Archives of American Art
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture records
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
AAA.skowscho
Archival Resource Key
35.42 Linear feet
1945-2013
The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture records measure 35.42 linear feet and date from 1945 to 2013. The paper records of the school document the period from circa 1945 to 1977 and consist of administrative records, financial records, visiting artist files, faculty files, student files, and photographic material. Also included are motion picture films by Jack Eastman and Karl Fortess, dating from circa 1950 to 1968, showing the school's campus and faculty, staff, and students at work and leisure. A large portion of the collection consists of the Skowhegan Lecture Archives, a sound recording archive of lectures given by artists speaking at the school between 1952 and 2013.
English
.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture records were lent to the Archives of American Art for microfilming in 1968. The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture via Willard Cummings and Jack Eastman donated portions of the lent material from 1968 to 1977. The lecture archive was donated between 2002 to 2014 via the Executive Director.
Processing Information
The papers were processed and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2019, and the motion picture films were processed and described by Megan McShea in 2019. During the processing of the film, 28 short clips of film were arranged by date onto compilation reels, identified in this finding aid. The films were also digitized in 2019 with funds provided by the Skowhegan School. The Skowhegan Lecture Archive has not been processed.
Preferred Citation
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture records, 1945-2013. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Biographical / Historical
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (est. 1946) is an art school and artist residency in Skowhegan, Maine. Since the school's beginnings, it has attracted prominent visiting artists and faculty members such as Jacob Lawrence, Philip Pearlstein, Ben Shahn, Isabel Bishop, and Yasuo Kuniyoshi.
The school was founded by Willard W. Cummings, Henry Varnum Poor, Sidney Simon, and Charles Cutler. While serving in Europe during World War II on The War Art Unit project, a project that sent artists to battle zones in order to record their impressions, they noticed that the European system of studying art allowed students intimate access to artists, their studios, and creative life. The Skowhegan School founders wanted to create a similar intimacy between students and artists in the U.S. After returning to the U.S., Cummings, Poor, Simon, and Cutler built an art program that included visiting artists and an artist lecture series that enabled students to interact with professional, well-established artists. In 1960, the school's administration was reorganized due to a fire that burned down the barn, which served as a fresco painting studio, and other nearby buildings. The reorganization introduced trustees and other facets of the administration that were needed to sustain the school's funding and operations.
Scope and Contents
The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture records measure 35.42 linear feet and date from 1945 to 2013. The paper records of the school document the period from circa 1945 to 1977 and consist of administrative records, financial records, visiting artist files, faculty files, student files, and photographic material. Also included are motion picture films by Jack Eastman and Karl Fortess, dating from circa 1950 to 1968, showing the school's campus and faculty, staff, and students at work and leisure., artists, and students. A large portion of the collection consists of the Skowhegan Lecture Archives, a sound recording archive of lectures given by artists speaking at the school between 1952 and 2013.
Administrative records include files for the school's board, exhibitions and benefits, fundraising, government agencies, publicity, and other office files. Financial records consist of accounting procedure documents, bills paid, budgets, student drawing accounts, payroll, real estate expenses, and reports.
Files for visiting artists such as Philip Pearlstein, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, and William Zorach contain correspondence, lecture notes and transcripts, and records regarding the broadcast of artists' lectures. Faculty files consist of correspondence, faculty lists, and other material for Isabel Bishop, Xavier Gonzalez, Sidney Simon, and other faculty members. Student files include alumni records, correspondence, recommendations and rejections, and scholarship material.
Photographs and negatives are of Janet Fish, Paul Rasika, Alice Neel, Bette Davis, Jacob Lawrence, Roy Lichtenstein, faculty and visiting artists, and students at events, lectures, social gatherings, and in class.
Motion picture films include silent, color footage of the school's campus, working faculty and students, and social activities. Footage includes both edited footage and outtakes (footage shot but not used in the edited piece), that form three distinct sets of films from three different periods: 16 mm films from the 1950s, 8 mm films from 1964-1965, and super 8 mm films from 1966-1968. Based on handwritten notes on the original film containers, Karl Fortess was the creator of the 16 mm films, and Jack Eastman was the creator of the 8 mm film. It is unclear who created the super 8 mm films, but some of the footage appears to have been shot by Willard Cummings.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 8 series.
