Archives of American Art
Little Gallery records
Little Gallery (Birmingham, Mich.)
AAA.littgall
Archival Resource Key
11.5 Linear feet
1918-1985
The Little Gallery records measure 11.5 linear feet and date from 1918 to 1985. The collection documents Little Gallery's operations through artist, exhibition, and subject files, printed material, photographs, and one sound recording. The collection also includes personal and professional papers, photographs, and some printed material related to Marguerite (Peggy) and Albert deSalle.
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
This 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 born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
Scope and Contents
The Little Gallery records measure 11.5 linear feet and date from 1918 to 1985. The collection documents Little Gallery's operations through artist, exhibition, and subject files, printed material, photographs, and one sound recording. The collection also includes personal and professional papers, photographs, and some printed material related to Marguerite (Peggy) and Albert deSalle.
Artist files consist of photographs of artwork, correspondence, price lists, shipping information, biographical summaries, and some printed material pertaining to various artists represented at the Little Gallery. Two artists particularly documented in these records are Francis De Erdely and Jean Lamouroux, who were both friends of Peggy deSalle and her husband Albert.
Exhibition files contain correspondence, shipping information, price lists, inventories, publicity material, and several pieces of posterboard signage. Little Gallery's subject files consist of correspondence, photographs, financial information, printed material, and other items that relate to advertising, other galleries and museums, contributions of artwork, collectors, and more.
Peggy and Albert deSalle's personal and professional papers include papers related to Peggy's career as an artwork photographer, writings, correspondence with artists, price lists, inventories, artist biographies, and photographs that document Peggy deSalle's transition into selling the art of European craftsmen.
Printed material documents Little Gallery exhibitions and events, as well as activities of Peggy and Albert deSalle outside the gallery, artists, and events at other galleries and organizations. Also found is a deSalle family scrapbook.
Photographs are primarily of Peggy and Albert deSalle, gatherings with friends, and professional events, including interior and exterior photos of the Little Gallery.
Biographical / Historical
Established in 1950 by Marguerite (Peggy) deSalle, the Little Gallery in Birmingham, Michigan was the first gallery in the region to deal in and exhibit contemporary art. Initially deSalle primarily handled the work of local artists starting out in their careers, and the work of faculty from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. deSalle's ex-husband and close friend, artist Zoltan Sepeshy, assisted her in meeting local artists to show at the gallery. Over time, Little Gallery added the works of artists from Europe, Africa, and other parts of the United States. deSalle also established a framing gallery in the basement, and showed jewelry and pottery in addition to paintings and sculptures.
Peggy deSalle (1903-1985) was born in Hungary where she lived until her family emigrated to New York when she was six years old. As a young woman she frequented the studio of Michigan painter Paul Honore, where she met Albert deSalle and Zoltan Sepeshy. In the 1920s she worked as a photographer for William Suhr, a restorer of paintings, at the Detroit Institute of Arts. While working there, she was offered the opportunity to learn photography at various museums in Europe, particularly Germany.
In the 1940s, prior to opening the Little Gallery, deSalle worked out of her home selling art, antiques, silver, goblets, bowls, and paintings brought to the United States by German political refugees. At one point her inventory was approximately 200 works of art.
Albert deSalle served in the U.S. army and was honorably discharged in 1918. In the 1920s and 1930s, deSalle performed in the theatre and worked in a secretarial and managerial capacity for artist Paul Honore. Not long after Peggy began Little Gallery, Albert joined the gallery's staff and remained there until his death in 1964.
In 1983, Peggy donated funds for the founding of the Peggy and Albert deSalle Gallery of Photography at the Detroit Institute of Art.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated in 1985 by William E. Woolfenden as personal representative of the estate of Marguerite L. deSalle.
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 2021.
Preferred Citation
Little Gallery records, 1918-1985. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged as six series.
