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  2. Francis V. O'Connor papers, 1920-2009
  3. Series 2: Publications, 1939-1985

Francis V. O'Connor papers, 1920-2009

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Series 2: Publications, 1939-1985
4.3 Linear feet
Boxes 7-11, BV 25-26, OV 27

This series contains research files and administrative materials related to O'Connor's publications on the WPA/FAP and New Deal artists, Federal Support for the Visual Arts: The New Deal and Now (1969), New Deal Art Projects: An Anthology of Memoirs (1972), Art for the Millions (1973), and Federal Art Patronage Notes (publication, 1974-1984). Documents include correspondence with publishers, research notes, financial records, drafts, proofs, and final reports.
The series is arranged as 4 subseries. Materials are arranged by document type.
  • 2.1: Federal Support for the Visual Arts: The New Deal and Now, 1939-1985
  • 2.2: New Deal Art Projects: An Anthology of Memoirs, 1968-1972
  • 2.3: Art for the Millions, 1965-1973
  • 2.4: Federal Art Patronage Notes, 1971-1985

2.1

Federal Support for the Visual Arts: The New Deal and Now, 1939-1985
Correspondence, drafts, administrative records, research data, computer printouts, and final reports related to O'Connor's National Endowment sponsored project, Federal Support for the Visual Arts (FSVA). This project was an analysis to measure the effectiveness of New Deal art projects by tracing the history of the projects, surveying the subsequent careers of participating artists, and measuring the economic value of surviving artworks where possible. The project's final report was published in 1969 and references documentation collected in Series 1.1-1.3.
Description Container
Administrative, Account Registers, 1967-1969
7
77
Administrative, D.C. Zoning, circa 1968
7
78
Administrative, Project Bills, circa 1966-1968
7
79
Administrative, Staff, circa 1968-1985
7
80-81
Administrative, Tax Reporting (D.C.), circa 1967-1968
7
82
Administrative, Tax Reporting (federal), circa 1968
7
83
Correspondence, Committee to Save New Deal Art, circa 1970
7
84
Correspondence, Early Press on New Deal, 1967-1968
7
85
Correspondence, Early Research and Proposals, 1962-1969
7
86
Correspondence, General Research Inquiries, 1967-1968
7
87-88
Correspondence, Final Report and Press Coverage, circa 1968-1970
7
89
Correspondence, Form Letters to Artists and Press, circa 1967-1968
7
90
Correspondence, NCFA Deposit of Research Files, circa 1968-1971
8
1
Correspondence, NCFA General Information, 1968-1969
8
2
Draft, Artist and Index/Subject Lists, circa 1967-1969
8
3
Draft, Cover Layout, circa 1968-1969
8
4
Draft, Guide to New Deal Art Project Documentation, 1968
8
5
Report, Preliminary Report of Activities and Accomplishments, 1968
8
6
Report, Federal Support for the Visual Arts: The New Deal and Now, 1968-1969
8
7-9
Research, Administrator and Artist Lists, circa 1967-1969
8
10
Research, Annotated Lists of WPA Reports, circa 1967-1969
8
11
Research, Classification Key for National Archives Record Groups, circa 1967-1968
8
12
Research, Data, circa 1968-1969
Oversized material housed in BV 25-26 and OV 27.
8
13-20
Research, Division of Information, circa 1967-1969
8
21
Research, FAP, circa 1967-1969
8
22
Research, National Archives, circa 1968
8
23
Research, New York City, circa 1939-1969
8
24-26
Research, New York State, circa 1967-1969
8
27
Research, States (other than New York), circa 1967-1969
8
28
Research, Welfare/Relief, circa 1967-1969
9
1-3
Research, World's Fair, circa 1967-1969
9
4
Research, Notes on File Series "211", circa 1967-1969
9
5
Research, Notes on File Series "651", circa 1967-1969
9
6
Research, Photograph Index List, circa 1967-1969
9
7
Research, Miscellaneous Record Group Notes, circa 1967-1969
9
8
Oversized Computer Printouts from Box 8, Folder 17, circa 1967-1969
25
Oversized Computer Printouts from Box 8, Folder 17, circa 1967-1969
26
Oversized Coding Forms from Box 8, Folder 18, circa 1967-1969
OV 27

2.2

New Deal Art Projects: An Anthology of Memoirs, 1968-1972
Correspondence, book covers, index, and an interview transcript related to the book, New Deal Art Projects, which collects the memoirs of ten artists and administrators who participated in New Deal art projects. The interview transcript is an edited version of the conversation that appears in the book between Audrey McMahon, Olive Gavert, Marchal Landgren, Jacob Kainen, Belisario Contreras, and Francis O'Connor.
Description Container
Correspondence, circa 1968-1972
9
9-10
Book Cover and Index of Namescirca 1968-1972, circa 1968-1972
9
11
Interview Transcript at End of New Deal Art Projects, circa 1968
9
12-13

2.3

Art for the Millions, 1965-1973
Correspondence, drafts, research notes, and photocopies of research source material related to the book, Art for the Millions. This selection of 103 essays written by WPA/FAP artists was originally solicited by Emanuel Benson for an annual report of the FAP in 1936. The rough manuscript remained unpublished until its rediscovery by O'Connor and subsequent publication in 1973. The book references documentation collected in Series 1.4.
Description Container
Correspondence, American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc., 1970
9
14
Correspondence, New York Graphic Society, circa 1969-1973
9
15-17
Draft Copy, 1970
9
18
Draft, Bibliography and Lists, circa 1965-1973
9
19
Draft, Index and Table of Contents, circa 1965-1973
9
20-21
Draft, Introduction, circa 1965-1970
10
1
Research, Primary Source Documents, 1936-1940, circa 1965-1970
10
2-3
Research, Primary Source Document, Book Layout, circa 1939, circa 1965-1970
10
4

2.4

Federal Art Patronage Notes, 1971-1985
Administrative printing/subscription records and final print, draft, and editorial copies related to the publication, Federal Art Patronage Notes. This quarterly newsletter was edited and published by O'Connor between 1974 and 1983 and includes articles on the history of federal arts programs, currently sponsored government programs, and recently published academic research on the topic.
Description Container
Administrative, Mailing Lists, circa 1974-1983
10
5-7
Administrative, Painting, circa 1981-1985
10
8-9
Administrative, Stationary Pasteups, circa 1971-1975
10
10
Administrative, Subscription Address File, circa 1974-1983
10
11-12
Administrative, Subscription Accounts, circa 1975-1979
10
13-17
Administrative, Subscription Correspondence, 1974-1982
10
18-23
Newsletters, Other Examples, circa 1974-1975
11
1
Newsletter, Early Ideas, 1971-1972
11
2
Volume 1, 1974-1976
11
3-6
Volume 2, 1976-1977
11
7-10
Volume 3, 1978-1980
11
11-13
Volume 4, 1981-1983
11
14-16

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.