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  2. William Kienbusch papers, 1915-2001, bulk 1936-1980
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William Kienbusch papers, 1915-2001, bulk 1936-1980

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Series 1:Biographical Material, 1915-1980
(Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)

Biographical material consists of military records, a passport, membership cards, school documents, awards, and art supply receipts. Also found are three gallery guestbooks and an album entitled "Book of Friendship" containing short notes written by friends for Kienbusch on the occasion of his 60th Birthday. Among Kienbusch's military service records is a letter to the 3rd Air Force Camouflage Caravan requesting transfer to the Photo Interpretation School in 1944. Also of note is copy of the "In Memoriam" written for Kienbusch by Karl Schrag.
DescriptionContainerSelect
American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, 1976
1
1
Art Supply Receipts, 1941-1979
(3 folders)
1
2-4
Award Ribbon, circa 1930s
1
5
"Book of Friendship,", 1974
1
6
Guestbooks, 1975, undated
1
7
Hair Clippings from Childhood, 1915
1
8
Membership Cards, circa 1936-1980
1
9
Military Service Records, circa 1942-1945
1
10
Paintbrush, undated
1
11
Passport, 1965
1
12
Receipts, 1941-1973
1
13
School Documents, 1929-1937
1
14
Statement on Studio Apartment Fire, 1969
1
15
"William Kienbusch: A Talk In Memoriam,", 1980
1
16
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Series 2:Correspondence, 1920-2001
(Box 1-3; 2.3 linear feet)

This series contains family correspondence and general correspondence. Family correspondence includes letters from Kienbusch to his parents and other family members regarding school, summer camps, travel, and the army. Also found are a few letters sent to Kienbusch from his parents. General correspondence includes numerous letters Kienbusch sent to his close friend, Stanley Clifford, as well as letters from friends and associates, such as Stuart Davis, Antionette Kraushaar, Walter Maitland, Henry Varnum Poor, Abraham Rattner, Karl Schrag, and Reuben Tam. Other miscellaneous letters are from Isabel Bishop, Charles Scribner's Sons, Cleve Gray, Philip Guston, Joseph Hirsch, Stefan Hirsch, Dorothy Miller, and Anton Refregier.
Also found are over forty letters written by Thomas Barrett to Stanley Clifford. Barrett was Kienbusch's student at the Brooklyn Museum Art School and occasionally mentions him in his letters to Clifford.
The series is arranged as 2 subseries:
  • 2.1: Family Correspondence, 1920-1968
  • 2.2: General Correspondence, 1936-2001

2.1:Family Correspondence, 1920-1968

DescriptionContainer
Family Correspondence, 1920-1933
(9 folders)
1
17-25
Family Correspondence, circa 1933-1940
(8 folders)
1
26-33
Family Correspondence, 1942-1944
(8 folders)
1
34-41
Family Correspondence, 1945
(4 folders)
1
42-45
Family Correspondence, 1946-1954
(10 folders)
2
1-10
Family Correspondence, 1955-1968
(12 folders)
2
11-22

2.2:General Correspondence, 1936-2001

DescriptionContainer
Barrett, Thomas (letters to Stanley Clifford), 1950-1951, 1967
(2 folders)
2
23-24
Beal, James, 1978
2
25
Clifford, Stanley, 1951-1975
(14 folders)
2
26-39
Clifford, Stanley, 1976-2001
(5 folders)
3
1-5
Davis, Stuart, 1942-1943, 1974
3
6
Heliker, Jack, 1968-1969, 1977
3
7
Hoopes, Donelson, circa 1972-1978
3
8
Kraushaar Galleries, 1964-1976
3
9
Maitland, Walter and Ruth, 1970-1983
3
10
Nesjar, Carl, circa 1968-1977
3
11
Poor, Annie, 1936-1980
(4 folders)
3
12-15
Poor, Henry Varnum, 1937-1961
(2 folders)
3
16-17
Portland Museum of Art, 1973
3
18
Rattner, Abraham, 1938-1946
3
19
Schrag, Karl, 1968-1978
3
20
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, 1972-1975
3
21
Tam, Reuben, 1947-1980
3
22
Miscellaneous Letters, A-Z, 1936-1979
(4 folders)
3
23-26
Unidentified Letters, circa 1937-1978
3
27
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Series 3:Writings and Notes, circa 1940s-1970s
(Box 3; 0.2 linear feet)

