Archives of American Art
Judith Wilson papers
Wilson, Judith, 1952-
AAA.wilsjudi
Archival Resource Key
11.2 Linear feet
27.94 Gigabytes
1966-2010
The papers of African American art historian Judith Wilson measure 11.2 linear feet and 27.94 GB and date from 1966 to 2010. Wilson's career is documented through correspondence with friends, colleagues, artists, universities, and art organizations; notebooks; files on writing projects, conferences, lectures, symposia and other professional activities; and a small amount of printed material. Also found is research material on artist Bob Thompson, including photographs, printed material, correspondence, notebooks and a documentary video recording. Additionally, the collection includes 124 cassette tapes of sound recordings of interviews of artists and art collectors, panel discussions and Wilson's lectures, and six video recordings. Some of the materials are in digital format.
Collection is in English.
Biographical / Historical
Judith Wilson (1952- ) is an African American art historian in San Francisco, California. Wilson began her career as an editor for Ms. Magazine in 1975. In 1979 she wrote a profile of Alma Thomas for that magazine, after which she began writing regularly about visual art and cultural politics, reviewing exhibitions, writing feature articles, and serving as guest editor for several publications. Her research interests included African American art and black visual culture. She received her Ph.D. in art history from Yale University with a dissertation on the artist Bob Thompson. Her teaching career included full-time positions in art history at University of Virginia, Yale, and the University of California, Irvine, as well as part-time and visiting professorships at several other schools. In 2006 she retired from the University of California, Irvine after eight years. During her career Wilson served on editorial and advisory boards for art publications and wrote many catalog essays, contributed to anthologies, and presented numerous conference papers, many of which were later published.
Preferred Citation
Judith Wilson papers, 1966-2010. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated in 2012 by Judith Wilson-Pates.
Conditions Governing Use
"Bob Thompson Happening" (1965) video: Authorization to publish, quote or reproduce requires written permission from Joanne Elkin. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Terms of Use
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 Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Office. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
Scope and Contents
The papers of art historian Judith Wilson measure 11.2 linear feet and 27.94 GB and date from 1966 to 2010. Wilson's career is documented through correspondence with friends, colleagues, artists, universities, and art organizations; notebooks; files on writing projects, conferences, lectures, symposia and other professional activities; and a small amount of printed material. Also found is research material on artist Bob Thompson, including photographs, printed material, correspondence, notebooks, and a documentary video recording. Additionally, the collection includes 124 cassette tapes of sound recordings of interviews of artists and art collectors, panel discussions and Wilson's lectures, and six video recordings. Numerous interview recordings are related to Wilson's dissertation on the artist Bob Thompson. Some of the materials are in digital format.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 9 series.
Missing Title
- Series 1: Correspondence, 1975-2009 (1.3 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)
- Series 2: Notebooks, 1977-2008 (1.7 linear feet; Boxes 2-3)
- Series 3: Writing Projects, 1972-2010 (1.7 linear feet; Boxes 4-5)
- Series 4: Conferences, Lectures, and Symposia, 1978-2009 (2.0 linear feet; Boxes 5-7, 17.11 GB; ER01-ER05)
- Series 5: Professional Records, 1979-2009 (1.0 linear foot; Boxes 7-9)
- Series 6: Research Material on Bob Thompson, 1966-2006 (1.8 linear feet; Boxes 8-10, 1.70 GB; ER06-ER07)
- Series 7: Printed Material, 1981-2010 (0.5 linear feet; Box 10)
- Series 8: Interviews, 1978-2008 (1.0 linear foot; Boxes 11-12, 0.697 GB; ER08-ER09)
- Series 9: Video Recordings, 1979-2007 (4 folders; Box 12, 8.42 GB; ER10-ER15)
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Erin Kinhart in 2014. The collection has been minimally rearranged and retains the existing/original folder titles when possible. All materials have been rehoused in archival folders and boxes for long-term stability, but often staples and other fasteners have not been removed. Materials within folders have not been rearranged. Born-digital materials were processed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2019 with funding provided by Smithsonian Collection Care and Preservation Fund. Additional finding aid description of the sound recordings was completed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2023.
Interviews
Video recordings
Sound recordings
Photographs
Art historians -- California -- San Francisco
African American artists
Women art historians
African American educators
Thompson, Bob, 1937-1966
Correspondence
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1.3 Linear feet
Boxes 1-2
1975-2009
Scope and Contents
Found here is Wilson's correspondence with colleagues, scholars, artists, arts organizations, and universities. A small amount of personal correspondence with friends is also included. Of note is extensive correspondence with artists Houston Conwill, Judy Chicago, Ana Mendieta, Howardena Pindell, Adrian Piper, and Raymond Saunders; as well as art historians Kellie Jones, Theresa Leininger-Miller, Lucy Lippard, Eunice Lipton, Kymberly Pinder, Richard Powell, and Moira Roth.
Arrangement
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically. Additional files of student correspondence and letters of recommendations are arranged at the end of the series.