- Series 1: Administrative Records, 1945-1977 (Boxes 1-5, 12, OV 31; 5.0 linear feet)
- Series 2: Financial Records, 1945-1967 (Boxes 5-8, 12, OV 31; 3.0 linear feet)
- Series 3: Visiting Artists Files, 1948-1965 (Boxes 8; 0.5 linear feet)
- Series 4: Faculty Files, 1946-1965 (Boxes 8-9; 0.4 linear feet)
- Series 5: Student Files, 1946-1964 (Boxes 9-12; 2.0 linear feet)
- Series 6: Photographic Materials, 1955-1977 (Boxes 11-12; 0.5 linear feet)
- Series 7: Motion Picture Films, circa 1955-1970 (Box 11, film cans FC 13-30; 1.9 linear feet)
- Series 8: Skowhegan Lecture Archives, 1952-2013
Existence and Location of Copies
Material lent for microfilming is available on 35mm microfilm reels N68-27-N68-30, N68-78-N68-80, and N68-96-N68-97 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Duplicate audio CDs of the Skowhegan Lecture Archives are also available at Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, Califorina; Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Califorina; Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville, Maine; Museum of Modern Art, New York, N.Y.; Tate Library and Archive, London; Arts Library, Robert A. Haas Family Arts Library at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
All of the motion picture films in the collection were digitized for research access in 2019 and are available at the Archives of American Art offices.
Separated Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds microfilm of material lent for microfilming on reels N68-27-N68-30, N68-78-N68-80, and N68-96-N68-97. Loaned materials were returned to the donor and are not described in the collection container inventory.
Conditions Governing Use
Skowhegan Lecture Archives: Authorization to publish, quote or reproduce requires written permission from Skowhegan in addition to the copyright holders. A list of copyright holders is available at the Archives of American Art Washington, D.C. office. Transcripts may not be duplicated. Contact Reference 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.
Art, American -- Study and teaching
Sound recordings
Motion pictures (visual works)
Art Schools -- Maine -- Skowhegan
Fortess, Karl E. (Karl Eugene), 1907-1993
Bishop, Isabel, 1902-1988
Gonzalez, Xavier, 1898-1993
Cummings, Willard Warren, 1915-1975
Simon, Sidney, 1917-1997
Administrative Records
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
5 Linear feet
Boxes 1-5, 12, OV 31
1945-1977
Scope and Contents
Administrative records detail the school's history, board activities, fundraising and scholarship campaigns, publicity, transactions with government agencies, artist's model contracts, and various other files.
Arrangement
The series is divided into six subseries.
- 1.1: Board Files, 1946-1967
- 1.2: Exhibitions and Benefits, 1947-1977
- 1.3: Fundraising, 1947-1967
- 1.4: Government Agencies, 1947-1964
- 1.5: Miscellaneous Office Files, 1945-1964
- 1.6: Publicity, 1946-1977
Board Files
1.1
Archival Resource Key
1946-1967
Scope and Contents
Files for the school's board include meeting agendas and minutes; correspondence files for Audrey Silbey, Henry V. Poor, Willard W. Cummings, and other officers in the school's administration; plans for a reorganization of the administration in 1961; and advisory committee files regarding Colby College among other topics.
Advisory Committee, Colby College
Archival Resource Key
1959-1962
1
1
Advisory Committee, Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1953-1962
1
2-3
Advisory Committee, Minutes
Archival Resource Key
1951-1961
1
4
Board of Directors, Minutes
Archival Resource Key
1949-1959
1
5
Board of Governors, Agendas and Meetings
Archival Resource Key
1963
1
6
Board of Governors, Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1959-1962
1
7-9
Board of Governors, Minutes and Meetings
Archival Resource Key
1964-1965
1
10-11
Board of Governors, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1964-1966
1
12
Board of Trustees, Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1960-1964
1
13-17
Board of Trustees, Minutes
Archival Resource Key
1962-1966
1
18
Bylaws and Reorganization Plan of 1961
Archival Resource Key
1946-1961
1
19
Correspondence, Audrey Silbey
Archival Resource Key
1951
1
20
Correspondence, E.P. Humphrey, Jr.
