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Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture records, 1945-2013

Contents and Arrangement

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Series 1: Administrative Records, 1945-1977
5 Linear feet
Boxes 1-5, 12, OV 31

Administrative records detail the school's history, board activities, fundraising and scholarship campaigns, publicity, transactions with government agencies, artist's model contracts, and various other files.
The series is divided into six subseries.
  • 1.1: Board Files, 1946-1967
  • 1.2: Exhibitions and Benefits, 1947-1977
  • 1.3: Fundraising, 1947-1967
  • 1.4: Government Agencies, 1947-1964
  • 1.5: Miscellaneous Office Files, 1945-1964
  • 1.6: Publicity, 1946-1977

1.1

Board Files, 1946-1967
Files for the school's board include meeting agendas and minutes; correspondence files for Audrey Silbey, Henry V. Poor, Willard W. Cummings, and other officers in the school's administration; plans for a reorganization of the administration in 1961; and advisory committee files regarding Colby College among other topics.
Description Container
Advisory Committee, Colby College, 1959-1962
1
1
Advisory Committee, Correspondence, 1953-1962
1
2-3
Advisory Committee, Minutes, 1951-1961
1
4
Board of Directors, Minutes, 1949-1959
1
5
Board of Governors, Agendas and Meetings, 1963
1
6
Board of Governors, Correspondence, 1959-1962
1
7-9
Board of Governors, Minutes and Meetings, 1964-1965
1
10-11
Board of Governors, Miscellaneous, 1964-1966
1
12
Board of Trustees, Correspondence, 1960-1964
1
13-17
Board of Trustees, Minutes, 1962-1966
1
18
Bylaws and Reorganization Plan of 1961, 1946-1961
1
19
Correspondence, Audrey Silbey, 1951
1
20
Correspondence, E.P. Humphrey, Jr., 1959-1960
1
21
Correspondence, Helen H. Dodge, 1949-1950
1
22
Correspondence, Henry V. Poor, 1949-1963
Includes negatives and a few painted negatives of artwork.
1
23
Correspondence, Jacob Oxman, 1962-1963
1
24
Correspondence, Jessica Boyden, 1954-1959
1
25
Correspondence, John Eastman, Jr., 1963-1966
1
26
Correspondence, Kappo Phelan, 1951-1952
1
27
Correspondence, Maxine S. Cronbach, 1959
1
28
Correspondence, Ray Alden, 1960-1966
1
29
Correspondence, Willard W. Cummings, 1946-1950
Includes material for the Artists Equity Committee and one notebook of catalog requests.
1
30-31
Correspondence, Willard W. Cummings, 1951-1967
2
1-6
Meeting Notes, 1955-1963
2
7
President's Reports, 1948-1957
2
8

1.2

Exhibitions and Benefits, 1947-1977
The subseries contains correspondence with artists, venue and artist lists, insurance values for artwork, and loan agreements for benefits and exhibitions of student, faculty, and visiting artist works.
Description Container
Student Exhibition, 1947-1948
2
9
Bowdoin College Museum of Fine Art, Skowhegan Retrospective, 1950
2
10
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association (YMYWHA), 1953
2
11
Benefit Exhibition, General, 1954
2
12
Benefit Exhibition, Correspondence with Loaners, 1954
2
13
Benefit Exhibition, Correspondence with Participating Artists, 1954
2
14
Student Exhibitions, 1956-1957
Includes material for exhibitions in New York City, correspondence, and lists of exhibition locations and artwork.
2
15-17
Circulating Exhibition of Prize Winning Student Artwork, 1960
2
18-19
Colby College Sesquicentennial Exhibition, 1962
2
20
Arts Ball and Auction Benefit, 1962s
2
21
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association (YMYWHA), 1963
2
22
Four Centuries of American Masterpieces, 1964
Includes a copy of the exhibition catalog.
2
23-26
Lenox Hill-Skowhegan Annual Benefit, 1965-1967
3
1
Various Benefit Award Dinner Programs, 1972-1977
3
2-3
Various Exhibition Catalogs, 1968-1976
3
4

