Shirley Jaffe papers, circa 1950-2011

Letters date from circa 1950s-2000s, and include frequent letters sent to Jaffe from her mother Ann Sternstein, her sister Elaine Friedberg, and her brother and sister-in-law Jerome and Trina Sternstein. Also included are letters from Irving Jaffe, and other family and friends.

One folder of professional letters received by Jaffe from galleries and museums provides limited documentation of Jaffe's late career. There is only one folder of three letters written by Jaffe, to unknown recipients.

Of note are letters from artists and writers who were friends and colleagues of Jaffe. There are a substantial number of detailed letters from Amy Goldin, Raphael Rubenstein, George Sugarman, Sylvia Stone and Al Held, and Judith Weschler and scattered letters from Hermine Ford, Joan Mitchell, and Kimber Smith. Many reference the writers' careers, professional and personal relationships, aspirations, and struggles and document Jaffe's friendships and professional involvement with each of them.

Miscellaneous letters are comprised of single letters and those from unidentified senders and are housed with postcards, and holiday and greeting cards, at the end of the series.

Letters are arranged alphabetically by sender. Postcards, holiday and greeting cards, and professional letters are arranged at the end of the series.

The bulk of this series has been digitized. Some letters not digitized include letters from Jaffe's sister Elaine Friedberg, and from other family members which relate to routine family and personal matters unrelated to Jaffe's work and career.