The Bernard Harper Friedman papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2012 by his daughter, Daisy Friedman.
The collection was processed to a minimum level with a finding aid prepared by Catherine S. Gaines in 2013. The Archives of American Art has implemented minimal processing tactics when possible in order to increase information about and access to more of our collections. Minimal processing included arrangement to the series and folder level. Generally, items within folders were simply verified with folder titles, but not arranged further. Folders within boxes were not numbered. The collection was rehoused in archival containers and folders, but not all staples and clips were removed.
Bernard Harper Friedman papers, 1926-2011, bulk 1943-2010. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
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This collection is arranged as 9 series:
The papers of writer, art critic and collector Bernard Harper Friedman, 1926-2011, bulk 1943-2010, measure 30.6 linear feet. Extensive professional and personal correspondence, 41 diaries, a large number of his published and unpublished writings, and subject files document Friedman's career as a writer, relationships with cultural institutions and art world figures, and his personal life. Also included are biographical materials, interviews, 5 scrapbooks, and photographs.
Biographical materials include educational records, documentation of Friedman's World War II service in the U.S. Navy, and birth, marriage, and death certificates.
Correspondence is with friends, family, artists, art world figures and institutions, writers, publishers, and literary agents. Among the correspondents are: John I. H. Baur, Harry Bertoia, Flora Biddle, Norman Bluhm, James Brooks, Fritz Bultman, Leo Castelli, William N. Copley, Jim Dine, Helen Frankenthaler, Brendan Gill, Robert Goodnough, Cleve and Francine Gray, Howard Kanovitz, Grace Knowlton, Stanley Kunitz, Conrad Marca-Relli, Mercedes Matter, Fred W. McDarrah, Rory McEwen, Robert Motherwell, Arnold Newman, Barnett Newman, Dorothy Norman, Alfonso Ossorio, Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, Robert Richenburg, Barney Rosset, Philip Roth, Judith Rothschild, Irving Sandler, Salvatore Scarpitta, Jon Schueler, Sidney Simon, David Slivka, Clyfford Still, Myron Stout, Calvin Tompkins, and David Windham.
There are transcripts of interviews with B. H. Friedman, his daughter and wife conducted by the Yale University School of Medicine's "Adult Development Study," and 2 recordings of interviews with Friedman for radio broadcast.
Writings by Friedman include manuscripts of novels, short stories, plays, articles, monographs, and art criticism, some published versions of his work, and a variety of notes. Also found are recordings of lectures by B. H. Friedman and panel discussions in which he participated. Other authors represented are John Cage, W. B. Henry, and Jon Schueler. Friedman's diaries, 1948-1993 (41 volumes) record activities, thoughts, and events.
Subject files compiled by Friedman reflect professional and personal interests, activities, and projects. Many concern publicity for published writings or efforts to find publishers. Especially well documented is his interest in Jackson Pollock, Timothy Leary, and Alfonso Ossorio, and his affiliation with the Whitney Museum of American Art.
The majority of printed material is about or mentions Friedman. Five scrapbooks consist mainly of printed material.
Most photographs are of B. H. and Abby Friedman, their family, and friends. Among the individuals pictured are: Elise Asher, Cary and Norman Bluhm, Sandy Friedman, Joellen Hall, Doug Huebler, Howard Kanowitz, Stanley Kunitz, Lee Krasner, Sheridan Lloyd, Barnett and Annalee Newman, Alfonso Ossorio, Magda Salvesen, Salvatore Scarpitta, John Schueler, and Myron Stout. A photograph album records scenes from a 1979 performance of
Bernard Harper Friedman (1926-2011), a writer best known as the author of the first biography of Jackson Pollock, was also an art critic and art collector involved in the cultural life of New York City.
Bernard Harper Friedman, known professionally as B. H. Friedman, was called Bob by family and friends. After interrupting his studies at Cornell University to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he graduated in 1948 with a degree in English. Friedman and his new bride, fellow student Abby G. Noselson (1926-2003), returned home to New York City and he began a real estate career in his uncles' firm, Uris Buildings Corporation. While a businessman, Friedman spent much of his spare time writing. He produced fiction, plays, and criticism; Friedman's articles on art, literature and music appeared in a wide variety of periodicals. During this period, Friedman also pursued his interests in jazz, collecting abstract art, and psychedelic drug experiences with Timothy Leary.
His first published novel,
A founding member of Fiction Collective, a nonprofit publishing group run by and for writers, Friedman was also a member of several national writers' organizations. He served as a trustee of the Whitney Musuem of American Art, 1961-1968, and then as honorary trustee. B. H. Friedman died from complications of pneumonia on January 4, 2011 in New York City.
