The collection is arranged as 5 series.
In 1957, Henrietta Ehrsam, known as "Henri," opened her eponymous gallery on South Royal Street in Alexandria, Virginia. Earlier, Henri and her partner Florie King had sold clothing, antiques, accessories and decorative arts alongside works of art at their consignment shop "Not New" in the same location.
In the 1960s, Henri showed painters Gene Davis, Thomas Downing, and Howard Mehring of the Washington Color School. In the summer of 1967, Henri Gallery moved to 1500 21st Street NW, closer to the Dupont Circle art galleries in Washington, D.C. Henri showed many young and emerging artists, including Cynthia Bickley-Green, William Christenberry, Mary Beth Edelson, Ed McGowin, and Robert Stackhouse. In 1970, Henri opened a second location, Henri 2, at 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW to exhibit large scale works. In 1972, Henri 2 held Martin Puryear's first solo exhibition in the United States. Henri passed away in 1996 and both gallery locations closed shortly thereafter.
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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
Henri donated the Henri Gallery records in three accessions between 1980 - 1981. Henri's daughter, Helen Schnoebelen donated additional records in 1996.
Henri Gallery records, circa early 1900s, 1940-1996, bulk 1957-1995. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Haug in 2012, with funding provided by the Smithsonian Institution Collections Care Preservation Fund.
The Archives of American Art has implemented minimal processing tactics when possible in order to increase access to more of our collections. Minimal processing included arrangement to the series and folder levels. Generally, items within folders were simply verified with folder titles and dates, but not arranged further. Folder titles were transcribed from original folder headings or, to a much lesser extent, supplied by the processing archivist. The collection was rehoused in archival containers and folders. Staples and other fasteners were not removed, but correspondence was removed from envelopes and filed behind the envelope. Materials were removed from binders or damaged binding when necessary.
Materials with Social Security numbers were redacted with copies left in the collection. The original documents are maintained separately.
Motion picture film reels were inspected and re-housed in 2016 with funding provided by the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund.
The records of Henri Gallery, a Washington, D.C. gallery which showed painters from the Washington Color School and emerging artists, measure 55.4 linear feet and date from circa early 1900s, 1940 to 1996, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1957 to 1995. The gallery's relationship with artists and clients, exhibitions, sales, and other business is documented in alphabetical files containing a wide variety of materials, including correspondence, sales records, printed materials, photographs, slides, and motion picture film. Additional correspondence, newspaper clippings, 114 exhibition posters, scattered drawings, illustrated cards, and photographic materials are also found in the collection.
General Correspondence includes incoming business correspondence with artists, clients, galleries, and museums, regarding artwork, exhibitions, and other business issues. Also found here are holiday cards, handmade cards, and illustrated correspondence.
The bulk of the records consist of Alphabetical Files contains materials regarding artists, clients, exhibitions, galleries, museums, and various subjects of interest, originally arranged alphabetically by folder title. Folders range in quantity and variety of materials, including correspondence, printed materials, photographs, sales and consignment records, resumes, price lists, and exhibition records. There are especially rich or extensive files for Darryl Abraham, Harry Anderson, Cynthia Bickley-Green, Robert Clements, Mary Beth Edelson, Leslie Exton, Colin Greenly, Mimi Herbert, Traute Ishida, Kiki Kogelnik, Ida Kohlmeyer, Ed McGowin, Tom Nakashima, Graeme Outerbridge, Martin Puryear, Italo Scanga, Robert Stackhouse, Philip Van Brunt, and May Wilson. Of interest is the complete series of Eleanor Antin's
The bulk of Printed Materials are newspaper clippings regarding artists, exhibitions, and Henri Gallery. There are also 114 posters dating from 1959-1979 from Henri Gallery exhibitions and other galleries' exhibitions of artists in which the Henri Gallery represented.
Artwork is comprised of loose drawings and sketches, many of Henri. Photographic Materials contains black and white photographs, scattered color photographs, snapshots, and slides of artwork, exhibitions, Henri, the galleries spaces, and the Not New shop. Most photographs are undated.
General Correspondence includes incoming business and personal correspondence with artists, clients, galleries, and museums, regarding artwork, exhibitions, and other business issues. Also found here are holiday cards, handmade cards, illustrated correspondence, miscellaneous financial correspondence and sales records, scattered photographic materials, and various interfiled exhibition printed materials.
The folders are arranged chronologically by year; correspondence prior to 1981 is also arranged chronologically by month and day. Unsorted and undated materials, handmade and illustrated correspondence, and other miscellaneous materials are filed at the end of the series.
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 1
Oversized material from Box 3, Folder 5
This series is arranged as 2 subseries.
