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Ricky Gomez
Scope and Contents
The papers of Jan Stussy measure 8.1 linear feet and date from 1924-2018. The papers document the career of painter and educator Jan Stussy through correspondence; a resume and other professional documentation; clippings and exhibition announcements; and photographs and slides of Stussy and his artwork. The papers also document the life of artist Stanton MacDonald-Wright through correspondence with Stussy; manuscripts and other writings; lectures and discussions with Stussy; clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and other printed material; and photographs of MacDonald-Wright.
Biographical material consists of Stussy family history, material on Fred Stussy, Stussy's Boy Scout scrapbook, and an obituary.
Correspondence consists of letters from Stussy to his wife, Maxine Kim Stussy, with various museums and institutions such as the United States Embassy in Turkey, and a collection of postcards. Also included are correspondence between Stussy and Stanton MacDonald-Wright.
Writings consist of a biography and general notes on Stanton MacDonald-Wright, articles on art, manuscripts for screenplays written by Stussy, poetry, and miscellaneous notes. Also included are some of Stussy's diaries from the 1940s and 1980s.
Personal business records consist of mainly inventory and price lists, some general account records, general invoices and related correspondence, and invoices from the Esther Robles Gallery.
Professional activity material consists of resumes, academic evaluations and promotions from his time as a professor at UCLA, awards, screenplay material, and some exhibition files. Also included are a series of audio cassette interviews between Stussy and Stanton MacDonald-Wright, an audio cassette lecture by MacDonald-Wright, and a video cassette on "The Ideals of Occidental Composition."
Printed material consists of clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, published articles by Stussy, a book on Stussy's art, and a book featuring some of Stussy's illustrations.
Artwork consists of sketches done by students for some of Stussy's courses in 1948, sketches by Stussy, and collages.
Photographic material consists of photographs of Stussy, Stanton MacDonald-Wright, and of Stussy's artwork. There is a large collection of slides of Stussy's artwork and of tattoo art. Also included are four 8mm film reels of photographs of primarily tattoo art.
Catalog of artwork is a catalog put together by the Jan Stussy Foundation. The catalog contains a listing of Stussy's works consisting of a general list of works, photographs of artwork on index cards, and catalog worksheets with titles and other pertinent information related to each piece.
Language
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Jan Stussy papers were donated to the archives between 1976-1985 by Jan Stussy and in 2022 by Belinda Franekl, Maxine Stussy's stepdaughter.
Funding
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Ricky Gomez in 2020. An addition was also processed, and the finding aid updated by Ricky Gomez in 2022.
