This collection is arranged as 12 series.
The Ankrum Gallery was established 1960 in Los Angeles by American film actress Joan Wheeler Ankrum and William Chalee. The gallery closed in 1989.
Joan Wheeler Ankrum and William Challee opened Ankrum Gallery on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1960 with a one-man show of Ankrum's nephew Morris Broderson. With a focus on contemporary California artists, Ankrum Gallery represented over 395 artists during its 30 years in operation, including Benny Andrews, Carlos Almaraz, Richard Bauer, Irving Block, Naomi Caryl, Bernie Casey, Frank Duveneck, Lorser Feitelson, Bruno Groth, David Herschler, Jessie Homer, Suzanne Jackson, Buffie Johnson, Samella Lewis, Helen Lundeberg, Arnold Mesches, Henry Miller, Melvin Schuler, Arthur Secunda, Ken Shores, Jean Varda, and Zev. In addition, the gallery was among the earliest to exhibit the work of black artists. The gallery also held exhibitions of world artists, which included "Art of African Peoples" (1973), "Yarn Paintings of the Huichol Indians" (1973), "Five Contemporary Mexican Painters" (1977), and "Ethiopian Folk Painting" (1978). Ankrum Gallery closed in 1989.
Art dealer and gallery owner, Joan Wheeler Ankrum was an actress before establishing the Ankrum Gallery primarily to showcase the work of her deaf nephew, Morris Broderson. Born in 1913 in Palo Alto, California, she began acting at the Pasadena Playhouse where she met her first husband Morris Ankrum with whom she had two sons, David and Cary Ankrum. She married gallery co-owner and partner William Challee in 1984. She helped organize the Los Angeles Art Dealers Association and the Monday Night Art Walks on La Cienega Boulevard. She was a member of the relatively short-lived Black Arts Council. Joan Wheeler Ankrum died in 2001 at the age of 88.
Morris Broderson (1928-2011) was a deaf painter. His first one-man show was at the Stanford Museum in 1957, followed by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. By 1959 he'd won two awards from the Los Angeles County Museum, and appeared in the Whitney Museum's "Young America" show in 1960. His travels influenced his work, including the hand gestures of Kabuki art in Japan. His work is in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, among others. Following Joan Ankrum's death in 2001, Broderson was represented by her son David Ankrum.
The Ankrum Gallery records measure 41.5 linear feet and date from circa 1900 to circa 1990s, with the bulk of the records dating from 1960 to 1990. The papers include over 395 artists files, general gallery correspondence, project files, administrative records, exhibition files, collector and client files, financial material, printed material, 1 unbound scrapbook, and photographs. Also included are personal papers of gallery founder Joan Ankrum and her nephew, artist Morris Broderson.
General correspondence is with artists, museums, collectors, and clients, and generally concerns sales, exhibitions, and consignments. Correspondents include Irving Block, Morris Broderson, Naomi Caryl, Suzanne Jackson, Joseph and Olga Hirshhorn, among many others. Correspondence is also found in the artists files and the collector/client files.
Project files document various events, benefits, and projects undertaken by the gallery, including a UNICEF benefit, "Up Against Hunger," the Exceptional Children's foundation, and the Young Art Patrons.
Administrative files document many activities of the gallery, such as the gallery's and Joan Ankrum's membership in the Black Arts Council, the California Arts Council, and the Art Dealers Association of California of which Joan Ankrum was a primary organizer. Also found are publicity files, a file on the history of the gallery, leases, floor plans, insurance documents, lists of graphics for sale, and other miscellany.
Exhbition files appear to be incomplete, but do include files for Huichol Indian's art, "The Art of African Peoples" (1973), "Five Contemporary Mexican Painters" (1977), Ethiopian Folk Painting (1978), San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild All Media Exhibition (1982), "25th Anniversary Exhibition" (1985), among several others.
Extensive artists' files include correspondence, price lists, photographs and slides,resumes and biographical material, and sales invoices. Files are found for Benny Andrews, Carlos Almaraz, Richard Bauer, Irving Block, Naomi Caryl, Bernie Casey, Frank Duveneck, Lorser Feitelson, Bruno Groth, David Herschler, Jessie Homer, Suzanne Jackson, Buffie Johnson, Samella Lewis, Helen Lundeberg, Arnold Mesches, Henry Miller, Melvin Schuler, Arthur Secunda, Ken Shores, Jean Varda, and Zev, among many others. The Pat Alexander and Andy Nelson files also contain motion picture film.
Collector and client files document the gallery's relationship with over 115 collectors, museums, and art centers. Files may include correspondence and sales records and are found for Edith Halpert, Olga and Joseph Hirshhorn and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Krannert Art Museum, Laguna Art Museum, Palm Spring Desert Museum, Paramount Pictures, San Diego Museum of Art, Staempfli Gallery, and Storm King Art Center, among many others.
Financial material documents sales through numbered invoices, consignments, loans, and insurance valuations. Printed material consists of exhibition catalogs and announcements, bulletins, periodicals, and newspaper clippings. One unbound scrapbook contains clippings and exhibition materials.
