Born in Malta, Jean Zaleski (1920-2010) was a painter and arts administrator in New York City, New York. She was instrumental in the founding of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA).
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
The papers of painter and administrator Jean Zaleski measure 0.7 linear feet and date from 1957 to 1979. The collection concerns Zaleski's exhibition career and affiliation with the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Found are scattered biographical materials including financial records, correspondence, two sound recordings of interviews, photographs, printed material, and writings.
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Donated September 1979 and January 1980 by Jean Zaleski.
Jean Zaleski papers, 1957-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2023 with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Scattered biographical materials include a membership card, invoices, price lists, and receipts. Also found are transparencies of works of art and sketches for an exhibition at the Art Alliance in Philadelphia. Correspondence is with family, friends, and colleagues. Many letters concern feminist art and art groups. Two untranscribed interviews are on cassettes. One is of Dina Gustin Baker and Joyce Weinstein conducted by Zaleski in New York City in 1976 for WNYC. A second interview of Jean Zaleski and Ce Roser was conducted by Vivian Southerland for radio station WBAI, New York City, in 1976. Photographs are of Zaleski, family, friends and associates, including Women in the Arts Foundation, Inc. members. Printed materials consist of clippings, exhibition announcements, catalogs, and posters, as well as material concerning Sweet Briar College and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Also found are photos and slides of art work and materials relating to Zaleski's teaching career and her affiliation with the West Beth Housing Project. Writings and notes consist of notes, essays and drafts of articles.