- Series 1: Artist Files, 1950-1982 (Box 1-4; 4 linear feet)
- Series 2: Exhibition Files, 1956-1975 (Box 5; .4 linear feet)
- Series 3: Subject Files,1950-1988 (Box 5-9; 4 linear feet)
- Series 4: Peggy and Albert deSalle Personal and Professional Papers, 1918-1985 (Box 9-11; 2.3 linear feet)
- Series 5: Printed Material, 1922-1984 (Box 11, 13; .5 linear feet)
- Series 6: Photographs, 1920s-1980s (Box 11-13, .4 linear feet)
Women art dealers
Scrapbooks
Drawings
Sound recordings
Art galleries, Commercial -- Michigan
DeSalle, Peggy
DeSalle, Albert
Sepeshy, Zoltan, 1898-1974
De Erdely, Francis, 1904-1959
Lamouroux, Jean
Artist Files
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
4 Linear feet
Box 1-4
1941-1982
Scope and Contents
Folders may contain photographs of artwork, correspondence, price lists, shipping information, biographical summaries, and some printed material pertaining to various artists represented at the Little Gallery. Two artists particularly documented in these records are Francis De Erdely and Jean Lamouroux, both of whom were friends of the deSalles and whose work was shown frequently at Little Gallery.
Abernathy, J. T.
Archival Resource Key
1958-1963
1
1
Acton, Hugh
Archival Resource Key
1956-1968
1
2
Adler, Ruth
Archival Resource Key
1950
1
3
Angulo, Antonio and Josef Drapell
Archival Resource Key
1969
1
4
Auvil, Eleen
Archival Resource Key
1962
1
5
A, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1959-1973
1
6
Balogh, Charles Edward
Archival Resource Key
1958
1
7
Belisle, Victor
Archival Resource Key
1973-1977
1
8
Bigler, Mary Jane
Archival Resource Key
1968-1977
1
9
Brose, Morris
Archival Resource Key
1960-1972
1
10
Bulone, Joseph
Archival Resource Key
1966-1977
1
11
B, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1950-1974
1
12-13
Calfee, William H.
Archival Resource Key
1950-1960
1
14
Chew, Teng Beng
Archival Resource Key
1968-1973
1
15
Cohn, Harold
Archival Resource Key
1977
1
16
Cox, Sally
Archival Resource Key
1959-1965
1
17
Culver, Charles
Archival Resource Key
1950-1969
1
18
C, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1955-1973
1
19
De Erdely, Francis
Archival Resource Key
1950-1973
1
20-23
Defrancesco, Joseph
Archival Resource Key
1961-1966
1
24
De Holesch, Denes
Archival Resource Key
1955-1973
1
25
DeLarios, Dora
Archival Resource Key
1958-1959
2
1
DeMartelly, John
Archival Resource Key
1941-1966
2
2
D, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1952-1976
2
3
Einstein, David
Archival Resource Key
1970-1974
2
4
Ellis, Robert
Archival Resource Key
1951-1976
2
5
Ellison, Phyllis
Archival Resource Key
1958
2
6
Essex, Shirley
Archival Resource Key
1962-1966
2
7
E, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1955-1963
2
8
Fisher, Wally
Archival Resource Key
1972-1973
2
9
Flettrich, Leonard
Archival Resource Key
1957-1960
2
10
Ford, Betty
Archival Resource Key
1950-1961
2
11
Foster, John and Edith
Archival Resource Key
1950-1960
2
12
Fredericks, Marshall
Archival Resource Key
1956-1977
2
13
Frinta, Irena and Mojmir
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
2
14
F, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1958-1962
2
15
Gale, Richard
Archival Resource Key
1957-1977
2
16
Gilman, Esther
Archival Resource Key
1959-1961
2
17
Glassgold, Harry
Archival Resource Key
1967-1974
2
18
Gonzalez, Ernesto
Archival Resource Key
1951-1955
2
19
G, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1959-1974
2
20
Haas, Johanna
Archival Resource Key
1970-1977
2
21
Heaton, Maurice
Archival Resource Key
1956-1958
2
22
Heino, Otto and Vivika
Archival Resource Key
1958
2
23
Hyde, Marjorie
Archival Resource Key
1957-1958
2
24
H, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1957-1976
2
25
Ispanky, Lazlo
Archival Resource Key
1958-1959
2
26
I, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1960s-1973
2
27
Jaenisch, Hans
Archival Resource Key
1952-1963
2
28
J, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1964-1971
2
29
Kaner, Sam
Archival Resource Key
1955-1964
2
30
Kipp, Maria
Archival Resource Key
1951-1960
2
31
Kline, Svea
Archival Resource Key
1958-1969
2
32
K, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1955-1971
2
33-34
Lamouroux, Jean
Archival Resource Key
1958-1976
2
35-36
Lamouroux, Jean
Archival Resource Key
1957-1982
3
1-3
Lemon, David
Archival Resource Key
