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  2. Nancy Holt Estate records, 1835, circa 1900-2014
  3. Series 10: Robert Smithson Estate and Legacy, circa 1961-2013

Nancy Holt Estate records, 1835, circa 1900-2014

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Series 10: Robert Smithson Estate and Legacy, circa 1961-2013
3.1 Linear feet
Boxes 59-62, OVs 65, 67

Series is arranged as 3 subseries.
  • 10.1: General Business Records, circa 1961-2013
  • 10.2: Robert Smithson Interviews and Writings, circa 1961-2011
  • 10.3: Printed Material About Smithson, circa 1967-2011

10.1

General Business Records, circa 1961-2013
Series primarily documents various aspects of Holt's management of Smithson's estate and legacy such as overseeing donations, the maintenance of contracts and agreements, the handling of requests for loans for exhibitions and permissions for publications and use, and the appraisal and inventory of Smithson's library donated to the Archives of American Art. The series also includes inventories and related records maintained by John Weber Gallery and James Cohan Gallery who represented Smithson, and scattered documentation related to the whereabouts of individual artworks. John Weber Gallery settlement records relate to the termination of the gallery's representation agreements with Holt and with the Smithson Estate.
Records of donations and gifts from Holt's collection of work by Smithson include appraisals, correspondence, and deeds of gift, and include documentation of the Spiral Jetty agreement with DIA. Also found are records related to the maintenance of Smithson's land art and monitoring of their condition; authentications for several artworks; and two unsigned copies of an affidavit stating that Smithson's rock salt and mirror sculptures (originally constructed for an exhibition at Cornell University in 1969), should continue to exist as unique and unduplicable works.
Also found in this series are two folders of Smithson correspondence. They include photocopies of letters from Smithson to George Lester (1960-1963) and some general business correspondence such as letters from galleries and institutions about Smithson's work, sales, exhibitions, and potential visits and speaking engagements. One letter from Dwan Gallery relates to Centro de Arte y Communicación and includes photographic prints of a plantation being considered as a site for a work by Smithson.
Film and video records include correspondence, receipts, and photocopies related to Jane Crawford's 1994 film Rundown, produced by Robert Fiore. Exhibition records include correspondence relating to the curation of a few Smithson exhibitions and catalog essays, loan documentation, and press coverage. Exhibitions documented include a retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, in 2004.
Description Container
Affidavit Re. Five Rock Salt and Mirror Sculptures, undated
59
15
Agreements/Contracts, ACE Gallery, Los Angeles, 2001-2003
59
16
Agreements/Contracts, Floating Island Photographs, 2006
59
17
Agreements/Contracts, John Weber Gallery, 1974-1996
59
18
Amarillo Ramp, "Current", 2005-2006
59
19
Amarillo Ramp Maintenance Agreement with Stanley Marsh, 1976-1977
59
20
Asphalt Rundown, Photographs of Site, 2005
59
21
Authentications of Artwork, 1970s-2007
59
22
Condition of Smithson Earthworks, 1981-1990s
59
23
Correspondence (with Smithson), circa 1960-1969
59
24
Correspondence (with Smithson), 1970-1973
59
25
Correspondence (about Smithson's artwork), 1990-1992
59
26
Donations/Gifts, 1990s
59
27
Donations/Gifts, 1990s
59
28
Donations/Gifts, 1990s
59
29
Donations/Gifts, Archives of American Art, 1980s-1990s
59
30
Donations/Gifts, Dia Art Foundation, 1998-1999
59
31
Donations/Gifts, Dia Art Foundation, 1998-1999
59
32
Donations/Gifts, Dia Art Foundation, 1999-2003
59
33
Donations/Gifts, Dia Art Foundation, 2012
59
34
Donations/Gifts, Whitney Museum (appraisal), 2006
59
35
Donations/Gifts, Whitney Museum (appraisal), 2008
59
36
