Oral history interview with Armand Hammer, 1980 Aug. 26

Collection Information

Size: Sound recording: 1 Sound cassette; 16 Pages, Transcript

Summary: An interview of Armand Hammer conducted 1980 Aug. 26, by Ruth Bowman, for the Archives of American Art.

Hammer speaks of his childhood, Russian ancestry, 1921 trip to Russia, and conversations with Lenin. He discusses his early business triumphs, the importing business, the origins of his fortune, the Hearst sale, and the beginnings of his art collection. Hammer comments on his interests and approaches in collecting art, philanthropic activities and some of his experiences in collecting.

Biographical/Historical Note

Armand Hammer (1898-1990) was an art collector from Los Angeles, Calif.

Provenance

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.

Language Note

English .

Funding

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.