Alphabetical Files contains materials regarding artists, clients, exhibitions, galleries, museums, and various subjects of interest, originally arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Name Files contains correspondence with artists, clients, galleries, and museums; business and financial records; exhibition printed materials; newspaper clippings; photographic materials; price lists; research files for artists; resumes; sales and consignments receipts; motion picture film; and scattered artwork.
The quantity and variety of the materials in each folder varies widely. There are especially rich or extensive files for Darryl Abraham, Harry Anderson, Cynthia Bickley-Green, Robert Clements, Mary Beth Edelson, Leslie Exton, Colin Greenly, Mimi Herbert, Traute Ishida, Kiki Kogelnik, Ida Kohlmeyer, Ed McGowin, Tom Nakashima, Graeme Outerbridge, Martin Puryear, Italo Scanga, Robert Stackhouse, Philip Van Brunt, and May Wilson. Of interest is the complete series of Eleanor Antin's
Folders are arranged alphabetically by name. Unsorted materials are filed at the end of the subseries.
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 2
Duplicate materials from folders 25-26.
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 3
Berkowitz, Leon
Film titled "Slow Motion;" Motion picture film stored separately in film can numbered FC 62
Comtois, Louis
Comtois, Louis
Comtois, Louis
Comtois, Louis
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 3
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 3
De Kooning, Willem
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 4
Oversized material housed in OV 58
Gerstin, Marvin
Goodman, Martin, Mrs.
Goodman, Martin, Mrs.
Gorky, Arshile
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 5
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 5
Oversized material housed in OV 58
Heilmann, Mary - General, Correspondence
Heilmann, Mary - Photographs and Printed Material
Hilleary, James
Holcomb, Tom
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 6
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 7
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 7
Oversized material housed in Box 56, Folder 8
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 1
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 2
Rudge, John
Sadequain
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 3
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 4
Smith, John Wallace
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 4
Sumrall, Jeff
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 5
Towbin, Irene K.
Victoria, Ted
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 6
Motion picture film stored separately in film can numbered FC 63
Oversized material from Box 4, Folder 2
Oversized material from Box 7, Folder 12
Oversized material from Box 14, Folder 30
Oversized material from Box 14, Folder 39
Oversized material from Box 16, Folder 8
Oversized material from Box 21, Folder 19
Oversized material from Box 22, Folder 15
Oversized material from Box 26, Folder 5
Oversized material from Box 30, Folder 5
Oversized material from Box 30, Folder 32
Oversized material from Box 31, Folder 3
Oversized material from Box 36, Folder 8
Oversized material from Box 38, Folder 16
Oversized material from Box 40, Folder 8
Oversized material from Box 41, Folder 12
Oversized material from Box 43, Folder 5
Oversized material from Box 45, Folder 48
Oversized material from Box 50, Folder 21
Oversized material from Box 18, Folder 10
Oversized material from Box 23, Folder 5
Subject Files cover a range of art- and business-related topics from art coalitions and various genres of art, to mailing lists, lists of paintings sold, price lists, and tax information. Materials are comprised of brochures, exhibition announcements, lists, newspaper clippings, notes, and other miscellaneous materials. Also found are records related to the Not New Shop, including some notes written by Henri and a manuscript about the early years of the shop written by Florie King.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Oversized material housed in OV 58
George Washington Exhibition (1966)
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 7
Oversized material from Box 52, Folder 27
Oversized material from Box 52, Folder 16
The bulk of the materials found in this series are newspaper clippings regarding artists, exhibitions, and Henri Gallery. There are also 114 posters from Henri Gallery exhibitions and other galleries' exhibitions of artists in which the Henri Gallery represented. Also found is an Excelsior 6 cent Classics booklet published by D.H. Knowlton & Co. dating from the early 1900s. Additional printed materials are found throughout the Alphabetical Files.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 8
Oversized material housed in OVs 59-61
Oversized material from Box 53, Folder 5
Oversized material from Box 53, Folder 20
Oversized material from Box 53, Folder 20
Oversized material from Box 53, Folder 20
This series is comprised of loose drawings and sketches, many of Henri. Folders are arranged alphabetically by medium of artwork.
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 9
Oversized material from Box 53, Folder 25
Photographic Materials contains black and white photographs, scattered color photographs, snapshots, and slides of artwork, exhibitions, Henri, the galleries spaces, and the Not New shop. Most photographs are undated.
Folders are arranged alphabetically by subject. Photographic materials of unidentified artwork are filed at the end of the series.
Oversized material housed in Box 57, Folder 10
Oversized material from Box 53, Folder 33