Donations/Gifts, Whitney Museum, 2003-2009
59
37
Donations/Gifts, Whitney Museum, Gilbert and George Gift, 2007
59
38
Estate Taxes, Investments, Settlement, 1973-1977
59
39
Exhibition, 69th American Exhibition (1970), Art Institute of Chicago, 1969-1970, 1993
59
40
Exhibition, IVAM Centre (1993), James Lingwood, 1992-1993
59
41
Exhibition, Robert Smithson: Photo Works (1993), LACMA, 1993
59
42
Exhibition, Brussels and Marseille (1994), 1993-1994
60
1
Exhibition, "Scandinavian Show", Retrospective (1999), 1998
60
2
Exhibition, "Scandinavian Show", Retrospective (1999), 1999-2000s
60
3
Exhibition, Retrospective (2004), Museum of Contemporary Art, 2003-2005
60
4
Film/Video, circa 1994
60
5
Inventories, 1960s-1980s
60
6
Inventories, 1960s-1980s, 2011
60
7
Inventories, 1990s
60
8
Inventories, John Weber Gallery, 1970s-1990s
60
9
Inventories, John Weber Gallery, 1978-circa 1988
60
10
Inventories, John Weber Gallery, 1990s
60
11
Inventories, John Weber Gallery, 1990s
60
12
Inventories, John Weber Gallery, 1990s
60
13
Inventories, John Weber Gallery, 1991
60
14
Inventories, John Weber Gallery, Copies of Photos and Drawings, circa 1970s-circa 1990s
60
15
Inventories, Copies of Drawings and Sculpture, circa 1970s-circa 1990s
60
16
Inventories, James Cohan Gallery, 2006
60
17
Invoices, James Cohan Gallery, 2001-2006
60
18
Invoices, James Cohan Gallery, 2007-2013
60
19
John Weber Gallery Settlement, 1991-1998
60
20
John Weber Gallery Settlement, 1998
60
21
John Weber Gallery Settlement, 1998
60
22
John Weber Gallery Settlement, 1998-1999
60
23
Joseph Kosuth Artwork Trade, 1991-2000
60
24
Library of Robert Smithson, Appraisal, 1986-1994
60
25
Library of Robert Smithson, Appraisal, 1986-1994
60
26
Library of Robert Smithson, Catalog, circa 1994
60
27
Library of Robert Smithson, Catalog, circa 1994
60
28
Library of Robert Smithson, Catalog, circa 1994
60
29
Library of Robert Smithson, Catalog, circa 1994
60
30
Lists, Films, 1993-1994
60
31
Lists, Photographic Works, circa 1970s-circa 1996
60
32
Loans/Accounts, 1969-1990s
60
33
Loans/Accounts, 1969-1990s
60
34
Material Related to Eric and Gerard de Boer, 1969-circa 2004
Photos, letter, and printed and other material related to visit by Amy Dempsey and Justin Saunders to Emmen to see Smithson's Broken Circle/Spiral Hill
60
35
Material Related to Michael Heizer, circa 1967-circa 1974
Includes transcript of "A conversation between Steve Di Benedetto, Peter Halley, and Robert Hickas"on "Climates of Site: Heizer, Serra, Smithson"
60
36
Mirror Displacements, circa 1969
Photo of Ninth Mirror Displacement with map of vicinities and envelope annotated by Smithson; and copies of Smithson drawings related to a 1969 exhibition with mirrors and hanging tree limbs
60
37
Museum of Utah Art and History, Spiral Jetty Gallery, Tom Rugh, 2005-2006
60
38
Partially Buried Woodshed, 2004
Includes transcripts of 2 Smithson interviews
61
1
Partially Buried Woodshed, "Source Materials", undated
Copy prints, possibly of images used in Jane Crawford's film Rundown
61
2
Permissions, Film and Video, 1994-1996
61
3
Permissions, for Film Retour au Paysage, 1994
61
4
Permissions, Smithson's Papers, 1995-1996
61
5
Permissions, Photographic Prints/Reproductions, 1993-1994
61
6
Photograph/Slide Scanning, 2007
61
7
Photographs of Artwork, circa 1969-circa 1990s
Includes mock-up of page for Artforum of Smithson's Mirror Displacements and other photos
61
8
Photocopies, "Combinations of Drawings by Theme", undated
61
9
Reference Material, Spiral Illustration and Sound Recording, circa 1972, undated
Includes 1 sound cassette labeled "Great Salt Lake Rising from TV"
61
10
Reproduction Requests, 1990s
61
11
Reproduction Requests, 1990s
61
12
Reproduction Requests, 2000-2007
61
13
Sculpture Inquiries, 1994
61
14
Spiral Jetty Construction Proposal from Robert A. Phillips, 1970 April 3
61
15
Spiral Jetty, Oil Drill Plans/Protests, 2004-2008
61
16
Tax Appraisal of Smithson Collection Artwork, 1990s
61
17
Video, Broken Circle, undated
Photocopies related to MOCA catalog
61
18

