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James A. McGrath papers, 1950-2011

Contents and Arrangement

Creator

Occupation

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Series 1: James A. McGrath Papers Concerning William T. Wiley , 1950-2011
2 Linear feet
Boxes 1-3, OVs 4-5

James A. McGrath papers concerning artist William T. Wiley date from Wiley's high school days and include correspondence, writings, student files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork.
This series is arranged as 5 subseries.
  • 1.1: High School Files, 1953-1956 (Box 1; 5 folders)
  • 1.2: Correspondence, 1958-2011 (Box 1; 0.4 linear feet)
  • 1.3: Printed Material, 1953-2010 (Boxes 1-3 and OV 5; 1.0 linear foot)
  • 1.4: Artwork, 1954-1991 (Boxes 2-3 and OVs 4-6; 0.7 linear feet)
  • 1.5: Photographic Material, 1950-2010 (Box 2; 7 folders)

1.1: High School Files, 1953-1956

Found here are files related to Wiley's student work from Columbia High School in Richland, Washington. Included are exams, two yearbooks, an original page from a yearbook designed by Wiley, a story letter and a letter of recommendation written for Wiley by McGrath.
Description Container
Student Exams, 1953-1954
1
1
Story Letter, 1955 April 9
1
2
Yearbook, 1955
1
3
Letter of Recommendation for Wiley, 1956
1
4
Yearbook, 1956
1
5

1.2: Correspondence, 1958-2011

Correspondence is mostly comprised of letters written from Wiley to McGrath. Included are Christmas cards, illustrated letters from Wiley and his mother to McGrath, postcards, prints and a wedding invitation and photograph of Wiley and his wife Mary. Wiley writes about his artwork, family, travels and his mother's death. There are also letters to McGrath from Wiley's first and second wives, Dorothy and Mary, and artists Robert Rauschenberg and Mark Tobey.
Description Container
Illustrated Letter, 1958-1959
1
6
Letters from Mark Tobey and Robert Rauschenburg to McGrath, 1958-1961
1
7
Letters, 1967-1969
1
8
Christmas Story, circa 1970s
1
9
Exhibition Catalog and Letter, 1972
1
10
Postcard and Letter, 1978-1979
1
11
Letter and Prints, 1981 November 5
1
12
Christmas Card Print "Cute Rules", 1982
1
13
Letters and Photographs, 1986
1
14
Letters, Photocopied Photographs and Poems by Michael Hannon and Mary Wiley, 1991-1992
1
15
Illustrated Letter from Dorothy Wiley to James McGrath, 1994
1
16
Christmas Card, 1994
1
17
Letters and Photocopied Print, 1995
1
18
Illustrated Letter and Prints, 2001-2004
1
19
Letter, Notes, Wedding Invitation and Photograph, 2005-2006
1
20
Christmas Print, 2007
1
21
Postcards, Photographs and Letters, 2009
1
22
Assorted Correspondence, 2010
1
23
Letter, Exhibition Announcement and Print, 2011
1
24
Letters and Postcards, undated
1
25

1.3: Printed Material, 1953-2010

Printed materials include exhibition catalogs and announcements, newspaper and magazine clippings, and the books Distraction, Lyrica and Almost Old/New Poems, which are illustrated by Wiley.
Description Container
Flair Magazines, February 1950-January 1951
1
26-29
Flair Annual, Signed by the Editor and McGrath's Students, 1953
(Oversized item housed in box 3, folder 1)
1
30
Flair Annual, 1953
(Oversized item housed in box 3, folder 2)
1
31
Newspaper Clipping, 1954 March 5
1
32
Inscribed Book, 1955
1
33
The Diary of Anne Frank Play Poster, 1957 February 16
(Oversized item housed in OV 4)
1
34
Exhibition Booklet and Tickets, 1957
1
35
Artforum Magazine, December 1970
(Oversized item housed in box 3, folder 3)
1
36
Catalog Published by the Berkley University Art Museum, 1971
1
37
Arts Canada Magazine, June/July 1971
1
38
Arts Canada Magazine, Spring 1974
1
39
Allan Frumkin Gallery Newsletter, Fall 1976
1
40
Exhibition Catalog, 1981
1
41
Newsweek Article, 1981 January 12
1
42
Exhibition Catalogs and Gallery Announcements, 1983-1987
1
43
"An Evening in Honor of Jim McGrath" Event Announcement, 1986 February 20
1
44
"Profile of a Mentor" by C.M. Hobson, 1986 June 13
1
45
Exhibition Catalogs and Announcements, 1988-1998
1
46-50
"Art in the Woods" Exhibition Article, 1996
1
51
Exhibition Announcements, 2004-2007
2
1
Distraction, Book Illustrated by Wiley, 2007
2
2
Overview Newsletter, Spring 2007
2
3
Lyrica, Book Illustrated by Wiley and Exhibition Announcement, 2008
2
4
Smithsonian American Art Museum Calendar Newsletter, Fall 2009
2
5
Exhibition Announcements, 2009-2010
2
6
Almost Old/New Poems, Book Illustrated by Wiley, 2010
2
7
San Fransisco Chronicle Feature Story on Wiley, 2010
2
8
Oversized Flair Annual, Signed by the Editor and McGrath's Students, 1953
(from box 1, folder 30)
3
1
Oversized Flair Annual, 1953
(from box 1, folder 31)
3
2
Oversized Artforum Magazine, December 1970
(from box 1, folder 36)
3
3
Oversized Diary of Anne Frank Play Poster
4

