Archives of American Art
Paul Burlin papers
Burlin, Paul, 1886-1969
AAA.burlpaul
Archival Resource Key
5.1 Linear feet
1884-1974, bulk 1910s-1968
The papers of painter Paul Burlin measure 5.1 linear feet and date from 1884-1974, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1910s-1968. The records document Burlin's career through biographical material including sound recordings of interviews, general correspondence, writing files, personal business records, printed material, photographs, and some artwork.
English
.
Existence and Location of Copies
Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 1543-1547, 1603, 2787, and 3948 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Biographical / Historical
Painter Paul Burlin (1884-1969) was active in New York City, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Paris, France and was regarded as one of the first modern artists to represent the American southwest.
Burlin was born in New York and spent his childhood traveling between New York City and London. He moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1912 to work on his art full time and began exhibiting his work at the Daniel Gallery in New York around the same time. His work was selected for the New York Armory Show in 1913.
Burlin met his future wife, ethnomusicologist Natalie Curtis, in 1916. They were married from 1917 until Curtis's death in France in 1921. After Natalie's death Burlin remained in Paris until the early 1930s, exhibiting his work in France, New York, and Munich. He returned to New York in 1932 where he lived for the rest of his life.
Burlin's one man exhibitions included shows at the Downtown Gallery, University of Minnesota, Washington University, St. Louis, Union College, Art Institute of Chicago, the American Federation of Arts, which circulated a Burlin retrospective, and many others. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Encyclopedia Britannica, and elsewhere. Burlin also served as a visiting artist and lecturer at various universities including University of Wyoming, Union College, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and University of Colorado.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated in several installments by Margaret T. Burlin, Burlin's widow, in 1974-1975, Irving Sandler in 1974, and Syracuse University in 1984.
Scope and Contents
The papers of painter Paul Burlin measure 5.1 linear feet and date from 1884-1974, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1910s-1968. The records document Burlin's career through biographical material including sound recordings of interviews, general correspondence, writing files, personal business records, printed material, photographs, and some artwork.
Biographical materials consist of address books, transcripts and recorded interviews, biographical summaries, and identification cards. General correspondence is with family and friends, other artists, art critics, and museums and galleries. Correspondence discusses the sale and delivery of Burlin's artwork, modern and abstract art, exhibitions, and a variety of other topics.
Writing files include drafts and notes for Burlin's speeches, lectures, and talks, as well as drafts of Burlin's published writings and an autobiographical essay. Burlin's personal business records include price lists, inventories, mailing lists, shipping information, expenses, and other materials.
Printed material found in the collection includes news clippings, exhibition ephemera, Burlin's published writings and reproductions, and ephemera from lectures and panel discussions. Photographs are of Burlin, his family and friends, studios, travel, exhibitions, and his artwork. The collection also includes seven sketchbooks (one disbound) and some loose sketches.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment, and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Conditions Governing 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.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Christopher DeMairo in 2020.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 7 series.
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1884, bulk 1910s-1968 (Box 1; .6 linear feet)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1920s-1974 (Box 1-2; 1.4 linear feet)
- Series 3: Writing Files, circa 1918-1969 (Box 3; .4 linear feet)
- Series 4: Personal Business Records,1940s-1968 (Box 3; 8 folders)
- Series 5: Printed Material, 1916-1973 (Box 3-4, OV 6; 1.5 linear feet)
- Series 6: Photographs, 1886, bulk 1910s-1960s (Box 4-5; 1 linear feet)
- Series 7: Artwork, circa 1940s-1960s (Box 5; 5 folders)
Preferred Citation
Paul Burlin papers, 1884-1974. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sound recordings
Interviews
Sketchbooks
Landscape painters -- New York (State) -- New York
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
Scrapbooks
Drawings
Burlin, Natalie Curtis, 1875-1921
Biographical Material
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
0.6 Linear feet
Box 1
1884, bulk 1910s-1968
Scope and Contents
Series includes address books, identification cards, floor plans for various residences and studios, biographical summaries, resumes, an interview transcript, and sound recordings of interviews with Burlin, Karl Fortess, and Louis Pomerantz. Also found are legal contracts, correspondence, estate documents, and some financial records concerning ethnomusicologist Natalie Curtis, Burlin's first wife.
