Archives of American Art
Edwin Ziegfeld papers
Ziegfeld, Edwin, 1905-1987
AAA.ziegedwi
Archival Resource Key
3 Linear feet
1917-1986
bulk 1930s-1970s
The papers of artist and art educator Edwin Ziegfeld measure 3 linear feet and date from 1917 to 1986, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1930s to 1970s. The papers document Ziegfeld's career through biographical materials, files comprised of writings and talks, professional files, and printed materials.
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 papers of artist and art educator Edwin Ziegfeld measure 3 linear feet and date from 1917 to 1986, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1930s to 1970s. The papers document Ziegfeld's career through biographical materials, files comprised of writings and talks, professional files, and printed materials. Biographical materials include a list of Ziegfeld's publications and field contacts, resumes, biographical summaries, certificates and awards, miscellaneous receipts, membership cards, one interview transcript, mixed professional and personal correspondence, and more. Writings and talks include drafts, transcripts, notes, and outlines of Ziegfeld's articles, speeches, and essays. Also found in this series is a travel log he carried through Europe, Egypt, and Lebanon. Professional files shed light on Ziegfeld's various projects and professional undertakings including his teaching positions, the Owatonna Art Education Project, National Art Education Association, International Society for Education Through Art, and others. Folders include writings and drafts, editions of Art Today (1935-1944) and Art For Daily Living (1944), photos, transcripts, teaching files, and correspondence. Printed materials consist of published articles by Ziegfeld, clippings about Ziegfeld, artists, art education, the Prisendam fire in 1980—Ziegfeld and his wife were passengers on the cruise ship; ephemera from Ziegfeld exhibitions and speaking engagements; and a print of his drawing of "Sibley house."
Biographical / Historical
Edwin Ziegfeld (1905-1987) was an artist and art educator in Minnesota, New York, and Washington, D.C. He attended Ohio State University for his bachelor's degree and Harvard University for his master's. After completing his education, Ziegfeld was an instructor of landscape architecture at Ohio State and soon after began working for the Owatonna Art Project. He served as the program's resident director from 1934 to 1939 and published the book Art For Daily Living, co-authored by Mary Elinore Smith, about the project in 1944. Toward the end of this project, Ziegfeld taught art education at the University of Minnesota. In 1943, Ziegfeld began working for the Bureau of Navy Personnel in its education services department. From 1944 to 1946, he served as the officer-in-charge for the educational program of the U.S. Navy; and completed his doctorate in educational psychology with a minor in architecture in 1946. After the war, Ziegfeld took a position as an art professor in the Department of Fine and Industrial Arts at Teachers College, Columbia University. He ultimately became chairman of the department and served as editor of Art Education Today, the department's annual publication. He remained at Columbia until his retirement in 1970.
Ziegfeld was a founding president of the National Art Education Association and International Society for Education Through Art; and a member of the Eastern Arts Association and Museum of Modern Art committee on art education. In addition to numerous published articles, Ziegfeld edited five editions of Art Today from 1941 to 1963, and wrote "Art and Education: A Symposium," published by UNESCO in 1953. Though most well-known for his work in art education, Ziegfeld's watercolors were exhibited a number of times throughout his career, most notable in group shows at the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts and Baltimore Museum of Art.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated in 1987 by Ernest Ziegfield, Ziegfield's brother.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Christopher DeMairo in 2023.
Preferred Citation
Edwin Ziegfeld papers, 1917-1986. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as four series.
- Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1917-1986 (Box 1; .2 linear feet)
- Series 2: Writings and Talks, 1930s-1983 (Box 1; .8 linear feet)
- Series 3: Professional Files, 1930s-1986 (Box 2-3; 1.6 linear feet)
- Series 4: Printed Materials, 1930s-1986 (Box 3; .2 linear feet)
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.
Interviews
Art teachers
Printmakers -- New York (State) -- New York
Draftsmen (artists) -- New York (State)
International Society for Education Through Art
National Art Education Association
Owatonna Art Education Project
Biographical Materials
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
.2 Linear feet
Box 1
1917-1986
Scope and Contents
Found here is a list of Ziegfeld's publications and field contacts, resumes, biographical summaries, membership cards, certificates and awards, and scant photographs including portraits of Ziegfeld, snapshots from events, and photos of others. Correspondence concerns Ziegfeld's articles and other writings, his teaching duties at Columbia, speaking engagements, Art Today, and some cover his artwork and personal matters; scant financial information and printed materials are present as well. Awards and certificates include his doctorate from the University of Minnesota and clippings, correspondence, and a program concerning his National Gallery of Art award. Also included is a transcript from an interview with Anne Gregory conducted with Ziegfeld in 1983.