1.3

Fundraising, 1947-1967
Files in this subseries contain correspondence, contributor lists, scholarship fund reports, foundation and endowment correspondence regarding funding, and material on funding the reconstruction of a barn damaged by a fire in 1960 that was used for fresco instruction and as a lecture hall.
Description Container
Background Material, 1959-1964
3
5
Background Material, 1959-1964
12
1
Barn-Studio, 1960-1961
3
6
Contributors, 1954-1955
3
7
Correspondence, 1966
3
8
Endowments, 1961-1965
Includes material for the Anson Kent Cross Endowment Fund.
3
9-11
Endowments, 1961-1965
31
Foundations, 1949-1965
3
12-15
Plans, 1966-1967
3
16
Scholarship Fund Drive, General, 1947-1964
3
17-22
Scholarship Fund Drive, Advisory Committee Correspondence, 1953-1954
3
23
Scholarship Fund Drive, Alumni, 1950-1958
3
24-25
Scholarship Fund Drive, Appeal Letters, 1955-1959
3
26
Scholarship Fund Drive, Donor Lists, 1951-1956
4
1-5
Scholarship Fund Drive, Donor Correspondence, 1951-1959
4
6-11
Scholarship Fund Drive, Reports to Donors, 1951
4
12
Scholarship Fund Drive, Thank You Letters, 1951-1962
4
13-18
Suggestions, 1954
4
19

1.4

Government Agencies, 1947-1964
Files for government agencies include records concerning taxes, social security, veterans affairs, and health and welfare services for students and employees of Skowhegan.
Description Container
Health and Welfare, 1947-1962
4
20
Health and Welfare, 1947-1962
12
1
Internal Revenue Service, 1954-1956
4
21
Maine Sales Tax, 1951-1963
4
22
Office of Price Stabilization, 1952
4
23
Social Security, 1962-1963
4
24
Student and Veterans Administration, 1947-1954
4
25
Taxes and Exemption, 1947-1964
4
26-27

1.5

Miscellaneous Office Files, 1945-1964
Inventories of art supplies at the school's store, art studio supplies, slide rentals, and catalogs; real estate documents for the school's property and library; and contracts, payment information, and correspondence with artist's models are in this subseries.
Description Container
Models, Contracts and Correspondence, 1949-1961
4
28
Real Estate, Maine Library, 1960-1964
4
29
Real Estate, Maine Library, 1963
31
Real Estate, Purchase of School Property, 1945-1963
4
30
Supplies and Inventory, Art Supply Store, circa 1950
4
31
Supplies and Inventory, Art Supply Store, circa 1950
12
1
Supplies and Inventory, Catalogs, 1960-1963
4
32
Supplies and Inventory, Fresco and Sculpture Studio, 1963
4
33
Supplies and Inventory, Sculpture Inventory, 1950-1959
4
34
Supplies and Inventory, Slide Rentals, 1946-1961
4
35

1.6

Publicity, 1946-1977
Publicity consists of printed materials that include clippings, Skowhegan brochures and catalogs; history of the school and the Solon Meeting House; correspondence regarding advertising; comments about the school by students and artists; a photograph and other documents concerning the Skowhegan Indian Statue by Bernard Langlais for Maine's sesquicentennial in 1969; and files for promotional events.
Description Container
Advertising, 1946-circa 1963
4
36
Advertising, 1946-circa 1963
5
1
Comments by Artists and Students Regarding Skowhegan, circa 1949-1959
5
2
History and Facts About Skowhegan, circa 1960
5
3
History of the South Solon Meeting House, circa 1950-1959
5
4
History of the South Solon Meeting House, circa 1950-1959
12
1
Indian Statue Project for Skowhegan Hospitality and Tourism Association, 1967
Includes a photograph of the sculpture.
5
5
Press Releases, 1946-1961
5
6
Printed Materials - Brochures, 1946-1958
5
7
Printed Materials, 1946-1977
Assorted printed materials include Skowhegan program brochures and catalogs, bulletins and newsletters, clippings, as well as notes, correspondence, and a few annotations within some of the printed materials.
5
8-16
Printed Materials, 1946-1977
12
1
Promotions, Cocktail Party, 1957
5
17
Promotions, Open House, 1961
Includes invitiations, responses, and one photograph.
5
18
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Series 2: Financial Records, 1945-1967
1.6 Linear feet
Boxes 5-8, 12, OV 13

