Frank and Eleanor Freed papers, 1923-1990

Collection Information

Size: 0.6 Linear feet, ca. 1400 items (on 5 microfilm reels); 2 Linear feet, Addition

Summary: Printed material, guestbooks, writings, scrapbooks, photographs, video tapes, and cartoons and sketches.
REEL 2812: Printed material, 1969-1975, including exhibition catalogs, announcements, clippings and articles; a resume; note cards with reproductions of Freed's paintings; and photocopies of Frank's cartoons for the RICE OWL.
REELS 3432-3433: Guestbooks, 1957-1985, with thanks and drawings by visitors, including sketches by artists; writings by Frank regarding his experiences in World War II and a 3-part travel article, "Art of Provence"; 3 scrapbooks containing clippings regarding a trial on which Frank was a juror and "Mexican Painting and Drawing," a show curated by Frank; source material for paintings; a guestbook from an exhibition at Instituto Mexicanos Norteamerico de Relaciones Culturales; and sketches.
REEL 3448: Biographical material; writings by Frank, some done under his pen name Caliph McFloe; photocopies of his cartoons for the RICE OWL, 1923-1924; reproductions of paintings; exhibition catalogs, announcements, press releases and clippings; ca. 100 photographs of paintings; and transcripts of speeches given at his memorial service.
REEL 3538: Articles written by Eleanor as art critic for the Houston Post, 1965-1973; and an article written for Texas Humanist, 1984, "Dominique de Menil: Rare Visions in the Arts," outlining the collecting philosophy of Menil and the establishment of a private museum to exhibit the collection.
UNMICROFILMED: A video tape of a 1975 television program on Frank and 2 tapes from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, panel discussion "The Fine Arts from Various Points of View"; and 3 lithographs by Frank.
ADDITION: Exhibition catalogs and announcements; greeting cards with reproductions of Freed's paintings; guestbooks, 1985-1990; four sketchbooks; a videotape of his 80th birthday celebration; an audio cassette; photographs of Freed and his works of art, including color photographs of 71 paintings; slides of paintings; and miscellany.

Biographical/Historical Note

Frank Freed was a painter, cartoonist and writer. His wife, Eleanor was an art critic. They lived in Houston, Texas.

Provenance

Material on reels 3432-3433 lent for microfilming 1985, by Frank and Eleanor Freed as part of the Archives of American Art's Texas project. The remainder was donated by the Freeds, 1978-1985, and by Eleanor Freed Stern's estate, 1993. The estate bequest included the guestbooks which were part of the 1985 loan.

Language Note

English .

Location of Originals

• Clippings on reel 3538: Originals were discarded after microfilming.
• Reels 3432-3433: Originals returned to the lenders, Frank and Eleanor Freed, after microfilming. The guestbooks were subsequently donated.