Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Cooper, Douglas, 1911-1984
| title | Douglas Cooper papers, 1900-1985, bulk 1933-1985. |
| repository | The Getty Research Institute |
| description | Organized in nine series: Series I: Correspondence; Series II: Manuscripts; Series III: Records of the Mayor Gallery, London; Series IV: Papers relating to Nazi art collections; Series V: Exhibitions; Series VI: Photographs, Slides and Transparencies; Series VII: Personal and Printed Matter; Series VIII: Audio tapes and film; Series IX: Toys. The collection embraces all papers relating to Cooper’s career as a critic, curator, and collector that remained with his estate at the time of his death. The correspondence reflects Cooper’s wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the art world, his work as an art expert, and his penchant for controversy. All of Cooper’s published books, catalogs, articles and reviews are represented. There is material documenting Cooper’s tenure at the Mayor Gallery and his investigation of Nazi art collections. Photographs, slides and transparencies comprise nearly one-third of the collection. There is comprehensive photograph documentation of the work of Gris and Braque, as of Cooper’s art collection and research. |
| extent | ca. 33 linear ft. |
| formats | Correspondence Photographs Electronic Resource Slides Exhibition Catalogs |
| access | Douglas Cooper pursued a long career as art critic, curator and collector, producing numerous books, catalogs, articles and reviews. He also amassed a distinguished collection of early Cubist paintings. |
| record link | http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa860161 |
| record source | https://primo.getty.edu/permalink/f/19q6gmb/GETTY_ALMA21126998090001551 |
| finding aid | http://archives.getty.edu:8082/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=utf8a&idno=US::CMalG::860161 |
| updated | 02/14/2025 10:07:27 |
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| title | Francis Steegmuller correspondence with Douglas Cooper, 1966-1997. |
| repository | The Getty Research Institute |
| description | The collection consists of approximately seventy-seven autograph letters, twenty-eight typed letters, six notes, thirteen postcards, three telegrams and fifty clippings. Almost all epistolary items are from Douglas Cooper to his friends Francis and Shirley Steegmuller. Rich in gossip, witty barbs, and misanthropic pronouncements, the letters nonetheless offer a portrait of the provocative art critic as a supportive colleague and concerned friend. A number of letters concern book projects of all three authors; there is ample discussion of Cocteau relative to Steegmuller's biography and Cooper's book on Parade. Five letters are from Francis Steegmuller, mostly consisting of point by point replies to Cooper's commentary on his work. There is also mention of Cooper's friend William McCarty and Cooper's decision to adopt him. The later letters are increasingly concerned with Cooper's declining health and his move from Provence to Monte Carlo Also included are candid photographs of the three friends taken at the Chateau de Castille. Newspaper clippings include reviews by Cooper, a Rosenberg review of Cooper's Essential Cubism exhibition, articles by and interviews with John Richardson, articles about the dispersal of Cooper's art collection, and obituaries about Cooper, Picasso, and McCarty-Cooper. Fifteen books by Cooper with manuscript dedications to the Steegmullers were transferred to the library; 4 Christie's catalogs pertaining to the sale of McCarty-Cooper's collections remain with the archive. Historical and Biographical Notes Douglas Cooper was an art critic, curator and collector who specialized in the Paris School of Early Cubism. For most of his life, he resided in Provence. Francis Steegmuller was a biographer of French literary figures such as Cocteau, Apollinaire and Flaubert. He also translated French literature. |
| extent | 1 linear ft.(2 boxes) |
| formats | Correspondence |
| access | Open for use by qualified researchers |
| record link | http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cat382583 |
| record source | http://library.getty.edu/vwebv/searchBasic |
| updated | 02/14/2025 10:07:35 |
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