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Rihoko Ueno
Scope and Contents
The papers of Southern California art dealer and abstract painter John McLaughlin measure 4.2 linear feet and date from 1922 to 1979, bulk 1936 to 1976. The collection documents John McLaughlin's personal life and career through biographical material, correspondence, writings, Tamarind Lithography fellowship files, scattered personal business records, printed materials, preliminary sketches and designs, and photographic material.
Biographical material includes McLaughlin's military service records, art awards, and resumes.
Correspondence is with friends, artists, museums, and galleries. Notable correspondents include Eugene Anderson, Karl Benjamin, Frederick Hammersley, Jules Langsner, Stanton Macdonald-Wright, and others.
Writings include artist statements, lectures, and notes. Researchers will find McLaughlin's ideas about his work and aesthetics are also referenced in much of the correspondence. There are also writings about McLaughlin by others.
The Tamarind Lithography fellowship files consists of the letter of appointment, printed material, and profiles for fellow artists at the workshop.
Personal business records include assorted legal and financial papers, such as contracts with galleries, art loan agreements, consignment records, and art shipment expenses. There are business papers about McLaughlin's Japanese print gallery, The Tokaido, Inc.
Printed material consists of exhibition catalogs for McLaughlin's shows at the Andre Emmerich Gallery, Felix Landau Gallery, a retrospective at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1968, and the seminal 1959 Four Abstract Classicists exhibition in Los Angeles, among others. Also included are exhibition announcements, news clippings, and press releases.
Artwork includes annotated sketches, collages and designs for paintings, and one painting.
Photographs, negatives, and slides are of McLaughlin, artwork, and exhibition installations. There is one album of photographs from a 1963 retrospective exhibition at the Pasadena Art Museum.
Language
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The John McLaughlin papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in multiple installments. John McLaughlin donated material in 1973 and his widow Florence McLaughlin donated material in 1976. Additional papers were donated by the artist's nephew John McLaughlin in 1998 and 1999. A painting was donated 2015 by the Stephne' Hesen estate.
Related Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds an oral history interview of John D. McLaughlin conducted July 23, 1974, by Paul J. Karlstrom.
Funding
Sponsor
Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Frederick Hammersley Foundation and The Walton Family Foundation.
Processing Information
Portions of the collection were microfilmed on reels 1410-1413 soon after they were donated to the archives. Papers were processed by Rihoko Ueno in 2014 with funding from the Frederick Hammersley Foundation. The 2015 addition was processed in 2019 by Ryan Evans and the collection was prepared for digitization by Rihoko Ueno and digitized in 2022 with funding from the Frederick Hammersley Foundation and The Walton Family Foundation.
