Raphael Soyer donated portions of the collection between 1961 and 1980. He also loaned materials for microfilming in 1968. His widow, Rebecca, and his grandson, Joseph Leiber, on behalf of the entire Soyer family, donated additional materials in 1991 and 1993.
The Archives of American Art also holds material lent for microfilming (N68-1) including a small amount of correspondence and three sketchbooks. Lent materials were returned to the lender and are not described in the collection container inventory.
Also found at the Archives of American Art are several collections related to Raphael Soyer: Esther Reier letter from Raphael Soyer, 1978 May 29; Raphael Soyer's Artist Statement from 1947; a Raphael Soyer lecture from 1960; the papers of his twin brother, Moses Soyer; Brooklyn Museum interviews of artists, circa 1965-1968 (includes an interview of Soyer); and the Karl E. Fortess taped interviews with artists, 1963-1985, which also includes an interview with Raphael Soyer. The Archives of American Art's Oral History collection has an interview of Raphael Soyer dated May 13-June 1, 1981 conducted by Milton Brown.
Additional Raphael Soyer papers, 1949-1954, are available at Cornell University.
The papers of
Materials which have not been scanned include photographs of works of art, select draft writings by Soyer, writings by others on unrelated topics, and certain routine financial documents and printed material. Exhibition catalogs have had their covers and relevant pages scanned.
Material lent for microfilming is available on 35mm microfilm reel N68-1 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
The collection was typically microfilmed in the order in which was received on reels N68-1, 867-868, 1927-1928, and 4888-4890. Items on reel N68-1 were first lent for microfilming in 1968 and some of this material was subsequently donated. The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation provided funding for the later microfilming. The entire collection was merged, fully processed, arranged, and described by Erin Corley in 2007, and digitized in 2009 with funding provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Raphael Soyer papers, 1933-1989. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Use of the 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
Raphael Soyer (1899-1987) and his twin brother Moses (1899-1974) were born on December 25, 1899, in the Russian town Borisoglebsk. Their father Abraham was a scholar and Hebrew teacher who encouraged all of his children to sketch and paint. After the family was deported from Russia, they settled in the Bronx, New York, in 1912. Raphael and Moses briefly attended school, but at 16 they began working various jobs to help support their family. They also began taking free art classes at Cooper Union and later Raphael attended the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League where he studied with Guy Pene du Bois. He began to show his paintings in 1926 and in 1929 gallery owner Charles Daniel gave him his first one man show. Soyer became one of the leading realist painters and printmakers, often depicting Depression-era transients, Manhattan streetscapes, shoppers, and women at work. He also painted and sketched numerous self-portraits and portraits of fellow artists and cultural figures, many of whom were also his friends, including Allen Ginsberg, Chaim Gross, Edward Hopper, and Arshile Gorky.
Beginning in the 1930s Soyer showed his work frequently at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Associated American Artists Galleries, National Collection of Fine Arts, and other national and international exhibitions. During the 1940s and 1950s he was a leading advocate of realism and spoke out against the abstract style that was dominating the New York art scene. In 1953 he co-founded
Soyer joined the Forum Gallery in New York in the early 1960s and became good friends with his dealer Bella Fishko. Also during the 1960s he published three books,
Throughout his career Soyer also occasionally taught at art schools including the Art Students League and the New School. He also collaborated with his friend, writer Isaac Bashevis Singer, by illustrating several of Singer's books. Soyer and his wife Rebecca, whom he married in 1931, lived the rest of their lives in New York City, but often traveled to Europe. They had one daughter, Mary. Soyer's final book,
The papers of realist painter Raphael Soyer date from 1933 to 1989 and measure 3.9 linear feet. They document Soyer's career as a painter, printmaker, and writer. Found within the papers are scattered biographical materials, including several transcripts of interviews with Soyer; extensive personal and professional correspondence; writings and notes by Soyer and others; scattered legal and financial records; exhibition materials, clippings and other printed material; and photographs of Soyer in his studio, with artists and friends, and at art events. Also found are one sketch and a facsimile of Soyer's 1968 sketchbook produced by Forum Gallery.
Biographical materials include award certificates, including a 1975 certificate from the National Academy of Design, lists of artwork by Soyer, and several transcripts of interviews with Raphael Soyer in which he discusses topics such as his career as an artist, artists in New York City, and the inspiration for his artwork.