A
Archival Resource Key
1982-1997
1
1
B
Archival Resource Key
1979-2004
1
2
Wesley R. Cochran
Archival Resource Key
1990
1
3
Houston Conwill
Archival Resource Key
1981-1985
1
4
C
Archival Resource Key
1981-2003
1
5
D
Archival Resource Key
1981-1995
1975
1
6
E-F
Archival Resource Key
1986-1997
1
7
Shifra M. Goldman
Archival Resource Key
1988-1996
1
8
G
Archival Resource Key
1989-1996
1
9
Jennifer Harper
Archival Resource Key
1993-2002
1
10
Cynthia Hawkins
Archival Resource Key
1981-1985
1
11
Bill Hutson
Archival Resource Key
1979
1
12
H
Archival Resource Key
1981-2001
1
13
Institute of International Visual Arts
Archival Resource Key
1996-2006
1
14
Kellie Jones
Archival Resource Key
circa 1987-1994
1
15
Steven Jones
Archival Resource Key
1986-1999
1
16
I-J
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994-1999
1
17
K
Archival Resource Key
1983-1995
1
18
Theresa Leininger-Miller
Archival Resource Key
1989-2002
1
19-20
Lucy Lippard
Archival Resource Key
1988-1990
1
21
Eunice Lipton
Archival Resource Key
circa 1988-1994
1
22
L
Archival Resource Key
1988-1996
1
23
Chuck Martin
Archival Resource Key
1982-1995
1
24
Ana Mendieta
Archival Resource Key
1980-1983
1
25
M
Archival Resource Key
2002
1979-1998
1
26
N-O
Archival Resource Key
1980-1998
1
27
James T. Parker
Archival Resource Key
1998
1990-1994
1
28-32
Howardena Pindell
Archival Resource Key
1980-1990
1
33
Howardena Pindell
Howardena Pindell
Archival Resource Key
1983-1996
1
34
Howardena Pindell
Kymberly Pinder
Archival Resource Key
1991-1994
1
35
Adrian Piper
Archival Resource Key
1987-1990
1
36
Rick Powell
Archival Resource Key
1980-1996
1
37-39
P
Archival Resource Key
1981-1995
1
40
Moira Roth
Archival Resource Key
1988-1998
1
41
R
Archival Resource Key
1986-1995
1
42
Raymond Saunders
Archival Resource Key
circa 1975-1985
1
43
S
Archival Resource Key
1982-1995
2002
1
44
T
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
1
45
U-V
Archival Resource Key
1994-1997
1985
1
46
Alice Walker
Archival Resource Key
1978-1981
1
47
Alice Walker
W
Archival Resource Key
1985-2001
2
1
Unidentified
Archival Resource Key
1978-2009
2
2
Correspondence with Students
Archival Resource Key
1986-2003
2
3-5
Letters of Recommendation
Archival Resource Key
1989-2004
2
6-8
Notebooks
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1.7 Linear feet
Boxes 2-3
1977-2008
Scope and Contents
Wilson's notebooks include notes from interviews with artists and collectors, studio visits, exhibitions, conferences, and other activities. They also document project ideas and research sources. Researchers should note that notebooks regarding research on Bob Thompson are included in Series 6.
Arrangement
Notebooks are arranged in rough chronological order.
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1977-1980
2
9-14
Notepads
Archival Resource Key
1980-1981
2
15
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1981-1982
2
16-18
Notebook, "Unbound Notes"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1982-1983
2
19
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1983-1984
2
20-21
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1985-1987
2
22-24
Notebook, "Projects"
Archival Resource Key
1986-1995
3
1
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1987-1989
3
2-4
Notebook, "Art Journal"
Archival Resource Key
1989-2003
3
5
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
1997
3
6
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1991-1993
3
7-11
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1994-1996
3
12-13
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
1996-2001
3
14
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
1997-2003
3
15
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
circa 1998
3
16
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1999-2008
3
17-19
Writing Projects
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1.7 Linear feet
Boxes 4-5
1972-2010
Scope and Contents
Found here are Judith Wilson's files regarding her writing projects, including magazine and journal articles, book projects, exhibition catalog essays, and guest editorships. Some files contain documentation for writings that were never published. Documents may include project correspondence, draft writings, planning documents and agreements, research material, and publications. Not all files contain drafts or final published versions of the writings. Writing projects of note include articles on Alma Thomas, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and Adrian Piper, as well as catalog essays on Hale Woodruff, Alison Saar, and Sargent Johnson. Interviews conducted for writing projects are included in Series 8: Interviews.
Arrangement
Folders are grouped by type of project and further arranged in rough chronological order.