Awards and Certificates
Archival Resource Key
1917-1962
1
1
Award, National Gallery of Art
Archival Resource Key
1966
1
2
Biographical Summaries and Resumes
Archival Resource Key
1970-1986
1
3
Personal and Professional Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1927-1986
1
4-5
Financial Papers
Archival Resource Key
1949-1967
1
6
Interview with Anne Gregory, Transcript
Archival Resource Key
1983
1
7
List of Publications and Field Contacts
Archival Resource Key
1935-1957
1
8
Membership Cards
Archival Resource Key
1938-1947, undated
1
9
Photos of Ziegfeld
Archival Resource Key
circa 1920s-1960s
1
10
Photos of Ziegfeld and Others
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1960s
1
11
Writings and Talks
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
.8 Linear feet
Box 1
circa 1930s-1983
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of drafts of articles, transcripts, essays, and speeches by Ziegfeld concerning his career, art education, notable individuals in art education, pedagogy, and other related topics. In addition to the drafts, folders might include notes and outlines, scant correspondence, and printed materials. Also included is a travel log used by Ziegfeld documenting his trips to different sections of Europe, Egypt, and Lebanon; and one talk on art education by Lewis Mumford.
See Series 3: Professional Files for Ziegfeld's curriculums and lesson plans, editions of Art Today (1935-1941), and writings about the Owatonna Art Education Project, including those for his book Art For Daily Living (1944).
Aesthetic Education
Archival Resource Key
1960s
1
12
Art and Activities
Archival Resource Key
circa 1951
1
13
Art Education in the Age of Science
Archival Resource Key
1966
1
14
Art Education: The Individual and Society
Archival Resource Key
1959
1
15
Art Education: The Western Viewpoint
Archival Resource Key
1960
1
16
Art and Its Relationship to Other Disciplines
Archival Resource Key
1964
1
17
Autobiographical Talk
Archival Resource Key
circa 1982
1
18
Chapter 1: A Visit to An Art Class
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
19
Chapter 7: The Art Teacher and Art Education as a Profession
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
20
Chapter 8: Art and Inter-Cultural Understanding
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
21
Community and Authenticity in Teaching: A Personal View
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
22
Defensible Aims, Standards, and Outcomes in Art Education
Archival Resource Key
1947
1
23
Die Internationale Gesselschaft Fuer Erziehung Durch Kunst
Archival Resource Key
1957
1
24
Eastern Arts Association Bulletin Article
Archival Resource Key
1954
1
25
Emerging Frontiers in the Fine Arts
Archival Resource Key
1961
1
26
An Evaluation of Art Instruction
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
27
An Experimental Investigation to Determine the Effect of Different Methods of Instruction in Painting and Drawing...
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
28
Foreward, On Albert Cullum
Archival Resource Key
1967
1
29
Foreward for Italo de Francesco
Archival Resource Key
1956
1
30
Getting Started
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
31
House Design
Archival Resource Key
1936-1944, 1949
1
32
Industrial Arts: Challenges and Opportunities
Archival Resource Key
1967
1
33
The Influence of Sir Herbert Read
Archival Resource Key
1968
1
34
An Interpretation of the Development of Drawing Ability in Children According to the Principles of Gestalt Pyschology
Archival Resource Key
1938
1
35
Music and Art in the Public Schools
Archival Resource Key
1963
1
36
New Directions in Art Education
Archival Resource Key
1966
1
37
A New Era in Art Education
Archival Resource Key
1949
1
38
Novi Pravci...Talk in Croatian
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
39
Observations on a Visit to Art Department of Ball State Teachers College
Archival Resource Key
1959
1
40
Order and Discipline in Art Education
Archival Resource Key
1972
1
41
The Place of Arts in Education: A Working Paper
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
42
The Place of Arts in Education
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
43
The Publication of an Annual in Art Education
Archival Resource Key
circa 1949
1
44
Reflections
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
45
Retirement Talk by Ziegfeld
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980
1
46
Risk-Taking and Flexibility
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
47
Role of the Arts in Education: Organization of the Arts K-14
Archival Resource Key
1962
1
48
Setting Our Course
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
49
A Story of the Nativity
Archival Resource Key
1963
1
50
Surveys and Descriptive Research
Archival Resource Key
1958
1
51
A Text on the Teaching of Art in the Secondary Grades by Ziegfeld and Mary Mckibbin, Outlines
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
52
Travel Log
Archival Resource Key
1963-1983
1
53
The "Whole World" Concept in Art Education
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
54
What Are the Implications of Humanities Courses for Art Education?
Archival Resource Key
1965
1
55
Why Are We Teaching Art? A Reply to Howard Conant
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960
1
56
Youth and Art
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
57
Notes and Writings on Art Education, Art History, and Painting
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1962
1
58-60
How Art Education Strengthens Democracy, Address by Lewis Mumford
Archival Resource Key
1948
1
61
Professional Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1.6 Linear feet
Box 2-3
1930s-1986
Scope and Contents
This series sheds light on various projects and professional undertakings by Ziegfeld throughout his career in art education. Included are administrative papers, photographs, scant correspondence, and writings related to his stint in the US Navy Educational Services; and writings, speeches, an interview transcript, photos, printed materials, and scant correspondence related to INSEA, NAEA, and USSEA. His teaching files consist of lesson and unit plans, reports, some student assignments, tables and graphs concerning art education in schools, his book reserve lists from the library, and a series of files about creativity that include lesson plans, assignments, printed materials, and notes. Files related to the Owatonna Art Education Project consist of transcripts of Ziegfeld's talks about the project, drafts of writings for his book Art For Daily Living, writings by program founder Melvin E. Haggerty, clippings, and project ephemera. Also found here is correspondence, notes, itineraries, and other ephemera related to two of Ziegfeld's lecture tours and one discussion panel.