The series contains financial statements, bills paid, costs for a new barn after the original barn was damaged in a fire, and files for stocks, real estate, investments, and insurance.
Description Container Select
Accounting Procedures, 1962
5
19
Accounting Procedures, 1962
31
Audit, 1963-1964
5
20
Bank Statements, 1951-1953
Includes one deposit book.
5
21
Bills, General, 1949-1950
5
22-23
Bills, General, 1954
12
2
Bills, Store, 1949-1965
6
1-5
Bills, Students, 1951-1958
6
6-7
Budgets, 1949-1963
6
8
Drawing Accounts, 1961-1963
Includes accounts for Bill Parson and Harry Kyle.
6
9-10
Drawing Accounts, 1961-1963
12
2
Graphics Workshop Expenses, circa 1960
6
11
Insurance, 1945-1951
6
12
Investments, 1955-1963
7
1-3
Payroll Ledger, 1954-1963
7
4
Payroll, Miscellaneous, 1954-1967
8
1
Property Expenses, 1955-1961
8
2
Real Estate, Maine and New York City, 1959-1964
8
3
Real Estate, New Barn, 1960-1961
8
4
Reconstruction Costs, 1960-1961
8
5
Reports, 1955-1959
8
6
Statements, 1946-1963
8
7-10
Statements, 1948-1953
12
2
Statements, Solon Meeting House, 1953-1956
8
11
Statements, Store, 1952-1955
8
12
Stock Powers and Resolutions, 1954
8
13
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Series 3: Visiting Artists Files, 1948-1965
0.5 Linear feet
Box 8

Files for visiting artists include correspondence, slide lists, edited lecture and seminar transcripts, notes, letters of appreciation, and a file for the Skowhegan-WBAI Committee regarding broadcasts of the lectures. Visiting artists documented here include Philip Pearlstein, Ben Shahn, John Baver, Isabel Bishop, Russell Cowles, Charles Cutler, Dr. Alfred Frankfurter, Jose de Creeft, Joe Jones, Karl Knaths, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, David Smith, and William Zorach.
Description Container Select
Correspondence, 1949-1952
8
14-16
Correspondence, 1954-1961
Includes artist's biographies.
8
17-19
Correspondence, 1963-1965
8
20
Lecture Notes, circa 1960
8
21
Lectures and Seminars, 1948-1952
8
22-27
Letters of Appreciation, 1949
8
29
Skowhegan-WBAI Committee Regarding Lecture Broadcasts, 1960-1961
8
30
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Series 4: Faculty Files, 1946-1965
0.4 Linear feet
Boxes 8-9

The series contains correspondence and other material for Isabel Bishop, Robert Cronbach, Jose de Creeft, Xavier Gonzalez, Alex Katz, and Sidney Simon among others. Additional files include faculty lists, requests for positions and prospective faculty, and correspondence regarding housing.
Description Container Select
Albert, Calvin, 1963
8
31
Bischoff, Elmer, 1961-1963
8
32
Bishop, Isabel, 1962-1963
8
33
Callahan, Kenneth, 1958-1963
8
34
Carone, Nicolas, 1963
8
35
Cronbach, Robert, 1959-1960
8
36
de Creeft, Jose, 1947-1949
8
37
Evergood, Philip, 1963
8
38
Faculty Lists, 1946-1965
8
39
Frazier, Paul D., 1961
8
40
General Correspondence, 1961
Includes letters to Jack Tworkov and Bernard Reder.
8
41
Georges, Paul, 1963
8
42
Gonzalez, Xavier, 1954
8
43
Grosz, George, 1956-1958
8
44
Guerin, John, 1958-1960
8
45
Housing, 1954-1964
8
46
Katz, Alex, 1959-1963
8
47
Kay, Reed, 1952-1963
8
48
Kearns, James, 1960-1963
8
49
LeChay, James, 1961
8
50
Maldarelli, Oronzio, 1949-1950
8
51
Menkes, Sigmund, 1957-1958
8
52
Park, David, 1959-1960
8
53
Poor, Anne, 1947-1962
Includes student surveys.
9
1-2
Porter, Fairfield, 1963
9
3
Prospective Faculty, 1961-1963
9
4
Rattner, Abraham, 1949
9
5
Requests for Positions, 1958-1961
9
6
Roszak, Theodore, 1963
9
7
Rudy, Charles, 1953-1954
9
8
Simon, Sidney, 1949-1956
9
9
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Series 5: Student Files, 1946-1964
2 Linear feet
Boxes 9-12