This series contains three of Kienbusch's notebooks from early 1940s, including one containing notes on casein wax technique. All notebooks include notes, drawings, and diagrams. Also found are various handwritten notes and lists on scraps of paper, notes and slide list for a lecture at the Portland Museum of Art, and notes and quilting diagrams from Kienbusch's interview of Doris Sanborn.
DescriptionContainerSelect
Notebook, 1940
3
28
Notebook, 1941-1942
3
29
Notebook, "Notes on Cassein Wax Technique", 1942
3
30
Notes for Slide Lecture, Portland Museum of Art, circa 1973
3
31
Notes and Lists, circa 1940s-1970s
(3 folders)
3
32-34
"Interview of Doris Sanborn", undated
3
35
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Series 4:Printed Material, circa 1937-1980
(Box 3; 0.2 linear feet)

This series contains scattered printed material including blank postcards, maps from World War II, press releases, news clippings regarding Kienbusch, and several armed forces publications. Catalogs and announcements are primarily for exhibitions of other artists.
DescriptionContainerSelect
Armed Forces Publications, 1941-1945
(2 folders)
3
36-37
Blank Postcards, circa 1970s
3
38
Exhibition Catalogs and Announcements, circa 1949-1980
3
39
Maps, circa 1944-1945, 1967
3
40
News Clippings, circa 1950s-1977
3
41
Newspapers, 1945
3
42
Press Releases, 1971
3
43
Miscellaneous Printed Material, circa 1937-1974
3
44
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Series 5:Photographs, circa 1920-1980s
(Box 3-5; 1.3 linear feet)

Photographs are of William Kienbusch, including photographs taken during his military service in Guam and two snapshots of Kienbusch with friends Dorothy Andrews and Reuben Tam. Also found are photographs his house on Cranberry Island, Maine, and numerous travel and nature photographs.
DescriptionContainerSelect
Photographs of William Kienbusch, circa 1920-1975
(2 folders)
3
45-46
Photographs of William Kienbusch in Guam, circa 1943
3
47
Photographs of Kienbusch Grave Site, circa 1980s
3
48
Photographs of House on Cranberry Island, Maine, 1977, 1980
(2 folders)
3
49-50
Photographs of Trevett House, circa 1960s
3
51
Photographs of Backyard, circa 1970s
3
52
Photographs of Churches, circa 1970s
4
1
Travel and Nature Photographs, circa 1970s
(21 folders)
4
2-22
Travel and Nature Photographs, circa 1970s
(3 folders)
5
1-3
Negatives, circa 1970s
(2 folders)
5
4-5
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Series 6:Artwork, circa 1930s-1970s
(Box 5; 0.8 linear feet)

Artwork includes loose drawings and pastels created by Kienbusch while on his military tour in Guam and seventeen sketchbooks containting drawings in pencil, ink, and pastel. Also found is a pencil drawing of Kienbusch by "Tina."
DescriptionContainerSelect
Drawings, undated
5
6
Drawing of William Kienbusch, circa 1930s
5
7
Drawings of Guam, 1945
(4 folders)
5
8-11
Sketchbook, circa 1940s
5
12
Sketchbook, 1940
5
13
Sketchbooks, 1941
(2 folders)
5
14-15
Sketchbook, 1947
5
16
Sketchbook, 1952
5
17
Sketchbook, 1970
5
18
Sketchbook, 1974-1975
5
19
Sketchbooks, undated
(9 folders)
5
20-28

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.