1957-1959
3
4
Lietzke, Luke and Rolland
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
5
Lutzeier, Paul
Archival Resource Key
1950-1961
3
6
L, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1957-1971
3
7
Matte, Paul
Archival Resource Key
1954-1962
3
8
McChesney, Clifton
Archival Resource Key
1959-1972
3
9
Michaels, Glenn
Archival Resource Key
1958-1978
3
10-13
Michaels, Glenn, Photographs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s
3
14
Mitchell, Wallace
Archival Resource Key
1974
3
15
M, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1956-1970
3
16
Natzler, Gertrud and Otto
Archival Resource Key
1952-1978
3
17-19
N, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1961-1973
3
20
Ogiluis, Victor, Restoration
Archival Resource Key
1971
3
21
O, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1960-1961
3
22
Pandit, Primulla
Archival Resource Key
1963
4
1
Pillin, Polia
Archival Resource Key
1956-1962
4
2
Pillin, William
Archival Resource Key
1950-1959
4
3
P, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1957-1973
4
4-5
Rahon, Alice
Archival Resource Key
1955-1960
4
6
Reid, Barney
Archival Resource Key
1957-1960
4
7
R, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1955-1969
4
8
Schneider, Art
Archival Resource Key
1973-1978
4
9
Schwarcz, June Morris
Archival Resource Key
1957-1960
4
10
Schwartz, Leonard
Archival Resource Key
1951-1953
4
11
Sepeshy, Zoltan
Archival Resource Key
1974-1982
4
12
Sepeshy, Zoltan, Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1974-1982
4
13
Slaymaker, Martha
Archival Resource Key
1968-1970
4
14
Snow, Nicholas
Archival Resource Key
1971-1977
4
15
Szilagyi, Eve
Archival Resource Key
1959-1977
4
16
S, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1956-1976
4
17-18
Trevigno, Pat
Archival Resource Key
1952-1973
4
19
Van Dommelen, David
Archival Resource Key
1958, 1961
4
20
Van Leyden, Karin and Ernst
Archival Resource Key
1957-1972
4
21
Vitale, Ben
Archival Resource Key
1973-1977
4
22
Wallin, Sammie
Archival Resource Key
1951-1962
4
23
Whalen, Dick
Archival Resource Key
1956-1959
4
24
Winter, Edward
Archival Resource Key
1959-1961
4
25
Wynsma, Kenneth
Archival Resource Key
1954-1972
4
26
W, Last Name
Archival Resource Key
1953-1977
4
27
Yoder, Walter
Archival Resource Key
1966-1973
4
28
Various Artists
Archival Resource Key
1972-1977
4
29
Exhibition Files
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Box 5
1956-1975
Scope and Contents
Files consist of correspondence, shipping information, price lists, inventories, some press releases and printed material, as well as several pieces of posterboard signage from exhibitions Little Gallery was involved with.
Anniversary Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
1957-1968
5
1
Christmas Show
Archival Resource Key
1967-1968
5
2
Contemporary Printmakers
Archival Resource Key
1960
5
3
Cranbrook Alumni Show
Archival Resource Key
1968
5
4
Cranbrook Show
Archival Resource Key
1974-1975
5
5
Fourth Contemporary Printmakers Show
Archival Resource Key
1961
5
6
Future Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
1962-1964
5
7
Japan Show
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970s
5
8
Midtown Galleries
Archival Resource Key
1964-1971
5
9
New Orleans Exhibition
Archival Resource Key
1957
5
10
Papers
Archival Resource Key
1966-1978
5
11
Printmakers Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
1960-1964
5
12
Rentals and Loans
Archival Resource Key
1956-1960
5
13
Signage
Archival Resource Key
undated
5
14
Subject Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
4 Linear feet
Boxes 5-9
1950-1980
Scope and Contents
Subject files include correspondence, photographs, financial information, printed material, and other items that relate to advertising, other galleries and museums, contributions of artwork, collectors, and more. A significant portion of this series includes correspondence, receipts, contracts, and publicity material related to Peggy deSalle and the Little Gallery's contributions of artwork for various causes. Another significant grouping is correspondence and papers which are organized by year and include price lists, sales records, photographs, information on artists, shipping information, and newspaper clippings. Also found are scattered personal correspondence and greeting cards.
