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  3. Series 1: Andrew Dasburg Papers , circa 1900-1980

Andrew Dasburg and Grace Mott Johnson papers, 1833-1980, bulk 1900-1980

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Series 1: Andrew Dasburg Papers , circa 1900-1980
6 Linear feet
Box 1-6

This series contains the papers Andrew Dasburg, documenting both his personal life, such as his relationship with first wife, Grace Mott Johnson, and his friendships with many artists in New Mexico and New York, and to a lesser degree, his professional activities as an exhibiting artist. Found here are scattered legal, biographical, and financial documents. There is extensive correspondence with Johnson. Additional correspondence is with his son Alfred Dasburg, second wife Nancy Lane, and third wife Marina Wister, as well as numerous friends, fellow artists, scholars, galleries, universities, and museums. Notable correspondents include Mabel Dodge Luhan, Kenneth Adams, Thomas Hart Benton, George Biddle, Marsden Hartley, Ward Lockwood, Alfred Stieglitz, and Ward Lockwood, Henry Lee McFee, among many others.
Also found in Dasburg's papers are a few essays on art written by him, and writings by others about Dasburg and more general art topics. Printed material consists of published books about the Taos art community, as well as exhibition announcements, catalogs, and newsclippings about Dasburg, other artists, and the Taos and New Mexico art community. Photographs are of Dasburg while he was living in Woodstock, New York; Paris, France; and Taos, New Mexico; as well as his family, friends, models, places, and works of art. Of note are a group photograph of Birge Harrison's art class in Woodstock, New York, which includes Johnson and Dasburg, and a photograph of Dasburg with friends Konrad Cramer and John Reed. Dasburg's artwork includes three prints and two drawings.
Scattered papers of his son, Alfred Dasburg, primarily consists of correspondence with family, friends, and concerning the business affairs of his father.
The Andrew Dasburg Papers are arranged into 7 subseries:
  • 1.1: Biographical Material & Business Records, 1913-1980
  • 1.2: Correspondence, circa 1906-1979
  • 1.3: Writings, circa 1940s-1979
  • 1.4: Printed Material, 1922-1980
  • 1.5: Photographs, circa 1900-1978
  • 1.6: Artwork, undated
  • 1.7: Alfred Dasburg Papers, 1914-1980
The bulk of this series has been scanned in its entirety. Material not scanned includes duplicates, photographs of artwork and animals, slides, books, cancelled checks, miscellaneous financial and estate materials of limited research value, blank postcards and selected printed materials.

1.1: Biographical Material & Business Records, 1913-1980

Found here are scattered biographical documents about Andrew Dasburg as well as business and legal records. Included are two biographical chronologies, one specifically documenting his time in London and Paris in 1914. Also found are the divorce agreements between Dasburg and Grace Mott Johnson, and other legal documents, including a handwritten draft of his will from 1922. Other material includes awards and membership certificates, his death certificate, and the records of his estate, which was managed by his son Alfred, and includes inventories of his artwork at the time of his death, as well as other financial forms and notes.
Business records primarily document Dasburg's late career during the 1970s. Included are the contracts and records of his work on a series of lithographs which were printed with the support of the Tamarind Institute, and the exhibition records for the Santa Fe Armory show which featured his work. This file also includes notes on Dasburg's participation in the 1913 Armory Show in New York. Other documents include an inventory of books in his home at the time of his death, a desk diary primarily containing addresses, and various lists of his artwork, some of which also include prices. A small amount of financial material consists of receipts for sale of his artwork, a ledger, cancelled checks and other miscellaneous items such as bank statements and insurance and tax forms. Items are arranged chronologically within each folder.
Description Container
Biographical Chronologies, circa 1960s
1
1
Dasburg-Johnson Divorce Agreements, 1922
1
2
Awards & Membership Certificates, 1913-1976
1
3
Tamarind Institute Contracts & Printing Records, 1970, 1974-1979
1
4
Santa Fe Armory Show Records, 1977-1978
1
5
Certificate of Death, 1979
1
6
Estate Records, 1979-1980
1
7
Inventory of Books in Dasburg Home, 1979
1
8
Desk Diary, 1970
1
9
Lists of Artwork, 1947, 1977-1980
1
10
Legal Documents, 1922, 1941-1975
1
11
Financial Material
Sales of Artwork, 1928, 1957, 1976-1979
1
12
Ledger, 1936
1
13
Cancelled Checks, 1935-1937, 1954-1955
(Not scanned)
1
14
Miscellaneous, 1924, 1936-1979
(Not scanned)
1
15