Archival Resource Key
1959-1960
1
21
Correspondence, Helen H. Dodge
Archival Resource Key
1949-1950
1
22
Correspondence, Henry V. Poor
Archival Resource Key
1949-1963
1
23
Scope and Contents
Includes negatives and a few painted negatives of artwork.
Correspondence, Jacob Oxman
Archival Resource Key
1962-1963
1
24
Correspondence, Jessica Boyden
Archival Resource Key
1954-1959
1
25
Correspondence, John Eastman, Jr.
Archival Resource Key
1963-1966
1
26
Correspondence, Kappo Phelan
Archival Resource Key
1951-1952
1
27
Correspondence, Maxine S. Cronbach
Archival Resource Key
1959
1
28
Correspondence, Ray Alden
Archival Resource Key
1960-1966
1
29
Correspondence, Willard W. Cummings
Archival Resource Key
1946-1950
1
30-31
Scope and Contents
Includes material for the Artists Equity Committee and one notebook of catalog requests.
Correspondence, Willard W. Cummings
Archival Resource Key
1951-1967
2
1-6
Meeting Notes
Archival Resource Key
1955-1963
2
7
President's Reports
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
2
8
Exhibitions and Benefits
1.2
Archival Resource Key
1947-1977
Scope and Contents
The subseries contains correspondence with artists, venue and artist lists, insurance values for artwork, and loan agreements for benefits and exhibitions of student, faculty, and visiting artist works.
Arrangement
The files are arranged in rough chronological order.
Student Exhibition
Archival Resource Key
1947-1948
2
9
Bowdoin College Museum of Fine Art, Skowhegan Retrospective
Archival Resource Key
1950
2
10
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association (YMYWHA)
Archival Resource Key
1953
2
11
Benefit Exhibition, General
Archival Resource Key
1954
2
12
Benefit Exhibition, Correspondence with Loaners
Archival Resource Key
1954
2
13
Benefit Exhibition, Correspondence with Participating Artists
Archival Resource Key
1954
2
14
Student Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
1956-1957
2
15-17
Scope and Contents
Includes material for exhibitions in New York City, correspondence, and lists of exhibition locations and artwork.
Circulating Exhibition of Prize Winning Student Artwork
Archival Resource Key
1960
2
18-19
Colby College Sesquicentennial Exhibition
Archival Resource Key
1962
2
20
Arts Ball and Auction Benefit
Archival Resource Key
1962s
2
21
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association (YMYWHA)
Archival Resource Key
1963
2
22
Four Centuries of American Masterpieces
Archival Resource Key
1964
2
23-26
Scope and Contents
Includes a copy of the exhibition catalog.
Lenox Hill-Skowhegan Annual Benefit
Archival Resource Key
1965-1967
3
1
Various Benefit Award Dinner Programs
Archival Resource Key
1972-1977
3
2-3
Various Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1968-1976
3
4
Fundraising
1.3
Archival Resource Key
1947-1967
Scope and Contents
Files in this subseries contain correspondence, contributor lists, scholarship fund reports, foundation and endowment correspondence regarding funding, and material on funding the reconstruction of a barn damaged by a fire in 1960 that was used for fresco instruction and as a lecture hall.
Background Material
Archival Resource Key
1959-1964
3
5
Background Material
Archival Resource Key
1959-1964
12
1
Barn-Studio
Archival Resource Key
1960-1961
3
6
Contributors
Archival Resource Key
1954-1955
3
7
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1966
3
8
Endowments
Archival Resource Key
1961-1965
3
9-11
Scope and Contents
Includes material for the Anson Kent Cross Endowment Fund.
Endowments
Archival Resource Key
1961-1965
31
Foundations
Archival Resource Key
1949-1965
3
12-15
Plans
Archival Resource Key
1966-1967
3
16
Scholarship Fund Drive, General
Archival Resource Key
1947-1964
3
17-22
Scholarship Fund Drive, Advisory Committee Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1953-1954
3
23
Scholarship Fund Drive, Alumni
Archival Resource Key
1950-1958
3
24-25
Scholarship Fund Drive, Appeal Letters
Archival Resource Key
1955-1959
3
26
Scholarship Fund Drive, Donor Lists
Archival Resource Key
1951-1956
4
1-5
Scholarship Fund Drive, Donor Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1951-1959
4
6-11
Scholarship Fund Drive, Reports to Donors
Archival Resource Key
1951
4
12
Scholarship Fund Drive, Thank You Letters
Archival Resource Key
1951-1962
4
13-18
Suggestions
Archival Resource Key
1954
4
19
Government Agencies
1.4
Archival Resource Key
1947-1964
Scope and Contents
Files for government agencies include records concerning taxes, social security, veterans affairs, and health and welfare services for students and employees of Skowhegan.
