Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Wardwell, Allen
| title | Allen Wardwell Papers, 1791-1998 1958-1998 (bulk). |
| repository | The Brooklyn Museum Libraries and Archives |
| description | The Allen Wardwell Papers consist of descriptions of objects, slides, transparencies, photographs, articles, letters, reprints, museum bulletins and clippings relating mainly to Northwest Coast Indian, Oceanic and African art. There is minimal correspondence or documentation as to the identity of most of the binders of object information or boxes of slides. In some cases, the titles written on the enclosures provided clues as to the purpose of the materials. The collection is comprised of three series, of which the largest is Visual materials, with slides, transparencies and photographs illustrating objects from Northwest Coast Indian, Oceanic, Pre-Columbian and Eskimo cultures. The collection also includes slides from Wardwell’s travels. Biographical Note Allen Wardwell was a scholar, collector and curator of Northwest Coast Indian, Oceanic and African art. He was born on January 18, 1935, and educated at Groton, Yale University (class of 1957) and New York University. Wardwell chose not to follow his father and grandfather into the law profession (his grandfather founded the law firm Davis, Polk and Wardwell), instead pursuing his avid interest in fine arts. In 1960, he received a master’s degree in art history from New York University, where he studied with Robert Goldwater. After graduating, Wardwell became the head of the Primitive Art Department at The Art Institute of Chicago (1960-1973) and also served as acting curator of its Decorative Arts Department from 1964 to 1970. (see finding aid link for more biographical information). Location: Brooklyn Museum Libraries, Special Collections, Allen Wardwell Papers. Local Call No: SC02 |
| extent | 5.21 linear ft. |
| formats | Artwork Clippings Correspondence Ephemera Photographs |
| access | Permission of Archivist/Librarian required. |
| record link | http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/collections/libraries_and_archives/uploads/Wardwell.pdf |
| record source | http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/collections/libraries_and_archives/findingaids.php |
| finding aid | Finding aid and database access in repository. |
| acquisition information | The Allen Wardwell Library and Archives were donated to the Brooklyn Museum by his widow, Sally Wardwell, in August 2005. The collection contained approximately 650 scholarly books, exhibition catalogues, notebooks, binders and photographs. Publications were added to the Library collection. His research files and photographs are held in the Library’s Special Collections. |
| updated | 02/14/2025 10:07:35 |
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