1.2: Correspondence, circa 1906-1979

Found here is Andrew Dasburg's extensive correspondence which spans over seventy years, documenting both his personal and professional life. One third of the correspondence is between Dasburg and his first wife, Grace Mott Johnson. most of which was written during their marriage. These candid letters discuss daily activities, social events, travels, including Dasburg's time in Paris in 1910 and trip to Europe in 1914, news of mutual friends, artwork, and problems with their relationship.
Also found is Dasburg's correspondence with his second wife, Nancy Lane around the time of their marriage in 1928, and correspondence with his third wife, Marina Wister Dasburg during the periods that she visited her family in Pennsylvania; most of these letters are written by Marina. Dasburg's correspondence with his son, Alfred, consists of brief letters sharing news of their travels, family, and personal matters.
General correspondence primarily consists of Dasburg's correspondence with other family members, friends, colleagues, scholars, universities, and galleries. Where they exist, Dasburg's outgoing letters are interfiled with letters he received in a chronological arrangement. Dasburg was friends with many artists who, like him, were part of regional art colonies in Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Woodstock, New York. He also maintained friendships with artists he met in Europe and other travels and at the Art Students' League. Correspondents includes Kenneth Adams, Thomas Hart Benton, George Biddle, Dorothy Brett, Alexander Brook, Lucienne Chinard Clemens, Howard Cook, Russell Cowles, Vida Hunt Francis, Lewis Garrison, Marsden Hartley, Norbert Heerman, Richard Hollander, Lila Wheelock Howard, Charles Kassler, Mary Aubrey Keating, Carl Eric Lindin, Ward Lockwood, Erle Loran, Hayes Lyon, Henry Lee McFee, John Gaw Meem, Loren Mozley, Dickson Reeder, Louis Ribak, Paul Rohland, Alfred Stieglitz, Earl Stroh, Carl Van Vechten, Alice Morgan Wright, and Stanton Macdonald-Wright, among many others. Dasburg also corresponded with many former students including Edwin Gamble, Willard Nash, Alice Naylor, and Earl Stroh. Also found are letters from writers John Howard Griffin, Witter Bynner and Miriam Hapgood De Witt as well as art critics and historians such as Robert M. Coates, Oliver Larkin, and Stanley Lothrop. Dasburg maintained extensive correspondence with close friend, art patron and Taos resident, Mabel Dodge Luhan.
A small amount of correspondence with galleries, universities, museums, curators, and scholars concerns exhibitions, sales, or research. Additional topics found within his correspondence are American Indian rights in New Mexico and his medical treatment for Addison's disease.
See Appendix A for a list of correspondents from Series 1.2.
Description Container
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, circa 1906-1908 June
1
16
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1908 July
1
17
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1908 August
1
18
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1908 October-November
1
19
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1908 December
1
20
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, circa 1909 January 1-12
1
21
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1909 January 1-14
1
22
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1909 February 1-6
1
23
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1909 February 7-14
1
24
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1909 February 8-October
1
25
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 January
1
26
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 February-March 1
1
27
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 March
1
28
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 April
1
29
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 May-June
1
30
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 July-August
1
31
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 September 1-14
1
32
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 September 15-30
1
33
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 October-November
1
34
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1910 December
1
35
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1911 January
1
36
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1911 February-March
1
37
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1911 April-November
1
38
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1912 January-March
2
1
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1912 April-July
2
2
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1912 August-September
2
3
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1912 October-November
2
4
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1913 January-May
2
5
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1913 June-September
2
6
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1913 October-December
2
7
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1914
2
8
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1914 May
2
9
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1914 August-September
2
10
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1914 September
2
11
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1914 October-November
