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The Curatorial Office Records of the Prints and Drawings Department, 1952-1996

 Collection
Identifier:  CAI ARC 2007.44

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the records of the Prints and Drawings Department from 1952-1996. These records were primarily created by William Ittman, curator from 1967-1971; and Rafael Fernandez, curator from 1975-1994. The bulk of the material was created by Rafael Fernandez.

In the periods between the tenures of curators, other museum staff handled Prints and Drawings operations. Consequently, the collection contains files from the former directors Peter Guille, George Heard Hamilton, and assistant director John H. Brooks; and from curatorial assistants Thomas W. Fels and Kristen M. Collins. Documents created by George Heard Hamilton are interleaved with the files of William Ittman and Rafael Fernandez and do not have their own series.

The collection consists of correspondence about acquisitions, loans, and reproductions; research for catalogues and exhibits; a group of files from Egbert Haverkamp-Begemann’s 1964 publication of Drawings from the Clark Art Institute; inventories of the collection; subject files; administrative records, including bills and departmental reports; and educational material related to Williams College or symposia held at the museum.

Please see Scope and Content notes entry under each series for more detailed descriptions.

Dates

  • 1962 - 1996

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research, with some restrictions. Loan forms are permanently closed. Financial records may also be restricted.

Extent

5.25 Linear Feet (7 Boxes) ; 3 Full Hollinger boxes (15.25"x 5" x 10.25") and 4 Paige boxes (filed legal)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection is comprised of the records of the Prints and Drawings Department at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Creators include Peter Guille, William M. Ittman, John H. Brooks, Rafael Fernandez, Thomas Fels, and Kristen M. Collins.

Arrangement

The collection is aranged into four series: • Series I contains the records of Peter Guille, arranged alphabetically • Series II contains the records of William M. Ittman, arranged alphabetically • Series III consists of corresponendence to and from John H. Brooks, aranged alphabetically • Series IV contains the records of Rafael Fernandez, arranged into subseries by record group • Series V contains records created by Thomas Fels and Kristen Collins, in original order.

Custodial History

The majority of these records were accessioned from the Print Room vault and the office of the Curator of Prints and Drawings in October 2007. Some of the Ittman files were accessioned from Storage A in August 2007.

Separated Materials

Some of the material found in Storage A with the Ittman files was moved to the Records of the Curator of Paintings CAI ARC 2007.23. An inventory notebook belonging to Sterling Clark was moved to the RSC personal series CAI ARC 2006.01.03.

Processing Information

The archives team processed these records in October 2007. Staples were removed, items were placed in acid-free folders and boxes, and the files were arranged chronologically.

In August of 2022, Colin Torre revised the collection.

In September of 2022, Mario Cesareo continued revision of the collection. William J. Collins' records were removed and placed in CAI ARC 2007.19 Papers of William J. Collins. Records in the collection were reorganized into series and subseries, and files were renumbered to relect the new arrangement.

Title
A Guide to the Curatorial Office Records of the Prints and Drawings Department, 1952-1996
Status
Under Revision
Author
Finding aid prepared by Dani Ryan. Revised by Colin Torre and Mario Cesareo in August-September, 2022.
Date
March 31, 2009
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Archives Repository