Marriage Certificate, Burlin's Parents
Archival Resource Key
1884
1
1
Address Books
Archival Resource Key
circa 1910s-1960s
1
2-3
Floor Plan for Santa Fe House Designed by Burlin
Archival Resource Key
circa 1917-1921
1
4
Papers Concerning Natalie Curtis
Archival Resource Key
1918-1925, 1934
1
5
Studio Blue Prints
Archival Resource Key
1938, undated
1
6
Biographical Summaries
Archival Resource Key
1940-1968
1
7
Interview, Transcript Fragment
Archival Resource Key
1946
1
8
Identification Cards
Archival Resource Key
1960s
1
9
Medical Notes
Archival Resource Key
1960s
1
10
Paul Burlin; Kandinsky
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound tape reel
7 inch
1965 November
1
11
Paul Burlin
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound tape reels
7 inch
1 Sound tape reel
5 inch
1965 November-1966 March
1
12-14
Interview with Karl Fortess
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound tape reel
5 inch
1967
1
15
Funeral and Memorial
Archival Resource Key
1968
1
16
Interview with Louis Pomerantz
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound tape reel
7 inch
undated
1
17
Unidentified
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound tape reels
7 inch
undated
1
18-19
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1.4 Linear feet
Box 1-2
1920s-1974
Scope and Contents
Correspondents include family and friends, other artists, art critics, and museums and galleries discussing the sale and delivery of Burlin's artwork, modern and abstract art, exhibitions, and a variety of other topics. One file relates to the forum, "The Modern Artist Speaks," held in 1948 at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, with correspondence, news clippings, press releases, mailing lists, and notes relating to the event.
"The Modern Artist Speaks," Museum of Modern Art Forum
Archival Resource Key
1948
1
20
General, A-Z
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1960s
1
21
General
Archival Resource Key
1920s-1954
1
22-25
General
Archival Resource Key
1954-1974
2
1-15
Writing Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Box 3
circa 1918-1969
Scope and Contents
Writings by Burlin include drafts, notes, and fragments of speeches, lectures, and public talks. There are statements and adages regarding art movements, and Burlin's artwork and career, an autobiographical essay, and several illustrated notebooks. Also found are writings about Burlin by others and a draft of "The Deer Dance: A Pueblo Indian Legend Dance" by Natalie Curtis.
"For the Love of Art," Address at School of Social Research
Archival Resource Key
1937
3
1
On the Federal Arts Bill
Archival Resource Key
circa 1938
3
2
"Core of Art," CBS Broadcast
Archival Resource Key
1946
3
3
Autobiographical Essay
Archival Resource Key
1947
3
4
Talk given at "The Modern Artist Speaks," Museum of Modern Art, New York
Archival Resource Key
1948
3
5
Convocation Address at Union College
Archival Resource Key
1954
3
6
"Where Will Amateurism in Art Lead Us"
Archival Resource Key
1960
3
7
Idea for Play or Opera
Archival Resource Key
circa 1966
3
8
"A Timeless Concept"
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
9
Lectures, Speeches, and Talks
Archival Resource Key
1948-1968
3
10
Speeches (From the Archive of Irving Sandler)
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1950s
3
11
Notes, Lectures, and Drafts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1960s
3
12
Notes, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1960s
3
13
Illustrated Travel Notebook, London Barcelona, and Valencia
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
14
Illustrated Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1960s
3
15
Statements and Adages
Archival Resource Key
1950-1969
3
16
Writings about Burlin
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1960s
3
17
"The Deer Dance: A Pueblo Indian Legend Dance," by Natalie Curtis
Archival Resource Key
circa 1918
3
18
Personal Business Records
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
8 Folders
Box 3
1940s-1968
Scope and Contents
Folders may contain price lists, inventories, loan agreements, mailing lists, and an exhibition visitor sign-in sheet. Also found are sales records and some correspondence from galleries, invoices, expense receipts, shipping documents, and inventories.
Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
circa 1954-1966
3
19
Expenses
Archival Resource Key
1943-1968
3
20
Financial, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1953-1968
3
21
The Alan Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1953-1954
3
22
The Downtown Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1946-1954
3
23
Painting Inventory
Archival Resource Key
1947
3
24
Price Lists, Inventories, and Loans
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1960s
3
25
Shipping Lists and Expenses
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1960s
3
26
Printed Material
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
1.5 Linear feet
Box 3-4, OV 6
1916-1973
Scope and Contents
Series includes news clippings and articles written about Burlin and his artwork; exhibition announcements, catalogs, posters, and invitations; event ephemera from lectures, discussions, and panels; published articles and artwork by Burlin; and several scrapbooks. Also included is one musical score titled, "Hopi Indian Lullaby (Puwuch Tawis)."
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1920s-1970
3
27-31
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1943-1946
6
Events, Lectures, Talks, and Panel Discussions
Archival Resource Key
1948-1960
3
32
Exhibition Announcements, Pamphlets, Posters, and Invitations
Archival Resource Key
1916, 1929-1973
3
33-34
Exhibition Poster
Archival Resource Key
circa 1958
6
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1925-1943
3
35-36
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1944-1970
4
1-6
Published Reproductions
Archival Resource Key
1924-1947
4
7-8
Published Writings, "The Artists Point of View"
Archival Resource Key
1949
4
9
Published Writings, "On Amateurism"; "On the Teaching of Painting"
Archival Resource Key
1954
4
10
Scrapbooks
Archival Resource Key
circa 1923-1962
4
11-14
Ralph M. Pearson
Archival Resource Key
1930s-1940s
4
15
Washington University, School of Fine Arts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s
4
16
Hopi Indian Lullaby (Puwuch Tawis), Harmonized and Transcribed by Boris Levenson
Archival Resource Key
1941
4
17
Photographs
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
1 Linear foot
Box 4-5
1886, bulk 1910s-1960s
Scope and Contents
Series includes slides, negatives, transparencies, black and white photographs, and some glass plates of Burlin's artwork from the 1910s to the 1950s. Also included are portraits of the artist, friends, and family, snapshots taken in Burlin's studio, during his travels to Greece, while living in New Mexico, and from his exhibitions.
Artwork
Archival Resource Key
1920s-1950s
4
18-22
Artwork
Archival Resource Key
1920s-1950sa
5
1-3
Artwork, 1912-1934, Scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
undated
5
4-5
Artwork, 1943-1950, Scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
undated
5
6
Artwork, Glass Plates
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1950s
5
7-8
Artwork, Transparencies
Archival Resource Key
circa 1954
5
9
Artwork, Slides
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s
5
10
Paul Burlin Portraits, Slides, Negatives
Archival Resource Key
circa 1886, 1910s-1960s
5
11-12
Paul Burlin Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
1932-1964
5
13
Paul Burlin with Family
Archival Resource Key
circa 1920s-1950s
5
14
Paul Burlin in His Studio and Sketching
Archival Resource Key
1920s-1969
5
15
Paul Burlin with Other Artists and Friends
Archival Resource Key
1937-1960
5
16
Paul Burlin with Students
Archival Resource Key
1950-1955
5
17
New Mexico
Archival Resource Key
circa 1917-1922
5
18
Greece
Archival Resource Key
circa 1920s-1940s
5
19
Artwork
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
5 Folders
Box 5
circa 1940s-1960s
Scope and Contents
Series consists of seven sketchbooks (one disbound) and one folder containing loose sketches.
Sketchbooks
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1960s
5
20-23
Loose Sketches
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1960s
5
24