Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers, circa 1914-1984, bulk 1942-1984

Biographical material includes eleven folders of biographical statements and various notes by Pollock, as well as identification items such as his birth certificate and passport. Also found is a audio recording and transcript of a 1949 interview of Pollock by his neighbor William Wright.

Correspondence prior to 1956 is Jackson Pollock's, and correspondence after 1956 is Lee Krasner's concerning Pollock's artwork and estate. Correspondence is with galleries and museums that exhibited Pollock's work, including several folders concerning exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art. There is fan fan mail, student inquiries, requests for reproductions, and correspondence concerning restoration work. Correspondents of note include Thomas Hart Benton, Tony Smith, Reginald Isaacs, Clyfford Still, and Alfonso Ossorio, gallery owners Betty Parsons, Sidney Janis, and Martha Jackson, and biographers B.H. Friedman, Francis O'Connor, and Bryan Robertson. Also found are condolence letters and flower cards to Lee Krasner after Pollock's death. There is also a 1936 letter to Pollock from David Alfaro Siqueiros and postcards from Helen Frankenthaler and Clement Greenberg.

Found here are essays, articles, lectures, and biographies about Jackson Pollock. There is an original draft of the Bryan Robertson biography of Jackson Pollock, an essay by Clement Greenberg, and an essay written by Lee Krasner after Pollock's death which discusses his career, personal life, and their relationship.

James Valliere was a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire who was employed in 1963 by Lee Krasner to begin researching Pollock's early career and compile a general catalog of his work. Valliere never published the results of his research and the materials were kept by Lee Krasner. Found here is correspondence between Valliere and Lee Krasner, as well as Valliere's research correspondence with other family members, and Pollock's friends and colleagues. There is correspondence with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pollock, Sanford McCoy (Pollock's brother), Jay Pollock, Thomas Hart Benton, Robert Motherwell, and the Art Students League of New York. Also found are transcripts and audio recordings of interviews conducted by Valliere with those who knew Pollock well, including James Brooks, Reuben Kadish, Tony Smith, Clement Greenberg, and Pollock's sister-in-law Mrs. Sanford (Arloie) McCoy wherein she reads several letters Jackson wrote to his father from New York. Also included in this series are some of Valliere's research notes and photographs of James Brooks, and Pollock's friend Daniel Miller taken during their interviews. Untranscribed audio recordings of interviews are filed in series 1.10: Audio and Video Recordings and Film.

Business records document Lee Krasner's handling of Pollock's estate and exhibition of his artwork after his death. Found here are miscellaneous business records, including price lists, lists of items loaned for exhibitions, warehouse and shipping receipts, conservation receipts, and other handwritten notes. There are lists of owners of paintings and exhibitions, a guest book from the Venice "Biennale, and a complete appraisal of 37 Jackson Pollock drawings. There is also a folder of account statements and inventory lists from the Marlborough Gallery. Legal Documents include a deposition by Francis O'Connor regarding his interviews with Pollock's therapist, Dr. Joseph Henderson.

Printed materials include books and book proofs, such as a small book in Italian critiquing Pollock's work and proofs for two biographies by Frank O'Hara and Bryan Robertson, magazines with feature articles on Pollock, and numerous newspaper and magazine clippings spanning forty years. Also found are exhibition catalogs, posters, press releases, announcements, and invitations for both Pollock's solo and group exhibitions.

Two scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, and exhibition announcements. One was created by Pollock and Krasner, and the other was created by Krasner in the years following Pollock's death.

Found here is one sketchbook containing primarily ink drawings and diagrams by an unidentified artist.

Found here are extensive photographs of Pollock. There are many photographs of Pollock as a child and teenager and with his family, of Pollock with Lee Krasner in the studio, outdoors, at their home on Long Island, and with family and friends, including photographs from a 1950 Pollock family reunion held at their home. Also found are exhibition photographs, including his 1951 solo exhibition at Betty Parsons Gallery, as well as photos of Pollock's studio, and a few other miscellaneous images. Several of the photographs of Pollock in his studio were taken by Herbert Matter, Hans Namuth, and Rudy Burckhardt. Photographs taken by Herbert Matter were previously incorrectly attributed to Wilfrid Zogbaum. Significant figures photographed with Pollock include Clement Greenberg, Helen Frankenthaler, James Brooks, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. There are also numerous photographs and slides of Pollock's works of art that have not been scanned. Photographs are arranged according to subject and chronologically within each folder.

This subseries contains a 16 mm film about Pollock, entitled, "Jackson Pollock: A Reconsideration," including a reel of outtakes, produced in 1964 by Channel 13 WNDT, the Educational Broadcasting Corporation. There are also VHS copies of the film. Also found are untranscribed audio recordings of interviews conducted by James Valliere while he was researching Pollock's early career and artwork for a never-published book on Pollock. Interviews are with artists Willem De Kooning and Alfonso Ossorio, and Pollock's friends Burton Rouche. Researchers should also see Series 1.4: James Valliere Research Material on Jackson Pollock for additional recordings of interviews with transcripts.

