Series 2 | A Finding Aid to the Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt papers, 1905-1987, bulk 1952-1987 | Digitized Collection | Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution | Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution

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Series 2: Correspondence, 1959-1987

1.7 Linear feet

Boxes 1-2, OV 21

Correspondence is primarily with Smithson's family, friends, fellow artists, and business associates discussing personal relationships, proposed art projects, and exhibitions.

The series is arranged as 3 subseries:

2.1: Family, 1959-1987
2.2: General, 1961-1984
2.3: Condolences, 1973

Series has been digitized in entirety.

2.1: Family, 1959-1987

Family correspondence consists of letters from Smithson to Nancy Holt and postcards from Smithson and Holt to Smithson's parents, Susan and Irving. Smithson's postcards to his parents detail his travels to Europe and updates on life and work projects in the 1960s-1970s. Holt's postcards tto Susan Smithson describe her travel and projects in the 1970s-1980s.

Description	Container
Holt, Nancy, circa 1960s	1 15	Select: Holt, Nancy, circa 1960s
Smithson, Susan and Irving, 1959-1961	1 16	Select: Smithson, Susan and Irving, 1959-1961
Smithson, Susan and Irving, 1971-1973	1 17	Select: Smithson, Susan and Irving, 1971-1973
Smithson, Susan and Irving, 1974-1976, 1982-1987	1 18	Select: Smithson, Susan and Irving, 1974-1976, 1982-1987

2.2: General, 1961-1984

General correspondence includes a handful of letters drafted by Smithson and Holt, with the bulk of the subseries comprising of letters from artists, art critics, collectors, museums, galleries, art organizations, universities, real estate brokers, and businesses.

There is correspondence of note from the Dwan Gallery (Virginia Dwan) and from artist friends Carl Andre, Dan Flavin, Konrad Fischer, Dan Graham, Peter Hutchinson, Will Insley, Ray Johnson, Gyorgy Kepes, Sol Lewitt, Lucy Lippard, Toby Mussman, Claes Oldenburg, Dennis Oppenheim, Robert Wade, and Dennis Wheeler. There is also substatial correspondence between Holt and Robert Hobbs regarding the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art's retrospective Smithson exhibition in 1982.

