The Mystery:
Mysteries of the Archives of American Art

Project Overview:
The Archives of American Art’s online initiative Mysteries of the Archives of American Art involves the public in helping identify unknown figures in photographs across the Archives collections. Many photographs that are part of the Archives of American Art’s various collections include individuals whom the Archives has not been able to identify, and some of these individuals are from historically underrepresented and less-documented groups, including women and people of color. Please join us in solving these mysteries by exploring selected photos below.
How to Get In Touch:
If you have leads, clues, or ideas of who the unknown individuals may be , email us at AAAMysteries@si.edu. Your email should include:
- Your first and last name
- Your organization, if applicable
- Your preferred mode of contact, should we need to reach you (e.g. email address or phone number)
- The photo name (for which you are identifying the unknown individual)
- The name of the individual you believe is the unidentifiable figure in the photo or any information you may have that could help us identify the individual
- Your level of certainty in the information you provided
Also Available on Social Media:
Follow us on social media—Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram—to view newly released Mysteries of the Archives of American Art photos. We welcome you to share our posts and photos with your network using the hashtag, #MysteriesOfTheArchivesOfAmericanArt.

The Mystery:
What: The three men appear to be cleaning dishes
Where: Dasburg's Paris studio, 115 rue Notre Dame des Champs
When: circa 1910
Who: Andrew Dasburg (left, kneeling) and two unidentified figures (center and right). The upright man could be Ronald Moser, Dasburg's studio mate.
What: This group of artists and artistic figures gathers for a formal occasion.
Where: unknown (the walls may help identify this)
When: circa 1960
What: A group of six sits around a table, enjoying drinks and good company
Where: Jazz at Slugs, in New York
When: 1964
Who: (L to R) Bob Thompson, Nancy Dannenberg, Danielle Spellman, A.B. Spellman, unidentified woman, unidentified man

What: The two women appear to be in an art gallery, looking at a piece.
Where: Unknown
When: circa 1977
Who: Betty Parsons (right) and unidentified woman (left)
Help us solve the mystery: Who is this unidentified woman appreciating art with Betty Parsons?

Where: They are going on a stroll through a "green alley"
When: circa 1910
Who: Cecilia Beaux (left) and unidentified woman (right)
Help us solve the mystery: Who is the woman on the right strolling in a green alley with Cecilia Beaux?
How to Get In Touch:

The Mystery:
What: They are at an exhibit opening of Thomas' retrospective
Where: Whitney Museum of American Art
When: 1972
Who: Unidentified woman (left) and Alma Thomas (right)
Help us solve the mystery: Who is this unidentified woman with Alma Thomas at her opening?

The Mystery:
What: A woman and a man lounging with each other
When: circa 1906
Who: John Storrs (right) and unidentified woman (left)
How to Get In Touch:
If you have leads, clues, or ideas of who the unknown individuals may be , email us at AAAMysteries@si.edu. Your email should include:
- Your first and last name
- Your organization, if applicable
- Your preferred mode of contact, should we need to reach you (e.g. email address or phone number)
- The photo name (for which you are identifying the unknown individual)
- The name of the individual you believe is the unidentifiable figure in the photo or any information you may have that could help us identify the individual
- Your level of certainty in the information you provided
Also Available on Social Media:
Follow us on social media—Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram—to view newly released Mysteries of the Archives of American Art photos. We welcome you to share our posts and photos with your network using the hashtag, #MysteriesOfTheArchivesOfAmericanArt.
Get Involved
Internship, fellowship, and volunteer opportunities provide students and lifelong learners with the ability to contribute to the study and preservation of visual arts records in America.
Archives of American Art in the Smithsonian Transcription Center

You can help make digitized historical documents more findable and useful by transcribing their text.
Visit the Archives of American Art project page in the Smithsonian Transcription Center now.