Archives of American Art
Robert Vickrey Papers
Vickrey, Robert, 1926-2011
AAA.vickrobe
Archival Resource Key
4.3 Linear feet
1951-2008
The papers of painter and illustrator Robert Vickrey measure 4.3 linear feet and date from 1951 to 2008. The papers document his career as a portrait painter and illustrator in Massachusetts through correspondence with artists and galleries, draft articles and manuscripts of personal written works, and writings about him by colleagues. Also found are professional files documenting activities with various galleries and museums; printed materials such as newspaper clippings and exhibition catalogs; and sound and video recordings of interviews and the production of a documentary on his career.
English
.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 6 series.
- Series 1: Correspondence, 1967-2007 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 2: Writings, 1974-2008 (0.7 linear feet; Box 1-2)
- Series 3: Personal Business Records, 1983-2001 (0.3 linear feet; Box 2)
- Series 4: Professional Activity Files, 1973-1998 (0.3 linear feet; Box 2)
- Series 5: Printed Material, 1951-2006 (0.8 linear feet; Box 2-3, 5)
- Series 6: Sound and Video Recordings, 1984-1997 (1.7 linear feet; Box 3-4)
Biographical / Historical
Robert Vickrey (1926-2011) was a portrait painter and illustrator, from Cape Cod, Mass. and Naples, Fla. Vickrey mastered Egg Tempera painting and is well known for his illustrations for the cover of "Time" magazine. Throughout his career, Vickrey also painted portraits of nuns from the order of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In addition to his artwork, Vickrey wrote numerous newspaper articles, published three books, and was the subject of a PBS documentary.
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 audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References 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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Robert Vickrey papers were donated by Robert Vickrey in 2007. Additional records were donated by R. Scott Vickrey, son and executor of Vickrey's estate, in 2016.
Preferred Citation
Robert Vickrey papers, 1951-2008. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Scope and Contents
The papers of painter and illustrator Robert Vickrey measure 4.3 linear feet and date from 1951 to 2008. The papers document his career as a portrait painter and illustrator in Massachusetts through correspondence with artists and galleries, draft articles and manuscripts of personal written works, and writings about him by colleagues. Also found are professional files documenting activities with various galleries and museums; printed materials such as newspaper clippings and exhibition catalogs; and sound and video recordings of interviews and the production of a documentary on his career.
Correspondence consists primarily of letters to museums, galleries, and colleagues. Also included is correspondence from family and friends.
Writings include articles by Vickrey for various publications, including Cape Codder, The Oracle, The Chronicle, The Cape Paper, and The Review; a draft manuscript by Philip Eliasoph for his book "Robert Vickrey: Lyrical Realist"; a manuscript of Vickrey's unpublished memoir, "Time Traveler", concerning his career at Time magazine; and a manuscript by Donald Miller, "Creatures of the Spirit: Robert Vickrey's Nun Paintings". Also included is Vickrey's notebook, "Tiny Trims," containing reel splices.
Printed material consists mainly of newspaper and magazine clippings of Vickrey's artwork and participation in exhibitions. There are also exhibition catalogs and announcements.
Approximately half of the collection consists of VHS tapes, sound reels, and audio casettes documenting Vickrey's various projects.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid was written by Ricky Gomez in 2019.
Illustrators -- Massachusetts
Portrait painters -- Massachusetts
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Interviews
Correspondence
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Box 1
1967-2007
Scope and Contents
Correspondence consist primarily letters to museums, galleries, and colleagues. There are some letters and postcards from Vickrey's children, and correspondence from a colleague and family friend that includes numerous drawings from his children to Vickrey.
Arrangement
Files are arranged alphabetically.