2
12
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1915 January-March
2
13
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1915 April-May
2
14
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1915 June-July
2
15
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1915 August
2
16
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1915 September-October
2
17
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1916
2
18
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1917 May-September
2
19
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1918 January-February
2
20
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1918 March-May
2
21
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1914 January-June
2
22
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1919-1929, 1940
2
23
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1920
2
24
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1921
2
25
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, 1922-1926, 1940
2
26
Correspondence with Grace Mott Johnson, Undated Letters, circa 1906-1940
2
27
Correspondence with Nancy Lane, 1928 August-September
2
28
Correspondence with Nancy Lane, 1928 October
2
29
Correspondence with Nancy Lane, 1928 November
2
30
Correspondence with Nancy Lane, Undated Letters, circa 1928
2
31
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1935 March
2
32
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1935 April
2
33
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1935 April
2
34
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1935 June
2
35
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1935 July
2
36
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1936 January-April
3
1
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1936 May
3
2
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1936 June
3
3
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1936 July
3
4
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1938
3
5
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1942
3
6
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1942
3
7
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1943
3
8
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1943
3
9
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1944
3
10
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1947
3
11
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, 1950-1954
3
12
Correspondence with Marina Wister Dasburg, Undated Letters, circa 1935-1954
3
13
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1914, 1919-1925
3
14
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1926-1927
3
15
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1928-1929
3
16
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1928
3
17
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1928
3
18
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1929
3
19
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1930
3
20
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1931-1932
3
21
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1933-1935
3
22
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1936-1938
3
23
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1939-1942
3
24
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1943-1944
3
25
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1945-1946
3
26
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1947-1950
3
27
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1951-1955
3
28
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, 1957-1966
3
29
Correspondence with Alfred Dasburg, Undated Letters, circa 1914-1966
3
30
General Correspondence, 1909-1924
3
31
General Correspondence, 1926-1928
3
32
General Correspondence, 1929-1930
3
33
General Correspondence, 1931-1932
3
34
General Correspondence, 1933
3
35
General Correspondence, 1936
3
36
General Correspondence, 1934
3
37
General Correspondence, 1935
3
38
General Correspondence, 1936
3
39
General Correspondence, 1937 January-April
3
40
General Correspondence, 1937 May-September
3
41
General Correspondence, 1937 October-December
3
42
General Correspondence, 1938 January-February
4
1
General Correspondence, 1938 April-December
4
2
General Correspondence, 1939 January-March
4
3
General Correspondence, 1939 April-December
4
4
General Correspondence, 1940 January-May
4
5
General Correspondence, 1940 June-December
4
6
General Correspondence, 1941 January-May
4
7
General Correspondence, 1941 June-September
4
8
General Correspondence, 1941 October-December
4
9
General Correspondence, 1942 January-March
4
10
General Correspondence, 1942 April-June
4
11
General Correspondence, 1942 August-December
4
12
General Correspondence, 1943 January-April
4
13
General Correspondence, 1943 May-December
4
14
General Correspondence, 1944
4
15
General Correspondence, 1945 January-May
4
16
General Correspondence, 1945 June-August
4
17
General Correspondence, 1945 September-December
4
18
General Correspondence, 1946-1951
(9 folders)
4
19-27
General Correspondence, 1952-1958
(7 folders)
4
28-34
General Correspondence, 1959-1973
(7 folders)
5
1-7
General Correspondence, 1974-1979
(9 folders)
5
8-16
General Correspondence, Undated Letters, A-H, circa 1910-1979
5
17
General Correspondence, Undated Letters, K-W, circa 1910-1979
5
18
General Correspondence, Unidentified Correspondents, circa 1910-1979
5
19

