The collection is arranged as 9 series.
The Washington, D.C. arts and educational organization, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), was founded by poet Robert Richman in 1947 to bring arts and culture to the nation's capital. The school, originally named the King-Smith School of Creative Arts, was redesigned and renamed Institute of Contemporary Arts by Richman in 1948. The school's philosophy was based on Sir Herbert Read's
The school closed in August 1951, but the ICA continued to provide an impressive roster of programs and performances held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and other D.C. institutions, such as exhibitions by Naum Gabo, Bernard Leach, Isamu Noguchi, and Hans Richter; readings by W.H. Auden, T.S. Eliot, Katherine Anne Porter, and Dylan Thomas; lectures by Charles Eames, Aldous Huxley, Octavio Paz, and Frank Lloyd Wright; and performances by Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, José Limón Dance Company, and Ravi Shankar. The organization also sponsored visiting professorships for international artists and writers, such as Nadine Gordimer, and hosted an annual Congress of Artists and Writers from 1959-1964.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the ICA was successful in securing some large grants to continue and expand its programming and to secure permanent space at the Meridian House Foundation. However, by the late 1960s the organization's programming declined.
ICA founder Robert Richman was a poet and literary editor at
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The Institute of Contemporary Arts records were donated by Maida Richman, the wife of the ICA's founder, Robert Richman, in 1986.
Institute of Contemporary Arts records, 1927-circa 1985, bulk 1947-1967. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The records of the Washington, D.C. arts and educational organization, Institute of Contemporary Arts, measure 36 linear feet and date from 1927-circa 1985, with the bulk of the material spanning the organization's active years, 1947-1967. The collection documents the arts and cultural programming organized by the ICA through correspondence, artists' files, program and exhibition files, administrative and financial records, printed materials and photographs. Also found are administrative, student, and teacher records of the ICA school; records of the Fine Arts Committee of the People-to-People Project; and some personal papers of the ICA's founder, Robert Richman.
Robert Richman's professional and personal relationships with numerous artists and writers which the ICA hosted in D.C. are documented in Correspondence and Artists' Files. Correspondence files include letters from Joseph and Anni Albers, Alfred Barr, e.e. cummings, Alexander Giampietro, Naum Gabo, Walter Gropius, Erick Hawkins, Duncan Phillips, Hans Richter, Kay Sage and Yves Tanguy, and William Carlos Williams. Also found is correspondence with benefactors, board members, and arts organizations regarding exhibitions and administrative details; and with teachers and the Veteran's Administration regarding school issues.
Artists' Files contains mostly incoming and outgoing correspondence, but also found are biographies, exhibition printed materials, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings and scattered portrait photographs. Of interest are files on Aaron Copland, e.e. cummings, T.S. Eliot, Wojciech Fangor, Nadine Gordimer, Robert Graves, Aldous Huxley, Janheinz Jahn, Kathleen Raine, and Sir Herbert Read.
In addition to Correspondence and Artists' Files, materials regarding ICA's programming, such as correspondence with artists and galleries, press releases, shipping records, financial records, printed materials, photographs, inventory and price lists, are found in ICA Program Files.
The ICA and Robert Richman collaborated with numerous arts and international exchange organizations to organize exhibitions, performances, symposium, and to host visiting artists. Materials regarding such collaborations are found in Organizations and includes correspondence, scattered financial records, notes, and printed materials such as bulletins, brochures, schedules, reports, and press releases. This series also includes substantial material related to the Fine Arts Committee of the People-to-People Program, an international exchange initiative of President Dwight D. Eisenhower begun in 1956.
The school's records include correspondence, notebooks (attendance books), teacher files documenting classes and grades, extensive student files and student enrollment cards, mailing lists, class cards, and notes for classes taught by Robert Richman.
Administrative and Financial Files include accounting and banking records, budgets, founding documents, fundraising records, grants records, mailing lists, membership lists, and Meridian House Foundation records.
ICA's programs are also documented by comprehensive printed materials arranged by ICA seasons, 1947-1967. Printed materials include program calendars, exhibition announcements, invitations, membership forms, and press releases. Also found are newspaper clippings and three oversized clippings scrapbooks.
Photographs include black and white photographs and negatives of people, most of whom are unidentified. Robert Richman's personal papers includes personal correspondence, correspondence related to "New Republic," handwritten and typed writings, some bills, and his curriculum vitae.
Unrepresented in this collection are records of ICA's ICONART Collection (Contemporary Arts Archives), an archive of films and tapes of artists' performances, lectures and events held by ICA.
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Haug in 2012-2013, with funding provided by the Smithsonian Institution Collections Care Preservation Fund.
The Archives of American Art has implemented minimal processing tactics when possible in order to increase access to more of our collections. Minimal processing included arrangement to the series and folder levels. Generally, items within folders were simply verified with folder titles and dates, but not arranged further. Folder titles were transcribed from original folder headings. The collection was rehoused in archival containers and folders. Staples and other fasteners were not removed, but correspondence was removed from envelopes and filed behind the envelope. Materials were removed from binders or damaged binding when necessary.
This series is arranged as 2 subseries.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by correspondent's name.
