Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers, circa 1905-1984

Found here are Lee Krasner's genealogical notes, school transcripts, certificate of marriage to Jackson Pollock, and Who's Who biographies. Also included are resumes and artist statements, chronologies, exhibition lists, bibliographies, and address books. Awards and certificates include an award medal for the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. There are also mementos such as brochures, receipts, programs, and letters, from her 1965 visit to England for the Whitechapel Gallery exhibition.

Lee Krasner's correspondence spans over forty years, but the bulk of it ranges from 1970 to her death in 1984. Found here is correspondence with galleries and gallery owners that represented her, exhibited her work, or requested her work for potential exhibitions. Krasner was friends with many artists and art professionals and her personal correspondence includes many letters from artists such as Philip Johnson, Ray Eames, Cleve Gray, and Hans Namuth. She also corresponded with art historians and critics, curators, collectors, arts and social organizations, admirers, and family members. Additionally, this series includes fan mail, student inquiries, correspondence with journalists and publishers, requests for her to lecture, and business correspondence on the sale of her work. There are numerous letters and telegrams congratulating Krasner on exhibitions, such as the 1965 Whitechapel retrospective and extensive documentation of her 1958 commission to create a mural for Uris Brothers, Inc.

See Index for List of Notable Correspondents from Series 2.2

This subseries contains transcripts of interviews of Lee Krasner conducted by various art historians and journalists. The interviews discuss Krasner's work, the early abstract expressionist movement, her relationship with Jackson Pollock, and the "New York art world". Two of the transcripts are for broadcast interviews, including a 1979 interview with Barbara Novak for WGBH New Television Workshop, Boston. Transcripts are arranged chronologically. Audio recordings for these interviews are filed in Series 2.10.

This subseries includes draft essays, many with annotations, about Lee Krasner and her artwork. Items are arranged chronologically.

This subseries includes a few lecture notes by Lee Krasner as well as handwritten notes about her life and memories.

Scattered business and financial records date primarily from 1967 to 1983 and include exhibition checklists, conservation forms, loan forms, sales and price lists, warehouse and shipping receipts, guest lists, account statements and other handwritten lists and notes. There is documentation from the Robert Miller Gallery, Pace Gallery, the Whitney museum, and the Marlborough gallery.

This scrapbook documents a 1965 exhibition of Krasner's work at Whitechapel Gallery in London. The scrapbook was created by the President of Marlborough Gallery, Pierre Levai, and includes news clippings about the event and photographs of the exhibition installation.

Printed material documents Lee Krasner's career and includes solo and group exhibition catalogs, announcements, press releases, and numerous newspaper and magazine clippings. There are also newsletters, event calendars, annual reports, and documentary film announcements for films about Krasner. Schedules, directories, instructions, and other faculty materials are from Krasner's semester as a faculty member at Cooper Union. Miscellaneous printed material includes primarily programs, brochures, and invitations to events. There is also an "Odds and Ends" folder. Items are arranged by type of material and chronologically within each folder.

Lee Krasner's personal photographs and photographs of her artwork are filed here, including one of her painting in the studio and portraits of her at the WPA pier. The majority of the photographs in this subseries are professional portraits taken of Lee Krasner throughout her career. Some of the portraits depict her home and painting in her studio. Photographers of note are Hans Namuth, Renate Ponsold, and Ray Eames, and one by Irving Penn. All portraits of Krasner are grouped by photographer and arranged chronologically.

Personal and family photographs include photos of Krasner on the beach, circa 1939, and with family and friends. Photographs of Krasner with Jackson Pollock were taken at the beach, with family, and at their home in the Springs. There are also photographs of the two of them outside of their home and in the studio, taken by Wilfred Zogbaum. There are photographs of Lee Krasner at various exhibitions, including her 1973 exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Photographs of artwork include photographs of Krasner's work in various medium, such as ink, collage, lithographs, and mosaic, as well as the artwork she did for the WPA. Photographs of artwork have not been scanned.

This subseries consists primarily of audio recordings of interviews with Lee Krasner that discuss her career, her relationship with Jackson Pollock, and Pollock's career. The recordings include interviews conducted by John Gruen for the Casper Citron radio show, one for the Martha Dean radio show, and one for the "Today Show". Another interview of note was conducted by fellow artist Mercedes Matter. Transcripts for most of these interviews are filed in Series 2.3.

Also found in this series are two recorded lectures given by Lee Krasner, and two copies VHS video recordings about Pollock and a 1982 exhibition of his work, "Pollock a Beaubourg". Items are arranged chronologically.