Health and Welfare
Archival Resource Key
1947-1962
4
20
Health and Welfare
Archival Resource Key
1947-1962
12
1
Internal Revenue Service
Archival Resource Key
1954-1956
4
21
Maine Sales Tax
Archival Resource Key
1951-1963
4
22
Office of Price Stabilization
Archival Resource Key
1952
4
23
Social Security
Archival Resource Key
1962-1963
4
24
Student and Veterans Administration
Archival Resource Key
1947-1954
4
25
Taxes and Exemption
Archival Resource Key
1947-1964
4
26-27
Miscellaneous Office Files
1.5
Archival Resource Key
1945-1964
Scope and Contents
Inventories of art supplies at the school's store, art studio supplies, slide rentals, and catalogs; real estate documents for the school's property and library; and contracts, payment information, and correspondence with artist's models are in this subseries.
Models, Contracts and Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1949-1961
4
28
Real Estate, Maine Library
Archival Resource Key
1960-1964
4
29
Real Estate, Maine Library
Archival Resource Key
1963
31
Real Estate, Purchase of School Property
Archival Resource Key
1945-1963
4
30
Supplies and Inventory, Art Supply Store
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
4
31
Supplies and Inventory, Art Supply Store
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
12
1
Supplies and Inventory, Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1960-1963
4
32
Supplies and Inventory, Fresco and Sculpture Studio
Archival Resource Key
1963
4
33
Supplies and Inventory, Sculpture Inventory
Archival Resource Key
1950-1959
4
34
Supplies and Inventory, Slide Rentals
Archival Resource Key
1946-1961
4
35
Publicity
1.6
Archival Resource Key
1946-1977
Scope and Contents
Publicity consists of printed materials that include clippings, Skowhegan brochures and catalogs; history of the school and the Solon Meeting House; correspondence regarding advertising; comments about the school by students and artists; a photograph and other documents concerning the Skowhegan Indian Statue by Bernard Langlais for Maine's sesquicentennial in 1969; and files for promotional events.
Advertising
Archival Resource Key
1946-circa 1963
4
36
Advertising
Archival Resource Key
1946-circa 1963
5
1
Comments by Artists and Students Regarding Skowhegan
Archival Resource Key
circa 1949-1959
5
2
History and Facts About Skowhegan
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960
5
3
History of the South Solon Meeting House
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950-1959
5
4
History of the South Solon Meeting House
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950-1959
12
1
Indian Statue Project for Skowhegan Hospitality and Tourism Association
Archival Resource Key
1967
5
5
Scope and Contents
Includes a photograph of the sculpture.
Press Releases
Archival Resource Key
1946-1961
5
6
Printed Materials - Brochures
Archival Resource Key
1946-1958
5
7
Printed Materials
Archival Resource Key
1946-1977
5
8-16
Scope and Contents
Assorted printed materials include Skowhegan program brochures and catalogs, bulletins and newsletters, clippings, as well as notes, correspondence, and a few annotations within some of the printed materials.
Printed Materials
Archival Resource Key
1946-1977
12
1
Promotions, Cocktail Party
Archival Resource Key
1957
5
17
Promotions, Open House
Archival Resource Key
1961
5
18
Scope and Contents
Includes invitiations, responses, and one photograph.
Financial Records
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
3 Linear feet
Boxes 5-8, 12, OV 13
1945-1967
Scope and Contents
The series contains financial statements, bills paid for the school's locations in Maine and New York City, costs for a new barn after the original barn was damaged in a fire, and files for stocks, real estate, investments, and insurance.
Accounting Procedures
Archival Resource Key
1962
5
19
Accounting Procedures
Archival Resource Key
1962
31
Audit
Archival Resource Key
1963-1964
5
20
Bank Statements
Archival Resource Key
1951-1953
5
21
Scope and Contents
Includes one deposit book.
