Dorothy Dehner papers, 1920-1987, bulk 1951-1987

Collection Information

Size: 4 Linear feet

Summary: The papers of sculptor Dorothy Dehner measure 4 linear feet and date from 1920 to 1987, with the bulk of the material dating from 1951 to 1987. The collection documents Dehner's life, work, and professional and personal relationships, with particular focus on her mid-to-late career. Papers include extensive correspondence, business and financial papers, sound recordings and transcripts of interviews, writings by Dehner and others, printed material documenting Dehner's career, scattered photographs, two etchings, and scattered personal papers and material relating to David Smith.

Biographical/Historical Note

Dorothy Dehner was an abstract sculptor of the New York school who was also an accomplished painter, printmaker, author, and educator. Read More

Provenance

The Dorothy Dehner papers were donated from 1967-1987 in increments by Dorothy Dehner. Dehner also loaned material for microfilming between 1967 and 1977, some of which was subsequently donated. The art work in the collection most likely belonged to Garnett McCoy originally, and was included in the collection during processing in 2005.

Related Materials

Other resources in the Archives relating to Dorothy Dehner include oral history interviews with Dehner, October 1965 and December 1966, and a photograph of Dehner by Dena, 1966. The Archives of American Art also holds microfilm of material lent for microfilming on reels D298 (portions), D298A, 1269 (portions) and 1372, including photographs of Dorothy Dehner and David Smith, sketchbooks, correspondence between Dehner and Smith, an inventory, and some printed material. Loaned materials were returned to the lender after filming and are not described in the collection Container Listing.

Language Note

English .

Digitization Note

This site provides access to the papers of Dorothy Dehner in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2023, and total 6,645 images.

Funding Note

Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art. Funding for the digitization of this collection was provided by the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation and The Walton Family Foundation.