1. Search and Browse Collections
  2. Edward Melcarth papers, circa 1900-2003
  3. Contents and Arrangement

Edward Melcarth papers, circa 1900-2003

Creator

Occupation

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.
Select containers from the following list if you want to request them for reading room use or reproduction

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1902-1980
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1

Biographical material includes address books, an autograph book, estate papers, passports, resumes, Melcarth's baby book, and scrapbook related to Melcarth's family.
Description Container Select
Address Books, undated
1
1
Autograph Book, undated
1
2
Contracts, 1958-1971
1
3
Estate Papers, 1967-1980
1
4
Melcarth's Baby Book, 1914-1915
1
5
Passports, 1934-1971
1
6
Photos Sold by Durlacher Bros., 1941-1962
1
7
Resumes, circa 1964
1
8
Scrapbook, 1902-1904
1
9
Miscellaneous, 1911-1970
1
10
Back to Top

Series 2: Correspondence, 1911-1974
0.9 Linear feet
Boxes 1-2

Correspondence includes personal letters between his parents, and letters to his mother regarding his acquaintences Peggy and Hazel Guggenheim, and Norman Parkinson. Other correspondents include Gore Vidal and Gael Greene, New York magazine food critic, and artist Richard Taddei. Also included are letters from artists Lief Anderson, Peter Carello, Pablo Pristeno, Ernst Teves, from playwright William Inge, from actors George Maharis, Ronald Staba and Joseph Newlin, Henry Allen Moe, R. Kirk Askew, agent John Schafner, and Charles B. Moses.
The series is divided into two sub-series.
  • 2.1: Personal, 1911-1974
  • 2.2: Business, 1947-1972

2.1

Personal, 1911-1974
Description Container
Personal, 1934-1959
1
11
Personal, 1960-1964
1
12
Personal, 1965-1966
1
13
Personal, 1967, 1967
1
14
Personal, 1968-1969
1
15
Personal, 1970-1974
1
16-25
Leif Anderson, undated
1
26
William Melcarth, undated
1
27
Joan C. Beer, undated
1
28
Peter Carella, undated
1
29
Jim, undated
1
30
Edward Melcarth, undated
1
31
Letters Between Melcarth's Parents, 1911-1918
1
32
Melcarth's Mother, 1928-1945
1
33-40
B. and Richard Diccolo, undated
1
41
Pablo Pristieno, undated
1
42
Miscellaneous, circa 1962-1971
1
43

2.2

Business, 1947-1972
Description Container
Business, 1947-1954
1
44
Business, 1955-1957
1
45
Business, 1958
1
46
Business, 1959-1960
1
47
Business, 1961-1962
1
48
Business, 1963-1964
2
1
Business, 1965-1966
2
2
Business, 1967-1969
2
3
Business, 1970
2
4
Business, 1971
2
5
Business, 1972
2
6
Business, undated
2
7
Back to Top

Series 3: Writings, 1934-1967
0.9 Linear feet
Box 2

Writings include manuscripts of Melcarth's short stories, novels, and plays; essays and lectures on various topics related to modern art; and other literary works such as poems and song lyrics.
The series is divided into two sub-series
  • 3.1: Manuscripts and Literary Works, 1934-1964
  • 3.2: Essays and Lectures, 1962-1967

3.1

Manuscripts, 1934-1964
Description Container
The 31st of June, 1955
2
8-9
An Act of Kindness, undated
2
10
Bambino, undated
2
11
Blood of a Poet, undated
2
12
Play, "Break-Up", undated
2
13
Care of American Express, undated
2
14
Convention Night, undated
2
15
Conversazione, undated
2
16-17
The Critic, undated
2
18
Dead Dogs, undated
2
19
Enamorata, undated
2
20
Excursions, undated
2
21
Fallen Angel, undated
2
22
Flight From Nature, 1934
2
23
Gondola, Gondola, undated
2
24-26
Play, "The Holy Father", undated
2
27
La Veuve de la Guillotine, undated
2
28
The Lake, undated
2
29
Mount of Vipers, undated
2
30
Noblesse Oblige, undated
2
31
Nunc Dimittis, 1958-1964
2
32
Play, "Pieces of Eight", undated
2
33
Poetry, undated
2
34
The Prize, undated
2
35
Queen of the Adriatic, undated
2
36
Song Lyrics, undated
2
37
Tex, 1962 July
2
38
Traghetto, undated
2
39
When, undated
2
40
Miscellaneous, undated
2
41-42