Bills, General
Archival Resource Key
1949-1950
5
22-23
Bills, General
Archival Resource Key
1950-1954
6
1-3
Bills, General
Archival Resource Key
1954
12
2
Bills, Maine
Archival Resource Key
1955
6
4-5
Bills, Maine
Archival Resource Key
1960-1961
6
6-8
Bills, Maine
Archival Resource Key
1963-1965
6
9-17
Bills, New York City
Archival Resource Key
1955-1957
6
18
Bills, New York City
Archival Resource Key
1960
7
1-3
Bills, New York City
Archival Resource Key
1963-1965
7
4-7
Bills, Store
Archival Resource Key
1949-1965
7
8-12
Bills, Students
Archival Resource Key
1951-1958
7
13-14
Budgets
Archival Resource Key
1949-1963
7
15
Drawing Accounts
Archival Resource Key
1961-1963
7
16-17
Scope and Contents
Includes accounts for Bill Parson and Harry Kyle.
Drawing Accounts
Archival Resource Key
1961-1963
12
2
Graphics Workshop Expenses
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960
7
18
Insurance
Archival Resource Key
1945-1951
7
19
Investments
Archival Resource Key
1955-1963
7
20-22
Payroll Ledger
Archival Resource Key
1954-1963
7
23
Payroll, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1954-1967
8
1
Property Expenses
Archival Resource Key
1955-1961
8
2
Real Estate, Maine and New York City
Archival Resource Key
1959-1964
8
3
Real Estate, New Barn
Archival Resource Key
1960-1961
8
4
Reconstruction Costs
Archival Resource Key
1960-1961
8
5
Reports
Archival Resource Key
1955-1959
8
6
Statements
Archival Resource Key
1946-1963
8
7-10
Statements
Archival Resource Key
1948-1953
12
2
Statements, Solon Meeting House
Archival Resource Key
1953-1956
8
11
Statements, Store
Archival Resource Key
1952-1955
8
12
Stock Powers and Resolutions
Archival Resource Key
1954
8
13
Visiting Artists Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Box 8
1948-1965
Scope and Contents
Files for visiting artists include correspondence, slide lists, edited lecture and seminar transcripts, notes, letters of appreciation, and a file for the Skowhegan-WBAI Committee regarding broadcasts of the lectures. Visiting artists documented here include Philip Pearlstein, Ben Shahn, John Baver, Isabel Bishop, Russell Cowles, Charles Cutler, Dr. Alfred Frankfurter, Jose de Creeft, Joe Jones, Karl Knaths, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, David Smith, and William Zorach.
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1949-1952
8
14-16
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1954-1961
8
17-19
Scope and Contents
Includes artist's biographies.
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1963-1965
8
20
Lecture Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960
8
21
Lectures and Seminars
Archival Resource Key
1948-1952
8
22-27
Letters of Appreciation
Archival Resource Key
1949
8
29
Skowhegan-WBAI Committee Regarding Lecture Broadcasts
Archival Resource Key
1960-1961
8
30
Faculty Files
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Boxes 8-9
1946-1965
Scope and Contents
The series contains correspondence and other material for Isabel Bishop, Robert Cronbach, Jose de Creeft, Xavier Gonzalez, Alex Katz, and Sidney Simon among others. Additional files include faculty lists, requests for positions and prospective faculty, and correspondence regarding housing.
Albert, Calvin
Archival Resource Key
1963
8
31
Bischoff, Elmer
Archival Resource Key
1961-1963
8
32
Bishop, Isabel
Archival Resource Key
1962-1963
8
33
Callahan, Kenneth
Archival Resource Key
1958-1963
8
34
Carone, Nicolas
Archival Resource Key
1963
8
35
Cronbach, Robert
Archival Resource Key
1959-1960
8
36
de Creeft, Jose
Archival Resource Key
1947-1949
8
37
Evergood, Philip
Archival Resource Key
1963
8
38
Faculty Lists
Archival Resource Key
1946-1965
8
39
Frazier, Paul D.
Archival Resource Key
1961
8
40
General Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1961
8
41
Scope and Contents
Includes letters to Jack Tworkov and Bernard Reder.
