uaartassoc Inventory of the Art Association Records, bulk 1930 - 1938 Processed by: University Archives staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Jill Katte University ArchivesDuke University

Durham, N.C., U.S.A.

Aleph Number: 003450885

Machine-readable finding aid derived from automated markup system. Date of source: 1994 Processed by University Archives staff 1994; Finding Aid encoded by Jill Katte, University Archives, Duke University, June 2005 Description is in English. 05-01-2006 PUBLIC "-//University Archives//TEXT (US::NDD::::Art Association Records)//EN" "uaartassoc.xml converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).Also, the top level of the finding aid (above the dsc) was changed to conform to the NC EAD Best Practice Guidelines. Within the dsc, dates for series were normalized. Inventory of the Art Association Records, bulk 1930 - 1938 University Archives Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0202 USA

Descriptive Summary Art Association Records, bulk 1930 - 1938. Duke University. Art Association. 1.0 Linear Feet, 1000 Items University Archives, Duke University For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University. The Duke University Art Association was formed by William K. Boyd in 1930. The Association planned and organized art exhibits, gallery talks, and other art appreciation activities on the Duke campus until the early 1940s. Collection includes minutes, correspondence, photographs, exhibit catalogs, lists of objects, membership lists, and related materials. Major subjects include faculty spouses, art appreciation, the Woman's College Library, the American Federation of Arts, the Carl Shurz Memorial Foundation for the Development of Cultural Relations Between the United States and Germany, the College Art Association, and the Southern States Art League. The bulk of the materials range in date from 1930 to 1938. English. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.

In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is required for use.

Use Restrictions

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Art Association Records, University Archives, Duke University.

Provenance

The Art Association Records were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1971-1981.

Processing Information

Processed by University Archives staff

Completed 1994

Encoded by Jill Katte, June 2005

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Historical Note

In 1930, Duke University professor William K. Boyd, pursuing the early concept of a library-museum for the Woman's College Library, negotiated with Margaret L. Barber for a twenty-five year loan of a substantial part of her collection. Mrs. Barber, of Williamsburg, Missouri, spent her life collecting art and antiques. In a letter calling the organizing meeting in October 1930, Boyd wrote: "I have a feeling that the time has come for us to organize a Duke Art Club or Art League with the immediate objective of finding ways and means to purchase the paintings and books sent to us by Mrs. Barber."

In response to Boyd's letter, a group of prominent Duke faculty and administrators and their spouses met in the Woman's College Library on October 21, 1930 to discuss the organization of the Art League of Duke University. The meeting minutes state: "Dr. Boyd appointed the following executive committee to serve with him: Mrs. White, Mrs. Webb, Dr. R. L. Flowers, Mrs. Few, Dr. Harvie Branscombe, Mrs. Gross, Dr. Paul Baum, and Mrs. Griggs. The following officers were selected: W. K. Boyd, Chairman; Mrs. N. I. White, Vice-Chairman; Mrs. Lillian B. Griggs, Secretary-Treasurer." At one of the first meetings, members decided to change the name of the organization to the Art Association.

The Art Association continued to plan and organize exhibits, gallery talks, and other art events, until Boyd's death in 1938, after which the activities of the Art Association went into decline. However, the formal study of art at Duke University began with the establishment of the Department of Aesthetics, Art, and Music in 1942. The Barber Collection was displayed at the Woman's College Library until 1956, when the twenty-five year plan ended. At that time, Duke University purchased a few pieces from the Barber estate.

Collection Overview

The Art Association Records include minutes, correspondence, photographs, exhibit catalogs, lists of objects, membership lists, and related materials. Major subjects include faculty spouses, art appreciation, the American Federation of Arts, the Carl Shurz Memorial Foundation for the Development of Cultural Relations Between the United States and Germany, the College Art Association, and the Southern States Art League.

The collection is arranged alphabetically. Correspondence was divided by correspondent, and this order has been maintained.

Subject Headings

These and related materials may be accessed under the following subject headings in the Duke University Libraries online catalog.

Art appreciation--United States--History--20th century. Boyd, William Kenneth, 1879-1938. College Art Association of America. College teachers' spouses. Duke University--Art. Duke University. Art Association. Duke University--Faculty. Duke University. Woman's College. Duke University. Woman's College. Library--History. Southern States Art League. Exhibition catalogs. Photographs. Contents of Collection Container List 1 General information, 1921, 1931 American Federation of Arts Art Shop, Greensboro, N.C. Boyd correspondence Brewer correspondence Business papers

Includes list of art objects in the Woman's College Library, including the Barber collection.

Carl Shurz Memorial Foundation Carnegie Corporation Charleston Museum Clippings College Art Association Correspondence Ennis correspondence Jones correspondence Looney correspondence Mathewson correspondence Membership Minutes Museum of Modern Art North Carolina Inventory 2 3 Photographs of artwork Price correspondence Pritchard correspondence Southern States Art League Financial materials Related Material Dept. of Art and Art History records. University Archives, Duke University. Duke Artists Series records. University Archives, Duke University.