Peppino Mangravite papers, 1918-1982

Chronological correspondence documents Mangravite's career as a painter and educator and is with employers, dealers, museums, galleries, collectors, clients, arts and educational organizations, publishers, and other artists. The majority of the letters are written in English, but some are composed in French and Italian as well. Although primarily business correspondence, there is also a significant amount of personal correspondence with friends, colleagues, and former students. The letters often cover both business and personal topics, as Mangravite seemed to form close relationships with many of the people at the galleries and schools with which he was associated. Correspondence dated from 1918 to the 1950s is comprised mostly of incoming letters. Starting in the 1950s, the correspondence includes more outgoing correspondence, usually in the forms of onion skin copies and handwritten drafts. Correspondence is arranged chronologically, except two folders of undated letters, which are arranged alphabetically by last name of writer. A list of major correspondents follows.

A large amount of correspondence is between Mangravite and his dealers, the Dudensing Gallery and the Rehn Galleries, and discusses financial agreements, sales, and accounts. There is also correspondence with other galleries and museums where his paintings were exhibited. Mangravite's mural commissions are also discussed in the correspondence. Also found are invitations to participate in exhibitions, notifications of prize awards and artwork sales, invitations to be on juries for art competitions, or miscellaneous requests from fellow artists, fans, collectors, and clients. Significant events documented here include Mangravite's two Guggenheim Fellowships and his trip to Europe in 1955 to interview famous artists.

Mangravite's long teaching career is also documented in this series. Correspondence is found with Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence College, Avon School, Fieldston School of the Ethical Culture Schools, Potomac School, Dana Hall School, and the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center. Additionally, Mangravite was also a sought-after speaker and his correspondence includes many lecture invitations and requests as well as arrangements for accepted speaking engagements.

Other topics covered in the correspondence concern Mangravite's published or proposed writings, particularly articles and books reviews, most notably for the Saturday Review of Literature and American Magazine of Art. Also, there is some correspondence with publishers regarding book project ideas and manuscripts. Mangravite's membership activities in a variety of artists' organizations, such as the College Art Association, the American Society of Painters, Sculptors and Gravers; the American Artists' Congress, and the American Federation of Arts are well-represented in the correspondence. Of particular interest is Mangravite's response to an artists' rental policy debate during the 1930s, concerning the payment of rental fees for artworks exhibited in shows and galleries.

Correspondence is on reels 5878-5880.

Subject files, arranged alphabetically, represent committees, organizations, and conferences in which Mangravite participated as a committee member or speaker. They contain printed matter, minutes, and notes. The file for the American Art Research Council contains painting registration forms completed by Mangravite. The file of printed matter concerning art courses in France and Italy probably was assembled for his daughter, Denise, who studied in Rome during the summer of 1955. Of particular interest is the file titled "Committee for the Study of the Practice of Art Courses, sponsored by College Art Association," which investigated how art was being taught and reported on its findings. Because the members of the committee - George Biddle, Jean Charlot, Bartlett H. Hayes, J. Ward Lockwood, Peppino Mangravite (chairman), Daniel Catton Rich, Boardman Robinson, Edward W. Root, and Franklin C. Watkins - were unable to gather as a body, the work of the committee, including preparation and editing of its final report, was conducted by correspondence.

Subject files are on reels 5880-5881.

During the summer of 1955, sponsored by Columbia University, and with the assistance of the United States Information Agency, Mangravite traveled to England, France, and Italy, where he met with artists and scholars, and art department heads of several European universities to discuss Columbia University's plans for a new Art Center. He interviewed Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Giorgio De Chirico, Marino Marini, Henry Moore, Giorgio Morandi, Georges Rouault, and Graham Sutherland. Original audio recordings (7" reel to reel audio tapes) of all interviews except Giorgio Morandi are found here, along with excerpts of Mangravite's conversations with Braque, Chagall, De Chirico, Marini, and Morandi copied for radio broadcast (three 33-1/3 rpm lp recordings). Transcripts of all interviews are included, though there is no English translation of Rouault's interview. Each artist was also photographed with Mangravite on the day of his interview, except for Henry Moore who is represented by a single photograph taken circa 1955. The photographs are filed in this series.

In 1972, Mangravite recorded an interview with Rufino Tamayo in Mexico City, and the two artists were photographed together on that occasion. No transcript of the recording is among the Mangravite papers.

Photographs of other artists are filed with Series 7: Photographs, and a manuscript "Language of the Hand and Eye: Artists on Art, Life, and Education," by Mangravite, based on his interviews with European artists, can be found with Series 4: Writings, Notes, and Lectures.

Interviews with artists are on reel 5881.

Writings, notes, and lectures are on reel 5881.

Miscellaneous records consist of art work, scattered biographical information and financial records, and two sound recordings. Art work consists of a small number of sketches by Mangravite and greeting cards with original prints by John [illegible], Clare Romano and John Ross, and an ink drawing by M.S. Additional sound recordings are found in Series 3: Interviews with Artists.

Miscellaneous records are on reel 5881.

Printed matter is on reels 5881-5882.

Photographs are on reel 5882.