Article, "Alma Thomas: A One-Woman Art Movement," Ms. Magazine, Notes and Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1978
1972
4
1
Article, "Alma Thomas: A One-Woman Art Movement," Ms. Magazine, Notes and Clippings
Article, "Alma Thomas: A One-Woman Art Movement," Ms. Magazine, Notebook
Archival Resource Key
circa 1978
4
2
Article, "Alma Thomas: A One-Woman Art Movement," Ms. Magazine, Notebook
Article, "Alma Thomas: A One-Woman Art Movement," Ms. Magazine, Quotes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1978
4
3
Article, "Alma Thomas: A One-Woman Art Movement," Ms. Magazine, Quotes
Article, "Buying Art: The Big Picture," Essence
Archival Resource Key
circa 1979
4
4
Article (Unwritten) on Black Art for Essence
Archival Resource Key
circa 1978-1979
4
5
Article (Unwritten) on Black Art for Essence
Article (Unwritten) on Black Women Artists for Essence
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980
4
6-7
Article, "Three Women Artists," Essence
Archival Resource Key
circa 1986
4
8
Article Proposal (Unpublished) on Black Bohemianism for Village Voice
Archival Resource Key
circa 1986
4
9
Article Proposal (Unpublished) on Black Bohemianism for Village Voice
Article (Unpublished) on Alison Saar for Village Voice
Archival Resource Key
1986
4
10
Article, "Romare Bearden," Modern Black Men Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1986
4
11
Article, "Lifting 'The Veil': Henry O. Tanner's The Banjo Lesson and The Thankful Poor," Contributions in Black Studies
Archival Resource Key
1996-1997
1986-1993
4
12-13
Articles, Black Arts Annual
Archival Resource Key
1987-1997
4
14-15
Article, "Adrian Piper," Third Text
Archival Resource Key
1988-1991
4
16-17
Article (Unpublished), "Movement and Light: The Futurist Dance Manifesto," Rutgers Art Review
Archival Resource Key
1989-1990
4
18
Article Reprint, "Down to the Crossroads: The Art of Alison Saar," Callaloo
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
4
19
Article for Black Women Film and Video Artists
Archival Resource Key
1996-2000
4
20
Article for Grolier Incorporated
Archival Resource Key
1998
4
21
Book Project (Unpublished), "Black Visual Studies"
Archival Resource Key
1994-1995
4
22
Book Project (Unrealized), "Undercurrents & Overviews"
Archival Resource Key
1981
4
23
Book Project (Unrealized), "Undercurrents & Overviews"
Catalog Essay, "Lorraine O'Grady: Critical Interventions"
Archival Resource Key
1984-1992
4
24-26
Catalog Essay (Unrealized), "Mojo Working"
Archival Resource Key
1985-1987
4
27
Catalog Essay (Unrealized), "Mojo Working"
Catalog Essay, "Autobiography: In Her Own Image"
Archival Resource Key
1987-1989
4
28
Catalog Essay, "Lines of Vision: Drawings by Contemporary Women"
Archival Resource Key
1987-1990
4
29
Catalog Essay, "Hale Woodruff"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1988-1994
4
30-33
Scope and Contents
Includes 1 sound cassette of interview with Mrs. Sadella T. Williams by Steven L. Jones
Catalog Essay, "Down to the Crossroads: The Art of Alison Saar"
Archival Resource Key
1989-1991
4
34-35
Scope and Contents
Includes 2 sound cassettes and transcript of Alison Saar interview by Judith Wilson
Catalog Essay, "The Rage of Children"
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
5
1
Catalog Essay, "Disputed Identities"
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
5
2
Catalog Essay, "This is My Body: This is My Blood"
Archival Resource Key
1992
5
3
Catalog Essay, "Sargent Johnson and Modernism"
Archival Resource Key
1996-1997
5
4
Catalog Essay, "Alma Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1996-2000
5
5-8
Catalog Essay, New Jersey State Museum African-American Fine Arts Collection
Archival Resource Key
1997
5
9
Catalog Essay, "Sargent Johnson: Afro-California Modernist"
Archival Resource Key
1997-1998
5
10-12
Catalog Essay, "Recollected: Selections From the Studio Museum in Harlem"
Archival Resource Key
2010
5
13
Collection of Essays (Unpublished), "Optical Illusions: Race, Gender, Culture, & the Visual Arts"
Archival Resource Key
1990-1998
5
14
Essay, "Beauty Rites" for African American women Artists: A Visual and Critical Reference
Archival Resource Key
1993-2000
5
15
Essay for Modern Art in the USA: Issues and Controversies of the 20th Century
Archival Resource Key
1999-2000
5
16
Guest Editor, "Cashing in on Fine Art," Black Enterprise
Archival Resource Key
1979-1980
5
17-19
Proposal, "The Visual Arts of Black America: An Encyclopedia"
Archival Resource Key
1988-1989
5
20
Seminar Paper, "Movement and Light: The Futurist Dance Manifesto"
Archival Resource Key
1982
1989
5
21-22
Statement for International Review of African American Art
Archival Resource Key
1998
5
23
Conferences, Lectures, and Symposia
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
2 Linear feet
Boxes 5-7
17.11 Gigabytes
ER01-ER05
1978-2009
Scope and Contents
Found here is Wilson's documentation on her participation in conferences, lectures, and symposia. Files may include correspondence, planning and travel documents, panelist biographies, programs and event publications, drafts of Wilson's lectures, and slide lists. Several files also include cassette tapes of sound recordings of events, as well as digital records containing planning documents and draft lectures.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged in rough chronological order.
"May 24 Dialogue", National Arts Consortium in New York
Archival Resource Key
1978 May 24
Includes 1 sound cassette.