Also available is an oral history interview with Bernard Harper Friedman, 1972 November 10, conducted by Paul Cummings for the Archives of American Art.
Certificates record the 1926 births of Bernard Harper Friedman and Abby G. Noselson, their marriage in 1948 (with guest list), and his death in 2011. Educational records are from Cornell University. The self portraits are two small caricatures drawn in ink, one is a photocopy.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by title.
Friedman's correspondence is both professional and personal in nature, occasionally combining both spheres. Many letters are addressed to Bob (as Friedman was known to family and friends). Some are addressed to the couple and a few are to Abby.
This series is alphabetized by correspondent. Filing is inconsistent - some letters may be found under the correspondent's name while other portions of the exchanged are filed by business name. Folders for individual correspondents contain five or more letters. Correspondence with individuals or organizations represented by fewer than five letters is grouped alphabetically in folders titled "miscellaneous." Additional correspondence is found among the subject files (Series 6).
Flora Biddle also corresponded with Friedman when she was named Flora Miller and Flora Irving.
Flora Irving also corresponded with Friedman when she was named Flora Biddle and Flora Miller.
photocopies
Flora Miller also corresponded with Friedman when she was named Flora Biddle and Flora Irving.
mostly Lee Krasner
Joellen Hall was once Mrs. Jon Schueler; additional correspondence with her is found in the Schueler file.
Transcripts of interviews conducted by C. Darrow with B. H. Friedman, his daughter and wife for the Yale University School of Medicine "Adult Development Study" are photocopies. Accompanying the interviews is a preliminary version of "Time of Transition: The Male in the Mid-Life Decade," an article by Maggie Scarf for the June 1972 issue of
Writings by B. H. Friedman include novels, plays, short stories, poems, articles, monographs, and criticism. Over time, many pieces were reworked. Sometimes titles changed or were reused; occasionally, prose became a play or short stories were greatly expanded. Among the published versions of Friedman's writings are two books and some short stories with no corresponding manuscript material. This series also includes video and sound recordings of lectures by Friedman and panel discussions in which he participated. Writings by other authors include the text of a lecture presented by John Cage at Cal Tech.
Friedman's writings are arranged in three categories - manuscripts and drafts, published versions, lectures and panel discussions - and within each group are alphabetized by title. Writings by others are arranged alphabetically by author. Subject files (Series 6) contain additional writings by Friedman and others.
Written with Flora Biddle
Music and lyrics by Michael Mooney from Friedman's book of the same title, based on
In addition to recording personal and professional activities, Friedman's diaries (41 volumes) contain observations, overheard comments, and ideas probably intended for use in his writings. Typescript excerpts of varying lengths are from volumes 1-8 and 18-27.
Diaries are arranged chronologically; typescripts of excerpts follow.
Subject files document Friedman's personal and professional interests, projects, and relationships. They contain correspondence, printed material, writings, and photogaphs in varying combinations; some items are photocopies. A small number of subject files contain video and sound recordings, as noted in the container list.
Most printed material is about or mentions B. H. Friedman and includes reviews and publicity for his published writings. Oversized items are posters announcing a symposium moderated by Friedman at Provincetown Art Association and Museum, and the Summer Solstice Theatre Conference's 1987 performance schedule that includes
Additional printed material is found among correspondence (series 2), writings (series 4) subject files (series 6), and within the scrapbooks (series 8).
Scrapbooks contain printed material - reviews, programs, invitaitons, announcements, calendars of events, press releases, etc. - publicizing Friedman's published writings and some of his activities. Some clippings are photocopies. Volume 5 includes a book proposal and photographs.
Most photographs are of B. H. and Abby Friedman, friends, and family. Identified individuals include: Cary and Norman Bluhm, Sandy Friedman, Joellen Hall, Doug Heubler, Howard Kanovitz, Stanley Kunitz, Lee Krasner, Sheridan Lloyd, Annalee and Barnett Newman, Alfonso Ossorio, Magda Salversen, Salvatore Scarpitta, Jon Schueler, and Myron Stout. The Friedmans also appear in some group pictures with friends. Among the images of artwork are photographs of Jim Dine's 1979 portrait of B. H. Friedman and a color transparency of a MirĂ³ painting in the Friedman Collection. Miscellaneous subjects are a stack of books that includes
Photographs are grouped by subject - people, artwork, and miscellaneous subjects. Additional photographs are found as attachments to correspondence (series 1), among the subject files (series 6), and as illustrations for writings (series 4).