The papers were donated in 2001 by Ursula Moore Works and Arnold Rönnebeck, the artists' daughter and son.
Correspondence between Arnold Rönnebeck and Alfred Stieglitz and Marsden Hartley is located at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.
The bulk of the collection was digitized in 2015 and is available on the Archives of American Art's website. Materials which have not been scanned include blank pages, blank versos of photographs, duplicates, and negatives. In some cases, exhibition catalogs and other publications have had their covers, title pages, and relevant pages scanned.
The collection was processed by Trina Yeckley in 2003, and a finding aid prepared by Stephanie Ashley in 2006. All materials were prepared for digitization by Judy Ng in 2014 with funding provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Arnold Rönnebeck and Louise Emerson Ronnebeck papers, 1884-2002. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the
Sculptor Arnold Rönnebeck (1885-1947) was part of the "Stieglitz circle" and settled in Denver where he served as director of the Denver Art Museum from 1926-1931. Rönnebeck married Louise Emerson (1901-1980) in 1926. Emerson was a painter and muralist who worked on New Deal mural commissions in Colorado and Wyoming.
Arnold Rönnebeck was born in Nassau, Germany and was a noted sculptor and lithographer. From 1905 to 1907, Rönnebeck studied architecture at the Royal Art School in Berlin and spent a year studying sculpture in Munich. In 1908, he moved to Paris where he furthered his studies in sculpture under Aristede Maillol and Emile Bourdelle. From 1914 to 1918, Rönnebeck served as an officer in the German Imperial Army during World War I. In 1923, he emigrated to the United States where he became part of the Stieglitz circle.
In 1925, Rönnebeck visited Mabel Dodge Luhan at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico, where he met his future wife, the painter Louise Emerson, born Mary Louise Harrington Emerson in 1901. After their marriage, the Rönnebecks lived in Denver where Arnold Rönnebeck worked as director of the Denver Art Museum and continued to execute commissioned works, including bas reliefs, portrait busts, and sculptures. He died in Denver, Colorado in 1947. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Louise Emerson Ronnebeck continued to receive commissions for frescoes and murals in Colorado and Bermuda and died in Denver, Colorado in 1980.
The papers of sculptor Arnold Rönnebeck and painter Louise Emerson Ronnebeck measure 4.24 linear feet and date from 1884-2002. The collection contains biographical material, family and professional correspondence, sketches and drawings, writings, a scrapbook, and printed material. There are also numerous photographic prints, copy prints, negatives, and 7 glass plate negatives of the Rönnebecks and their artwork, travels, family, and friends, including Charles Demuth, Marsden Hartley, Alfred Stieglitz, and Tony Luhan.
Biographical materials include articles on the Rönnebecks by Betsy Fahlman, curriculum vitae, and documentation on the Emerson family. Correspondence is primarily between Arnold Rönnebeck to Louise, and also includes letters in German to Arnold's sister Irmgard Rönnebeck. Among the professional and personal correspondence from friends and family to both of the Rönnebecks are letters from Kenneth Hayes Miller to Louise Ronnebeck.
Writings include essay drafts, notes, and poetry by the Rönnebecks, including Arnold Rönnebeck's "Paint-As-You-Go Plan." There is a scrapbook of clippings covering Louise Ronnebeck's work. Additional printed material includes Christmas cards, clippings, and exhibition announcements and catalogs of both the Rönnebecks' work. Artwork consists of drawings and sketches by Arnold Rönnebeck.
Photographic materials include photographs of the Rönnebecks and their travels to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, New York, and Europe. The series also contains photos, copy prints, negatives, and 7 glass plate negatives of artist friends, and formal and informal documentation of their works of art and public and private art commissions.
The collection is arranged as 7 series.
Biographical materials include articles on the Rönnebecks by Betsy Fahlman, curriculum vitae, and documentation on the Emerson family, including genealogical information and artwork by Edith Emerson.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Materials are minimally arranged by subject and document type.