Files for students consist of alumni correspondence and questionnaires regarding their activities since attending Skowhegan, general correspondence and information about the campus, recommendations, student lists, and files for no-shows and dismissals, rejections, and correspondence and forms detailing the placement of scholarships among students at various universities.
Description Container Select
Alumni, A-E, 1956-1964
9
10
Alumni, F-K, 1956-1964
9
11
Alumni, L-R, 1956-1964
9
12
Alumni, S-Z, 1956-1964
9
13
Alumni Lists, 1961-1962
9
14
Bocour Courses, 1949
9
15
Correspondence, 1948-1949
9
16-19
Correspondence, 1950-1951
9
20-22
Correspondence, 1952-1954
9
23-26
Correspondence, 1955
9
27-28
Correspondence, 1956
10
1-2
Correspondence, 1959-1961
10
3-8
Correspondence, 1963-1964
10
9-11
Fresco Competition, 1952-1956
10
12-13
General Information for Students, circa 1960
10
14
No-Shows and Dismissals, 1964
10
15
Prize and Award Lists, 1955-1961
10
16
Recommendations, 1962-1964
10
17
Rejections, 1960-1961
10
18-19
Rejections, 1964
10
20
Rejections, 1960, 1964
12
3
Scholarship and Catalog Requests, 1950-1954
10
21-23
Scholarship and Catalog Requests, 1954-1955
11
1-3
Scholarship Duties, circa 1960
11
4
Scholarship Placements, 1949-1964
11
5-9
Scholarships, School Awarded, circa 1960
11
10
Student Lists, 1946-1961
11
11
Student Lists, 1946-1960
12
3
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Series 6: Photographic Materials, circa 1960-1977
0.5 Linear feet
Boxes 11-12

The series contains photographs and negatives of several annual award dinners that took place in the 1970s, faculty and visiting artists, and students and classes. Some event files include transcripts of the events along with seating and participant information. Faculty and artist photographs include William T. Williams, Aldo Casanova, Janet Fish, Paul Rasika, Robert Cronbach, Sylvia Stone, Alice Neel, Louise Nevelson, Bette Davis, Bernard Langlais, Jasper Johns, Barbara Rose, Max Weber, William Zorach, Jacob Lawrence, Philip Pearlstein, Claes Oldenburg, Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein, and others.
Description Container Select
Events, 25th-31st Annual Award Dinner and Benefit, 1971-1977
11
12-20
Events, Benefit Costume Ball, 1975
Includes invitation.
11
21
Faculty and Visiting Artists, 1964-1976
11
22-23
Faculty and Visiting Artists, 1964-1976
12
4
Students and Classes, circa 1960
11
24
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Series 7: Motion Picture Films, circa 1955-1970
1.9 Linear feet
Box 11, FC 13-30