Georges, Paul
Archival Resource Key
1963
8
42
Gonzalez, Xavier
Archival Resource Key
1954
8
43
Grosz, George
Archival Resource Key
1956-1958
8
44
Guerin, John
Archival Resource Key
1958-1960
8
45
Housing
Archival Resource Key
1954-1964
8
46
Katz, Alex
Archival Resource Key
1959-1963
8
47
Kay, Reed
Archival Resource Key
1952-1963
8
48
Kearns, James
Archival Resource Key
1960-1963
8
49
LeChay, James
Archival Resource Key
1961
8
50
Maldarelli, Oronzio
Archival Resource Key
1949-1950
8
51
Menkes, Sigmund
Archival Resource Key
1957-1958
8
52
Park, David
Archival Resource Key
1959-1960
8
53
Poor, Anne
Archival Resource Key
1947-1962
9
1-2
Scope and Contents
Includes student surveys.
Porter, Fairfield
Archival Resource Key
1963
9
3
Prospective Faculty
Archival Resource Key
1961-1963
9
4
Rattner, Abraham
Archival Resource Key
1949
9
5
Requests for Positions
Archival Resource Key
1958-1961
9
6
Roszak, Theodore
Archival Resource Key
1963
9
7
Rudy, Charles
Archival Resource Key
1953-1954
9
8
Simon, Sidney
Archival Resource Key
1949-1956
9
9
Student Files
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
2 Linear feet
Boxes 9-12
1946-1964
Scope and Contents
Files for students consist of alumni correspondence and questionnaires regarding their activities since attending Skowhegan, general correspondence and information about the campus, recommendations, student lists, and files for no-shows and dismissals, rejections, and correspondence and forms detailing the placement of scholarships among students at various universities.
Alumni, A-E
Archival Resource Key
1956-1964
9
10
Alumni, F-K
Archival Resource Key
1956-1964
9
11
Alumni, L-R
Archival Resource Key
1956-1964
9
12
Alumni, S-Z
Archival Resource Key
1956-1964
9
13
Alumni Lists
Archival Resource Key
1961-1962
9
14
Bocour Courses
Archival Resource Key
1949
9
15
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1948-1949
9
16-19
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1950-1951
9
20-22
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1952-1954
9
23-26
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1955
9
27-28
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1956
10
1-2
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1959-1961
10
3-8
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1963-1964
10
9-11
Fresco Competition
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
10
12-13
General Information for Students
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960
10
14
No-Shows and Dismissals
Archival Resource Key
1964
10
15
Prize and Award Lists
Archival Resource Key
1955-1961
10
16
Recommendations
Archival Resource Key
1962-1964
10
17
Rejections
Archival Resource Key
1960-1961
10
18-19
Rejections
Archival Resource Key
1964
10
20
Rejections
Archival Resource Key
1960
1964
12
3
Scholarship and Catalog Requests
Archival Resource Key
1950-1954
10
21-23
Scholarship and Catalog Requests
Archival Resource Key
1954-1955
11
1-3
Scholarship Duties
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960
11
4
Scholarship Placements
Archival Resource Key
1949-1964
11
5-9
Scholarships, School Awarded
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960
11
10
Student Lists
Archival Resource Key
1946-1961
11
11
Student Lists
Archival Resource Key
1946-1960
12
3
Photographic Materials
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Boxes 11-12
circa 1960-1977
Scope and Contents
The series contains photographs and negatives of several annual award dinners that took place in the 1970s, faculty and visiting artists, and students and classes. Some event files include transcripts of the events along with seating and participant information. Faculty and artist photographs include William T. Williams, Aldo Casanova, Janet Fish, Paul Rasika, Robert Cronbach, Sylvia Stone, Alice Neel, Louise Nevelson, Bette Davis, Bernard Langlais, Jasper Johns, Barbara Rose, Max Weber, William Zorach, Jacob Lawrence, Philip Pearlstein, Claes Oldenburg, Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein, and others.
Events, 25th-31st Annual Award Dinner and Benefit
Archival Resource Key
1971-1977
11
12-20
Events, Benefit Costume Ball
Archival Resource Key
1975
11
21
Scope and Contents
Includes invitation.
Faculty and Visiting Artists
Archival Resource Key
1964-1976
11
22-23
Faculty and Visiting Artists
Archival Resource Key
1964-1976
12
4
Students and Classes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960
11
24
Motion Picture Films
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
1.9 Linear feet
Box 11, FC 13-30
circa 1955-1970
Scope and Contents
Motion picture films consist of 18 reels of silent, color footage of the school's campus, working faculty and students, and social activities. Footage includes both edited works and outtakes (footage shot but not used in the edited piece), that form three distinct sets of films from three different periods.