Articles on the Rönnebecks, by Betsy Fahlman: 1996-2002
Rönnebeck, Arnold, Curriculum Vitae: circa 1950-1997
Rönnebeck, Arnold, Interview Transcript of
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Certificates and Passport: 1926, 1968
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Curriculum Vitae: circa 1950-1997
Rönnebeck, Irmgard (A. Rönnebeck's sister), Contents of Wallet: 1951-1954
Emerson Cemetery Plot (Pennsylvania): 1946-1972
Oversized materials housed in OV 7.
Emerson Family: 1932-1979
Emerson, Edith, Artwork: circa 1937-1974
Correspondence is primarily from Arnold Rönnebeck to Louise dating from their courtship and from periods when the Rönnebecks were working on out-of-state art commissions. These include illustrated letters and cover topics ranging from updates on family and friends to the progress of current art projects. There are also letters in German to Arnold's sister Irmgard Rönnebeck, letters of condolence to Louise after Arnold's death, and letters from Louise's extended family and children. Among the professional and personal correspondence to both of the Rönnebecks are letters from Kenneth Hayes Miller to Louise Ronnebeck.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient.
Rönnebeck, Arnold: 1909-1947
Rönnebeck, Arnold to Louise Emerson Ronnebeck: 1925-1936
Rönnebeck, Arnold to Louise Emerson Ronnebeck: 1925-1936
Rönnebeck, Arnold to Louise Emerson Ronnebeck: 1925-1936
Oversized material housed in Box 5, Folder 1.
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Condolences, A. Rönnebeck's Death: 1947
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Family: 1926-1950
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Murals: 1940-1951
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Murals (Bermuda) and Sir John Cox: 1951-1998
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Miller, Kenneth Hayes: 1933-1974
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Profeit, [Tanti]: 1942-1946
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, True, Allen Tupper: 1936-1977
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, University of Denver: 1946, 1950
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Yale: 1952-1971
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Miscellaneous: 1933-1974
Rönnebeck, Irmgard (A. Rönnebeck's sister): circa 1921-1947
Rönnebeck, Irmgard (A. Rönnebeck's sister): 1921-1947
Rönnebeck, Irmgard (A. Rönnebeck's sister): 1921-1947
Rönnebeck, Irmgard (A. Rönnebeck's sister): 1921-1947
Writings include essay drafts, notes, and poetry by the Rönnebecks, including Arnold Rönnebeck's "Paint-As-You-Go Plan," an itemized list of 31 points for artists. There is also a transcription of Matthew Arnold's poem, "Giesel's Grave."
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Materials are arranged by subject and document type.
Rönnebeck, Arnold, Drafts and Notes: 1941, 1943
Rönnebeck, Arnold, Poetry: 1941, 1944
Rönnebeck, Arnold, "Paint-As-You-Go" Plan: circa 1920-1936
Oversized material housed in Box 5, Folder 2.
Rönnebeck, Arnold, "The Moon Stinks": 1942
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, Drafts and Notes: 1941-1944
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson, "Geisel's Grave": 1941-1944
The clippings scrapbook provides coverage of Louise Ronnebeck's WPA murals, commissions in Colorado and Bermuda, and various lecture and teaching appearances.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson
Printed material includes articles, Christmas cards designed by Arnold Rönnebeck, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs of both the Rönnebecks' work, postcards collected from their travels, and other miscellaneous material.
Portions of this series have been scanned. In some cases exhibition catalogs and other publications have had their covers, title pages, and relevant pages scanned.
Materials are arranged by document type.
