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  2. Elaine de Kooning papers, circa 1959-2013
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Elaine de Kooning papers, circa 1959-2013

Contents and Arrangement

Creator

Occupation

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Series 1: Personal Papers, circa 1960s-1989
0.2 Linear feet
Boxes 1, 3

Personal papers include letters, writings by de Kooning, one sketch, an exhibition price list, and a few documents regarding Willem de Kooning. Letters sent and received concern de Kooning's Kennedy portraits and her efforts to save the life of Caryl Chessman. Notes and writings are on general art topics. Documents regarding Willem de Kooning include writings and photocopies of letters by Mercedes Matter, Ernestine Lassaw, and others, as well as one sound disc recording of Willem de Kooning whistling. Also found are two wooden Easter eggs sent by the White House to de Kooning to be decorated and returned.
Description Container Select
Documents Regarding Willem de Kooning, 1989
1
1
Exhibition List, Graham Gallery, circa 1963
1
2
Letters, 1960-1977
1
3
Notes, circa 1960s
1
4
White House Easter Eggs and Letter, 1986
Oversized items housed in Box 3.
1
5
Writings, circa 1960s
1
6
Sketch of President John F. Kennedy, circa 1963
1
7
Willem de Kooning Whistling, circa 1960s
1 Sound discs (lacquer)
1
8
Oversized Easter Eggs from Box 1, Folder 5, 1986
3
1
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Series 2: Interviews, Conversations, and Lectures, 1978-1988
0.3 Linear feet
Box 1

Found here are transcripts of audio interviews of Elaine de Kooning; conversations between de Kooning and others; and lectures by de Kooning. Most of the interviews, conversations, and lectures were transcribed by Doris Aach for Elaine de Kooning, who planned to use them for a book. Majority oftranscripts are digitized. Also found are program scripts and interview transcripts for three film projects produced by Cort Productions.
Description Container Select
Digital Copies of Transcripts, 2013
0.001 Gigabytes
16 computer files
ER01
Transcripts of Interviews of de Kooning
Conducted by Amei Wallach, 1988
1
10
Conducted by Lyn Kienholz, "Arts LA," KCRW, 1987
1
11
Conducted by Charles Hayes, for his book Pearl in the Mud, 1988
1
12
Conducted by Molly Barnes, KPFK News, 1988
1
13
Transcripts of Recorded Conversations
Between de Kooning, Unidentified Person, and Ellen Auerbach, 1988
1
14
Between de Kooning and Koos Lassooy, 1988
1
15
Between de Kooning and Minna Daniels, 1988
1
16
Between de Kooning and Antonia Zara, 1988
1
17
Between de Kooning, Michael and Mildred Loew, and Judith (last name unknown), undated
1
18
Between Elaine de Kooning and Willem de Kooning, and Tully and Gladys Filmus, 1988
1
19
Between de Kooning and Arthur Tobler, 1985
1
20
Between de Kooning, Courtney Sale Ross, and Karen Lindsay regarding Horizon Magazine Article, 1984
1
21
Transcript of Image Gallery Lecture on Willem de Kooning by Elaine de Kooning, 1978
1
22
Transcript of Lecture by de Kooning About Her Life and Work, C.F.S. Hancock Lecture, 1985
1
23
Transcript of Lecture by de Kooning at Whitney Museum, 1984
1
24
Film Project Notes and Transcripts, Cort Productions, Inc., circa 1981-1984
1
25
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Series 3: Photographs, circa 1960s, 2013
4 Folders
Box 2

Photographs depict Elaine de Kooning working on the Kennedy portraits in her studio, John F. Kennedy, artist James Bohary, and de Kooning and Ad Reinhardt at a protest. Also found are photographs of de Kooning's Kennedy portraits and portraits of Kennedy by other artists, and de Kooning's sculpture.
Description Container Select
Elaine de Kooning and Friends, circa 1960s
2
1
Drawings of President John F. Kennedy, Photographs, circa 1960s
2
2
Drawings of President John F. Kennedy, Transparencies, circa 1960s
2
3
Artwork by Others, circa 1960s
2
4
Note to Doris Aach from Elaine de Kooning concerning her "first piece of sculpture" (1967) and an image of that sculpture, Digital Photographs, 2013
0.002 Gigabytes
2 computer files
ER02
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Series 4: Printed Material, 1961-1982
5 Folders
Boxes 2-3

Printed material primarily concerns the exhibition of de Kooning's John F. Kennedy portraits, including exhibition publications and posters, as well as many news clippings about the Kennedy family. Also found is a portfolio of published serigraphs from the California Institute of the Arts.
Description Container Select
Exhibition Publications, circa 1965
2
5
Galley Proofs, circa 1960s
2
6
News Clippings, 1961-1982
2
7
Posters, circa 1963
2
8
Portfolio, California Institute of the Arts, 1960s
3
2
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Series 5: Scrapbooks, circa 1959-1962
0.3 Linear feet
Boxes 2-3

Two scrapbooks, compiled by Elaine de Kooning, pertain to her effort to save the life of convicted criminal, Caryl Chessman, and her protest against the death penalty. Volume 1 contains clippings. Volume 2 includes a copy of Chessman's 16 page letter to Governor Edmund G. Brown, clippings concerning efforts to save Chessman, de Kooning's speech notes for political rallies, her correspondence with attorney Rosalie Asher, and photographs of members of the art community involved with this cause.
Description Container Select
Scrapbook, Volume 1, "The Chessman Story", circa 1959-1962
2
9
Scrapbook, Volume 1, "The Chessman Story", circa 1959-1962
2
10
Scrapbook, Volume 2, "The Real Story of Caryl Chessman", circa 1960
3
3

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.