10.2

Robert Smithson Interviews and Writings, circa 1961-2011
Series documents and includes drafts of various articles, books, catalogs and student papers about Smithson. Drafts may contain annotations by Holt or may be filed with related correspondence and comments from Holt. Also found are transcripts of interviews with Smithson including with Dennis Wheeler and Moira Roth.
Description Container
Interview Transcripts, with Moira Roth for Art Forum, on Duchamp, 1973, 2000
61
19
Interview Transcripts, with Dennis Wheeler, 1969
61
20
Interview Transcripts, with Dennis Wheeler, 1969-1970
61
21
Interview Transcripts, with Paul Toner and Bruce Kurtz, 1970, 1972
61
22
Interview Transcripts, with Paul Cummings for AAA, 1972
61
23
Writings by Smithson (Photocopies), circa 1960s-circa 1989
61
24
Writings by Smithson, Poem, "Incantation to the Flayed Angels" (Photocopy), circa 1961
61
25
Writings About Smithson, Biographical Notes/Chronologies, undated
Copies of biographical notes from catalogs and books
61
26
Writings About Smithson, Books, Correspondence and Proposals, 2004-2008
61
27
Writings About Smithson, Book, Robert Smithson: The Spiral Jetty, DIA, 2004-2005
Correspondence and drafts
61
28
Writings About Smithson, Book, The Writings of Robert Smithson, Correspondence, 1994-2001
61
29
Writings About Smithson, Book, The Writings of Robert Smithson, Correspondence and Images, 1994-2001
61
30
Writings About Smithson, Drafts, 1980s
61
31
Writings About Smithson, Drafts, circa 2000-2010
61
32
Writings About Smithson, Drafts, circa 2000-2010
61
33
Writings About Smithson, Drafts, 2011-2013
61
34-36
Writings About Smithson, Paper, "Restoring Spiral Jetty" by Wayne Andersen, Drafts, 2003-2004
61
37

10.3

Printed Material About Smithson, circa 1967-2011
Description Container
Announcements, Programs, 1966-1989
61
38
Announcements, Programs, 1990-2014
61
39
Announcements, Programs, circa 1960s-circa 2010
61
40
Catalogs, and Catalog-Related, 1992, 2000-2006, undated
Includes undated pages taken from 2 catalogs and catalog/press kit from Robert Smithson: Ikons 196101963/1970 at James Cohan Gallery
61
41
Christmas Card Designs, circa 1964
2 card designs, printed circa 2011
61
42
Clippings, 1978-1980s
62
1
Clippings, 1990s
62
2
Clippings, 2000-2002
62
3
Clippings, 2002
62
4
Clippings, 2003
62
5
Clippings, 2004
62
6-7
Clippings, 2005
62
8-9
Clippings, 2006-2009
62
10
Clippings, circa 1970s-circa 2010
62
11
Miscellaneous, 2001, undated
Includes booklet: "Muster: Kunstler-Xerographie, Kunstler, Titel, Erscheinungs jahr"
Posters, Oversized, 1969-1980s
67
2
Posters for Dwan Gallery Exhibitions, Oversized, circa 1960s
65
3
Press, Floating Island, 2005
62
13
Press, Floating Island, Cut Photo, Oversized, circa 1950
65
4
Press, Robert Smithson in Emmen: Broken Circle and Spiral Hill Revisited, 2010-2011
62
14
Published Copy of "A Museum of Language in the Vicinity of Art", circa 1967
62
15

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.