Articles, L. Ronnebeck's
Booklet,
Booklet,
Christmas Cards, Rönnebeck, Arnold (American Artists Group): circa 1929-1936
Christmas Cards, Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson: circa 1940-1960
Clippings, Rönnebeck, Arnold: 1923-1979
Clippings, Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson: 1926-1966
Clippings, Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson in
Clippings, Miscellaneous: 1936-1972
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Rönnebeck, Arnold: circa 1925-1942
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson: circa 1940-1953
Periodical, Bokvännen: 1947-1948
Periodical, Books Abroad: 1948
Postcards, Arizona - Grand Canyon: 1926
Postcards, California - Avalon, La Jolla, Los Angeles and San Diego: circa 1925-1950
Postcards, California - San Francisco, Riverside: circa 1925-1950
Postcards, Colorado: circa 1925-1950
Postcards, New York - Albany, Hudson River, Lake Placid: 1924
Postcards, New York - New York City: 1923-1924
Postcards, New York - New York City (sets): circa 1925-1950
Postcards, Washington, D.C.: 1923-1924
Postcards, Europe and Mexico: circa 1925-1950
Miscellaneous, Rönnebeck, Arnold: 1925-1988
Miscellaneous, Ronnebeck, Louise Emerson: circa 1935-1970
Miscellaneous, Colorado Springs Art Center: circa 1937-1970
Miscellaneous, Demuth, Charles: circa 1925-1950
Miscellaneous, Despiau, Matisse, Rodin: circa 1925-1970
Miscellaneous,
Artwork consists of nude drawings and World War II themed sketches by Arnold Rönnebeck.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Materials are arranged by subject.
Drawings, Nudes (pen and ink): circa 1915-1936
Oversized materials housed in Box 5, Folder 3.
Sketches, World War II Themed: circa 1940-1950
Photographic materials include photos, copy prints, and negatives of the Rönnebecks and their artist friends, including Charles Demuth, Marsden Hartley, Alfred Stieglitz, and Tony Luhan. Travel photographs document vacations to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, New York, and Europe. Photos of Arizona and Colorado include a tour of the Grand Canyon, old mining towns, and mountain skylines. Photos from New Mexico include a trip to a Native American village and views of Tony and Mabel Luhan's residence in Taos. The photos from New York cover trips to Lake George and Lake Placid, as well as numerous photos of iconic New York City buildings, street scenes, aerial views, and the skyline from the Hudson River. Formal and informal documentation of artwork includes 7 glass plate negatives and covers the Rönnebecks' exhibitions, portfolios, and samples of public and private art commissions, including portrait busts of Ananda Coomaraswamy, Charles Lindbergh, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Carl Sandburg.
The bulk of this series has been scanned. Negatives, duplicates, and blank versos of photographs have not been scanned. Glass plate negatives have been digitized.
Materials are organized by subject.
Photographs of Arnold Rönnebeck: 1907-1924
Photographs of Arnold Rönnebeck, World War I: 1914-1917
Photographs of Arnold Rönnebeck, with "Grief" Sculpture: circa 1945-1960
Photographs of Arnold Rönnebeck, with Marsden Hartley Bust: circa 1945-1960
Photographs of Louise Emerson Ronnebeck: circa 1914-1965
Tintypes of Arnold and Louise Emerson Ronnebeck: circa 1930-1947
Negatives of Ursula Rönnebeck and Travels: circa 1920-1955
Photographs and Negatives of Irmgard Rönnebeck (A. Rönnebeck's sister): circa 1928
Oversized material housed in Box 5, Folder 4.
Photographs of the Emerson and Rönnebeck Families: 1884-1929
Photographs and Negatives of Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keeffe in Lake George, New York: 1924
Photographs and Negatives of Charles Demuth: 1914
Includes bust sculpture.
Photographs of Marsden Hartley: 1912
Photographs and Negatives of Marsden Hartley in Colorado: circa 1915-1940
Photographs of Tony Luhan and the Rönnebecks: circa 1928
Photograph of House: circa 1930-1960
Photographs and Negatives, Arizona - Grand Canyon: 1926
Photographs and Negatives, California: circa 1925-1940
Photographs and Negatives, California - Los Angeles: 1926
Photographs and Negatives, California - San Diego: circa 1925-1940
Photographs and Negatives, California - San Diego and Mexico: 1926
Includes photographs of Mexico.