The incoming and outgoing correspondence is a mix of professional and personal in nature, the bulk of which dates from 1945-1965. Correspondence is often regarding organizing exhibitions and arranging visits to D.C., the school, administrative affairs, Richman's poetry, and his work at "New Republic." Correspondents are mostly artists, writers, friends, colleagues, collaborating organizations, benefactors, dignitaries and others. Of interest is correspondence with Alexander Giampietro, Naum Gabo, Erick Hawkins, Duncan Phillips, and Hans Richter.
Folders are arranged chronologically.
Found is incoming and outgoing correspondence related to the school and ICA's programming, including correspondence with teachers, the Veteran's Administration, board members, and artists regarding arrangements for exhibitions and guest lectures. Of interest is limited correspondence from Joseph and Anni Albers, Alfred Barr, e.e. cummings, Walter Gropius, Kay Sage and Yves Tanguy, and William Carlos Williams. Draft letters, notes, meeting notes, contracts and financial records are scattered throughout. The bulk of the correspondence dates from 1948-1955.
Artists' Files contains mostly incoming and outgoing correspondence with artists, authors, poets, musicians, composers, choreographers, and others, regarding arrangements of ICA-sponsored performances, lectures, and visiting professorships. Also found are biographies, exhibition printed materials, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings and scattered portrait photographs. Of interest are files on Nadia Boulanger, Aaron Copeland, e.e. cummings, T.S. Eliot, and Aldous Huxley, as well as lecture tour files for Wojciech Fangor, Nadine Gordimer, Robert Graves, Janheinz Jahn, Kathleen Raine, and Sir Herbert Read. The bulk of the materials date from 1943-mid-1960s.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by artist's last name.
Fangor, Wojciech, Lecture Tour
Program Files contain materials regarding the organization of exhibitions, performances, symposiums, and other programs organized by ICA, including the annual Congress of Artists and Writers, and University Consortium. Materials include correspondence with artists and galleries, press releases, shipping records, financial records, printed materials, photographs, inventory and price lists. There is extensive material regarding Bernard Leach's traveling exhibition and publication "A Potter's Portfolio."
Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Hepworth, Barbara, Exhibition
Hepworth, Barbara, Exhibition
Index cards housed in shoebox in Box 27
Index cards from Box 10, Folder 36 in shoebox
Index cards from Box 10, Folder 36 in shoebox
This series is arranged as 2 subseries.
Found are files related to various governmental and non-profit organizations, predominately arts or international exchange organizations based in Washington, D.C., with which ICA or Richman collaborated. Materials include mostly printed materials such as bulletins, brochures, schedules, reports, and press releases. Also found is correspondence, notes, and scattered financial records.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by organization name.
The People-to-People Program was an international exchange initiative of President Dwight D. Eisenhower begun in 1956. The program had numerous committees for a variety of initiatives; Richard Richman was on the Executive Committee of Fine Arts Committee (FAC) and was elected president circa 1963. These files, which appear to be those of FAC Executive Director Eleanor Mitchell, were probably given to Richman at that time. Materials include incoming and outgoing correspondence, exhibition files, printed materials and other documents related to FAC's work organizing exhibitions and exchanges from 1956-1963. Also found are printed materials and correspondence regarding other People-to-People committees.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Oversized material housed in OV 39
Oversized material from Box 18, Folder 23
Found are records of the day and night school including correspondence, class notebooks (attendance books), teacher files recording classes and grades, extensive student files and student enrollment cards, mailing lists, class cards, and notes for classes taught by Robert Richman.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Index cards housed in 2 shoeboxes in Box 27
Index cards housed in shoebox in Box 27
Index cards from Box 21, Folder 6 in 2 shoeboxes
Index cards from Box 21, Folder 17 in shoebox
This series includes budgets and proposals; financial records such as accounting ledgers, banking records, bills, cashbooks, statements of operation, and tax records; founding documents; fundraising correspondence and records; records of grants received and grant proposals; mailing lists; membership lists; and Meridian House Foundation records. Also found are three folders originally titled "Robert Richman's Desktop;" however, based on the dates of the materials, it is likely that the material is not exclusively from his desktop.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Berckemeyer Dinners, "Facade" - Sir Osbert and Dame Edith Sitwell
Oversized material housed in Box 38, Folder 1
Oversized material housed in Box 38, Folder 2
Includes financials regarding José Limón performance
Oversized material from Box 29, Folder 28
Oversized material from Box 29, Folder 29
Found are comprehensive printed materials from 1947-1967 for ICA's programs, including program calendars, exhibition announcements, invitations, membership forms, and press releases. Also found are newspaper clippings regarding performance and exhibition reviews, arts funding, the current state of the arts, and articles related to artists; and three oversized clippings scrapbooks. There is scattered printed material from other organizations, indicated as such on folder titles.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Oversized material housed in Box 38, Folder 3
Oversized material housed in Box 38, Folder 3
Oversized material housed in Box 38, Folders 4-6
Oversized material from Box 34, Folder 19
Oversized material from Box 35, Folder 12
Oversized material from Box 35, Folder 26
Oversized material from Box 35, Folder 26
Oversized material from Box 35, Folder 26
This series includes black and white photographs and negatives of people, most of whom are unidentified. People identified include e.e. cummings, Aldous Huxley, Sir Herbert Read, Maida Richman, Robert Richman, and Frank Lloyd Wright. The photographs dated circa 1985 are reprints of negatives requested by AAA staff.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Robert Richman's personal papers includes personal correspondence, correspondence related to "New Republic," handwritten and typed writings, some bills, and his curriculum vitae.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.