16 mm films from the 1950s were shot and edited by Karl Fortess, resulting in 2 reels of edited footage and 2 reels of outtakes. Two additional reels of unedited footage are also found in this group.
8 mm films appear to have been shot by Jack Eastman in 1964-1965 and edited into three films, each depicting a different area of work at the school, including painting, sculpture, and fresco and mosaic. The Fresco and Mosaic film also has a detailed typewritten description. Each of the edited films from this group has an accompanying reel of outtakes. One additional edited film with general footage of the school, and a second reel comprised of two unedited films dating to 1965, are also in this group.
Super 8 mm films seem to include only outtakes, many found as very short clips and arranged by date onto compilation reels. No corresponding edited work exists in the collection for this set of films, and it is not clear who shot the footage from this period, although at least some of the footage appears to have been shot by Willard Cummings.
All of the working titles listed in this series were taken from the original containers found with the films, and dates are estimated based on the film manufacturer's edge code. For footage without such titles, films are listed as "Skowhegan School home movies." Names listed with the various reels were found on the original containers, and may refer to persons as well as artworks featured in the footage. Original containers with any additional description have also been retained.
Existence and Location of Copies
All of the films have been digitized for research access. The Fortess edited films and outtakes contain footage shot at different speeds, so digital copies captured at both 24 fps and 18 fps have been created for each of these films.
Films by Karl Fortess
7.1
Archival Resource Key
1950-1956
Skowhegan School Film
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
16 mm
circa 1956
FC 13
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: SKOWHEGAN SCHOOL ORIG PRINT, 20 m. 10.
Skowhegan School Film
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
16 mm
circa 1956
FC 14
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: Fortess Film of the School.
Skowhegan School Film, Outtakes
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
16 mm
1950-1955
FC 15
Scope and Contents
Note on can: 9, Cutouts Skowhegan School.
Skowhegan School Film, Outtakes
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
16 mm
1950-1955
FC 16
Scope and Contents
Note on can: 9, Cutouts Skowhegan School. Inscription: HE II, CUT OUTS.
Skowhegan Home Movies
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
16 mm
1952
FC 17
Scope and Contents
Original can labeled "Bill", "Sculpt Act", "Levine's", and "Jack-Ruth-Suzie"
Scope and Contents
Note on film can 150 ft., color, Bill, Levine's, Sculp Act, Jack - Ruth - Suzie. Skowhegan/ cut outs/No Proj. Head leader: Bills Film Sculpture Activ. Tail leader: Tail Reel II.
Skowhegan Home Movies
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
16 mm
1955
FC 18
Scope and Contents
Note on reel: 8.
Films by John Eastman
7.2
Archival Resource Key
1964-1965
Skowhegan Fresco and Mosaic, Outtakes
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
8 mm
1964
FC 19
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: Fresco and mosaic 1964, Reject from combined film of fresco + mosaic from old + 64' + 65' movies. Lib. dedication in here. Note included with film: description of film.
Description of Film "Skowhegan Frsco and Mosaic"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1968
11
25
Skowhegan Fresco and Mosaic
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
8 mm
1964
FC 20
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: Skowhegan School 1964 Fresco and Mosaic. Inscription: 19436.
Skowhegan Painting Section
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
8 mm
1964
FC 21
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: Painting Section Skowhegan School 1964. Inscription: 19435.
Skowhegan Painting Section, Outtakes
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
8 mm
1964
FC 22
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: 4, Remains of (majority of note obscured by tape) make into Super 8. Shipping box: Eric Mantel. Contained Home Movie reels 3, 4, and 6. Photograph of box will be included with Home Movies 3 record in Inspection Photos form.
Skowhegan Sculpture Section
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
8 mm
1964
FC 23
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: Skowhegan School 1964, Sculpture Section. Inscription on film: 19434.
Skowhegan Sculpture Section, Outtakes
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
8 mm
1964-1965
FC 24
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: 6, Sculpture Section Skowhegan '64, rejects from combined old, 64 + 65 films. Shipping box: Eric Mantel. Shipping box contained Home Movie reels 3, 4, and 6, and was discarded.
