Archives of American Art
David Stuart papers and gallery records
Stuart, David, 1910-1984
AAA.stuadavi
Archival Resource Key
1.3 Linear feet
1910-1984
The David Stuart papers and gallery records measure 1.3 linear feet and date from 1910 to 1984. The collection sheds light on Stuart's personal and professional life through scattered correspondence, photographs, and appraisal records; and his galleries' operations through scant artist files, exhibition files, photographs, and printed material.
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.
Scope and Contents
The David Stuart papers and gallery records measure 1.3 linear feet and date from 1910 to 1984. The collection contains Stuart's personal and professional papers as well as gallery records. Personal and professional papers include correspondence concerning Stuart's career in New Orleans jazz music; appraisal records of pre-Columbian artifacts; papers related to the Louis Armstrong Statue Fund in New Orleans; scattered family papers and personal photographs; and more. Gallery records shed light on the operations of both galleries owned by Stuart through scant artist, exhibition, collector, and gallery files; printed material such as newspapers clippings and gallery posters; and photographs of the gallery, artwork, and artists.
Biographical / Historical
David Stuart (1910-1984) was a gallery owner and owner of a jazz shop and record label in Los Angeles, California. Stuart opened Jazz Man Record Shop in Hollywood in 1939, and then in 1941 started a record label, Jazz Man Records. Stuart parted ways with both the label and the shop by 1946. In 1961, David Stuart along with his friend, Edward Primus, founded the Primus-Stuart Gallery in Los Angeles, California. In the same location two years later, Stuart founded David Stuart Galleries. The gallery specialized in showing emerging contemporary artists and pre-Columbian art and artifacts. Included in the list of artists shown at Stuart's galleries is John Altoon, Oliver Andrews, Sorel Etrog, Marvin Harden, and June Harwood.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Jacqueline Anhalt Stuart in 1985.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Christopher DeMairo in 2021.
Preferred Citation
David Stuart Papers and Gallery Records, 1910-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
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.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as two series.
- Series 1: David Stuart Personal and Professional Papers, 1910-1984 (Box 1; 11 folders)
- Series 2: Gallery Records, 1960s-1983 (Box 1-2, OV 3; 1.1 linear feet)
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- California -- Los Angeles
Gallery directors -- California -- Los Angeles
Art galleries, Commercial -- California
Art dealers -- California -- Los Angeles
Pre-Columbian art
Jazz
David Stuart Galleries
Personal and Professional Papers
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
11 Folders
Box 1
1910-1984
Scope and Contents
Found here is correspondence concerning Stuart's career in jazz music, including two letters from notable jazz drummer Monk Hazel; records from appraisals by Stuart of pre-Columbian artifacts; correspondence, resumes, printed material, and stationery from the Louis Armstrong Statue Fund; homemade christmas cards; and some family papers and personal photographs. Memorabilia consists of a stamp, membership cards for the Airline Navigators Association and Mouldy Fig Society, and a French lottery ticket. Also found here are sympathy letters sent to Stuart's wife, Jacqueline, and a guest book signed by visitors who came to Stuart's funeral service.
Appraisal, Pre-Columbian Artifacts
Archival Resource Key
1973-1978
1
1
Appraisal, Teotihuacan Fresco
Archival Resource Key
1972-1975
1
2
Correspondence, General
Archival Resource Key
1941-1980
1
3
Correspondence, Homemade Christmas Cards
Archival Resource Key
1960s-1973
1
4
Correspondence, Sympathy Letters to Jacqueline Stuart
Archival Resource Key
1984
1
5-6
Family Papers
Archival Resource Key
1910-1975
1
7
Guest Book
Archival Resource Key
1984
1
8
Louis Armstrong Statue Fund
Archival Resource Key
1970-1975
1
9
Memorabilia
Archival Resource Key
1940s-1957
1
10
Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1910-1982
1
11
Gallery Records
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1.1 Linear feet
Box 1-2, OV 3
1960s-1983
Scope and Contents
This series includes correspondence with other galleries and museums, photographs of artwork, Gemini G. E. L. price lists, and several collector files that contain price lists, consignment records, and scant correspondence. Artist files consist of correspondence, biographical summaries, price lists, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, and exhibition ephemera. Exhibition files include photographs, reviews, press releases, and correspondence. Legal records pertaining to the gallery's exhibition, Erotic Art, are also present. Gallery posters feature artists George Ortman, Mel Ramos, Llyn Folkes, and others.
Artist, John Altoon
Archival Resource Key
1965-1969, 1980
1
12
Artist, Oliver Andrews
Archival Resource Key
1964-1975
1
13
Artist, Oliver Andrews, Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1960s-1970s
1
14
Artist, Joan Brown
Archival Resource Key
1960-1965
1
15
Artist, Sorel Etrog
Archival Resource Key
1972-1974
1
16
Artist, Marvin Harden
Archival Resource Key
1974
1
17
Artist, June Hardwood
Archival Resource Key
1967-1979
1
18
Artist, John Pearson
Archival Resource Key
1971-1972
1
19
Artist, Garner Tullis
Archival Resource Key
1974
1
20
Artwork, Possibly by Tyrus Wong
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
21
Collector, Jules Berman
Archival Resource Key
1975-1976
1
22
Collector, Alan Lapiner
Archival Resource Key
1965-1974
1
23
Collector, William Palmer
Archival Resource Key
1967-1972
1
24
Correspondence, General
Archival Resource Key
1966-1983
1
25
Exhibition, Erotic Art (1969)
Archival Resource Key
1969
1
26
Exhibition, Erotic Art (1969), Photographs and Negatives
Archival Resource Key
1969
1
27-28
Exhibition, Erotic Art (1969), Printed Material
Archival Resource Key
1969-1970
1
29
Exhibition, Marilyn Monroe: The Legend and the Truth (1972)
Archival Resource Key
1972-1973
1
30-31
Exhibition, Second Annual Cup Show + Plates + Food (1974)
Archival Resource Key
1974-1975
1
32
Exhibition, "The Dirty Dozen": Erotic Art by 12 Women (1977)
Archival Resource Key
1976-1978
1
33
Exhibition, James Abbe Exhibition Idea
Archival Resource Key
1975-1976
1
34
Gallery, Anuschka
Archival Resource Key
1975-1980
1
35
Gallery, Mahoubian Gallery of Ancient Art
Archival Resource Key
1962-1965
1
36
Gemini G. E. L.
Archival Resource Key
1975-1983
2
1
Mayan Wall Panels
Archival Resource Key
1961-1982
2
2
Papers
Archival Resource Key
1964-1971
2
3
Photographs, Artwork and Artifacts
Archival Resource Key
1960s-1970s
2
4
Photographs, Gallery Images
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970s
2
5
Photographs, New Guinea Area Artwork and Artifacts
Archival Resource Key
1960s-1970s
2
6
Printed Material, Gallery Posters
Archival Resource Key
1964-1969, undated
3
Printed Material, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1960s-1970s
2
7