5
24-25
"May 24 Dialogue", National Arts Consortium in New York
"A Symposium: African American Art," Everson Museum of Art
Archival Resource Key
1981
5
26
"Exploring the Unknown: Black Women Artists," Women's Caucus for Art Conference
Archival Resource Key
1981-1982
Includes 3 sound cassettes.
5
27-28
"Exploring the Unknown: Black Women Artists," Women's Caucus for Art Conference
Lecture, Miami Dade Community College
Archival Resource Key
1982-1985
5
29
Lecture by Allan Kaprow
Archival Resource Key
1984 November 30
Includes 1 sound cassette.
5
30
Lecture by Allan Kaprow
Panel discussion "Kind of Blue" at the Northeastern University
Archival Resource Key
1986
Includes 2 sound cassettes.
5
31
Panel discussion "Kind of Blue" at the Northeastern University
"Writing About the Black Artist," Hatch-Billops Archives
Archival Resource Key
1986-1987
5
32
Lecture "Beyond Universality", Washington Project for the Arts
Archival Resource Key
1987-1988
Includes 1 sound cassette.
6
1
Lecture "Beyond Universality", Washington Project for the Arts
Women's Caucus for Art National Conference
Archival Resource Key
1987-1988
6
2
Lecture, Syracuse University
Archival Resource Key
1988
6
3
Panel "The Figurative Fifties: New York Figurative Expressionism", at Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts
Archival Resource Key
1988 October 14
Includes 2 sound cassettes.
6
4
Panel "The Figurative Fifties: New York Figurative Expressionism", at Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts
New York State Council on the Arts, Museum Aid Program Conference
Archival Resource Key
circa 1989
6
5
Panel discussion "Abstract Expressionism: The Missing Link," at the Jamaica Arts Center
Archival Resource Key
1989 January 14
Includes 1 sound cassette.
6
6
Panel discussion "Abstract Expressionism: The Missing Link," at the Jamaica Arts Center
Panel discussion "Black Aesthetic" at the New Museum
Archival Resource Key
1989 March 28
Includes 2 sound cassettes.
6
7
Panel discussion "Black Aesthetic" at the New Museum
Workshop, Barnard Feminist Art History Conference
Archival Resource Key
1989
6
8
"Critical Comment" Conference, St. Michael's College
Archival Resource Key
1989
6
9
"Women in the Arts" Conference
Archival Resource Key
1989
6
10
"Reinventing the American Scene: A Symposium," Newark Museum
Archival Resource Key
1989-1990
6
11
"Contemporary Art by Women of Color," Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
Archival Resource Key
1989-1990
6
12
Panel "De-Facto Racism in the Visual Arts" at the College Art Association conference
Archival Resource Key
1989-1990
Includes 2 sound cassettes.
6
13-14
Panel "De-Facto Racism in the Visual Arts" at the College Art Association conference
"Race & Art," World Monitor TV, 1990 January 4, Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.061 Gigabytes
One computer file
2015
ER01
"Shades of Gray in the Black Aesthetic," S.E.C.C.A.
Archival Resource Key
1990
6
16
Panel "NOVAE: William H. Johnson and Bob Thompson", California Afro-American Museum, Los Angeles
Archival Resource Key
1990 May 4
Includes 2 sound cassettes.
6
17-18
Panel "NOVAE: William H. Johnson and Bob Thompson", California Afro-American Museum, Los Angeles
Photography Sesquicentennial Project Conference
Archival Resource Key
1990
6
19
"The Decade Show," The New Museum
Archival Resource Key
1990
6
20
Seminar, Whitney Independent Study Program
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
6
21
College Art Association Conference
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
6
22
"Symposium: Cultural Continuities in the Arts," Smith College
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
6
23
National Conference of the Society for Photographic Education
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
6
24
"Women in the Arts Symposium," Gettysburg College
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
6
25
"State of the Art: Recent Developments in African-American Art," UVA Women's Center
Archival Resource Key
1991
6
26
Lecture, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Archival Resource Key
1991
6
27
AICA Panel, College Art Association Meeting
Archival Resource Key
1991
6
28
"Representation and Value," The Drawing Center
Archival Resource Key
1991
6
29
Lecture, Maryland Institute College of Art
Archival Resource Key
1991
6
30
"The Art of Archibald Motley, Jr.," Studio Museum in Harlem
Archival Resource Key
1992
6
31
"Art and Social Responsibility: A Community Forum"
Archival Resource Key
1992
6
32
"A Postmortem on Postmodernism," New York University
Archival Resource Key
1992-1993
6
33
Lecture by Eunice Lipton "Tracking Manet's Olympia", University of Virginia
Archival Resource Key
1993 November 11
Includes 1 sound cassette.