Motion picture films consist of 18 reels of silent, color footage of the school's campus, working faculty and students, and social activities. Footage includes both edited works and outtakes (footage shot but not used in the edited piece), that form three distinct sets of films from three different periods.
16 mm films from the 1950s were shot and edited by Karl Fortess, resulting in 2 reels of edited footage and 2 reels of outtakes. Two additional reels of unedited footage are also found in this group.
8 mm films appear to have been shot by Jack Eastman in 1964-1965 and edited into three films, each depicting a different area of work at the school, including painting, sculpture, and fresco and mosaic. The Fresco and Mosaic film also has a detailed typewritten description. Each of the edited films from this group has an accompanying reel of outtakes. One additional edited film with general footage of the school, and a second reel comprised of two unedited films dating to 1965, are also in this group.
Super 8 mm films seem to include only outtakes, many found as very short clips and arranged by date onto compilation reels. No corresponding edited work exists in the collection for this set of films, and it is not clear who shot the footage from this period, although at least some of the footage appears to have been shot by Willard Cummings.
All of the working titles listed in this series were taken from the original containers found with the films, and dates are estimated based on the film manufacturer's edge code. For footage without such titles, films are listed as "Skowhegan School home movies." Names listed with the various reels were found on the original containers, and may refer to persons as well as artworks featured in the footage. Original containers with any additional description have also been retained.
All of the films have been digitized for research access. The Fortess edited films and outtakes contain footage shot at different speeds, so digital copies captured at both 24 fps and 18 fps have been created for each of these films.

7.1

Films by Karl Fortess, 1950-1956
Description Container
Skowhegan School film, circa 1956
2 Film reels
16 mm
Note on film can FC 13: SKOWHEGAN SCHOOL ORIG PRINT, 20 m. 10. Note on film can FC 14: Note on film can: Fortess Film of the School.
FC 13
FC 14
Skowhegan School film, standard sound speed, circa 1956
Skowhegan School film, standard silent speed, circa 1956
Outtakes from Skowhegan School film, 1950-1955
1 Film reel
16 mm
Note on can: 9, Cutouts Skowhegan School.
FC 15
Outtakes from Skowhegan School film, 1950-1955
1 Film reel
16 mm
Note on can: 9, Cutouts Skowhegan School. Inscription: HE II, CUT OUTS.
FC 16
Skowhegan School home movies, circa 1952
1 Film reel
16 mm
Original can labeled "Bill", "Sculpt Act", "Levine's", and "Jack-Ruth-Suzie"
Note on film can 150 ft., color, Bill, Levine's, Sculp Act, Jack - Ruth - Suzie. Skowhegan/ cut outs/No Proj. Head leader: Bills Film Sculpture Activ. Tail leader: Tail Reel II.
FC 17
Skowhegan School home movies, standard sound speed, circa 1952
Skowhegan School home movies, standard silent speed, circa 1952
Skowhegan School home movies, circa 1955
1 Film reel
16 mm
Note on reel: 8.
FC 18
Skowhegan School home movies, standard sound speed, circa 1955
Skowhegan School home movies, standard silent speed, circa 1955

7.2

Films by John Eastman, 1964-1965
Description Container
Outtakes from Skowhegan fresco and mosaic, 1964
1 Film reel
8 mm
Note on film can: Fresco and mosaic 1964, Reject from combined film of fresco + mosaic from old + 64' + 65' movies. Lib. dedication in here. Note included with film: description of film.
FC 19
Description of "Skowhegan fresco and mosaic", circa 1968
11
25
Skowhegan fresco and mosaic, 1964
1 Film reel
8 mm
Note on film can: Skowhegan School 1964 Fresco and Mosaic. Inscription: 19436.
FC 20
Skowhegan painting section, 1964
1 Film reel
8 mm
Note on film can: Painting Section Skowhegan School 1964. Inscription: 19435.
FC 21
Outtakes from Skowhegan painting section, 1964
1 Film reel
8 mm
Note on film can: 4, Remains of (majority of note obscured by tape) make into Super 8. Shipping box: Eric Mantel. Contained Home Movie reels 3, 4, and 6. Photograph of box will be included with Home Movies 3 record in Inspection Photos form.
FC 22
Skowhegan sculpture section, 1964
1 Film reel
8 mm
Note on film can: Skowhegan School 1964, Sculpture Section. Inscription on film: 19434.
FC 23
Outtakes from Skowhegan sculpture section, 1964
1 Film reel
8 mm
Note on film can: 6, Sculpture Section Skowhegan '64, rejects from combined old, 64 + 65 films. Shipping box: Eric Mantel. Shipping box contained Home Movie reels 3, 4, and 6, and was discarded.
FC 24
Skowhegan School Film by John Eastman, 1964
1 Film reel
8 mm
Note on film can: 7. Cutdown, Original J.E. movies Skowheggan 1964. Shipping box: Eric Mantel. Shipping box contained Home Movie reels 3, 4, and 6, and was discarded.
FC 25
Compilation of Skowhegan School home movies by John Eastman, 1965?
1 Film reel
8 mm
Comprised of 2 short clips found in collection, compiled during processing and digitized as one reel. Names found handwritten on original containers include Rosati, Stu, Bette Davis, and Zorach.
Note on film box: Rosati, Stu and (illegible) et al on (illegible) 6. Other side of film box: send to Stu 6.; Note on film box: Miscl.(crossed out), Bette Davis and a touch Zorach, 5.
FC 26
Original film containers for Skowhegan home movies, compilation reel, circa 1965
11
26

