Archives of American Art
Charles Ramsburg papers
Ramsburg, Charles
AAA.ramschar
Archival Resource Key
0.8 Linear feet
6.04 Gigabytes
1959-2020
The papers of artist Charles Ramsburg (1942- ) measure 0.8 linear feet and 6.04 GB, and date from 1959-2020. The collection documents Ramsburg's career and art practice through biographical material, correspondence, exhibition files, printed material, and photographic material. Some email correspondence, three video recordings and the bulk of the photographs are in digital form.
English
.
Biographical / Historical
Charles Ramsburg (1942- ) is an artist in New York City who creates sculptures and drawings related to the minutiae of nature. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ramsburg studied at the San Francisco Art Institute, University of Arizona, and University of California at Santa Barbara. He moved to New Mexico in 1970, and after several decades returned to the east coast. Ramsburg's work has been featured in exhibitions internationally, and he has been represented by Carter Burden Gallery in New York and Horwitch LewAllen Gallery in New Mexico.
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 in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Archives of American Art by Charles Ramsburg in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Preferred Citation
Charles Ramsburg papers, 1959-2020. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Hilary Price in 2018. 2019 additions were processed in 2020 by Ryan Evans. 2020 born-digital additions were processed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2021 with funding provided by Smithsonian Collection Care and Preservation Fund.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as five series.
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1959-circa 1993 (Box 1, 1 folder; ER06, ER09, 0.162 GB)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1961-2019 (Box 1, 2 folders; ER07-ER08, 0.054 GB)
- Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1989-2005 (Box 1, 0.3 linear feet; ER01, 3.86 GB)
- Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1980-2018 (Box 2; 0.2 linear feet)
- Series 5: Photographic Material, 1990-2017 (Box 2, 0.2 linear feet; ER02-ER05, 1.94 GB)
Scope and Contents
The papers of artist Charles Ramsburg (1942- ) measure 0.8 linear feet and 6.04 GB, and date from 1959-2020. The collection documents Ramsburg's career and art practice through biographical material, correspondence, exhibition files, printed material, and photographic material. Some email correspondence, three video recordings and the bulk of the photographs are in digital form.
Artists -- New York (State) -- New York
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York
Video recordings
Biographical Material
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1 Folder
Box 1
0.162 Gigabytes
ER06, ER09
1959-2020
Scope and Contents
Biographical material includes a "talent test" completed by Ramsburg, an artist's statement, and photocopy of a cartoon. Also included is a promotional digital video recording for Carter Burden Network featuring Ramsburg at the Carter Burden Gallery and a profile video, part of an artist portrait series for Carter Burden Gallery by Anahita Amirshahi.
Biographical Material
Archival Resource Key
1959-circa 1993
1
1
Carter Burden Network (Carter Burden Gallery) 2017 Promotional Video, Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.05 Gigabytes
One computer file
2017
ER06
A Portrait of Charles Ramsburg, film by Anahita Amirshahi (2020), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.112 Gigabytes
One computer file
2020
ER09
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
2 Folders
Box 1
0.054 Gigabytes
ER07-ER08
1961-2020
Scope and Contents
Correspondence includes letters and printed emails to and from friends, art dealers, and collectors. Also includes some email correspondence in digital form.
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1961-2007
1
2
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
2013-2017
1
3
Email Correspondence, Digital Documents
Archival Resource Key
0.012 Gigabytes
93 computer files
2018-2019
ER07
Email Correspondence, Digital Documents and Photographs
Archival Resource Key
0.042 Gigabytes
88 computer files
2020
ER08
Exhibition Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
0.3 Linear feet
Box 1
3.86 Gigabytes
ER01
1989-2005
Scope and Contents
Exhibition files contain price lists, consignment agreements, correspondence, sales records, resumes, announcements, clippings, and one digital video recording documenting the exhibition at Chaos Gallery in Serbia. Dialogue in the video recording is in Serbian.
Allene Lapides Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1989-1990
1
5
Horwitch LewAllen Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1993-1996
1
6
Budapesti Töréneti Múzeum
Archival Resource Key
1995-1996
1
7
Chaos Gallery
Archival Resource Key
2001-2005
1
8
Scope and Contents
Includes born-digital file, see ER01
Chaos Gallery, Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.86 Gigabytes
1 computer file
2005
ER01
Printed Material
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 2
circa 1980-2018
Scope and Contents
Printed material includes exhibition announcements and catalogs, clippings of reviews of Ramsburg's work, and four self-published books of artwork.
Announcements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2018
2
1
Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980-2015
2
2
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1985-2005
2
3
Self-published Books
Archival Resource Key
2010-2013
2
4
Photographic Material
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 2
1.94 Gigabytes
ER02-ER05
1990-2017
Scope and Contents
Photographic material consists of prints, slides, transparencies and digital images of Ramsburg's artwork, including his Icons of Nature and Pathing Sticks series.
Prints, Slides, and Transparencies of Artwork
Archival Resource Key
1990s
2
5
"Shield Series, Lit. Icons, Mixed Media Sculpture, Metal Sculpture," Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
0.528 Gigabytes
276 computer files
2006
ER02
Icons of Nature, Walking Stick, and Pathing Stick Series, Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
0.891 Gigabytes
741 computer files
2006-2013
ER03
"Drawings, ICE," Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Gigabytes
10 computer files
2010
ER04
Shadow Drawings, Digital Photographs
Archival Resource Key
0.03 Gigabytes
21 computer files
2015-2017
ER05