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Ricky Gomez
Scope and Contents
The papers of multimedia and textile artist Ita Aber, measure 21.7 linear feet and 2.55 GB and date from 1932 to 2007. The collection documents many aspects of Aber's career through biographical material, correspondence, diaries and other writings, records of Aber's commissions for various organizations, gallery files documenting her exhibitions, teaching files documenting classes and workshops taught by Aber, personal business records including price lists for Aber's work, printed and digital material, artwork including sketches, paintings and embroidery, and photographs of family, friends, artwork, and exhibitions. The collection also includes sound and video recordings, some in digital format.
Biographical materials consist of membership and identification cards, passports and travel documents, and educational material related to various schools Aber attended. Correspondence is mainly with friends, colleagues, and organizations. There are also letters to and from local and national political figures concerning various topics. Diaries are primarily a number of calendar books containing appointments and various notes. Writings include draft manuscripts for articles and books that Aber wrote, transcripts for lectures she presented, notes on various subjects in embroidery and Jewish art, and articles on Aber and Jewish artwork written by other scholars. Professional activity consists of documents related to commission work Aber did for various organizations and synagogues. Gallery materials include documentation related to Aber taking part in museum exhibitions. Teaching materials are of various classes and workshops Aber presented at museums on different aspects of needlework and embroidery. Personal business records consist of inventories, price lists, appraisals, and invoices. Printed materials include exhibition announcements and catalogs, newsletters, and newspaper and magazine clippings. Artwork is design and sketches for textiles used for various commissions. Also included are a number of small paintings. Photographs consist of personal photographs of family and friends, artwork, and exhibitions that Aber took part in. Also included are numerous photographs and slides of artwork.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Ita H. Aber papers were donated to the Archives of American Art by Ita Aber in numerous installments between 1994 and 2007.
Related Materials
Yeshiva University is the primary repository for the Aber family papers.
Funding
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Ricky Gomez in 2019. Born-digital materials were processed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2021 with funding provided by Smithsonian Collection Care and Preservation Fund.