Photographs are of artwork, artists, and gallery openings. Additional photographs are found in the artists' files.
Joan Wheeler Ankrum personal papers document her personal and professional relationship with family, artists, and collectors. They include correspondence, personal writings, personal financial materials, printed material and loose scrapbook materials, family photographs and photographs of her as an actress, and artwork from various artists.
The papers of artist Morris Broderson, nephew of Joan Ankrum, document his professional relationship with the gallery as his primary dealer. Included are biographical materials, correspondence, publicity files, travel files, projects, exhibitions, collector/client files, financial material, printed material, photographs, and artwork.
Multiple accessions were merged and archivally processed and a finding aid prepared by Anna Rimel in 2015 with funding provided by the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund. The Archives of American Art has implemented accelerated processing strategies when possible to increase information about and provide access to more of our collections. For this collection, accelerated processing tactics included arrangement to the series, subseries and folder levels, adhering to the creator's original arrangement as much as possible. Generally, folder contents were simply verified with the original folder titles, but items within folders were not arranged further. All materials were rehoused in archival folders and boxes for long-term stability, but staples and other fasteners have not all been removed. Motion picture film reels were inspected and re-housed in 2016-2017 with funding provided by the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund.
Ankrum Gallery records, circa 1900-circa 1990s, bulk 1960-1990. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The Ankrum Gallery records were donated to the Archives of American Art by Joan Ankrum in 1995.
Also found in the Archives of American Art are two oral history interviews with Joan Ankrum, one conducted by Betty Hoag, April 28, 1964, and a second by Paul Karlstrom, November 5, 1997-February 4, 1998. Additionally, there is an oral history interview with Morris Broderson conducted by Paul Karlstrom, March 11-13, 1998.
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Correspondence includes general correspondence between Joan Ankrum and artists, galleries, museums, clients, and collectors generally concerning art sales, exhibitions and future shows, artwork transportation and insurance valuations, unpaid invoices, payments received, and more. Personal notes and cards to and from Joan Ankrum are among general correspondence. Illustrated Christmas Cards are from various artists including Irving Block.
Additional correspondence is found in the Artists Files, the Collector and Client Files, and Joan Ankrum's Personal Papers.
Correspondence folders are arranged in loose chronological order.
Project files include materials related to special events and charity benefits in which the gallery took part, such as the Plaza de la Raza Exhibition benefit, the UNICEF benefit, and the Young Art Patrons group, among others.
Project files are arranged by alphabetically by project.
Plaza de la Raza Exhibition Benefit
Miscellaneous administrative files document activities of the gallery and Joan Ankrum, including Ankrum's early founding participation in the Art Dealers Association of California and the Los Angeles Black Arts Council, the Graphic Arts Council, and the California Arts Council. Also included are materials concerning gallery leases and space rentals, gallery floorplans, gallery history, gallery insurance, conventions, graphics and prints for order, mailing lists, publicity, and gallery supplies.
Administrative records are arranged by subject.
Exhibition files are found for Huichol Indian's art, "Northwest Painters" (1962), "People-to-People Art Exhibition" (1972) with the U.S. and China Table Tennis associations, "The Art of African Peoples" (1973), Ancient Persian Jewelry Exhibition (1974), "Five Contemporary Mexican Painters" (1977), Ethiopian Folk Painting (1978), San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild All Media Exhibition (1982), "25th Anniversary Exhibition" (1985), "Seven California Sculptors" (1988), "Just Cows" (1987), among others.
Artists' files document the relationship the gallery had with over 395 artists. Materials may include correspondence, exhibition materials, price lists, photographs and slides, and resumes and biographical material. Artists represented include: Benny Andrews, Carlos Almaraz, Richard Bauer, Irving Block, Naomi Caryl, Bernie Casey, Frank Duveneck, Lorser Feitelson, Bruno Groth, David Herschler, Jessie Homer, Suzanne Jackson, Buffie Johnson, Samella Lewis, Helen Lundeberg, Arnold Mesches, Henry Miller, Melvin Schuler, Arthur Secunda, Ken Shores, Jean Varda, and Zev among many others. Some of the artists have multiple files and others may only contain one item. Additional correspondence to and about artists may be found in the Correspondence series and the Collector and Client Files series.
This series is arranged alphabetically by artist.
Motion picture film stored separately in film can numbered FC 43
Almaraz, Carlos
Asawa, Ruth
Dai-Chen, Chang, Catalogue of Artwork
Dai-Chien, Chang, Correspondence
Dai-Chen, Chang, Exhibition Lists and Accounts
Dai-Chen, Chang, Invoices and Receipts
Dai-Chen, Chang, Printed Material
Dai-Chien, Chang, Photographic Material
Includes photos of Chang Dai-Chien at the 1973 exhibition with Joan and David Ankrum, Irving Bloch, William Chakeem, Suzanne Jackson, and others.