Photographs and Negatives, California - Santa Barbara: 1926
Photographs and Negatives, Colorado: 1929-1930
Photographs and Negatives, Colorado: 1929-1930
Photographs and Negatives, Colorado - Central City: 1930
Photographs and Negatives, Illinois - Chicago: 1930
Photographs, Nebraska - Omaha: 1926
Photographs and Negatives, New Mexico: 1925-1928
Photographs and Negatives, New Mexico - Laguna: 1928
Photographs and Negatives, New Mexico - Santa Fe: 1927
Photographs and Negatives, New Mexico - Taos: 1925
Photographs and Negatives, New Mexico - Taos (Luhan residence)
Photographs and Negatives, New Mexico - Taos (Luhan residence)
Photographs, New Mexico, Pueblo Churches and Altars: circa 1925-1945
Photographs and Negatives, New York - New York City: 1924
Photographs and Negatives, New York - New York City: 1924
Photographs and Negatives, New York - New York City: 1924
Photographs and Negatives, New York - New York City: 1924
Photographs and Negatives, New York - New York City: 1924
Photographs, New York - Lake George: 1924
Photographs and Negatives, New York - Lake Placid and Hudson River: circa 1924
Photographs and Negatives, New York - Hudson River: 1926
Photographs and Negatives, New York and Europe: 1929
Photographs and Negatives, Washington, D.C.: circa 1925-1950
Photographs and Negatives, Europe: 1929
Photograph Album, Germany, Altenhof: circa 1925-1950
Photographs, Mexico: 1925
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Denver Art Museum Exhibition: 1946
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Reliefs: circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed with Box 5, Folder 5.
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Relief, Carl Sandburg: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Reliefs, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center: circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed with Box 5, Folder 5.
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Relief, Denver National Bank: circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed with Box 5, Folder 5.
Photographs and Negatives of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Reliefs, "La Fonda" Harvey House: circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed with Box 5, Folder 5.
Glass Plate Negatives of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Reliefs, "La Fonda" Harvey House
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Relief, Post Office (Longmont, Colorado): 1936
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Relief and Busts, Arnold Jr. and Ursula Rönnebeck: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bas Relief and Busts (Omaha, NE): circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed in Box 5, Folder 6.
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Busts, Men
Oversized material housed with Box 6, Folder 1.
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Busts, Women: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bust, Ananda Coomaraswami: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Bust, Georgia O'Keeffe: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Paintings Inspired by World War II: circa 1945-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Pediment, Denver City Hall: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Posters, Colorado and National Parks: 1941
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Posters, World War II Themed
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Prints: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Reredo, Church of the Holy Redeemer: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Reredos, St. Martin's Chapel: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculptures: circa 1915-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculptures: circa 1915-1955
Oversized materials housed in Box 6, Folder 2.
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculptures: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculpture, A. Rönnebeck: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculpture, Blanche K. Ide Renenllow: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculpture, "Eagle" (Charles Lindbergh): circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculpture, "Grief": circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed in Box 6, Folder 2.
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculpture, Hodge Memorial Cemetery: 1929
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculpture, Homage to Maurice Ravel: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by A. Rönnebeck, Sculpture, "Waste": circa 1915-1940
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, "Paintings and Frescoes" Exhibition: circa 1930-1955
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Frescoes: circa 1930-1955
Photographs and Negatives of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Frescoes in Private Homes: circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed in Box 6, Folder 3.
Glass Plate Negatives of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Frescoes in Private Homes
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Murals, Bermuda: circa 1966
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Murals, Competitions: circa 1966
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Murals, Temperance: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Albany Hotel (Denver): 1948
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Church of the Holy Redeemer: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Cosmopolitan Hotel: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Denver Children's Hospital: circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed in Box 6, Folder 3.
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Denver City Hall: 1936, 1976
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Morey Jr. High: circa 1925-1955
Oversized material housed in Box 6, Folder 3.
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Speer Memorial Hospital: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Post Office (Grand Junction, CO): circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Post Office (Worland WY): circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Murals, USO Service Center: 1942
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Mural, Weld County Hospital: 1952
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Paintings Owned by Estate: circa 1925-1955
Photographs of Artwork by L. Ronnebeck, Paintings with Unknown Ownership: circa 1925-1955