Personal and professional correspondence is with numerous artists, writers, art historians, curators, gallery owners, arts organizations, museums, and universities. Correspondents include Lambro Ahlas, Rudolf Baranik, George Biddle, John Bratby, David Burliuk, Peter De Francia, Lloyd Goodrich, Joseph Hirsch, Joseph Hirshhorn, Edward Hopper, Joe Lasker, Henry Varnum Poor, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and many others. Additional correspondence is addressed to
Writings and notes by Soyer include several drafts and notes for his four published books
Scattered legal and financial records include bank statements, receipts, leases, and documents related to the publishing of his books. Printed material consists of exhibition catalogs and announcements, clippings, and other published items.
Photographs depict Soyer in his studio, with other artists and friends such as Chaim Gross, Edward Hopper, and Jose De Creeft, and at art events, and include a few photographs of his artwork. Also found are one pencil sketch and a facsimile of Soyer's 1968 sketchbook produced by Forum Gallery.
The collection is arranged into 7 series:
Scattered biographical documents about Raphael Soyer consist primarily of award certificates, including a 1975 certificate from the National Academy of Design, three lists of artwork by Soyer, and several transcripts of interviews with Raphael Soyer in which he discusses topics such as his career as an artist, artists in New York City, and the inspiration for his artwork. Interview transcripts are arranged alphabetically by interviewer.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Award Certificates
Lists of Works of Art
Membership Cards
Rebecca Soyer Club Application
Soyer Letterhead
Soyer Interviewed by Lawrence E. Abt and Stanley Rosner
Soyer Interviewed by Rachel Chodorov
Soyer Interviewed by Barbaralee Diamondstein
Soyer Interviewed by Karl Fortess
Soyer Interviewed by "F" (possibly Karl Fortess)
Soyer Interviewed by "G. R.,"
Raphael Soyer's correspondence spans over forty years, with the bulk of it dating between 1960 and his death in 1987. Letters are arranged chronologically and the majority are incoming to Soyer, but there are also scattered drafts of outgoing letters. Soyer was friends with many artists and cultural figures, and his personal correspondence includes letters to and from artists such as Lambro Ahlas, Benny Andrews, Rudolf Baranik, Leonard Baskin, George Biddle, Peter Blume, Aaron Bohrod, John Bratby, Alex Brook, David Burliuk, Marc Chagall, Peter De Francia, Otto Dix, Guy Du Bois, Philip Evergood, Josef Herman, Joseph Hirsch, Edward Hopper, Jacob Kainen, R. B. Kitaj, Leon Kroll, Joe Lasker, Jack Levine, Jacques Lipchitz, Henry Varnum Poor, Fairfield Porter, Max Weber, and numerous others. Soyer also corresponded with many writers such as Erskine Caldwell, Allen Ginsberg, Marianne Moore, and Isaac Bashevis Singer.
Also found here is correspondence with the Forum Gallery which represented him and dealer Bella Fishko. There is also correspondence with numerous galleries, museums, and schools which exhibited his work or requested his work for potential exhibitions. Additionally, there is correspondence with students and publishers, mostly requests for him to lecture or write articles, and business correspondence on the sale, donation, or commission of his work. Soyer corresponded with many art historians and critics, curators, gallery owners, and collectors, such as Andrei Chegodaev, Lloyd Goodrich, Joseph Hirshhorn, Abram Lerner, and Carl Zigrosser, as well as arts and social organizations. The collection includes very little family correspondence. Some of the letters are in Russian.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Unidentified Correspondents
Letters Addressed to
Letters Addressed to
Letters Addressed to
The Writings and Notes series is arranged into 2 subseries:
Writings and notes by Soyer include several drafts and notes for his four published books as well as draft essays, lectures, and articles. Writings by others include essays and articles by artists and art scholars.
Among the writings and notes by Soyer are his writings about artists, primarily draft essays for articles and introductions of exhibition catalogs. Artists written about include Benny Andrews, Jacques Lipchitz, Alice Neel, and others. Additional writings by Soyer include drafts of book reviews, and drafts of articles, essays, and lectures about his life, his artwork, and the social realism art movement.
Also found are drafts, notes, typescripts, journals, and galley proofs for Soyer's four published books
Most of Soyer's writings have been scanned, except for repetitive drafts and incomplete repetitive manuscripts and galley proofs of his published books. Early drafts of published books have been scanned.
