkestein's film entitled Touching the Quick and drafts of her unpublished book on murals. A handful of writings by others are found, most with annotations by Falkenstein.
Writings are arranged into 5 subseries:
  • 6.1: Published Articles, 1948-1958
  • 6.2: Diaries and Journals, 1929-1978
  • 6.3: Notes and Notebooks, circa 1930-1989
  • 6.4: Other Writings By Falkenstein, circa 1929-1993
  • 6.5: Writings By Others, circa 1938-1972
6.1: Published Articles, 1948-1958
This subseries contains published articles, the majority of which were written for the "Art Comments from San Francisco" section of Arts and Architecture magazine. The files contain drafts and notes for the articles, copies of the published material, and correspondence with editors. When Falkenstein moved to Paris in the early 1950s, she supplemented her income by writing a column on art news for the New York Herald Tribune. These articles are also found here.
Files are arranged alphabetically by publication and then chronologically by date. File contents are arranged chronologically.
Description Container
Articles in Arts and Architecture, February 1948, April 1948
22
36
Articles in Arts and Architecture, April 1948
22
37
Articles in Arts and Architecture, June-July, 1948
22
38
Article in Arts and Architecture - "Art in Cinema,", October 1948
22
39
Articles in Arts and Architecture, November-December 1948
22
40
Articles in Arts and Architecture, Review of "Masterpieces from Berlin Masters" Exhibit, circa 1948
22
41
Articles in Arts and Architecture, circa 1947-1950
22
42
Articles in Arts and Architecture, 1948-1949
22
43
Articles in Arts and Architecture, circa 1948-1949
22
44
Articles in Arts and Architecture, March 1949, May 1949
22
45
Articles in Arts and Architecture, August-September 1949
22
46
Articles in Arts and Architecture, November 1949
22
47
Articles in Arts and Architecture, circa 1949-1950
22
48
Articles in Arts and Architecture, March 1950, May 1950
22
49
Articles in Arts and Architecture, circa 1952-1958
22
50
Article - New York Herald-Tribune, 1955
22
51
Article - San Francisco Chronicle, 1951
22
52
Drafts of Published Articles, circa 1948-1958
22
53
Drafts of Published Articles, circa 1951-1958
22
54
6.2: Diaries and Journals, 1929-1978
Diaries are not complete and are limited. Most of the volumes focus on travel, with observations about art and architecture, visits with friends, and her efforts to work on her art while traveling. The diaries from 1929 and 1934 contain more personal entries about love and relationships.
Description Container
Diary, circa 1929
23
1
Diary with Poems, 1934
23
2
Diaries, 1951
23
3
Diary, 1956
23
4
Diary of Trip to Europe, 1978
23
5
Journal, 1978
23
6
6.3: Notes and Notebooks, circa 1930-1989
Throughout her life, Falkenstein maintained files containing notes about events in her life, including ideas and plans for her artwork; observations about meetings, exhibitions, commissions, and lectures; lists of art supply purchases; research notes; and reminders about upcoming activites. Some files contain drafts of letters.
Description Container
Notes, circa 1930-1990
(13 folders)
23
7-19
Notebooks, circa 1940-1960
(12 folders)
23
20-31
Notebooks, circa 1966-1985
(22 folders)
24
1-22
Notebooks, circa 1985-1989
(4 folders)
25
1-4
6.4: Other Writings by Falkenstein, circa 1929-1993
Eclectic writings by Falkenstein are mostly unpublished, beginning with her writings as an undergraduate at UC, Berkeley and ending with her observations about her artwork in the 1990s. Travel notes are not diary entries but more formal writings about tours Falkenstein organized in France and Italy. Of particular interest are the poetry and music files which document Falkenstein's wide range of artistic endeavors. This subseries also contains notes and the script for Falkestein's film entitled Touching the Quick and drafts of her unpublished book on murals. The observations on her artwork contain notes and more formal writings on specific pieces of sculpture.
Description Container
Class Notes - UC Berkeley, circa 1929
(7 folders)
25
5-11
Notes from Anatomy Class, circa 1930
(2 folders)
25
12-13
Notes on Trip to Mexico, 1934
25
14
Notes from Drive Across Country, 1950
25
15
Notes on trip to Italy and France, circa 1959-1960
25
16
Notes from Trip to Italy, circa 1960-1961
25
17
Notes from Trip to Paris, circa 1993
25
18
Poetry, 1932-1954
(3 folders, oversized item housed in OV 55)
25
19-21
Notes, including Poetry, circa 1932-1938
(2 folders)
25
22-23
Music, circa 1933
(6 folders)
25
24-29
Notes on Falkenstein's Film "Touching the Quick,", circa 1948
25
30
Script and Direction for Falkenstein's Film "Touching the Quick,", circa 1948
25
31
Drafts of Book on Murals, circa 1950
(4 folders)
25
32-35
Notes on Book on Murals, circa 1950
25
36
Notes on Artwork "The Sun" Series, circa 1960
25
37
Notes on Artwork "Sculptured Water,", 1963-1965
25
38
Notes on Artwork "Vibration,", 1965
25
39
Notes on Artwork "Structure and Flow,", circa 1965-1969
25
40
Notes on Artwork "Simultaneity,", circa 1970
25
41
Notes on Artwork "Fertility,", Undated
25
42
Notes on Vocabulary for Artwork "Exploding the Volume,", circa 1980-1990
25
43
Notes on Sculpture, 1963
25
44
Notes on Works of Art, circa 1947-1984
25
45
Notes on Art Techniques and Supplies, circa 1945
25
46
Learning French, circa 1951
26
1
Museum Report for School Project, circa 1928
26
2
Notes on Discussion with Frank Lobdell and Tom Roberts, 1951
26
3
Notes from The Anatomy of Art by Herbert Read, circa 1935-1940
26
4
Writings on Aesthetics, circa 1960
26
5
Oversized Text from Falkenstein's Film "Seven Episodes, Seven Works,", circa 1976
42
Oversized Poetry, 1933
(from Box 24, F. 8-10)
OV 55
6.5: Writings by Others, circa 1938-1972
This subseries contains writings by other authors, most of which contain annotations by Falkenstein. Of particular interest is a signed handwritten document in French by Francis Picabia.
Description Container
Bernard Zakheim, circa 1938
26
6
Amedee Ozenfant, 1942
26
7
Francis Picabia, 1950
26
8
Peter Jones, 1972
26
9

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