Description	Container
A, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Includes letters from Vito Acconci	1 19	Select: A, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Vito Acconci
ACE Gallery, 1966-1970	1 20	Select: ACE Gallery, 1966-1970
ACE Gallery, Oversized, circa 1966	21 1	Select: ACE Gallery, Oversized, circa 1966
Andre, Carl, circa 1960s-1970s	1 21	Select: Andre, Carl, circa 1960s-1970s
Art International, 1967-1968	1 22	Select: Art International, 1967-1968
Art News, 1966-1972	1 23	Select: Art News, 1966-1972
Artforum (Leider, Phil), 1966-1972	1 24	Select: Artforum (Leider, Phil), 1966-1972
B, Miscellaneous, 1963-1972 Includes letters from Jo Baer, John Baldessari, Bernd and Hilla Becher, and Donald Burgy	1 25	Select: B, Miscellaneous, 1963-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Jo Baer, John Baldessari, Bernd and Hilla Becher, and Donald Burgy
C, Miscellaneous, 1967-1972 Includes letters from Ted Castle, Rosemarie Castoro, Ron Cooper, and Bill Copley	1 26	Select: C, Miscellaneous, 1967-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Ted Castle, Rosemarie Castoro, Ron Cooper, and Bill Copley
Celant, Germano, 1969-1970	1 27	Select: Celant, Germano, 1969-1970
Centro de Arte y Comunicacion, 1970-1971	1 28	Select: Centro de Arte y Comunicacion, 1970-1971
Columbia University, 1968-1969	1 29	Select: Columbia University, 1968-1969
D, Miscellaneous, 1963-1972 Includes letters from Jan Dibbets, Herbert Distel, Peter Downsbrough, and Thomas Downing	1 30	Select: D, Miscellaneous, 1963-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Jan Dibbets, Herbert Distel, Peter Downsbrough, and Thomas Downing
Dwan Gallery (Dwan, Virginia), 1966-1971	1 31	Select: Dwan Gallery (Dwan, Virginia), 1966-1971
E-F, Miscellaneous, 1965-1972 Includes letters from Hamish Fulton	1 32	Select: E-F, Miscellaneous, 1965-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Hamish Fulton
Fischer, Candace, 1968-1972	1 33	Select: Fischer, Candace, 1968-1972
Fischer, Konrad, 1968-1971	1 34	Select: Fischer, Konrad, 1968-1971
Flavin, Dan, 1966-1968	1 35	Select: Flavin, Dan, 1966-1968
G, Miscellaneous, 1961-1972	1 36	Select: G, Miscellaneous, 1961-1972
Gemeentemuseum (Develing, Enno), 1968-1971	1 37	Select: Gemeentemuseum (Develing, Enno), 1968-1971
George Braziller, Inc., 1967-1974	1 38	Select: George Braziller, Inc., 1967-1974
Graham, Dan, circa 1960s	1 39	Select: Graham, Dan, circa 1960s
Graham, Dan, 1965-1970	1 40	Select: Graham, Dan, 1965-1970
Guggenheim Museum, 1972-1973	1 41	Select: Guggenheim Museum, 1972-1973
H, Miscellaneous, 1965-1972 Includes letters from Hans Haacke, Tim Head, Doug Huebler, and Sam Hunter	1 42	Select: H, Miscellaneous, 1965-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Hans Haacke, Tim Head, Doug Huebler, and Sam Hunter
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1979-1980	1 43	Select: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1979-1980
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1981	1 44	Select: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1981
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1982	1 45	Select: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1982
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1983	1 46	Select: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1983
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1984	1 47	Select: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (Hobbs, Robert C.), 1984
Hutchinson, Peter, 1965-1969	1 48	Select: Hutchinson, Peter, 1965-1969
I, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Includes letter from Robert Indiana, and letters from Institute of Contemporary Art	1 49	Select: I, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letter from Robert Indiana, and letters from Institute of Contemporary Art
Insley, Will, 1966-1969	1 50	Select: Insley, Will, 1966-1969
J, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972	1 51	Select: J, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972
Johnson, Ray, 1965-1968	1 52	Select: Johnson, Ray, 1965-1968
Junker, Howard, 1967-1972	1 53	Select: Junker, Howard, 1967-1972
K, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Includes letters from Wolf Kahlen, Halasz Karoly, Kasper Konig, Bruce Kurtz, and Joseph Kosuth	2 1	Select: K, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Wolf Kahlen, Halasz Karoly, Kasper Konig, Bruce Kurtz, and Joseph Kosuth
Kepes, Gyorgy, 1968-1972	2 2	Select: Kepes, Gyorgy, 1968-1972
Kurtz, Bruce, 1971-1972	2 3	Select: Kurtz, Bruce, 1971-1972
L, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Includes letters from Lallie Lloyd and Lee Lozano	2 4	Select: L, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Lallie Lloyd and Lee Lozano
Lewitt, Sol, 1966-1970	2 5	Select: Lewitt, Sol, 1966-1970
Lippard, Lucy, 1965-1970	2 6	Select: Lippard, Lucy, 1965-1970
Long, Richard, 1968-1973	2 7	Select: Long, Richard, 1968-1973
M, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Includes letters from Joe Masheck and Robert Morris	2 8	Select: M, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Joe Masheck and Robert Morris
McConathy, Dale, 1966-1967	2 9	Select: McConathy, Dale, 1966-1967
Moderna Museet, 1984	2 10	Select: Moderna Museet, 1984
Museum of Modern Art, 1961-1972	2 11	Select: Museum of Modern Art, 1961-1972
Mussman, Toby, 1967-1972	2 12	Select: Mussman, Toby, 1967-1972
N, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972	2 13	Select: N, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972
N.E. Thing Co., 1968-1969	2 14	Select: N.E. Thing Co., 1968-1969
New York State Council on the Arts (Hunter, Sam), 1968-1969	2 15	Select: New York State Council on the Arts (Hunter, Sam), 1968-1969
Nova Scotia School of Art, 1970-1972	2 16	Select: Nova Scotia School of Art, 1970-1972
O-P, Miscellaneous, 1968-1972 Includes letters from John Perreault and Larry Poons	2 17	Select: O-P, Miscellaneous, 1968-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from John Perreault and Larry Poons
Oldenburg, Claes and Patty, 1967-1972	2 18	Select: Oldenburg, Claes and Patty, 1967-1972
Oppenheim, Dennis, 1968-1969	2 19	Select: Oppenheim, Dennis, 1968-1969
R, Miscellaneous, 1968-1974 Includes letters from Ed Ruscha	2 20	Select: R, Miscellaneous, 1968-1974 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Ed Ruscha
Real Estate Related, 1968-1972	2 21	Select: Real Estate Related, 1968-1972
Real Estate Related, Oversized, 1968-1972	21 2	Select: Real Estate Related, Oversized, 1968-1972
Rhode Island School of Design, 1972	2 22	Select: Rhode Island School of Design, 1972
Robbin, Anthony, circa 1960s	2 23	Select: Robbin, Anthony, circa 1960s
S, Miscellaneous, 1968-1972 Includes letters from Harry Soviak, Petr Stembera, and Marjorie Strider	2 24	Select: S, Miscellaneous, 1968-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Harry Soviak, Petr Stembera, and Marjorie Strider
Sao Paulo Bienal (Kepes, Gyorgy), 1969	2 25	Select: Sao Paulo Bienal (Kepes, Gyorgy), 1969
Sharp, Willoughby, 1967-1970	2 26	Select: Sharp, Willoughby, 1967-1970
Smithson, Robert, 1961-1972	2 27	Select: Smithson, Robert, 1961-1972
Sonsbeek, 1969-1972	2 28	Select: Sonsbeek, 1969-1972
T, Miscellaneous, 1966-1967 Includes letters from Paul Thek	2 29	Select: T, Miscellaneous, 1966-1967 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Paul Thek
Ta' (Berg, H.M.), 1967-1968	2 30	Select: Ta' (Berg, H.M.), 1967-1968
U, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972	2 31	Select: U, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972
University of Utah, 1970-1972	2 32	Select: University of Utah, 1970-1972
V, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Includes letters from Jan van der Marck	2 33	Select: V, Miscellaneous, 1966-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letters from Jan van der Marck
Vollmer, Ruth, 1966-1968	2 34	Select: Vollmer, Ruth, 1966-1968
W, Miscellaneous, 1968-1972 Includes letter from Mac Wells	2 35	Select: W, Miscellaneous, 1968-1972 Scope and Contents note Includes letter from Mac Wells
Walker Art Center, 1968	2 36	Select: Walker Art Center, 1968
Wheeler, Dennis, 1970-1973	2 37	Select: Wheeler, Dennis, 1970-1973
Whitney Museum of American Art, 1967-1972	2 38	Select: Whitney Museum of American Art, 1967-1972
Y, Miscellaneous, circa 1960s	2 39	Select: Y, Miscellaneous, circa 1960s
Yale University, 1966-1968	2 40	Select: Yale University, 1966-1968
Unidentified and Illegible, circa 1960s-1970s	2 41	Select: Unidentified and Illegible, circa 1960s-1970s