Alison
Archival Resource Key
1986-1989
1
1
A, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1987-2001
1
2
Ben Franklin Elementary School
Archival Resource Key
1984
1
3
B, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1984-2004
1
4
The Cape Codder
Archival Resource Key
1984-1986
1
5
Chase Manhattan Bank
Archival Resource Key
2000
1
6
C, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1985-2000
1
7
D, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1973-2000
1
8
E, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1984-2007
1
9
Esther and James Ferguson
Archival Resource Key
1997-1999
1
10
F, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1985-2002
1
11
Arn Ghigliazza
Archival Resource Key
1993-1994
1
12
G, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1988-2000
1
13
Riley Humler
Archival Resource Key
2000-2001
1
14
H, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1988-2003
1
15
I, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1985, 1998
1
16
J, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1987-1999
1
17
K, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1972-2004
1
18
L, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1987-2001
1
19
Mike McClaskey
Archival Resource Key
1992-2001
1
20
M, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1985-2001
1
21
N, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1998-2006
1
22
Greg O'Brien
Archival Resource Key
1985-1990
1
23
O, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1967-2007
1
24
Warren Peters
Archival Resource Key
1999
1
25
P, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1998-2003
1
26
R, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1988-2003
1
27
Joshua Smith
Archival Resource Key
1997
1
28
S, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1970-1999
1
29
T, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1988-1998
1
30
Carrie Vickrey
Archival Resource Key
1992-2006
1
31
Visual Artists and Galleries Association, Inc.
Archival Resource Key
1998-1999
1
32
V-Z, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1971-2003
1
33
Writings
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
0.7 Linear feet
Boxes 1-2
1974-2008
Scope and Contents
Writings consist of manuscripts and clippings of articles and stories Vickrey wrote for newspapers. There is also a manuscript for one of his written works, and there is a manuscript and related materials and image reproduction requests for a book on Vickrey written by Philip Eliasoph.
Arrangement
Files are arranged chronologically.
Manuscripts and Notes
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
34-37
Stories and Poems
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
38
"Time Traveler"
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
39-40
By Others
Archival Resource Key
1974, 1985
1
41
Robert Vickrey Lyrical Realist
Archival Resource Key
1982
1
42
Cape Codder
Archival Resource Key
1985-1988
1
43
The Review
Archival Resource Key
1986-1991
1
44
Cape Cod Chronicle
Archival Resource Key
1988-1998
1
45-46
Oracle Echoes
Archival Resource Key
1990-1991
1
47
The Cape Paper, Naples, Florida
Archival Resource Key
1998
1
48
"Creatures of the Spirit: Robert Vickrey's Nun Paintings"
Archival Resource Key
2002
1
49
"Creatures of the Spirit: Robert Vickrey's Nun Paintings"
Archival Resource Key
2002
2
1
Eliasoph Book Materials
Archival Resource Key
2006
2
2
Reproduction Requests, Eliasoph Book on Vickrey
Archival Resource Key
2007
2
3-6
"Robert Vickrey: The Magic of Realism," by Philip Eliasoph
Archival Resource Key
2008
2
7
Personal Business Records
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
0.3 Linear feet
Box 2
1983-2001
Scope and Contents
Personal business records includes invoices, price lists, and agreements with galleries and museums to exhibit and sell his works.
Arrangement
Files are arranged chronologically.
Harmon-Meek Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1983-2001
2
8-15
Munson Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1987-1988
2
16
Parnassus Imprints
Archival Resource Key
1989
2
17
ArtsAmerica Inc.
Archival Resource Key
1990-1992
2
18
Gerold Wunderlich and Co.
Archival Resource Key
1994-1999
2
19-20
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1991-1999
2
21
Professional Activity Files
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.3 Linear feet
Box 2
1973-1998
Scope and Contents
Professional activity files includes material related to various exhibitions and events that Vickrey took part in around the country.
Arrangement
Files are arranged chronologically.
Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
1973-1977
2
22
Watson-Guptill Publications
Archival Resource Key
1978
2
23
Tamarind Institute
Archival Resource Key
1982-1996
2
24
The West Collection
Archival Resource Key
1983-1985
2
25
K. W. Prescott, Inc., Meredith Long Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1984-1989
2
26
Frank Getlein
Archival Resource Key
1986-1988
2
27
Resume
Archival Resource Key
circa 1986
2
28
The Artist's Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1987
2
29
Colorado Historical Society
Archival Resource Key
1987
2
30
Frederick Voss, National Portrait Gallery
Archival Resource Key
1988-1990
2
31
American Artist
Archival Resource Key
1992-1993
2
32
Portsmouth Museum
Archival Resource Key
1994
2
33
J. K. Flynn Company
Archival Resource Key
1995-1998
2
34
Ogunquit Museum of American Art
Archival Resource Key
1997
2
35
Printed Material
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.8 Linear feet
Boxes 2-3, 5
1951-2006
Scope and Contents
Printed material consists mainly of newspaper and magazine clippings of Vickrey's artwork and activities. There are also exhibition catalogs and announcements.
Reproductions of Works
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
36
Newspaper Clipping
Archival Resource Key
1952-2003
2
37-44
Magazine Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1965-2000
2
45
Exhibition Announcements
Archival Resource Key
1951-2006
3
1-4
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1988-2006
3
5
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1951-1999
3
6
Scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
1954-1980
5
1
Scope and Contents
The scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings and has been disbound. Pages are very fragile.
TIME Magazine Covers
Archival Resource Key
1960-1997
5
2
Scope and Contents
The folder consists of covers for TIME Magazine and an illustrated book on the history of the covers for the magazine from its start date through 1997.
Sound and Video Recordings
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
1.7 Linear feet
Boxes 3-4
1984-1997
Scope and Contents
Sound and video recordings consist of Vickrey interviews and Vickrey reading from one of his books. Much of the material was created during the production of the PBS documentary "Robert Vickrey: Lyrical Realist".
Arrangement
The series is arranged with the VHS at the beginning followed by the audio cassettes of the Vickrey documentary project and the audio reels of the Vickrey project.
"Vick Interviews Movie Critic Cooke, Lancaster" and "Lancaster Interview No. 2"
Archival Resource Key
2 Videocassettes (VHS)
1997
3
7
Scope and Contents
Two video cassettes of Vickrey interviewing movie critic Cooke in Lancaster.
"Cape Cods Cockiest Crook"
Archival Resource Key
2 Videocassettes (VHS)
1997
3
8
Scope and Contents
Two VHS recordings of Vickrey taking part in a book presentation and reading from his book Cape Cod's Cockiest Crook at Snow Library.
"Springfield Interview 78F" and "R Vickrey Lyrical Realist/Tip O'Neil Speech"
Archival Resource Key
2 Videocassettes (VHS)
circa 1984
3
9
Scope and Contents
VHS contain an interview with Springfield, a portion of Tip O'Neil's speech to Congress, and material related to Vickrey Project/Lyrical Realist.
Vickrey Project, Cassettes
Archival Resource Key
7 Sound cassettes
1 Sound cassettes (microcassette)
1984-1986
3
10
Scope and Contents
Primarily consists of audio cassette recordings associated with the Vickrey documentary for PBS, "Robert Vickrey: Lyrical Realist."
Vickrey Project, Reels
Archival Resource Key
10 Sound tape reels
1984-1986
3
11-13
Scope and Contents
Primarily consists of sound audio recordings associated with the Vickrey documentary for PBS, "Robert Vickrey: Lyrical Realist." The reels are divided between cuts of audio and cuts of music used in the actual documentary.
Vickrey Project, Reels
Archival Resource Key
18 Sound tape reels
1984-1986
4
1-5
Scope and Contents
Primarily consists of sound audio recordings associated with the Vickrey documentary for PBS, "Robert Vickrey: Lyrical Realist." The reels are divided between cuts of audio and cuts of music used in the actual documentary.
Vickrey Project, Original 1/4 Music Tape
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound tape reel
1984-1986
4
6
Scope and Contents
One of the original sound reels of music used in the Vickrey project.
Vickrey Project Original 1/4 Music Tape
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound tape reel
1984-1986
5
3
Scope and Contents
An original reel of music used in the Vickrey Project from which the other reels in the series are based.
Vickrey Project Tiny Trims Book
Archival Resource Key
1984-1986
4
7