Oversized material housed in Box 41
Jackson, Suzanne, Biographies
Jackson, Suzanne, Correspondence
Jackson, Suzanne, Exhibitions and Loans
Jackson, Suzanne, Financial Material
Jackson, Suzanne, Clippings and Publicity
Jackson, Suzanne, Exhibition Announcements
Jackson, Suzanne,
Jackson, Suzanne, Photographic Material
Lane, Doyle - Bio, Invoices
Lane, Doyle - Invoices
Lane, Doyle - Photographs
Lundeberg, Helen
Motion picture film stored separately in film cans numbered FC 44-45
Overstreet, Joe
Schwaderer, Fritz, Correspondence and Price Lists
Schwaderer, Fritz, Invoices
Schwaderer, Fritz, Printed Material
Schwaderer, Fritz, Photographic Material
Scott, Jane Wooster, General
Scott, Jane Wooster, Invoices and Accounts
Scott, Jane Wooster, Photographs
Seyle, Robert - Biographical Summaries and Addresses
Seyle, Robert - Correspondence
Seyle, Robert - Correspondence
Seyle, Robert - Invoices
Seyle, Robert - Invoices
Seyle, Robert - Invoices
Seyle, Robert - Photographic Material
Seyle, Robert - Photographic Material
Seyle, Robert - Printed Material
Shiokava, Kenzi
Zimmerman, Bernard
Zimmerman, Bernard
One Woman Show
Note on reel: 1969, 1 Woman Show. Other side of reel: Pat Alexander, 16 mm, Ulva Alberts, 9 Mariel, Release Print II. Tail leader: "Sculpture" Tails.
On film box: Ankrum Gallery, 1. On spine: Andy Nelson recorded at 24-
On film box: Mr. Nelson 2. On spine: Andy Nelson - Recorded at 24
Collector and client files document the gallery's relationship with over 115 individuals, museums, and art centers and associations. Files may include correspondence, printed materials, invoices and sales records, and shipping and mailing receipts. Included are Olga and Joseph Hirshhorn and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Krannert Art Museum, Laguna Art Museum, Palm Spring Desert Museum, Paramount Pictures, San Diego Museum of Art, Staempfli Gallery, and Storm King Art Center, among others.
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Holloway, Sterling
Financial materials include numbered sales invoices. consignment records, loan documentation, and insurance valuations.
Printed material consists of periodicals, catalogs and bulletins, exhibition materials, and newspaper and magazine clippings.
Oversized material housed in Box 41
One unbound scrapbook contains clippings and exhibition announcements, postcards, and brochures.
Photographs consist of slides, negatives, snapshots, and copyprints depicting primarily artists, artwork, Joan Ankrum, and gallery openings and exhibitions.
This series documents personal and professional activities of Joan Wheeler Ankrum as an actress and gallery owner through correspondence with family and artists; papers regarding sons David and Cary Ankrum, second husband William Challee, and brother Nelson Wheeler; writings by Joan Wheeler Ankrum and mother, financial material, printed material, loose scrapbook material, family and personal photographs, and artwork and sketches from other artists.
Oversized material housed in Box 41
Oversized material housed in Box 41
This series is arranged as 11 subseries.
This series documents Morris Broderson's professional relationship with his aunt Joan Ankrum and the Ankrum Gallery as his primary art dealer. Materials include biographical materials, correspondence with Joan Ankrum, collectors and clients, publicity files and advertising, travel files, project files, exhibition files, collector/client files, financial material, printed material, photographs, and artwork.
This subseries includes resumes material and biographical writings and notes by Morris Broderson and others.
Included here is general correspondence to and from clients and collectors, notes on Morris Broderson written by others, and correspondence with Broderson's lawyer, Sheldon Andelson.
Found here are materials relating to advertising and Broderson's public persona as an artist. Files include general publicity, "Art in America," and the Los Angeles Art Page among others.
Found here are materials reflecting Morris Broderson's travels to other cities and countries for various projects, art exhibitions, and inspiration. Materials may include sketches, correspondence, flyers and brochures, plane tickets, and a notebook written during his trip to Japan.
Project files include materials related to special events and projects in which Morris Broderson took part, such as the Watts Benefit, Deaf Arts Conference, and the publication, Art and the Law, among others.
Exhibiton files include materials on various solo and group exhibitions, such as "Morris Broderson Retrospective" (1975) and "Heart/Hand/Eye" (1986) among others.
Collector and client files may include materials relating to various individuals, museums, associations, and businessess that sold or purchased Morris Broderson's works of art, incuding the Carnegie Institute, Guggenheim Museum, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and Staempfli Gallery, among others.
This subseries is arranged alphabetically.
Financial material includes income tax materials, such as receipts and bills, invoices and sales, expenses, and price lists.
Printed material includes exhibition materials, general printed material, clippings, and reviews.
Oversized material housed in Box 41
Found here are photographs, slides, and negatives of Morris Broderson's works of art, as well as of the artist himself. Also included are unbound, loose portfolio materials of Broderson's artwork.
This subseries includes one original painting by Morris Broderson.