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Howard Somers Conant papers, 1944-1987

Contents and Arrangement

Creator

Occupation

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Series 1: Correspondence , 1944-1987
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1

Correspondence is primarily with friends and fellow art colleagues. There are letters from James Brooks, Helen Frankenthaler, Philip Guston, Duane Hanson, Thomas Hess, Thomas Hoving, Sidney Janis, Philip Johnson, Allan Kaprow, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Sol LeWitt, Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, Larry Rivers, Mark Rothko, John Russell, Ben Shahn, Eve Sonneman, Theodoros Stamos, Edward M. M. Warburg, Adja Yunkers, and others, primarily relating to requests for employment or responses to Conant's letters asking artists to participate in classes or conferences. Also found are correspondence and typescripts of statements by twenty-eight artists which Conant collected for an unpublished study on the education of artists for New York University in 1959.
Description Container Select
Correspondence, 1944-1958
1
1
Correspondence, 1959
1
2
Correspondence, 1960-1965
1
3
Correspondence, 1966-1968
1
4
Correspondence, 1970
1
5
Correspondence, 1971-1972
1
6
Correspondence, 1973-1987
1
7
Correspondence, undated
1
8
Responses to Survey on Artists Education, B-K, 1959
1
9
Responses to Survey on Artists Education, L-Y, 1959
1
10
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Series 2: Writings , 1944-1985
0.5 Linear feet
Box 1

Materials include autobiographical statements, draft manuscripts of articles, lectures, and panel discussion transcripts, by Conant or related to his work.
Writings by people other than Conant, including Victor D'Amico, Buckmaster Fuller, and Maxine Greene, are noted in the Container Listing.
Writings are arranged in rough chronological order.
Description Container Select
Autobiographical Statements, 1944-1985
1
11
The Role of the Arts in Art Education, 1956 May 7
1
12
Modern Art and Popular Understanding, 1956 December 17
1
13
Artistic Principles and Ethical Practices in the Publication of Books, Magazines, and Newspapers, 1957 July 1
1
14
The Role of Arts in Education, 1957 October 18
1
15
"Realities" Article, 1958
1
16
The Arts in Contemporary Life, 1958 January 13
1
17
The Art Educator as Teacher-Artist-Scholar, 1958 February 14
1
18
Evaluation, Stereotypes, and the Need for Creativity in Art Education, 1958 February 15
1
19
The Art Teacher as Artist and Scholar, and His Role in Education, 1958 March 28
1
20
Statement at the Research and Art Education Panel of NCOAE, The Museum of Modern Art, 1958 April 26
1
21
Florida Art Teacher's Association Summary Talk Notes, 1958 October 25
1
22
New York University Survey on Artists Education, 1959
1
23
The Role of the Arts in Education, 1959 April 4
1
24
The Arts in Contemporary Society, 1959 May 6
1
25
Art Education vs. Sophisticated Barbarianism, 1960 April 22
1
26
Art Education: Quality in Teaching, 1961
1
27
The Role of Art in Secondary Education, 1961 March 4
1
28
A Philosophy of Creative Art Education, 1961 March 23
1
29
The Arts in Art Education, 1961 October 27
1
30
"Can Art be Taught," by Victor D'Amico, 1962
1
31
America's Cultural Responsibilities for the Arts, circa 1962
1
32
Testimony on Senate Bills 741, 785, and 1250, 1962 August 31
1
33
Can Art be Taught?, 1962 December 11-21
1
34
America's Cultural Responsibilities for the Arts, 1963
1
35
The Education and Certification of Teachers of Art, 1963 March 11
1
36
An Artist-Educator Views Creativity and Aesthetics, An Address Delivered at the George Peabody College for Teachers, 1963 July 9
1
37
Pursuit of Excellence, 1963 October 9
1
38
Summary of 7-Session Seminar on Art Education Today, 1964
1
39
Speech by Buckmaster Fuller at the U.S. National Science Foundation, Sponsored by New York University Seminar on Art Education, 1964 October
1
40
On the Education of Artists, 1965 April 5
1
41
A "Raison D'Etre" for Aesthetic Excellence in Advertising Design, 1965 April 14
1
42
Final Report of the Pilot Phase of the Library of Education Fund Research Project, 1966 October 15
1
43
The Cultural Explosion and the School Curriculum, 1967 April 3
1
44
The Architectural Contribution to the Theatre, 1967 June 1
1
45
Graduate Study in Art - A Prognosis, 1970 March 13
1
46
Consultant's Report by Howard Conant, 1971
1
47
"Popular Culture, The Arts, and Education" by Maxine Greene, 1971 November
1
48
Season of Decline, 1972
1
49
The Art Experience and the Work of Art, 1973 November 15
1
50
Art and the Environment, circa 1974
1
51
The Nature and Function of Leadership in the Arts, 1975 February 28
1
52
Leadership in the Arts, 1975 May 6
1
53
Judgmental Misconceptions in Art, circa 1976
1
54
Some Thoughts Concerning the Responsibilities of Administrators in Art Education, 1976 June 30
1
55
An Address to a Symposium of the California Art Education Association, 1976 October 9
1
56
Signs of a Renaissance in Art Education, 1977 October 29
1
57
Interview by James Stewart, 1985
1
58
The Pursuit of Excellence, 1985 November 5
1
59
By Buckmaster Fuller, 1946-1967
1
60
Miscellaneous, undated
1
61
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Series 3: Printed Material , 1953-1987
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1