Owatonna Art Education Project
Archival Resource Key
1934-1944
Buildings and Architecture in Owatonna
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
1
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1936-1941
2
2
Graphs and Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1935-1940s
2
3
Landscape Unit, Notes and Sketches
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
4-5
Writings, Art and the School
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
6
Writings, Conducting the Community Study
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
7
Writings, Developing Learning Units
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
8
Writings, Developing the Program of Art
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
9
Writings, Generalizations Drawn from Work in the Community
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
10
Writings, Implications of the Owatonna Art Education Project
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
11
Writings, Photography
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
12
Writings, Selection of Unit
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
13
Talks and Writings on OAEP
Archival Resource Key
circa 1935-1940s, 1986
2
14
Art For Daily Living by Edwin Ziegfeld and Mary Elinore Smith
Archival Resource Key
1944
2
15
OAEP Publications
Archival Resource Key
1935-1944
2
16
Clippings and Other Printed Materials
Archival Resource Key
1936-1939, 1986
2
17
Art Today
Archival Resource Key
1935-1963
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1941-1963
2
18
Royalty Statements
Archival Resource Key
1942-1947
2
19
Notes and Writings
Archival Resource Key
1942, undated
2
20
Art Today
Archival Resource Key
1935-1938
2
21-23
Art Today; War Department Education Manual EM 630
Archival Resource Key
1944
2
24
Publicity and Mailers
Archival Resource Key
1941-1956
2
25
Navy Educational Services, Mixed Papers and Photographs
Archival Resource Key
1940s
3
1-2
Teaching Files
Archival Resource Key
circa 1930s-1970
Art Education Course
Archival Resource Key
circa 1969
3
3
Art Units, Grade 1-6
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
4
City Planning Unit for Junior High
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
5
Creativity Notes, Curriculum, Printed Materials, and Student Assignments
Archival Resource Key
circa 1930s-1960
3
6-9
Interior Design Curriculum
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
10
Library Reserve List
Archival Resource Key
1960-1961
3
11
Preparation of a Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s
3
12
Recreation Unit in Art Expression
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
13
Report on Teachers College Curriculum Workshop
Archival Resource Key
1940
3
14
Selective Art Aptitude Tests
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
15
Table: Courses in Art Prescribed in Fifty Colleges and Universities for Persons Preparing to Teach Art, 1941 and 1962
Archival Resource Key
1962
3
16
NAEA, Writings and Background Information
Archival Resource Key
1950s, 1986
3
19
NAEA, Mixed Papers
Archival Resource Key
1948, 1971-1986
3
20
NAEA, Photographs from Events
Archival Resource Key
1948-1951
3
21
INSEA, Interview with Larry Kantner on Founding of the INSEA
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
22-24
INSEA, Record of Lecturers, Second General Assembly
Archival Resource Key
1957
3
25
INSEA, Writings and Speeches
Archival Resource Key
1957-1972
3
26
INSEA, Press Release Announcing Ziegfeld as Society's First President
Archival Resource Key
1954
3
27
USSEA, Mixed Papers
Archival Resource Key
1986
3
28
Symposium on the Functions of a Modern University
Archival Resource Key
1950
3
29
Lecture Tour, South Africa
Archival Resource Key
1957
3
30
Lecture Tour, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
31
Printed Materials
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
.2 Linear feet
Box 3
circa 1930s-1986
Scope and Contents
Found here are published articles by Ziegfeld; clippings related to Ziegfeld's artwork and career in art education; brochures, pamphlets, and schedules from speaking engagements; some catalogs and invitations for Ziegfeld group and solo exhibitions, including shows held at the Baltimore Museum of Art and Birmingham Public Library in Alabama. Also found here is a print of his drawing of "Sibley house" and clippings related to Ziegfeld's family, artists, art education, and the Prisendam fire in 1980—Ziegfeld and his wife were passengers on the cruise ship.
Articles by Ziegfeld
Archival Resource Key
1937-1955
3
32-33
Brochures and Schedules for Ziegfeld Speaking Engagements
Archival Resource Key
1935-1951
3
33
Clippings on Ziegfeld
Archival Resource Key
circa 1930s-1980s
3
34
Exhibition Ephemera
Archival Resource Key
1931-1948, undated
3
36
Print of "Sibley house"
Archival Resource Key
1936
3
37
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1930s-1986
3
38