2.3: Condolences, 1973

Condolences consists of letters, cards, and notes of sympathy from family and friends addressed to Nancy Holt upon the death of Smithson.

Description	Container
A-C, Miscellaneous, 1973	2 42	Select: A-C, Miscellaneous, 1973
D-H, Miscellaneous, 1973	2 43	Select: D-H, Miscellaneous, 1973
I-M, Miscellaneous, 1973	2 44	Select: I-M, Miscellaneous, 1973
N-R, Miscellaneous, 1973	2 45	Select: N-R, Miscellaneous, 1973
S-Z, Miscellaneous, 1973	2 46	Select: S-Z, Miscellaneous, 1973

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.

Washington D.C. Headquarters and Research Center

New York Office

Affiliated Research Centers

Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt papers, 1905-1987, bulk 1952-1987

Creator

Occupation

Make a Request

Series 2: Correspondence, 1959-1987

1.7 Linear feet

Boxes 1-2, OV 21

2.1: Family, 1959-1987

2.2: General, 1961-1984

2.3: Condolences, 1973

Make a Request

Research Center Hours

Washington D.C. Headquarters and Research Center

New York Office

Affiliated Research Centers

Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt papers, 1905-1987, bulk 1952-1987

Creator

Occupation

Make a Request

Series 2: Correspondence, 1959-1987 1.7 Linear feet Boxes 1-2, OV 21

2.1: Family, 1959-1987

2.2: General, 1961-1984

2.3: Condolences, 1973

Make a Request

Series 2: Correspondence, 1959-1987

1.7 Linear feet

Boxes 1-2, OV 21