William Gropper papers, 1916-1983

This series consists of scattered biographical information, including fingerprint records, resumes, an estate appraisal, Gropper's funeral arrangement information, and immunization records. Information pertaining to Sophie Gropper includes a photograph, diet information and permit. Also included is information concerning the Gropper Family such as estate information, bank records, receipts, and report cards.

This series is arranged by family name to which the biographical information pertains.

William Gropper's scattered Business Records include lists of works of art, purchase orders for artwork, bills, royalty information, contracts with museums and publishing companies, bank records and receipts.

This series includes descriptions of Gropper's works of art, lists of works of art, writings by and about Gropper, including a dissertation about the artist by Joseph Anthony Gahn. There is also one folder of scattered minutes of the Committee on Progess of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. It is unclear what role Gropper played on the Committee.

This series includes three original pen and pencil drawings by William Gropper. One drawing is of three unidentified men which Gropper signs with hebrew characters. A second drawing is a profile of a seated, unidentified man. The last sketch is of an unidentified group of people. A Gropper designed fabric sample is included as well.

This series includes letters written to William Gropper from 1916 until 1977, including some photocopies. Very few of William Gropper's responses are in this collection, which are mostly undated. There is also correspondence written by and to Sophie Gropper from 1980 to 1983. Notable correspondents include Louis Lozowick, Frank Crowninshield, Raphael Soyer, Robert Henri, and Frank Alvah Parsons. There are many letters from Ben Horowitz with the Heritage Gallery, which sold Gropper's art. Additionally, there are letters concerning William Gropper's participation in the Works Progress Administration. Correspondence from 1935 documents Gropper's contributions to Vanity Fair magazine before it ceased publication in 1936. Correspondence after Gropper's death is between his widow, Sophie Gropper and various museums, galleries, and publishers.

See Appendix for a list of selected correspondents from Series 5

Correspondence is arranged chronogically.

This series includes full issues of magazines illustrated by William Gropper including New Masses, Liberator and Der Hammer. There are also clippings from newspapers and magazines about William Gropper or featuring his illustrations. Gropper's illustrations appear in Hound Dog Moses and the Promised Land by Walter D. Edmonds and "In Gold We Trust (J.P. Morgan, Al. Capone and CO.)" by Larry Harr. There is one folder of Gropper's collection of first issue United Nations' postage stamps, one of which was illustrated by Gropper. Also included are auction catalogs, stationary, exhibition announcements and catalogs for Gropper's artwork, blank greeting cards, press releases and bulletins, and order forms.

This series is arranged by type of materials. Clippings from magazines illustrated by Gropper have been filed before folders containing full issues of New Masses magazines that feature Gropper's illustrations. All dated material is arranged chronologically with undated material following.

This series includes photographs of William Gropper, his family, colleagues and friends. Additionally, there are photographs of works of art, slides from family vacations, negatives and duplicates.