6
34
Lecture by Eunice Lipton "Tracking Manet's Olympia", University of Virginia
Middlesex University Conference
Archival Resource Key
1994
6
35
"Surfing the 'Black' Diasporic Web"
Archival Resource Key
1996
6
36
"Post-Mortem" Symposium, Stanford University
Archival Resource Key
1996
7
1-2
Ford Conference
Archival Resource Key
1996
7
3
Black Women's Seminar, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Archival Resource Key
1996-1997
7
4
American Photography Institute National Graduate Seminar
Archival Resource Key
1997
7
5
Symposium, "50th Anniversary of the School of Visual Arts"
Archival Resource Key
1997-1998
7
6
MIT List Visual Arts Center Symposium
Archival Resource Key
1997-1998
7
7
Corcoran Gallery of Art Symposium
Archival Resource Key
1998
7
8
Lecture, UCLA
Archival Resource Key
1998
2002
7
9
Panel "Miscegenated Modernism", the New School for Social Research, New York City
Archival Resource Key
1998-1999
Includes 2 sound cassettes.
7
10-11
Panel "Miscegenated Modernism", the New School for Social Research, New York City
Docent Talk, UCLA Hammer Museum
Archival Resource Key
1999
7
12
Panel "Situation Critical? African-American Writers on African American Artists", Museum of Modern Art
Archival Resource Key
1999 March 16
Includes 2 sound cassettes.
7
13
Panel "Situation Critical? African-American Writers on African American Artists", Museum of Modern Art
"Pop Art and Vernacular Cultures," Institute of International Visual Arts, Digital Documents
Archival Resource Key
0.009 Gigabytes
Two computer files
2006
ER02
"Extended Provocations," University of California, Irvine, Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
6.82 Gigabytes
One computer file
2007
ER03
"Extended Provocations," University of California, Irvine, Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
0.084 Gigabytes
19 computer files
2007
ER04
"LA Avant-Garde," Getty Research Institute
Archival Resource Key
2 Electronic discs (CD)
2007-2008
Includes born-digital records, see ER05
7
16-17
"LA Avant-Garde," Getty Research Institute, Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
0.138 Gigabytes
144 computer files
2004-2008
ER05
"Black Artists in LA 1960-1980" Colloquium, Hammer Museum
Archival Resource Key
2008-2009
7
18
Porter Colloquium
Archival Resource Key
2009
7
19
Music Used for Lectures
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1989
7
20
Scope and Contents
Cassettes contain the following commercially published recordings:
Cassette barcode 31027000913067: Josephine Baker: Si J'étais Blanche.
Cassette barcode 31027000913075: Fragments of Josephine Baker: Si J'étais Blanche;  The Clovers: Love Potion No. 9; Robert Johnson: Cross Road Blues.
Professional Records
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
1 Linear foot
Boxes 7-8
1979-2009
Scope and Contents
Professional records document Wilson's participation in juries, advisory committees, editorial boards, and exhibitions, as well as a few teaching records and other records of professional meetings. Also found are letters to the editor and reader's reports for various articles, book projects, and manuscripts. Files may include correspondence, notes, meeting minutes and agendas, publications, and draft writings by others.
Advisory Council, Third Text
Archival Resource Key
1993-1997
7
21
Acting Assistant Professor, UVA
Archival Resource Key
1989-1993
7
22
Anonymous Was A Woman Award
Archival Resource Key
1980-2001
7
23
Art Advisory Committee, The Contemporary
Archival Resource Key
1990-1993
7
24
Assistant Professor, Yale University
Archival Resource Key
1994-1998
7
25
Book Review, Signs
Archival Resource Key
1995-1996
7
26
Caucus of African-American Art Professionals
Archival Resource Key
1996
7
27
Co-Guest Editor, CAA Art Journal
Archival Resource Key
1994-1998
7
28
Consultant, "Voices in Exile" Film Project
Archival Resource Key
1995
7
29
Contributing and Advisory Board, Callaloo
Archival Resource Key
1989-1995
7
30
Editorial Board, American Art
Archival Resource Key
1996-2004
8
1
Editorial Board, CAA Art Journal
Archival Resource Key
1996-1997
8
2
Editorial Board, University Press of Virginia
Archival Resource Key
1991-1993
8
3
Exhibition, "Afro-American Art in the 20th Century: Three Episodes," Bronx Museum of the Arts
Archival Resource Key
1979-1980
8
4
Exhibition, "Afro-American Abstraction," PS 1
Archival Resource Key
1980
8
5
Fantastic Coalition of Women in the Arts
Archival Resource Key
1989-1992
8
6
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Art Fund
Archival Resource Key
1998-1999
8
7
Juror, Maryland State Arts Council
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
8
8
Letters to the Editor, Women Artists News
Archival Resource Key
1987
8
9
Letter to the Editor, New York Times Book Review
Archival Resource Key
1987
8
10
Letter to the Editor, Washington Post
Archival Resource Key
1991
8
11
Manuscript Review, Signs
Archival Resource Key
1989
8
12
Morse Fellowship
Archival Resource Key
1995-1997
8
13
Newark Museum Reinstallation Project
Archival Resource Key
1996-1998
8
14
Project Advisory Council, The Studio Museum in Harlem
Archival Resource Key
1989-1993
8
15
Reader's Reports on Various Articles, Book Projects, and Manuscripts
Archival Resource Key
1993-2004
8
16-19
Review of "I'll Make Me a World" Rough Cuts
Archival Resource Key
1998
8
20
San Francisco Municipal Arts Funding
Archival Resource Key
1988-1989
8
21
Tenure Review
Archival Resource Key
1996
8
22
UC Irvine Job Applications
Archival Resource Key
1995-1996
8
23
Unrealized Exhibition Project, "New World/New People," Alternative Museum
Archival Resource Key
circa 1988-1992
8
24-26
Visiting Critic, Jerome Foundation Fellowship Program
Archival Resource Key
1991-1993
8
27
Visual Feminists Meeting
Archival Resource Key
2000
8
28
Whitney Scholars Advisory Committee
Archival Resource Key
1991
8
29
Women's Caucus for Art
Archival Resource Key
2009
1996
8
30
Research Material on Bob Thompson
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
1.8 Linear feet
Boxes 8-10
1.7 Gigabytes
ER06-ER07
1966-2006
Scope and Contents
Judith Wilson's research material regarding artist Bob Thompson includes research correspondence, extensive research notebooks, index to the notebook, slide lists, and general research material. The general research files include photographs and digital photographs of artwork by Thompson, catalogs and announcements for exhibitions of his work, press clippings and a few handwritten lists. Wilson conducted most of this research for her dissertation, "Garden of Music: The Search for Creative Community in the Art and Life of Bob Thompson (1937-1966)." A copy of the dissertation is also included here. "Bob Thompson Happening!", a documentary by Dorothy Beskind, is available on one videocassette and in digital format.