Advertising
Archival Resource Key
1961-1970
5
15-18
Archives of American Art
Archival Resource Key
1967-1970
5
19
A, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1962-1978
5
20
Bloomfield Art Association
Archival Resource Key
1958-1962
5
21-22
B, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1975
5
23
Card and Pamphlet, Drafts
Archival Resource Key
1958, undated
5
24
Collectors, Gattengno
Archival Resource Key
1958-1959
5
25
Collectors, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Winston
Archival Resource Key
1958-1965
5
26-27
Contributions of Art
Archival Resource Key
1966-1980
5
28
Contributions of Art
Archival Resource Key
1971-1979
6
1-6
Correspondence and Papers
Archival Resource Key
1950-1955
6
7-13
Correspondence and Papers
Archival Resource Key
1955-1976
7
1-6
C, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1975
7
7
Davies, John P., Jr.
Archival Resource Key
1961
7
8
Donations
Archival Resource Key
1972-1973
7
9
Detroit Art Dealers
Archival Resource Key
1961-1962
7
10
Detroit Art Institute
Archival Resource Key
1966
7
11
D, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1979
7
12
Employees, Avril Vaughan
Archival Resource Key
1971-1974
7
13
E-F, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1977
7
14
Galleries, Edition Rothe
Archival Resource Key
1965-1967
7
15
Galleries, Ferdinand Roten Galleries, Inc.
Archival Resource Key
1961-1965
7
16-18
Galleries, Ferdinand Roten Galleries, Inc.
Archival Resource Key
1961-1965
8
1
Galleries, Nechemia Glezer and Company
Archival Resource Key
1960-1962
8
2
Nielsen Gallery Inc.
Archival Resource Key
1969
8
3
Galleries, Salzer Galleries
Archival Resource Key
1959-1968
8
4-6
Galleries, Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1957-1979
8
7
General Motors
Archival Resource Key
1957-1966
8
8-9
G-H, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1975
8
10
Insurance
Archival Resource Key
1978-1979
8
11
International, Japan, India, and Thailand
Archival Resource Key
1961-1964
8
12-13
International, Japan
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
undated
8
14
I-L, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1960-1977
8
15
Library Catalog, Little Gallery
Archival Resource Key
undated
8
16
Mary Louise Sanders, Architectural Art Services
Archival Resource Key
1969-1970
8
17
M, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1971
8
18
Pratt Graphic Art Center
Archival Resource Key
1957-1965
8
19
Pearson, Ronald Hayes, Inc.
Archival Resource Key
undated
8
20
Press Releases and Publicity
Archival Resource Key
1951-1977
8
21-22
P, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1971
9
1
Renovation, Little Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1968-1969
9
2
R, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1973
9
3
St. George Gallery Prints
Archival Resource Key
1959-1962
9
4
S, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1978
9
5
Tribolet, Harold, R. R. Donnelly and Sons
Archival Resource Key
1963-1966
9
6
T-Z, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1960-1971
9
7
Peggy and Albert deSalle Personal and Professional Papers
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
2.3 Linear feet
Boxes 9-11
1918
1930s-1985
Scope and Contents
Peggy deSalle's papers include correspondence, price lists, and invoices related to her career as an artwork photographer. Also found are writings, correspondence with artists, price lists, inventories, artist biographies, and photographs that document deSalle's transition to selling the art of European craftsmen and thus her move towards establishing the Little Gallery in 1950. Later records of deSalle's include travel writings and papers, a passport, certificates of appreciation, and memorial material.
Records relating to Albert deSalle include a U.S. Army Honorable Discharge document, some correspondence, and newspaper clippings and letters concerning his death.
