This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
The scattered papers of abstract painter Dorothy Heller measure 0.3 linear feet and date from 1947 to circa 1981. Found are biographical material, lecture materials on Heller by Charles Ponce and Betty Parsons, photographs, printed material, five sketchbooks, and sketches.
Dorothy Heller (1917-2003) was an abstract painter in New York City, New York. She studied at the Art Students League and was a pupil of Hans Hofmann. She worked primarily in acrylic and exhibited widely throughout the United States over the course of her career.
Dorothy Heller donated her papers to the Archives of American Art in 1977 and 1981.
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.
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
Dorothy Heller papers, 1947-circa 1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2022 with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Biographical material includes a biographical sketch of Heller by Arthur Minters and a photocopy of an award. Lecture materials by Charles Ponce and Betty Parsons are annotated by Heller. Photographs depict Heller in her studio and her paintings. Printed materials include clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and reproductions of works of art. Five sketchbooks are dated and signed and include charcoal and pencil sketches of abstract works and studies of figures. Also found are charcoal, ink, and painted sketches.