Writings about Artists
Book Reviews
Articles, Essays, and Lectures
Articles, Essays, and Lectures
Material concerning
Material concerning
Material concerning
Travel Journal and Manuscripts for
Travel Journal and Manuscripts for
Travel Journal and Manuscripts for
Travel Journal and Manuscripts for
Travel Journal and Manuscripts for
Travel Journal and Manuscripts for
Notes for
Notes for
Notes for
Notes for
Notes and Manuscripts for
Notes and Manuscripts for
Notes and Manuscripts for
Notes and Manuscripts for
Early Draft for
Early Draft for
Early Draft for
Third Draft for
Third Draft for
Third Draft for
Third Draft for
Engagement Calendars
Engagement Calendars
Engagement Calendars
Engagement Calendars
Engagement Calendars
Engagement Calendars
Engagement Calendars
Miscellaneous Notes
Writings and notes by others include various draft typescripts of essays, articles, and one dissertation about various artists and art movements written by art scholars. Most of these essays appear to have been sent to Soyer for his review and opinion. Also found are a few short essays about Soyer. Additional items of note are draft articles written by artists for
This subseries has not been scanned.
Writings about Soyer
Articles & Notes for
Articles & Notes for
Scattered legal and financial records include two account books, bank statements, receipts, and invoices. Documents related to the publishing of Soyer's books include contracts with the publishers and royalty statements. Additional items found here are consignment lists and loan agreements with art museums and galleries for the exhibition of his work.
Items are arranged chronologically within each folder. Account books, bank statements, and receipts and invoices have not been scanned.
Consignment Lists & Loan Agreements
Consignment Lists & Loan Agreements
Contracts
Contracts
Leases
Royalty Statements
Printed material consists of catalogs and announcements for exhibitions of Raphael Soyer's artwork and the artwork of others; numerous news clippings about Soyer, his exhibitions, publication of his books, and about realist painters; and a few articles written by Soyer. Other scattered items include brochures and press releases about art events, page proofs for Soyer's writings, and reproductions of his artwork. There are three issues of the journal
The bulk of this series has been scanned, except for a few extant brochures, entire magazines, scattered page proofs, and reproductions of artwork by Soyer and others.
Catalogs & Exhibition Announcements
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Clippings
Undated Clippings
Business Cards
Press Releases
Photographs depict Soyer painting portraits and drawing in his studio, with his wife Rebecca and with unidentified friends, with fellow artist Jose De Creeft after painting De Creeft's portrait, with his friend Isaac Bashevis Singer, and in the process of painting a portrait of Gross and his wife. Photographs of other artists include Chaim Gross, Edward Hopper, Joseph Floch, and Moses Soyer.
Also found are photographs of art events, including gallery receptions, many of which are unidentified and undated. Many of the photographs of gallery receptions depict Soyer with artists including Jose De Creeft, Chaim Gross, Rudolf Baranik, David Burliuk, R. B. Kitaj, Leon Kroll, Jacob Lawrence, Jack Levine, Reuben Nakian, Alice Neel, and others. Also found are a few photographs of Soyer's artwork and artwork by others.
This series has been scanned in its entirety, except for photographs of artwork by Soyer and others. Items are arranged chronologically within each folder.
Photographs of Raphael Soyer in His Studio
Photographs of Raphael Soyer with Wife Rebecca & Friends
Photographs of Raphael Soyer with Jose De Creeft
Photographs of Raphael Soyer with Isaac Singer
Photograph of Joseph Floch
Photographs of Chaim Gross
Photograph of Edward Hopper
Photograph of Moses Soyer
Photograph of Model, Eliza
Photographs of Raphael Soyer at Unidentifed Conference
Photographs of Presentation of Soyer's Portrait of Golda Meir to National Portrait Gallery
Photographs of Reception for Isaac Singer
Photographs of Birthday Party for Soyer (possibly at Hirshhorn Museum)
Photographs of Gallery Reception, Associated American Artists Galleries
Photographs of Gallery Reception (possibly at the Whitney Museum)
Photographs of Gallery Reception (possibly at the Forum Gallery)
Photographs of Gallery Receptions
Photographs of Gallery Receptions
Photographs of Gallery Reception, Hirshhorn Gallery
Photographs of Gallery Reception, Forum Gallery
Photograph of Unidentified People
Miscellaneous Gallery Installations
Artwork found in this collection includes one undated pencil sketch by an unidentified artist and a facsimile of a 1968 sketchbook belonging to Raphael Soyer which documents his time traveling through Europe. This facsimile was produced by the Forum Gallery as a limited edition in 1968.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Sketch