Archives of American Art
Burgoyne Diller papers
Diller, Burgoyne, 1906-1965
AAA.dillburg
Archival Resource Key
1.5 Linear feet
1924-1987
The Burgoyne Diller papers measure 1.5 linear feet and date from 1924-1987. The collection documents the abstract painter's career and includes two letters, a notebook, four annotated sketchbooks, art work, and clippings. The collection primarily consists of art work, including hundreds of drawings that document the development of Burgoyne Diller's unique artistic style. An unprocessed addition measuring 0.4 linear feet consists of sketches and studies by Diller.
English
.
Biographical Note
Born in New York City in 1906, Burgoyne Diller was brought up in Michigan and attended Michigan State College. He returned to New York in 1926 and studied at the Art Students League from 1928 to 1932, with Hans Hofmann. Diller made his first geometrical paintings in the 1930s, which were influenced by the rigid formulas of Piet Mondrian's "pure plastic art." Diller's work evolved into an abstract mode of configurations of lines, angles, and primary colors. Diller was one of the original members of the American Abstract Artists.
Between 1935 and 1941, Diller worked for the New York City Federal Arts Program, Mural Division, Works Progress Administration, eventually becoming Director. During that time, he provided commissions for many of the most advanced artists of the day, including Arshile Gorky and Stuart Davis. In 1945, he became associate professor of art at Brooklyn College. Burgoyne Diller died in 1965.
Scope and Content Note
The Burgoyne Diller papers measure 1.5 linear feet and date from 1924-1987. The collection documents the abstract painter's career and includes two letters, a notebook, four annotated sketchbooks, art work, and clippings. The collection primarily consists of art work, including hundreds of drawings that document the development of Burgoyne Diller's unique artistic style. An additional 0.4 linear feet of sketches and studies by Diller were accessioned in 2010 and remains unprocessed.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as five series. Series 1 and 4 are arranged chronologically. Series 2 consists of a single dismantled notebook which maintains the creator's original arrangement. Series 3 has been arranged in a numerically consecutive order introduced by the donor, Kenneth W. Prescott. There are gaps in art work's numerical sequences.
Missing Title
- Series 1: Letters, 1940 (Box 1; 1 folder)
- Series 2: Notebook, 1932-1933 (Box 1; 6 folders)
- Series 3: Art work, 1924-1964, undated (Box 1-3; OVS 4-9; 33 folders)
- Series 4: Clippings, 1926-1968, undated (Box 2; 10 folders)
- Series 5: Unprocessed Addition to the Burgoyne Diller Papers, 1930-1987 (Box 10, OV 11; 0.4 linear ft.)
Related Material
Burgoyne Diller collection of printed material, 1932-1961.
Provenance
The Burgoyne Diller papers were donated by the Grace Diller estate via William C. LaCrone, executor, in 1992. Some of the papers were donated by the Diller estate via art historian Kenneth W. Prescott, in 4 installments dating 1983-2000. An unprocessed addition of 0.4 linear feet received in 2010 was donated by Emma-Stina Prescott.
Restrictions on Access
The collection is open for research. Use requires an appointment and is limited to the Washington, D.C. research facility.
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.
Preferred Citation
Burgoyne Diller papers, 1924-1987. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Jean Fitzgerald in October 2002. An addition of 0.4 linear feet donated in 2010 remains unprocessed.
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- United States
Neoplasticism
Painting, Abstract
Works of art
Drawings
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
Sketches
Letters
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1940
(Box 1; 1 folder)
Christmas card, letter from José Gutierrez
Archival Resource Key
1940
1
1
Notebook
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1932-1933
(Box 1; 6 folders)
Scope and Contents note
This dismantled notebook includes Hans Hofmann's notes about lectures and theories and is illustrated with diagrams and drawings. Also found are miscellaneous booklets.
Notebook cover
Archival Resource Key
1932-1933
1
2
Pages of notes displaying 9 diagrams
Archival Resource Key
1932-1933
1
3
Pages of notes, including Hofmann's theories, displaying 13 diagrams and 4 drawings
Archival Resource Key
1932
1
4
Drawing and 5 booklets concerning artists' materials
Archival Resource Key
1932-1933
1
5
Pages of notes displaying 4 diagrams and a drawing
Archival Resource Key
1932-1933
1
6
Pages of notes displaying 5 drawings
Archival Resource Key
1932-1933
1
7
Art Work
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1924-1964, undated
(Box 1-3, OV 4-9; 33 folders)
Scope and Contents note
This series consists of 4 sketchbooks, and hundreds of drawings, collages, and a lithograph that document the development of his unique artistic style. The media of the art work includes pencil, charcoal, conte crayon, pastel, ink, and cardboard strips.
Annotated sketchbooks, 1 and 2
Archival Resource Key
1924-1926, undated
1
8
Annotated sketchbooks, 3 and 4
Archival Resource Key
1933
1
9
Drawings, unnumbered
Archival Resource Key
1964, undated
(see also Box 3, Folder 1 and OV 5)
1
10
Drawings and a collage (numbered 1-91 RES through 158-91 RES)
Archival Resource Key
1930-1963
(see also Box 3, Folders 2-3 and OV 6)
1
11-18
Drawings and a collage (numbered 159-91 RES through 179-91 RES)
Archival Resource Key
1930-1963
(see also OV 6)
2
1-2
Drawings, a collage, and a lithograph (numbered d1 through d51)
Archival Resource Key
1949, undated
(see also Box 3, Folders 4-6 and OV 6)
2
3-4
Drawings (numbered 43 through 199)
Archival Resource Key
undated
(see also OV 7, OV 8, OV 9)
2
5-6
Drawings (numbered 201 through 260)
Archival Resource Key
undated
(see also Box 3, Folder 7)
2
7
Drawings (numbered 424 through 488)
Archival Resource Key
undated
(see also Box 3, Folder 8 and OV 9)
2
8
Oversized drawings and collages, unnumbered and numbered
Archival Resource Key
1930-1963
3
1-8
Oversized drawings and collage, unnumbered
Archival Resource Key
undated
OV 4
Oversized drawings, unnumbered
Archival Resource Key
undated
OV 5
Oversized drawings, a collage, and a lithograph, numbered
Archival Resource Key
1930-1963, undated
OV 6
Oversized drawings, numbered
Archival Resource Key
undated
OV 7
Oversized drawings, numbered
Archival Resource Key
undated
OV 8
Oversized drawings, numbered
Archival Resource Key
undated
OV 9
Clippings
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
1926-1968, undated
(Box 2; 10 folders)
Scope and Contents note
This series consists of clippings that document Diller's career.
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1926-1968, undated
2
9-18
Unprocessed Addition to the Burgoyne Diller Papers
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Box 10, OV 11
1930-1987
Scope and Contents
An additional 0.4 linear feet of sketches and studies by Diller were accessioned in 2010 and remains unprocessed.
Unprocessed Addition
Archival Resource Key
1930-1987
10
Oversize Unprocessed Addition
Archival Resource Key
1930-1987
11