Found here are Lee Krasner's genealogical notes, school transcripts, certificate of marriage to Jackson Pollock, and Who's Who biographies. Also included are resumes and artist statements, chronologies, exhibition lists, bibliographies, and address books. Awards and certificates include an award medal for the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. There are also mementos such as brochures, receipts, programs, and letters, from her 1965 visit to England for the Whitechapel Gallery exhibition.

Lee Krasner's correspondence spans over forty years, but the bulk of it ranges from 1970 to her death in 1984. Found here is correspondence with galleries and gallery owners that represented her, exhibited her work, or requested her work for potential exhibitions. Krasner was friends with many artists and art professionals and her personal correspondence includes many letters from artists such as Philip Johnson, Ray Eames, Cleve Gray, and Hans Namuth. She also corresponded with art historians and critics, curators, collectors, arts and social organizations, admirers, and family members. Additionally, this series includes fan mail, student inquiries, correspondence with journalists and publishers, requests for her to lecture, and business correspondence on the sale of her work. There are numerous letters and telegrams congratulating Krasner on exhibitions, such as the 1965 Whitechapel retrospective and extensive documentation of her 1958 commission to create a mural for Uris Brothers, Inc.

See Index for List of Notable Correspondents from Series 2.2

This subseries contains transcripts of interviews of Lee Krasner conducted by various art historians and journalists. The interviews discuss Krasner's work, the early abstract expressionist movement, her relationship with Jackson Pollock, and the "New York art world". Two of the transcripts are for broadcast interviews, including a 1979 interview with Barbara Novak for WGBH New Television Workshop, Boston. Transcripts are arranged chronologically. Audio recordings for these interviews are filed in Series 2.10.

This subseries includes draft essays, many with annotations, about Lee Krasner and her artwork. Items are arranged chronologically.

This subseries includes a few lecture notes by Lee Krasner as well as handwritten notes about her life and memories.

Scattered business and financial records date primarily from 1967 to 1983 and include exhibition checklists, conservation forms, loan forms, sales and price lists, warehouse and shipping receipts, guest lists, account statements and other handwritten lists and notes. There is documentation from the Robert Miller Gallery, Pace Gallery, the Whitney museum, and the Marlborough gallery.

This scrapbook documents a 1965 exhibition of Krasner's work at Whitechapel Gallery in London. The scrapbook was created by the President of Marlborough Gallery, Pierre Levai, and includes news clippings about the event and photographs of the exhibition installation.

Printed material documents Lee Krasner's career and includes solo and group exhibition catalogs, announcements, press releases, and numerous newspaper and magazine clippings. There are also newsletters, event calendars, annual reports, and documentary film announcements for films about Krasner. Schedules, directories, instructions, and other faculty materials are from Krasner's semester as a faculty member at Cooper Union. Miscellaneous printed material includes primarily programs, brochures, and invitations to events. There is also an "Odds and Ends" folder. Items are arranged by type of material and chronologically within each folder.

Lee Krasner's personal photographs and photographs of her artwork are filed here, including one of her painting in the studio and portraits of her at the WPA pier. The majority of the photographs in this subseries are professional portraits taken of Lee Krasner throughout her career. Some of the portraits depict her home and painting in her studio. Photographers of note are Hans Namuth, Renate Ponsold, and Ray Eames, and one by Irving Penn. All portraits of Krasner are grouped by photographer and arranged chronologically.

Personal and family photographs include photos of Krasner on the beach, circa 1939, and with family and friends. Photographs of Krasner with Jackson Pollock were taken at the beach, with family, and at their home in the Springs. There are also photographs of the two of them outside of their home and in the studio, taken by Wilfred Zogbaum. There are photographs of Lee Krasner at various exhibitions, including her 1973 exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Photographs of artwork include photographs of Krasner's work in various medium, such as ink, collage, lithographs, and mosaic, as well as the artwork she did for the WPA. Photographs of artwork have not been scanned.

This subseries consists primarily of audio recordings of interviews with Lee Krasner that discuss her career, her relationship with Jackson Pollock, and Pollock's career. The recordings include interviews conducted by John Gruen for the Casper Citron radio show, one for the Martha Dean radio show, and one for the "Today Show". Another interview of note was conducted by fellow artist Mercedes Matter. Transcripts for most of these interviews are filed in Series 2.3.

Also found in this series are two recorded lectures given by Lee Krasner, and two copies VHS video recordings about Pollock and a 1982 exhibition of his work, "Pollock a Beaubourg". Items are arranged chronologically.