1.3: Writings, circa 1940s-1979

Writings by Andrew Dasburg include two brief essays on painting and an essay on abstract art entitled "Notes for a Criticism" that he wrote for the Harwood Foundation in 1953. Writings by others include poetry written by Peggy Church, sent to Dasburg for Christmas over several years, one of which is entitled "Andrew's Tree in the Moonlight", as well as poems and song lyrics written by Dasburg's wife, Marina Wister Dasburg. Filed here are writings and research notes by Teles Romero's on the conditions of the Jicarilla Apaches Indian reservation, a topic of particular interest to Marina Dasburg. Also found are draft writings by Virginia Gardner for her book, Friend and Lover: The Life of Louise Bryant. Andrew Dasburg and Grace Mott Johnson were friends with Bryant and Andrew and Alfred Dasburg assisted Gardner in her research for the book. Additional research material compiled by Gardner and found here includes photocopies of news clippings and articles on Bryant.
Writings about Andrew Dasburg consist of a portion of an essay by Howard Cook, a biographical essay about Dasburg by Mary Carroll Nelson, an essay by Mabel Dodge Luhan regarding Dasburg's mural at the Colorado Springs Art Centre, and an essay regarding Dasburg's artwork by Van Deren Coke. There is also a document in German possibly written by Dasburg's grandfather, and other notes by unidentified authors. Folders are arranged by author and items are arranged chronologically within each folder.
Description Container
Writings by Andrew Dasburg, 1953, undated
5
20
Peggy Church, Poetry for Andrew Dasburg, 1950s
5
21
Marina Wister Dasburg, Miscellaneous Writings, circa 1940s
5
22
Virginia Gardner, Draft Writings and Research Material on Louise Bryant, circa 1972-1979
5
23
Mary Carroll Nelson, Essay about Andrew Dasburg, 1978-1979
5
24
Teles R. Romero, Writings and Research on Indians of Jicarilla Apaches, circa 1940s
5
25
Miscellaneous Writings about Andrew Dasburg, 1959-1978
5
26
Miscellaneous Writings and Notes by Others, circa 1970s
5
27

1.4: Printed Material, 1922-1980

Printed material concerns Dasburg's career, as well as his interest and participation in art events in New Mexico. Found here are three books, two specifically on artists in Taos, and one written by Dasburg's friend, Mabel Dodge Luhan. Other materials include exhibition announcements and catalogs for various group shows featuring artists of New Mexico, as well as solo exhibitions of Dasburg's work and the work of others. News clippings are about Dasburg, Taos news and art community, art exhibitions, and articles about his friends and family. Also found are newsletters from various New Mexico art organizations, blank postcards, some of which depict Woodstock, New York, a few press releases for exhibitions, and various programs and brochures. Items are arranged chronologically within each folder.
Description Container
Books
Nordfeldt the Painter, Van Deren Coke, 1972
(Not scanned)
5
28
Taos and Its Artists, Mabel Dodge Luhan, 1947
(Not scanned)
5
29
A Taos Mosaic, Claire Morrill, 1973
(Not scanned)
5
30
Exhibition Announcements and Invitations, 1967-1980
5
31
Exhibition Catalogs, 1947-1977
(2 folders)
5
32-33
News Clippings, 1922-1959
(2 folders)
5
34-35
News Clippings, 1960-1979
(2 folders)
6
1-2
News Clippings, Undated, circa 1922-1979
6
3
Newsletters, 1936, 1973-1979
(Not scanned)
6
4
Programs and Brochures, 1941-1968, 1979
(Not scanned)
6
5
Press Releases, 1973-1975
6
6
Postcards (Blank), circa 1920s, 1950s
(Not scanned)
6
7
Miscellaneous Printed Material, circa 1950s-1979
6
8