1.4: Artwork, 1954-1991

Wiley's artwork include block prints, drawings, poems, paintings, prints and posters. They range from informal sketches on a paper towel and pieces of wood to intricate prints and paintings, including "Harpoon for the Dreamer."
Description Container
Drawing on Paper Towel, circa 1954-1955
2
9
Drawing on Piece of Wood, circa 1954-1955
2
10
Poem and Drawing on Board, 1955 May 10
(Oversized item housed in box 3, folder 4)
2
11
Art Students' Signed Artwork Dedicated to McGrath, 1955
(Oversized item housed in OV 6)
2
12
Block Prints, 1955
2
13
Illustrated Letter/Poster, 1955
(Oversized item housed in box 3, folder 6)
2
14
Three Drawings and Poems, 1955-1957
2
15
Poster with a Painting and Hand-Copied Poetry, 1977
(Oversized item housed in OV 5)
2
16
"For Your Guessed" Slippers, circa mid-1980s
2
17
"Harpoon for the Dreamer," Print Illustrated by Wiley, 1986
(Oversized item housed in OV 5)
2
18
Letter, Poems and Print, 1990-1991
(Oversized item housed in box 3, folder 5)
2
19
Oversized Poem and Drawing on Board, 1955 May 10
(from box 2, folder 11)
3
4
Oversized Letter, Poems and Print, 1990-1991
(from box 2, folder 19)
3
5
Oversized Illustrated Letter/Poster, 1955
(from box 2, folder 14)
3
6
Oversized Poster with a Painting and Hand-Copied Poetry, 1977
(from box 2, folder 16)
5
Oversized "Harpoon for the Dreamer," Print Illustrated by Wiley, 1986
(from box 2, folder 18)
5
Oversized Art Students' Signed Artwork Dedicated to McGrath, 1955
(from box 2, folder 12)
6

1.5: Photographic Materials, ca. 1950s-2010

Photographs depict Wiley's high school yearbook staff, exhibited works, a dinner honoring Wiley and slides of Wiley's, Bob Hudson's and Bill Allan's artworks. Additionally, a signed high school photograph of Wiley and a booklet of photographs of McGrath's exhibition are included.
Description Container
Slides, circa 1950s
2
20
Photograph of High School Yearbook Staff, 1955
2
21
High School Signed Photograph of Wiley, 1955 December 24
2
22
Exhibition Photographs, 1975
2
23
Booklet of Photographs of McGrath's Exhibition, 2002
2
24
Photograph of Wiley and McGrath, 2009 September
2
25
Photographs from a Dinner Honoring Wiley and Letter from Photographer Betty Taira, 2009-2010
2
26
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Series 2: Unprocessed James McGrath Papers , circa 1990-1995
3.4 Linear feet
Boxes 7-9, OVs 10-12, Artifact

Unprocessed material found here includes nine photograph albums, teaching material, and printed material regarding McGrath's artist's residencies and workshops for the United States Information Agency (USIA) in the Yemen Republic, Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of the Congo, 1990-1995.
Description Container Select
Unprocessed Addition, circa 1990-1995
7
Unprocessed Addition, circa 1990-1995
8
Unprocessed Addition, circa 1990-1995
9
Oversize Unprocessed Addition, circa 1990-1995
10
Oversize Unprocessed Addition, circa 1990-1995
11
Oversize Unprocessed Addition, circa 1990-1995
12
Drawing on Tree Bark by William Wiley
Artifact

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.