Dissertation, "Garden of Music: The Search For Creative Community in the Art and Life of Bob Thompson (1937-1966)"
Archival Resource Key
1995
8
31-33
Essay, "Garden of Music: The Search for Creative Community in the Art and Life of Bob Thompson (1937-1996)"
Archival Resource Key
1992-1993
8
34-35
Publication Proofs
Archival Resource Key
1998
9
1
Address/Phone File
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980s-1990s
9
2-3
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1982-2002
9
4-8
Research Material
Archival Resource Key
2006
1966-1998
Includes born-digital records, see ER06
9
9-15
Research Material, Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1.49 Gigabytes
154 computer files
2004-2006
ER06
Lists of Bob Thompson Related Slides
Archival Resource Key
circa 1982-1989
9
16
Index to Bob Thompson Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1982-1989
9
17-19
Notebook A
Archival Resource Key
1982-1983
9
20
Notebook B
Archival Resource Key
1983-1984
9
21
Notebook C
Archival Resource Key
1984
9
22
Notebook D
Archival Resource Key
1984-1986
9
23
Notebook E
Archival Resource Key
1986
9
24
Notebook F
Archival Resource Key
1986
10
1
Notebook G
Archival Resource Key
1986-1987
10
2
Notebook H
Archival Resource Key
1987
10
3
Notebook I
Archival Resource Key
1987
10
4
Notebook J
Archival Resource Key
1987-1988
10
5
Notebook K
Archival Resource Key
1988-1989
10
6
"Bob Thompson Happening!" Whitney Museum of American Art (1965)
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
circa 1990s
Includes born-digital records, see ER07
10
7
"Bob Thompson Happening!" Whitney Museum of American Art (1965), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.213 Gigabytes
One computer file
2014
ER07
Printed Material
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Box 10
1981-2010
Scope and Contents
A small amount of printed material includes books, magazines, and other publications containing writings by Wilson or other mentions of her work. Also found are several issues of Black Studies Correspondence and a few exhibition announcements.
Black Studies Correspondence Journal
Archival Resource Key
1987-1993
10
8
Book, Art, Women, California 1950-2000
Archival Resource Key
2002
10
9
Book, The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader
Archival Resource Key
2003, 2010
10
10
Book, Mythologizing Always by Patricia Jones
Archival Resource Key
1981
10
11
Exhibition Announcements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1988-2008
10
12
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1996
1998
1988
10
13-14
Magazines
Archival Resource Key
1981
1995
10
15
Publications Containing Judith Wilson Mentions and Citations
Archival Resource Key
1995-2004
10
16
Interviews
Series 8
Archival Resource Key
1 Linear foot
Boxes 11-12
0.697 Gigabytes
ER08-ER09
1978-2008
Scope and Contents
Interviews are recorded on 99 sound cassette tapes and two electronic records. Included are interviews Wilson conducted with artists, their associates, and collectors for various writing projects. Numerous interviews are related to Wilson's dissertation on the artist Bob Thompson. Researchers should note that additional documentation on these writing projects as well as any existing interview notes can be found in Series 2: Notebooks and Series 3: Writing Projects. Also found is one interview of Wilson for StoryCorps.
Arrangement
Interviews for which specific projects have been identified are grouped by project in chronological order. Other interviews are arranged alphabetically by interviewee.