1.5: Photographs, circa 1900-1978

There are photographs of Andrew Dasburg and his family, friends, colleagues, homes, and artwork. Photographs of Dasburg include portraits and candid photographs. A few particularly noteworthy photographs depict Dasburg painting on Monhegan Island, Maine, in 1913; outside of Mabel Dodge Luhan's cottage in Provincetown, Massachusetts; outside of Luhan's home in Taos, New Mexico; and painting in his studio in Taos. Photographs of Dasburg with friends and family include him with his mother and son, Alfred; in a group photograph of Birge Harrison's Art Students' League summer class in Woodstock, New York, in 1907 along with his future wife, Grace Mott Johnson; in his studio at 115 rue Notre Dame des Champs with friends in 1910; with Konrad Cramer and John Reed in 1914; with artist Charles Kassler in Colorado; and with other unidentified groups of people, probably in Woodstock, NY. Also found are photographs of his son Alfred as a child and with his wife and children; photographs of friend and fellow artist Lila Wheelock Howard; and photographs of the Wister children, including Dasburg's third wife, Marina Wister. Notable among the photographs of family and friends include snapshots of Florence Lucius, Konrad and Florence Ballin Cramer, Frieda and D. H. Lawrence, and Mabel Dodge Luhan.
The papers also include several photographs taken at Taos, New Mexico, including two photographs of Andrew and Alfred Dasburg with Tony Luhan and a photograph of Alfred with Mary Foote, Mabel Dodge Luhan, and Tony Luhan en route to a snake dance. Additional photographs of Taos include Native American events, landscapes, and architecture. Photographs of places include Dasburg's house in Woodstock, New York, his mother's house in Wurtsboro, New York, Monhegan Island, Nova Scotia, and other unidentified places. Also found are photographs and slides of artwork by Dasburg and a few photographs of artwork by others. Folders are arranged by subject and chronologically within each folder.
Description Container
Photographs of Andrew Dasburg, 1908-1970s
(4 folders)
6
9-12
Photographs of Andrew Dasburg with Friends & Family, circa 1910-1976
6
13
Photographs of Alfred Dasburg & Family, circa 1912-1975
6
14
Photographs of Lila Wheelock Howard, circa 1910s
6
15
Photographs of Wister Children, circa 1902
6
16
Photographs of Friends and Family, 1914-1978
6
17
Photographs of Taos, New Mexico, 1920s-1930s
6
18
Photographs of Models, circa 1920s
6
19
Photographs of Nudes (Possibly Rose Davidson), 1911
6
20
Unidentified Photographs of People, circa 1900-1960
6
21
Photographs of Dasburg House in Woodstock, New York, circa 1920
6
22
Photographs of Monhegan Island, 1913
6
23
Photographs of Nova Scotia, circa 1910s
6
24
Photograps of Places, circa 1900-1960
6
25
Photographs of Animals, circa 1910s
(Not scanned)
6
26
Photographs of Andrew Dasburg/Grace Mott Johnson Exhibition, 1977
6
27
Photographs of Artwork by Dasburg, circa 1950s-1970s
(3 folders; not scanned)
6
28-30
Photographs of Artwork by Others, circa 1914-1970s
(Not scanned)
6
31
Slides, Photographs of Andrew Dasburg, 1948, 1956, 1977-1978
(Not scanned)
6
32
Slides, Photographs of Artwork by Dasburg, 1977-1978
(Not scanned)
6
33

1.6: Artwork, undated

Artwork by Andrew Dasburg includes three woodblock prints of "Girl with Yo-Yo" and two small drawings.
Description Container
Artwork by Andrew Dasburg, undated
6
34

1.7: Alfred Dasburg Papers, 1914-1980

Filed here are documents created by Alfred Dasburg, Andrew Dasburg and Grace Mott Johnson's son. Included is correspondence between Alfred Dasburg and family members, friends, his step-mother Nancy Lane, as well as with universities, art galleries, and museums regarding the loan of artwork by Andrew Dasburg or requesting biographical information about Dasburg or Johnson. A significant amount of correspondence during the late 1970s is with Virginia Gardner who was researching Dasburg and Johnson's careers and friendships with Louise Bryant. Also found within the correspondence are letters regarding his parents' health care. By the mid-1970s Alfred was handling many of his father's business and financial affairs which is reflected in these letters.
Correspondence between Alfred and his father, Andrew Dasburg, is found in series 1.2, and correspondence between Alfred and his mother, Grace Mott Johnson, is found in series 2.2. Additional material in Alfred Dasburg's papers include three of his report cards, his wife Matilda's death certificate, and documents from his trip to Dasburg, Germany. Items are arranged chronologically within each folder.
Description Container
Alfred Dasburg Correspondence, 1914-1980
(7 folders)
6
35-41
Report Cards, 1924, 1927
6
42
Death Certificate for Matlilda Sevier Dasburg, 1962
6
43
Documents from Trip to Dasburg, Germany, 1964
(Not scanned)
6
44
Course Materials, Solid-State Electronics, 1967
(Not scanned)
6
45

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.