Material consists of copies of books written by Conant, published articles, and newsletters. Also included is a folder of photographs of Conant and of Conant with colleagues, including participants in a 1964 seminar at New York University.
Description Container Select
Art in Education, 1963
1
62
The Humanism of Donatello, 1973
1
63
Journals, 1961-1965
1
64
Newsletters, 1953-1976
1
65
"Seminar on Elementary and Secondary School Education in the Visual Arts", 1965
1
66
Photographs, 1963-1987
1
67
Miscellaneous, 1965-1977
1
68
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Series 4: Interviews and Lectures , 1951-1968
2.3 Linear feet
Boxes 1-4

Materials consist of sound recordings of interviews, lectures, and panel discussions that Conant participated in during the 1960s. Among the recordings is a collection from the "Contemporary Artist on Art" series for 1960, which also includes transcript files.
The collection of audio cassettes and reels were in no discernible order before processing, as reflected in the container listing.
Some of the sound recordings in this collection have been copied for research access and digital copies are available in the Archives of American Art offices.
Description Container Select
Howard Conant Rehearsing Lectures About His Artwork, 1965 February 15
1 Sound cassette
1
69
1
Marshall McLuhan, Jacob Blumner, and Howard Somers Conant Discussion at Fordham University, 1967 October 25
1 Sound cassette
1
69
2
John Opper Seminar Discussion, 1968 April
1 Sound cassette
1
69
3
Interview with Irving Kaufman, 1967 October 27
2 Sound cassettes
1
70
1-2
Yayoi Kusama Interview, 1968 February 15
1 Sound cassette
1
70
3
"Contemporary Artists on Art," Hale Woodruff and Hilaire Hiler Transcript, 1960 October 20
2
1
"Contemporary Artists on Art," Ilya Bolotowsky and Louise Nevelson Transcript, 1960 October 27
2
2
"Contemporary Artists on Art," Reuben Nakian and John Humphrey Transcript, 1960 November 10
2
3
"Contemporary Artists on Art," Ruth Volmer and Robert Motherwell Transcript, 1960 December 1
2
4
"Contemporary Artists on Art," Milton Resnick and Balcomb Greene Transcript, 1960 December 8
2
5
"Contemporary Artists on Art," Interview Recordings, 1960
10 Sound tape reels
Interviews with Hale Woodruff and Hilaire Hire; Ilya Bolotowsky and Louise Nevelson; Helen Frankenthaler and Balcomb Green; Reuben Nakian and John Humphrey; Esteban Vicente, John Opper, and George J. McNeil; Robert Motherwell and Ruth Volmer; Milton Resnick and Balcomb Greene.
2
6-8
Institute for the Study of Art and Education Conference 1964, 1964 October 8-9
20 Sound tape reels
2
9-18
Institute for the Study of art and Education Conference 1964, 1960 October 8-9
4 Sound tape reels
3
1-2
Institute for the Study of art and Education Conference 1967, 1967 November 17
1 Sound tape reel
3
3
1
Institute for the Study of art and Education Conference 1968, 1968 November 9
1 Sound tape reel
3
3
2
Institute for the Study of art and Education Conference 1968, 1968 November 9
2 Sound tape reels
3
4
Frederick John Kiesler Lecture, 1960
4 Sound tape reels
3
5-6
Adolph Gottlieb Lecture, 1965 August 20
1 Sound tape reel
3
7
1
Frederick John Kiesler Lecture, 1964 August
1 Sound tape reel
3
7
2
Buckminster Fuller Address in Harrisburg, PA, 1966 June
2 Sound tape reels
3
8
Stephen Greene, Robert Morris, and Jack Tworkov Panel Discussion, 1966 November 17
2 Sound tape reels
3
9
Interview with Ray Parker, John Opper, Tania, 1965
1 Sound tape reel
3
10
1
Sound Recording of Educational Television Program on Art Activities for Children, 1951 December 13-20
1 Sound tape reel
3
10
2
Panel Discussion, "The Art Student and the Future of the Avant-Garde", 1966 November 29
7 Sound tape reels
3
11-14
Panel Discussion, "Architectural Synthesis in Modern Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Urban Design", 1965 October 22
5 Sound tape reels
3
15-17
Howard Somers Conant Lecture, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1965 May 8
1 Sound tape reel
3
18
Interview with Robert Motherwell, 1964 November 8
3 Sound tape reels
4
1-2
James N. Wines Slide Lecture on Sculpture, circa 1960
3 Sound tape reels
4
3-4

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.