Archives of American Art
Dorothy Sturm papers
Sturm, Dorothy
AAA.sturdoro
Archival Resource Key
2 Linear feet
1913-1989
The papers of Dorothy Sturm measure 2.0 linear feet and date from 1913 to 1989. The papers document Sturm's career as a painter, enamelist, writer, and medical illustrator through writings, professional files, printed material, and photographs.
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 papers of Dorothy Sturm measure 2.0 linear feet and date from 1913 to 1989. The papers document Sturm's career as a painter, enamelist, writer, and medical illustrator through writings, professional files, printed material, and photographs.
Writings include drafts of poems and short stories written by Sturm, drafts of manuscripts, lecture notes, writings by other educators on Sturm, a book of poems by Sturms mother, and four audio cassettes in which Sturm reads one of her stories and discusses her writings.
Professional activity files include address books, correspondence, sketches, and material related to her work as a medical illustrator for medical journals and pamphlets.
Printed material includes magazine and newspaper clippings, exhibition catalogs, and copies of some of her published works.
Photographic material includes images and transparencies of Sturm and her works.
Biographical / Historical
Dorothy Sturm (1910-1988) was a painter, enamelist, and medical illustrator in Memphis, Tennessee. She studied art in New York at the Grand Central School of Art and the Arts Student League during the 1930s. Between 1952 and 1978 Sturm exhibited at the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York. Sturm taught art at the Memphis Academy of Art between 1938 and the late 1970s, and also assisted in establishing a collection of contemporary art at the Memphis Brooks Museum.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Dorothy Sturm papers were donated to the archives in 1991 by the Dorothy Sturm estate via Marvin Ratner, executor.
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 Ricky Gomez in 2020.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into four series.
- Series 1: Writings, 1913-1989 (1.0 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 2: Professional Activity Files, 1935-1984 (0.5 linear feet; Box 2)
- Series 3: Printed Material, 1930-1988 (0.4 linear feet; Box 2)
- Series 4: Photographs, circa 1967 (0.1 linear feet; Box 2)
Preferred Citation
Dorothy Sturm papers, 1913-1989. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Related Materials
At the request of the donor drawings originally in the collection were subsequently donated to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.
Sound recordings
Interviews
Enamelers -- Tennessee -- Memphis
Medical illustrators -- Tennessee -- Memphis
Women artists
Painters -- Tennessee -- Memphis
Women painters
Betty Parsons Gallery
Writings
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1 Linear foot
Box 1
1913-1989
Arrangement
The series is divided into two sub-series
- 1.1: Writings by Sturm
- 1.2: Writings by Others
Scope and Contents
Writings include poems, short stories and other manuscripts by Dorothy Sturm. Also included are writings on Sturm by others and one book of poems written by Sturm's mother. There are also four audio cassettes featuring Sturm reading one of her stories and discussing her writings.
Writings by Sturm
1.1
Archival Resource Key
1913-1982
Engagement Diary/Scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
1913
1
1
Drafts of Poems
Archival Resource Key
1931-1974
1
2-3
"Den of Angels" Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
4
"The Brothers-1935" Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
5
"The Growing Up of Monroe Dowd" Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
6
"Family Pets and Animals" Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
7
"The Art School" Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
8
"Broken Glass" Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
9
"Tall Windows" Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
10-11
Short Stories
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
12
Manuscript Drafts
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
13-18
Audio Interviews, "My Grandfather's House"
Archival Resource Key
4 Sound cassettes
1982
1
19
Draft of Interview with Sturm
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
20
Notes
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
21
Writings by Others
1.2
Archival Resource Key
undated, 1988-1989
"The Art of Dorothy Sturm" by Marcus Orr
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
22-23
"Cobalt" Newspaper Clippings and Proposal
Archival Resource Key
1989
1
24
Memorial Service of Sturm
Archival Resource Key
1988
1
25
Poems by Sturm's Mother
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
26
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
27
Professional Activity Files
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Box 2
1935-1984
Scope and Contents
Materials include address books, a file of correspondence, sketches, and material related to Sturm's work as a medical illustrator for various books and pamphlets.
Address Books
Archival Resource Key
undated, 1963
2
1
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
undated, 1955-1983
2
2
Medical Illustrator, Pamphlets
Archival Resource Key
undated, 1935-1949
2
3
Medical Illustrator, Photographs of Work
Archival Resource Key
1951
2
4
Medical Illustrator, Pamphlet and Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1958
2
5
Medical Illustrator
Archival Resource Key
1970, 1984
2
6
Medical Illustrator, Book
Archival Resource Key
1956
1
7
Sketches
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
8
Printed Material
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Box 2
1930-1988
Scope and Contents
Printed material includes published booklets of Sturm's poetry, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and newspaper and magazine clippings.
Dorothy and Charlie Sturm's Published Poems
Archival Resource Key
1930, 1969
2
9
Exhibition Announcements
Archival Resource Key
undated, 1950-1980
2
10
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1944-1984
2
11-14
Newspaper Clipping
Archival Resource Key
1936-1988
2
15
Magazine Articles
Archival Resource Key
1950-1983
2
16
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
undated, 1972-1973
2
17
Photographs
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.1 Linear feet
Box 2
circa 1967
Scope and Contents
Material consists of photographs of Sturm, Sturm at work in her studio, Sturm's artwork, and transparencies by Sturm and other artists.
Dorothy Sturm
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
18
Sturm and Her Artwork
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
19
Works of Art
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
20-21
Photo Album of Artwork
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
22
Color Transparencies by Sturm and Other Artists
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
23
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
undated, 1967
2
24