Betty Parsons Gallery records and personal papers, 1916-1991, bulk 1946-1983

This suberies provides detailed information about the gallery's sales and, to a lesser extent, purchases of works of art through invoices, ledgers, record books, and summaries. Due to the variety of formats there is a significant duplication of information. There are only three folders of invoices for purchases dating from 1950-1974. Additional information regarding sales can be found in the general ledgers that are located in disbursements and receipts. Of particular interest are summaries of sales of art works by Ad Reinhardt, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko (circa 1952) and summaries of sales to museums from 1946 - 1952.

The majority of the files are sales invoices. Most invoices include detailed information about the work of art, the name and address of the buyer, price, and date of sales. Sales invoice files are arranged by four access points: artist, buyer, year, and invoice number. Sales invoices arranged by buyer make up the bulk of the invoices and may represent the most complete record of gallery sales. Filing idiosyncrasies exist within this category, primarily when the buyer is an institution or organization. In some instances the invoices and sales related correspondence were filed under the institution/organization name, while in others it was filed by the last name of the primary correspondent.

Purchase invoices identify the institution or individual from whom a work was purchased and establishes provenance for works that were not acquired directly from the artist. Purchase invoices can also be found scattered amongst the sales invoice files.

Files are arranged by format.

This subseries contain the records of financial transactions between the gallery and artists, primarily the amount of commission that the gallery received from the artist/sale, and expenses charged back to the artists for exhibitions, advertising, and framing. Artist accounts include ledger sheets, lists, sales and expense invoices, and an expenses daybook.

Ledger sheets and invoices are arranged alphabetically by name of artist, while lists are arranged chronologically.

Found here are documents concerning loans to or from the gallery for sales and exhibitions. Although the Betty Parsons Gallery occasionally sent works on consignment to other galleries, the majority of consignments were to museum art rental and sales galleries, most notably the Museum of Modern Art's Art Lending Service. The gallery also loaned works to various museums and institutions for exhibitions and participated in the Art in Embassies program. The files contain correspondence, invoices, receipts, daybooks, and loan forms. Most documents contain standard data on the work of art, including title, artist, medium, creation date, and dimensions. Invoices for consignments to the gallery also contain the name and address of the original owner.

Files within this subseries are arranged alphabetically by individual or institution except for the daybooks, which are arranged chronologically.

This series consists of inventories in the form of notebooks and individual sheets that partially document the gallery's stock of art at distinct periods. There are a number of inventories of the work of individual artists. The Gallery and Warehouse Inventory of 1979 appears to be the only comprehensive record. It consists of loose sheets and A-Z tabbed dividers from a small binder. Information is arranged alphabetically by artist. This inventory also includes works from Betty Parson's private collection, which are identified by a "BP" in the left-hand margin.