The collection is arranged as 6 series
Patricia Jordan (1937-1988) was a photographer and integral part of the Beat circle in San Francisco during the late 1950s and 1960s. Through her photography, she captured intimate portraits of the artists and poets in San Francisco at that time. Patricia Jordan, née Topalian, married Larry Jordan, assemblagist and avant-garde filmmaker, in the late 1950s. They lived in San Francisco, Larkspur, and finally settled in San Anselmo, California. Patricia and Larry Jordan had one daughter, Lorna, born in 1960.
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Patricia Jordan donated her papers to the Archives of American Art in 1988.
Patricia Jordan papers, 1870, 1949-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Hilary Price in 2015.
The papers of San Francisco based Beat photographer Patricia Jordan measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1870, 1949-1984. The papers include correspondence, much of it illustrated and with Beat artists and poets, writings, exhibition files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork.
About one-half of the collection consists of correspondence; many items of which could be considered works of art or mail art. There are letters, illustrated letters, photographs, collages, postcards, greeting and holiday cards, and exhibition invitations. Letters are addressed to Patricia Jordan, her husband Larry, and/or daughter Lorna and are from family and friends, including many Beat artists and poets such as Kenneth Anger, Steve Arnold, Paul Beattie, Wallace Berman, Stan Brakhage, Jess Collins, Joseph Cornell (with whom Larry Jordan studied in 1965), Robert Duncan, George Herms, and Gary Snyder. Family letters are from Patricia's parents, sisters, daughter, and husband Larry.
The papers contain a large number of photographs and are primarily portraits taken by Patricia Jordan of friends and family including her husband Larry, daughter Lorna, Geroge Herms, and Wallace Berman. Many of the subjects are not identified. Some photographs are candid snapshots, while others are prints and test prints of images featured in the 1975 exhibition, "A Kind of Beatness," at Focus Gallery in San Francisco.
The remainder of the collection is comprised of scattered writings, exhibition files, printed material, and artwork.
Correspondence comprises about one half of the collection. Many items of correspondence border on works of art, or mail art, and include letters, illustrated letters, photographs, collages, postcards, greeting and holiday cards, and exhibition invitations. Letters are addressed to Patricia, Larry, and/or Lorna Jordan from friends and family. Correspondence from friends include many artists and poets including Wallace Berman, Stan Brakhage, Joseph Cornell (with whom Larry Jordan studied in 1965), Robert Duncan, Jess Collins, George Herms, Paul Beattie, Steve Arnold, Gary Snyder, and Kenneth Anger. Some items of correspondence include revealing stories about famous beat poets. Family letters are from Patricia's parents, sisters Joanna Doyle and Dee Beattie (married to Paul Beattie), daughter Lorna, and husband Larry. One file contains corresponce between Patricia and Larry.
Oversized material housed in OV 4
Robert Duncan and Jess Collins
George Herms
Oversized material housed in OV 4
Patricia and Larry Jordan
Oversized material housed in OV 4
Writings include photocopies of a mailing by Wallace Berman, a screenplay by Larry Jordan titled, "House of the Brain," and poetry manuscripts by John Wieners, Robert Duncan, Kirby Doyle, Patricia and Larry Jordan, Wallace Berman, Michael McClure, and Stan Brakhage.
Exhibition files contain exhibition announcements, catalogs, and a handwritten list for a New York exhibition. Annoucements and catalogs relate to exhibitions that Larry, Patricia, and/or their friends were involved in.
Printed material includes booklets, printed collages, a bulletin, magazines, and newspaper articles. Booklets of creative writing are by Jack Hirschman, Daniel Moore, Michael McClure, and Reverend Robert Rasmusson. A vintage booklet from the 1920s contains plates of famous paintings. Printed collages are by unidentified artists. Magazine and newspaper articles document publicity received by Patricia, Larry, or friends in
Photographs make up another large portion of the collection (.7 linear feet; 10 folders), and are primarily portraits taken by Patricia Jordan of friends and family including her husband Larry, daughter Lorna, George Herms, Wallace Berman, and many others. Many of the subjects are not identified. Some photographs are candid snapshots, while other are prints and test prints of images featured in the 1975 exhibition, "A Kind of Beatness," at Focus Gallery in San Francisco.
Also included are vintage carte de visites, photographic collages incorporating cardboard and drawing, and photographs of Patricia Jordan, notably a triptych by Wallace Berman also featured in the Focus Gallery exhibition.
Includes photos of Wallace, Shirley, and Tosh Berman, Kirby Doyle, Robert Duncan, and others
Includes photos of Patricia and Lawrence Jordan and others including Joan Brown, Jay DeFeo, Joanne Kyger, and Philip Whalen
Oversized material housed in Box 3, Folder 4
Artwork includes sketches, prints, collages, and handmade books. Several sketches were created by Patricia's daughter Lorna. One of the handmade books was created by Robert Duncan and Jess Collins, and features many original works including drawing, collage, photography, and writing. The majority of the artworks were created by unidentified artists. Some were sent to Patricia by mail.
Sketches, Prints, and Collages