7.3

Additional Home Movies, 1966-1968
Description Container
Compilation of Skowhegan School home movies, 1964-1967
1 Film reel
Super 8 mm
Date of 1967 is based on the film manufacturer's edge code, but its content appears to have been copied from films shot at an earlier date. The reel is comprised of 6 short clips found in collection, compiled during processing and digitized as one reel. Names found on original containers include Goodrich, Geldzahler, Hayes, Frank O'Hara, Halpert, Bishop, Marisol, Jack Levine, Bermelin, Rosati, Lee Bontecou, Biddle, Snipes, Abby Shahn, Boughton, and Zorach.
Note on tape: Unused Super 8, Unused Super 8.
FC 27
Original film containers for Skowhegan home movies (1964-1965), compilation reel, circa 1967
11
27
Skowhegan School home movies, 1966-1967
1 Film reel
color, silent
super 8 mm
Names found on original film container include Stankiewicz, Cage, Cunningham, Bill Z. and Marguerite, and Rosati.
FC 28
Original film containers for Skowhegan home movies, 1966-1967
11
28
Compilation of Skowhegan School home movies, 1967?
1 Film reel
Super 8 mm
super 8 mm
Comprised of 11 short clips found in collection, compiled during processing and digitized as one reel. Names found on original film boxes include Ben and Bernarda Shahn, Poor, Boughton, Nakazawa, Cage, Rosati, Plumhoff, Kumakulu, Tony Smith, Fairfield Porter, Philip Pearstein, Reinhardt, and Murch.
FC 29
Original film containers for Skowhegan home movies, compilation reel, circa 1967
11
29
Compilation of Skowhegan School home movies, 1968?
1 Film reel
Super 8 mm
Comprised of 9 short clips found in collection, compiled during processing and digitized as one reel. Names found on original containers include Hurwitz, Shahn, Bernarda, Smullin, "Hindu" [Michael Henderson], Kumakulu, Jane Freilicher, Alex, Ada, Eric Johnson, Al Held, Jim McGarrell, Ron Bladen, Philip Pearlstein, Frank Zimbardi, Treffny, and William Farley.
FC 30
Original film containers for Skowhegan home movies, compilation reel, circa 1968
11
30
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Series 8: Skowhegan Lecture Archives, 1952-2013

The Skowhegan Lecture Archives consists of CD formatted audio copies (1952-2013) of lectures given by artists speaking at the school between 1952 and 2013, original reel-to-reel audio recordings (1952-1999 only), and several original cassette audio recordings from 2000 and 2002. Transcripts (on 10 formatted CD/DVDs) of those lectures are available through 2013. A majority of the lectures refer to slides shown during the lectures; these are not available at the Archives of American Art.
Access copies of the Skowhegan Lecture Archive are also available at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture as well as several other repositories. A detailed inventory of the lectures can be found on the Colby College Museum of Art website at https://www.colby.edu/museum/multimedia/skowhegan-lecture-archive/.
Description Container Select
Digital Copies of Lecture Transcripts, circa 2005-2013
9 Electronic discs (CD)
1 Electronic discs (DVD)
32

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.