"Alma Thomas: A One-Woman Art Movement," Ms. Magazine
Archival Resource Key
11
Interviews about Alma Thomas with Norman Lewis and Harold Hart
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1978 June 23-27
11
1
Interviews about Alma Thomas with Norman Lewis and Harold Hart
Interviews about Alma Thomas with James L. Wells, Sam Gilliam and Jeff Donaldson
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1978 June 29-30
11
2
Interviews about Alma Thomas with James L. Wells, Sam Gilliam and Jeff Donaldson
Interview about Alma Thomas with Jeff Donaldson and Starmanda Bullock
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1978 June 30
11
3
Interview about Alma Thomas with Jeff Donaldson and Starmanda Bullock
Interviews about Alma Thomas with Franz Bader and Adolphus Ealey
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1978 June 30
11
4
Interviews about Alma Thomas with Franz Bader and Adolphus Ealey
Interview about Alma Thomas with Adolphus Ealey
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1978 June 30
11
5
Interview about Alma Thomas with Adolphus Ealey
Interview about Alma Thomas with Jacob and Ruth Kainen
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1978 July 1
11
6
Interview about Alma Thomas with Jacob and Ruth Kainen
Interview about Alma Thomas with James L. Wells
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1978 July 2
11
7
Interview about Alma Thomas with James L. Wells
"Buying Art: The Big Picture," Essence
Archival Resource Key
11
Interviews with Lincoln J. Ragsdale, Helen Singleton, Celestine Cook and Arthur Ashe
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1979
11
8
Interviews with Lincoln J. Ragsdale, Helen Singleton, Celestine Cook and Arthur Ashe
Interview with Peg Alston and Interview with Arthur Ashe
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1979
11
9
Interview with Peg Alston and Interview with Arthur Ashe
Interviews about African American art galleries with Peg Alston, Bobbi Dent and Linda Goode-Bryant
Archival Resource Key
3 Sound cassettes
1979
11
10
Interviews about African American art galleries with Peg Alston, Bobbi Dent and Linda Goode-Bryant
"Favorite Books," Essence
Archival Resource Key
11
Interviews about literature with Pauli Murray, Betye Saar and Joyce Ladner
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1979 August 2-23
11
11
Interviews about literature with Pauli Murray, Betye Saar and Joyce Ladner
"Howardena Pindell Makes Art That Winks At You," Ms. Magazine
Archival Resource Key
11
Interviews with Howardena Pindell
Archival Resource Key
5 Sound cassettes
1980 January 18 - February 13
11
12-16
Interviews with Howardena Pindell
"Ana Mendieta Plants Her Garden," Village Voice
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Ana Mendieta
Archival Resource Key
3 Sound cassettes
1980 May 27
11
17-19
Interview with Ana Mendieta
"Raymond Saunders" Unpublished Article
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Raymond Saunders
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1980 June
11
20
Interview with Raymond Saunders
"Black Women Artists" Unpublished Article
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Mary O'Neal
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1980 June
11
21
Interview with Mary O'Neal
Interview with Margo Humphrey
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1980 June
11
22
Interview with Margo Humphrey
Interview with Samella Lewis
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1980 July 1
11
23
Interview with Samella Lewis
Interview with Betye Saar
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1980 July 1
11
24
Interview with Betye Saar
Interview with Senga Nengudi
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1980 July 1
11
25
Interview with Senga Nengudi
Interview with Suzanne Jackson
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1980 July
11
26
Interview with Suzanne Jackson
Interview with Maren Hassinger
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1980 July 3
11
27
Interview with Maren Hassinger
"The Bullish Market for Black Art," Black Enterprise
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Bill Pajaud
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1980 July
11
28
Interview with Bill Pajaud
"Edward Clark: Directions," Art in America
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Ed Clark
Archival Resource Key
4 Sound cassettes
1985
11
29-32
Interview with Ed Clark
"Robert Colescott" Unpublished Article
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Robert Colescott
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1981 February 8
11
33
Interview with Robert Colescott
"Candace Hill-Montgomery" Unpublished Article
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Candace Hill-Montgomery
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1981 July 21
11
34
Interview with Candace Hill-Montgomery
"Richard Bellamy," Issue: A Journal For Artists
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Richard Bellamy
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1985 June 18
11
35
Interview with Richard Bellamy
"Robert Farris Thompson," Issue: A Journal For Artists
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Robert Farris Thompson
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1985 October 10
11
36
Interview with Robert Farris Thompson
"Coming of Age: A Look at 3 Contemporary Artists," Essence
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Howardena Pindell
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1986 January 25
11
37
Interview with Howardena Pindell
Interview with Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1986 January 27
11
38
Interview with Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe
Interview with Beverly Buchanan
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1986 January 27
11
39
Interview with Beverly Buchanan
"Raymond Saunders," Issue: A Journal For Artists
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Raymond Saunders
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1986 March 3
11
40
Interview with Raymond Saunders
"Hexes, Totems and Necessary Saints," Real Life
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Alison Saar
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1986 March 19
11
41
Interview with Alison Saar
"In Memory of the News & Of Ourselves: The Art of Adrian Piper," Third Text
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Adrian Piper