Skowhegan School Film by John Eastman
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
8 mm
1964
FC 25
Scope and Contents
Note on film can: 7. Cutdown, Original J.E. movies Skowheggan 1964. Shipping box: Eric Mantel. Shipping box contained Home Movie reels 3, 4, and 6, and was discarded.
Skowhegan Home Movies, Compilation Reel
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
8 mm
circa 1964-1965
FC 26
Scope and Contents
Comprised of 2 short clips found in collection, compiled during processing and digitized as one reel. Names found handwritten on original containers include Rosati, Stu, Bette Davis, and Zorach.
Scope and Contents
Note on film box: Rosati, Stu and (illegible) et al on (illegible) 6. Other side of film box: send to Stu 6.; Note on film box: Miscl.(crossed out), Bette Davis and a touch Zorach, 5.
Original Film Containers for Skowhegan Home Movies, Compilation Reel
Archival Resource Key
circa 1965
11
26
Additional Home Movies
7.3
Archival Resource Key
1966-1968
Skowhegan Home Movies (1964-1965), Compilation Reel
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
Super 8 mm
circa 1967
FC 27
Scope and Contents
Date of 1967 is based on the film manufacturer's edge code, but its content appears to have been copied from films shot at an earlier date. The reel is comprised of 6 short clips found in collection, compiled during processing and digitized as one reel. Names found on original containers include Goodrich, Geldzahler, Hayes, Frank O'Hara, Halpert, Bishop, Marisol, Jack Levine, Bermelin, Rosati, Lee Bontecou, Biddle, Snipes, Abby Shahn, Boughton, and Zorach.
Scope and Contents
Note on tape: Unused Super 8, Unused Super 8.
Original Film Containers for Skowhegan Home Movies (1964-1965), Compilation Reel
Archival Resource Key
circa 1967
11
27
Skowhegan Home Movies
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
color, silent
super 8 mm
1966-1967
FC 28
Scope and Contents
Names found on original film container include Stankiewicz, Cage, Cunningham, Bill Z. and Marguerite, and Rosati.
Original Film Containers for Skowhegan Home Movies
Archival Resource Key
1966-1967
11
28
Skowhegan Home Movies, Compilation Reel
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
Super 8 mm
super 8 mm
circa 1967
FC 29
Scope and Contents
Comprised of 11 short clips found in collection, compiled during processing and digitized as one reel. Names found on original film boxes include Ben and Bernarda Shahn, Poor, Boughton, Nakazawa, Cage, Rosati, Plumhoff, Kumakulu, Tony Smith, Fairfield Porter, Philip Pearstein, Reinhardt, and Murch.
Original Film Containers for Skowhegan Home Movies, Compilation Reel
Archival Resource Key
circa 1967
11
29
Skowhegan Home Movies, Compilation Reel
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
Super 8 mm
circa 1968
FC 30
Scope and Contents
Comprised of 9 short clips found in collection, compiled during processing and digitized as one reel. Names found on original containers include Hurwitz, Shahn, Bernarda, Smullin, "Hindu" [Michael Henderson], Kumakulu, Jane Freilicher, Alex, Ada, Eric Johnson, Al Held, Jim McGarrell, Ron Bladen, Philip Pearlstein, Frank Zimbardi, Treffny, and William Farley.
Original Film Containers for Skowhegan Home Movies, Compilation Reel
Archival Resource Key
circa 1968
11
30
Skowhegan Lecture Archives
Series 8
Archival Resource Key
1952-2013
Scope and Contents
The Skowhegan Lecture Archives consists of CD formatted audio copies (1952-2013) of lectures given by artists speaking at the school between 1952 and 2013, original reel-to-reel audio recordings (1952-1999 only), and several original cassette audio recordings from 2000 and 2002. Transcripts (on 10 formatted CDs) of those lectures are available through 2012. A majority of the lectures refer to slides shown during the lectures; these are not available at the Archives of American Art.
Existence and Location of Copies
Access copies of the Skowhegan Lecture Archive are also available at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture as well as several other repositories. A detailed inventory of the lectures can be found on the Colby College Museum of Art website at https://www.colby.edu/museum/multimedia/skowhegan-lecture-archive/.