Account Book
Archival Resource Key
1943-1949
9
8
Artwork
Archival Resource Key
undated
9
9
Autobiographical Writing, Peggy deSalle
Archival Resource Key
1983
9
10
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1931-1969
9
11-20
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1969-1985, undated
10
1-11
Correspondence, Letters of Sympathy Sent to Peggy deSalle
Archival Resource Key
1964-1965
10
12-14
European Craftsmen, Notes and Related Materials
Archival Resource Key
circa 1930s-1940s
10
15
European Painters, Notes and Related Materials
Archival Resource Key
circa 1949
10
16
Homemade Greeting Cards
Archival Resource Key
undated
11
1
Honorable Discharge from U.S. Army, Albert deSalle
Archival Resource Key
1918
11
2
Institute of the Arts, Detroit, Tribute Certificate and Membership card
Archival Resource Key
1983
11
3
Italian Renaissance Painters, Images and Notes
Archival Resource Key
1930s-1940s
11
4
Introduction Speech for the Dorothy Liberman Weisman Award
Archival Resource Key
1982
11
5
Lectures on Art Appreciation
Archival Resource Key
1932-1933
11
6
"Lisbon," Poem for Peggy deSalle
Archival Resource Key
circa 1968
11
7
Memorial Service Guest Book, Albert deSalle; Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1965
11
8
Memorials, Friends
Archival Resource Key
1970-1983
11
9
Notes and Writings
Archival Resource Key
undated
11
10
Papers, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1960s-1980s
11
11
Passport, Marguerite L. deSalle
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970
11
12
Travel
Archival Resource Key
1966-1967
11
13
Travel Diary, Paris, England, Budapest, and Vienna
Archival Resource Key
undated
11
14
"Understanding Through Conversation"
Archival Resource Key
undated
11
15
Printed Material
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Boxes 11, 13
1922-1984
Scope and Contents
Found here are Little Gallery announcements for exhibitions and other events; newspaper clippings and articles concerning the Little Gallery, Peggy and Albert deSalle, the deSalle Gallery of Photography at the Detroit Institute of Art, artists, and other art-related topics. Also found here are bulletins, newsletters, exhibition ephemera from other museums and galleries, three scrapbooks, and an edition of Time in the Wastebasket: Poems, Collages, Parables, and Dreams by Paul Wescher. In addition to clippings, photographs, and other printed ephemera in the deSalle family scrapbook, there is a sketch by Zoltan Sepeshy.
Announcements, Little Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1950s-1970s
11
16
Articles and Newspaper Clippings, Artists and Art Subjects
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1970s
11
17
Articles and Newspaper Clippings, Little Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1950-1977
11
18-23
Articles and Newspaper Clippings, Peggy deSalle and Little Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1970s-1980s
11
24
Articles and Newspaper Clippings, Albert and Peggy deSalle Gallery of Photography
Archival Resource Key
1983-1984
11
25
Articles and Newspaper Clippings, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1960s-1970s
11
26
Bulletins and Newsletters
Archival Resource Key
1928-1981
11
27
Exhibition Material, Other Galleries and Museums
Archival Resource Key
1950s-1960s
11
28-29
Time in the Wastebasket: Poems, Collages, Parables, and Dreams, Paul Wescher
Archival Resource Key
1975
11
30
Scrapbook, Albert and Peggy deSalle
Archival Resource Key
1922-1939
13
1
Scrapbook, Art, Mexico, Politics
Archival Resource Key
1934-1937
13
2
Scrapbook, Little Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1950-1953
13
3
Photographs
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Boxes 11-13
1920s-1980s
Scope and Contents
The bulk of this series is comprised of photographs of Peggy and Albert deSalle. Images of Peggy deSalle include snapshots and portraits of her from the 1930s to 1980s. Photographs of Albert deSalle include portraits and snapshots of him dating from his service in the first World War until his death in 1964, including snapshots taken of him acting onstage in the 1920s. Other images of the deSalles depict them with friends and family, at social gatherings, and travelling. Also found in this series are some photographs of the Little Gallery's exterior and interior, photos of artwork, exhibitions, and events, and two photographs of Willard Ayer Nash painting in his Santa Fe studio.
Artwork
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s-1960s
11
31
Exhibition
Archival Resource Key
1983
11
32
Little Gallery Opening and Displays
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s
11
33
Peggy deSalle Outside of Little Gallery
Archival Resource Key
undated
12
1
Albert deSalle
Archival Resource Key
1920s-1950s
12
2
Albert deSalle
Archival Resource Key
1930s-1950s
13
4
Peggy deSalle
Archival Resource Key
1930s-1980s
12
3
The deSalles, Family, and Friends
Archival Resource Key
1930s-1980s
12
4
deSalle's Housewarming, Photo Album
Archival Resource Key
1942
12
5
Homes and Residences
Archival Resource Key
1961-1964
12
6
Dinners and Other Events
Archival Resource Key
1950s-1980s
12
7
Willard Ayer Nash in Santa Fe Studio
Archival Resource Key
1923
12
8
Paul Wescher
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s-1960s
13
5