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1989 July 18
11
42-43
Interview with Adrian Piper
"Haunted Hearts: The Use of Anti-Black Imagery in Contemporary African-American Art" Unpublished Article
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Michael Ray Charles
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1997 November 4
11
44-45
Interview with Michael Ray Charles
Interview with Kara Walker
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1998 January 3
11
46-47
Interview with Kara Walker
Other Interviews
Archival Resource Key
11
Interview with Romare Bearden
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1983 June 17
11
48
Interview with Romare Bearden
Interview with Bob Carter
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1988 November 19
11
49-50
Interview with Bob Carter
Interview about Bob Thompson with Ken Clay
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1987 March 26
11
51
Interview about Bob Thompson with Ken Clay
Interview about Bob Thompson with Phyllis Cooper
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1987 July 26
11
52-53
Interview about Bob Thompson with Phyllis Cooper
Interview about Bob Thompson with G. C. Coxe and Robert Holmes
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1987 March 28
11
54-55
Interview about Bob Thompson with G. C. Coxe and Robert Holmes
Interview about Bob Thompson with Emilio Cruz
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1983 February 12
11
56-57
Interview about Bob Thompson with Emilio Cruz
Interview about Bob Thompson with Robert L. Douglas
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1987 March 26
11
58
Interview about Bob Thompson with Robert L. Douglas
Interview about Bob Thompson with Judith Wilson
Archival Resource Key
4 Sound cassettes
1990 April 14-July 9
11
59-62
Interview about Bob Thompson with Judith Wilson
Interview about Bob Thompson with Sam Gilliam
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1986 November 10
11
63-64
Interview about Bob Thompson with Sam Gilliam
Interview about Bob Thompson with Mimi Gross
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1987 March 9
11
65-66
Interview about Bob Thompson with Mimi Gross
Interview about Bob Thompson with Charlie Haden
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1988 March 21
11
67-68
Interview about Bob Thompson with Charlie Haden
Interview about Bob Thompson with Cecily and Robert Holmes
Archival Resource Key
3 Sound cassettes
1987 March 28
11
69-71
Interview about Bob Thompson with Cecily and Robert Holmes
Interview with Ted Joans
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1986 June 6
11
72-73
Interview with Ted Joans
Interview about Bob Thompson with Christopher Lane
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1983 December 27
11
74-75
Interview about Bob Thompson with Christopher Lane
Interview about Bob Thompson with Marcia Marcus
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1986 October 11
11
76
Interview about Bob Thompson with Marcia Marcus
Interview about Bob Thompson and Carol Plenda with Dollie McLean and Jackie McLean
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1986 August 3
11
77
Interview about Bob Thompson and Carol Plenda with Dollie McLean and Jackie McLean
Interview about Bob Thompson with Jay Milder
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1983 February 11
11
78
Interview about Bob Thompson with Jay Milder
Interview about Bob Thompson with Pete Passuntino
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1986 July 11
11
79
Interview about Bob Thompson with Pete Passuntino
Interview with Sonny Rollins for Sidran on Record radio series
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1987 August 12
11
80
Interview with Sonny Rollins for Sidran on Record radio series
Alison Saar lecture at the University of Virginia
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1985 October 29
11
81-82
Alison Saar lecture at the University of Virginia
Interview with Alison Saar
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1989 July 26
11
83-84
Interview with Alison Saar
Interview about Bob Thompson with A. B. Spellman
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1987 January 13
11
85
Interview about Bob Thompson with A. B. Spellman
Interview about Bob Thompson with Paul Suttman
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1987 March 21
11
86-87
Interview about Bob Thompson with Paul Suttman
Interview about Bob Thompson with Kenneth Young
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
1986 November 8
11
88-89
Interview about Bob Thompson with Kenneth Young
Interview about Bob Johnson with Marie Kavanaugh Graves Zimmerman
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1987 March 27
11
90
Interview about Bob Johnson with Marie Kavanaugh Graves Zimmerman
Charles Rotmil, 2007 August 8, Digital Audio Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.209 Gigabytes
One computer file
2007
ER08
Judith Wilson and Don Kaufman StoryCorps Interview, Digital Audio Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.488 Gigabytes
Two computer files
2007-2008
ER09
Video Recordings
Series 9
Archival Resource Key
4 Folders
Box 12
8.42 Gigabytes
ER10-ER15
1979-2007
Scope and Contents
Found here are six electronic records including video art by artists Ulysses Jenkins, Barbara McCullough, and Maren Hassinger. Also found is A Brush with Success, a 30-minute documentary film about artist Ed Clark, directed by Charles Martin.
Documentary, A Brush with Success
Archival Resource Key
2007
Contains born-digital records, see ER10
12
3
Documentary, A Brush with Success, Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
1.34 Gigabytes
One computer file
2007
ER10
Maren Hassinger, "Legacy", Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.354 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER11
Ulysses Jenkins, Video Art, 1981-2006, Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
4.54 Gigabytes
Three computer files
2015
ER12-ER14
Scope and Contents
Missing Title
- "Inconsequential Doggereal"
- "Dream City: The Videotape"
- "Dream City: Ritual-Video-Performance"
- "Z-Grass"
- "Self Divination"
- "Mutual Native Duplex"
- "The Nomadics"
- "Planet X"
Barbara McCullough, "Water Ritual #1: An Urban Rite of Purification", 1979, Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
2.19 Gigabytes
One computer file
2015
ER15