Mary Swift (1929-2022) was a photographer and curator in Washington, D.C. She received her B.A. from Vassar College in 1950 with a major in English History. Swift then moved to London for her husband's work, and did not return to the United States until the 1960s. She received her M.A. from Catholic University's Speech and Drama Department in 1968, and an M.A. in Art History from George Washington University in 1978.
In October 1977, Swift became a production assistant for the
While at the
The professional appointments Swift held include exhibitions coordinator for the International Sculpture Conference in 1980 as well as board of director memberships at the Washington Gallery of Art, Charles Weidman Dance Company, the
Mary Swift's contributions to the
Photographs from Swift's collection were displayed in an exhibition,
This collection is arranged as five series.
The papers of photographer and curator Mary Swift measure 8.8 linear feet and date from 1973-2004. The bulk of the collection contains photographs that Swift took while working for the
There is a 0.6 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2023 that includes three photograph albums, slides and two audio cassettes. Materials date from circa 1973-2004.
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
The collection is open for research. Archival audiovisual recordings must be digitized for research access. Researchers may access digitized audiovisual materials in the Archives' Washington, D.C. or New York, N.Y. Research Centers by appointment. Contact Reference Services for more information.
This collection was donated in three installments in 2016, 2018 and 2023 by Mary Swift via her children, Isabel Swift Byron and William Swift.
Mary Swift's M.A. thesis, "Howard William Mehring, 1931-1978: Washington Color Painter," is available on 35mm microfilm reel 2762 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Mary Swift Papers, 1974-2004. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Christopher DeMairo in 2019. Additional finding aid description of the sound recordings was completed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2022.
Personal Papers contains copies of Swift's resume circa 1982, notes, as well as a few postcards and personal photographs.
Included are slides and photographs of Howard William Mehring's artwork, along with a manuscript copy of Swift's M.A. thesis.
Found here are photographs, contact sheets, and negatives that Swift took while working for the
All files of individuals photographed by Swift are arranged alphabetically at the beginning of the series. Following the individuals, images of events, places, and various subjects are arranged chronologically.
Davis, Gene
Art and Artists' Studios
Performance Art
Included are 105 sound cassette tapes and two VHS videocassette tapes containing interviews conducted by Swift, radio programs, and panel discussions. Most of the interviews are with artists living and working in the Washington, D.C. area. Discussion topics center on artists' work, art exhibitions, public art, events and the art scene in the area. Some interviews were conducted in New York City with artists who have moved there from Washington, D.C., and discussion topic is comparison between the two cities. Several recordings demonstrate Swift's low level of trust for her recording equipment.
Recordings are arranged chronologically with undated items filed at the end.
Interview with Howard Mehring
Interview with Michael Clark
Interview with Michael Clark
Interview with Howard Mehring
Interview with Arthur Hall Smith
Interview with Mary Swift and Clarissa Wittenberg for Washington Review on the Arts radio series
Interview with Alex Castro
Interview with Howard Mehring
Interview with Anne Truitt
Martin Puryear, Clarissa Wittenberg, and Mary Swift
Interview with Howard Halle
Interview with Alex Castro for Washington Review on the Arts radio series
Cassette also lists interview with Fiske Conyers on side 1, but no recording was found.
Interview with Genna Watson
Interview with Gene Davis
Interview with Vanessa Guerin
Interview with John McCarty
Interview with Val Lewton and Joe Shannon for Washington Review on the Arts radio series
Interview with William Christenberry for Washington Review on the Arts radio series
Interview with David Robertson
Interview with Bill Christenberry
Interview with Sy Gresser
Interview with Al and Walter Hopps
Interview with Rebecca Davenport
Interview with Joe Shannon
Interview with Thomas Downing
Interview with Mac Whitney
Interview with Jim Sanborn
Interviews with Beth Burkhardt and Nade Haley
Interview with Bill Dutterer
Interviews with Charlotte Robinson and Judy Bass
Interview with Bill Dutterer
Interview with Michael Clark
Interview with Anne Truitt
Interview with Lila Katzen
Interview with Sidney Guberman
Interview with Rebecca Davenport
Interview with Bill Dutterer
Interview with Terry Braunstein
Interview with Pat Moss
Interview with Bill Christenberry and Interview with Clair List
Interview with Michael Clark
Interview with Mark Clark
Interview with Michael Clark
Interview with Nizette Brennan
Interview with Retha Walden Gambaro
Interview with Dickson Carroll
Interview with John Dickson
Interview with Leonard Cave
Panel discussion "Sculpture and Landscape Architecture" at the 11th International Sculpture Conference
Interview with Joyce Tenneson
Interview with Robin Rose and Kevin MacDonald
Interview with Paul Reed
Interview with Bob Lennon
Interview with Wilfred Brunner
Interview with Miranda McClintic
Interview with Walter Kravitz and Kathleen Ewing
Interview with an unnamed female artist
Interview with Nizette Brennan
Interview with Hilda Thorpe
Interview with Robert Indiana
Interview with Bill Dutterer
Interviews with Chris Gardner and Henry Schoebel
Interview with Lucinda Childs
Interviews for
Interview with Janet Bell Schmuckal
Interview with Chris Burden and Interview with Judy Miller
Interview with Robin Rose
Interview with Walter Hopps
Interview with an unnamed male artist with a connection to the Nourse Gallery
Interview with Arnold Kramer
Interview with Patricia Dubroof
Interview with Arnold Kramer
Interview with Michael Clark
Interview with Judy Miller
Interview with Ellen MacDonald
Interview with Allen D. Carter
Interview with Janet Saad-Cook
Interview with Henry Schoebel
Interview with Judy Miller
Interview with George Hemphill
Interview with John Van Alstine
Interviews with Michael Clark and Al Carter
Interview with Ellen MacDonald
Interview with Joyce Tenneson
Interview with Michael Platt
Interview with Percy Martin
Interview with Miriam Schapiro
Interview with William Willis
Interview with Michelle Parkerson
Interview with Andrew Hudson
Interview with Claudia DeMonte
Interview with Jock Reynolds
Interviews with Rex Weil and Constance "Zinnia" Maravell
Interview with Jack Shainman and Interview with Bill Dutterer
Interviews with Henry Schoebel and Ellen MacDonald
Interview with Maria Sao Schlumberger
Interview with Joseph Walker and Chris Ursitti
Interview with Joyce Tenneson
Interview with Jock Reynolds
Interview with Bill Warrell
Interview with Joyce Tenneson
Interview with Keith Morrison
Interviews with Robert Stackhouse and Mary Beth Edelson
Interview with Chris Gardner
Interview with David Furchgott
Interview with Francoise Yohalem
Interview with Joseph Kaempfer
Interview with Nizette Brennan
Interview with Sal Fiorito
Interview with Alex Simpson
Interview with John McCarty
Interview with Tom Nakashima
Interview with Foon Sham
Interview with John Grazier
Interview with Andrea Pollan
Interview with Alice Thorson
Interview with Judy Byron
Interview with Jacob Kainen
Museum of Temporary Art recordings
Interview with Colden Florance
Interview with Daniel Brush and Ellen MacDonald