3.2

Essays and Lectures, 1962-1967
Description Container
A Society Without Art, undated
2
43
America's Empty Pedestals, undated
2
44
Anti-Art and After, 1966
2
45
Cannibalism, undated
2
46
The Cult of the Ugly in Modern Art, undated
2
47
Discourses on Art, undated
2
48
Essays on Epic Art, undated
2
49
The Gotterdammerung of German Mindedness in Art, 1966 March 12
2
50
Greater than Life, Less Colossal..., 1962 July
2
51
In Ancient Egypt, undated
2
52
Jews, Art, and History, undated
2
53
Kicks, 1963
2
54
Life and Death of Modern Art, undated
2
55
Look Back at Space, undated
2
56
Maximal Society, Minimal Art, 1967 February 1
2
57
The Noble Savage and Epic Art, 1962 June 2
2
58
The Periplus of Hanno the Carthaginian, undated
2
59
The Puritanical Face of Modern Art, undated
2
60
Rise and Fall of Modern Art, 1966
2
61-65
The Rise and Fall of Modern Art, 1967 May
2
66-70
Miscellaneous, undated
2
71-72
Back to Top

Series 4: Sound Recordings, 1967-1970
0.2 Linear feet
Box 3, 8

Sound recordings consist of interviews and speeches by Melcarth on five sound tape reels and two cassettes.
Description Container Select
Recording Warhol, Melcarth, Wingate, undated
1 Sound tape reel
3
1
1
"Holy Father" Play Broadcast, undated
1 Sound tape reel
3
1
2
"Interview With Kertez" and Excerpts From "Followers of Comus", undated
1 Sound cassette
Side A is the Interview with Kertez for Boston University. This recording may be a copy of the "Interview for Boston University" sound tape reel.
Side B is the excerpts from "Followers of Comus."
3
2
1
Interview for Boston University, undated
1 Sound tape reel
The "Interview with Kertez" cassette may be a copy of this interview.
3
2
2
"Chris as Julius Caesar-My Song '5'" and "Tommy Chris Irwin Jones", undated
1 Sound tape reel
3
3
1
"Epic Art" Speech, 1970 April 10
1 Sound cassette
3
3
2
Martha Deane Program, 1967 May 5
1 Sound tape reel
8
1
Back to Top

Series 5: Printed Material, 1941-2003
0.5 Linear feet
Box 3, OV 9

Printed material consists of clippings, exhibition catalogs and announcements, and newsletters.
Description Container Select
"19 Young Americans" LIFE Magazine, undated
3
4
Art Student's League, 1965-1970
3
5
Clippings, 1947-2003
3
6-7
Copies of Artwork
3
8
Exhibition Announcements, 1967-1971
3
9
Exhibition Catalogs, 1941-1995
3
10-13
Kings of New York, undated
3
14
Magazine Clippings, 1948-1969
3
15
Newsletters, 1953-1971
3
16
Press Releases, 1963-1967
3
17
Miscellaneous, 1971
OV 9
Back to Top

Series 6: Artwork, 1946-1957
0.5 Linear feet
Box 3, 8

Works of art consist of sketches and sketchbooks.
Description Container Select
Black and White Tracer for Rooftop Theater, 1957
3
18
Sketches, circa 1955
3
19
Sketchbook, undated
3
20
Sketchbook, 1946-1948
3
21
Sketchbook and Sketches, undated
8
3
Back to Top

Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1900-1973
2.8 Linear feet
Boxes 3-8

Photographic material consists of photos of Melcarth, Melcarth's family, friends, various unidentified people, his paintings and sculptures, and works of art by fellow artists. There are also photos of various scenes in New York City, Coney Island, and Venice, Italy. Also included are slides, negatives, and transparencies of Melcarth's works.
Description Container Select
Family, circa 1900-1936
3
22-23
Family, circa 1917-1962
4
1
Melcarth's Mother, circa 1929
4
2
Edward Melcarth, circa 1931-1973
4
3-5
New York, circa 1955
4
6
Venice, circa 1955
4
7
Europe, circa 1945
4
8
People, Identified, 1942-1973
4
9
People, Unidentified, circa 1951
4
10-17
People, Physiques, circa 1950-1963
4
18-19
People, Venice, undated
4
20-21
People, Venice, 1951-1961
5
1-4
People, Coney Island, circa 1952
5
5-8
People, New York, undated
5
9-11
Beach and Coney Island, circa 1955
5
12
Photos for Magazines, undated
5
13
Photos From Plays, circa 1953
5
14
Melcarth and Artwork, 1942-1969
5
15
Lunt-Fontaine Ceiling, 1958
5
16
Glass Designs, 1948-1958
5
17
Paintings, circa 1936-1964
5
18-23
Sculptures, bulk circa 1948-1961
5
24
Sketches, undated
5
25
Photo Scrapbook, undated
Scrapbook also contains a number of sketches.
6
1
Photo Album, undated
Primarily contains photographs of sketches and sculptures.
8
2
Paintings by Others, undated
6
2
Sculptures by Others, undated
6
3
Miscellaneous Photographs, circa 1931-1958
6
4-6
Contact Sheets, undated
6
7
Negatives and Transparencies, undated
7
1-2
Slides, Miscellaneous, circa 1970
7
3

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.