Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

Archives related to: Rabkin, Leo

titleDorothy and Leo Rabkin papers, 1940-1979.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionPapers relating to Leo and Dorothy Rabkin as art collectors, as well as Leo Rabkin's work in painting and sculpture and with American Abstract Artists.

Reel N69-68: Correspondence, catalogs, clippings, and photographs of Leo Rabkin and his work. Much of the material relates to the American Abstract Artsists, of which Rabkin was president.

Unmicrofilmed portion: Biographical material; exhibition, lecture, and sales files containing catalogs, announcements, correspondence, photographs of works of art, and clippings; and miscellany.

Also included are records of the American Abstract Artists consisting of published histories, minutes, memorandum, membership and mailing lists, correspondence, exhibition files, and files on member-artists Ilya Bolotowsky, Will Barnet, and others, containing catalogs, photographs of art, biographical material, interviews, and clippings. Records of the U.S. Committee of the International Artists Association and the Fine Arts Federation of New York are also included.

Bio / His Notes:
Art collectors; New York City. Leo Rabkin, born 1919, was also a painter and sculptor, and president of American Abstract Artists.

extent4.6 linear ft. (partially filmed on 1 microfilm reel)
formatsMicrofilm Correspondence Catalogs Clippings Photographs
accessMicrofilmed portion must be consulted on microfilm. Use of unmicrofilmed portion requires an appointment and is limited to Washington, D.C. storage facility.
record sourcehttp://www.siris.si.edu/
acquisition informationThe materials filmed on reel N69-68 were originally loaned to the Archives by Leo Rabkin in 1969. They were subsequently given, along with other materials, in 1979 and 1980.
updated03/16/2023 10:30:00
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titleArtist file: Rabkin, Leo
repositoryNational Portrait Gallery Library
descriptionFolder(s) may include exhibition announcements, newspaper and/or magazine clippings, press releases, brochures, reviews, invitations, illustrations, resumes, artist's statements, exhibition catalogs.
extent1+ folders (check with repository)
formatsEphemera
accessFolder(s) do not circulate. Folder(s) available for use only at the holding library
record sourcehttp://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Art-Design/artandartistfiles/
updated11/12/2014 11:30:05
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titleArtist file: Rabkin, Leo
repositoryHirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Library
descriptionFolder(s) may include exhibition announcements, newspaper and/or magazine clippings, press releases, brochures, reviews, invitations, illustrations, resumes, artist's statements, exhibition catalogs.
extent1+ folders (check with repository)
formatsEphemera
accessFolder(s) do not circulate. Folder(s) available for use only at the holding library
record sourcehttp://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Art-Design/artandartistfiles/
updated11/12/2014 11:30:05
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titleArtist file: Rabkin, Leo. miscellaneous uncataloged material.
repositoryThe Museum of Modern Art
descriptionThe folder may include announcements, clippings, press releases, brochures, reviews, invitations, small exhibition catalogs, and other ephemeral material.

Location: MoMA Queens Artist Files
Call Number: RABKIN, LEO
extent1 folder
formatsEphemera
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttps://library.nyarc.org/permalink/01NYA_INST/ai54l4/alma991011161969707141
updated11/29/2022 15:49:51
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titleLouis Alexander Gallery records, 1961-1963.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionCorrespondence, clippings, and exhibition catalogs, 1961-1963, concerning primarily an exhibition of American drawings held at the Louis Alexander Gallery in the fall of 1962. Included is biographical and related material on a number of abstract painters exhibiting in the show, such as Al Copley, Ross Coates, Charles S. DuBack, William Giles, David Packard, Leo Rabkin, and Athos Zagharias.
extent0.4 linear ft. (on partial microfilm reel). reel 136 (frames 572-972)
formatsCorrespondence Clippings
accessPatrons must use microfilm copy.
record sourcehttp://www.siris.si.edu/
acquisition informationThe donor, Paul Cummings, was the co-director of Louis Alexander Gallery.
updated11/12/2014 11:30:14
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titleOral history interview with Leo Rabkin, 1968 Dec. 4
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionAn interview of Leo Rabkin conducted 1968 Dec. 4, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art. Rabkin speaks of his youth in Cincinnati in a Russian-Jewish family; his early study of music; teaching; his watercolor techniques; prints on plastic; the importance of the box in his life; his concern with light; his collections of wood furniture and folk art.

He recalls William Baziotes, and Ad Reinhardt, and discusses his involvement with the American Abstract Artists group.

Bio / His Notes:
Leo Rabkin (1919-) is a painter and sculptor from New York, N.Y.
extentSound recording: 1 sound tape reel ; 7 in. Transcript: 97 p.
formatsSound Recording Transcript
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttp://siris-archives.si.edu/
acquisition informationThis interview is part of the Archives' Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
updated11/12/2014 11:30:14
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titleAmerican Abstract Artists records, 1935-1982.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionRecords primarily deal with exhibitions, membership, and financial activities.

Reel D359: A general prospectus, 2 organizational statements (ca. 1937), a clipping, exhibition announcements and catalogs (1937-1964) including a catalog for the Squibb Galleries (1937) with reproductions of lithographs by members, and 2 issues of the magazine AMERICAN ABSTRACT ARTISTS (1938, 1946) with articles and illustrations by some members.

Reel N69-72: Administrative records include a 3-page draft of the constitution (1941), membership lists (1937-1959) and minutes of meetings (1937-1950). Letters from members and their colleagues deal with exhibitions and organizational business (1937-1966). Essays concern "Abstract Art in Japan Today" by Sabro Hasegawa, "Report on the Organization of the International Association of Plastic Arts" by Henry Billings, "Toward a Fourth Decade" by Ruth Gurin, and a statement by Leo Rabkin.

Reels N69/96 - N69/97: Administrative records consist of 2 drafts of the constitution (1949, 1964), membership lists, minutes (1946-1965), application forms (1950-1955), and ballots (1955-1958). Letters from members and others concern exhibitions, organizational business (1947-1964), and the United States Committee of the International Association of Plastic Arts, later the International Art Association (1961-1963) in charge of Harold Weston.

Correspondents include Alice Mason, Beate Hulbeck, and Esphyr Slobodkina. Financial material consists of 3 account books (1943-1955), 2 statement books (1942-1956), checks, receipts, invoices, and dues letters (1949-1965).

Reel N69/137: Thirteen letters from Josef Albers, Alexander Archipenko, Alexander Calder, Lyonel Feininger, Harry Holtzman and Piet Mondrian (1938-1943). Three letters concern membership (1961-1962). Other material consists of clippings (1936-1950), exhibition announcements and catalogs (1937-1961), a booklet THE AMERICAN ABSTRACT ARTISTS (1939), membership lists (1947,1963) and minutes (1961).

Reel N70/48: A membership list (1958), an exhibition plan (1967), and an undated exhibition catalogue PIONEERS IN THE FIELD OF NON-OBJECTIVE ART IN THE U.S.A. with a list of members.

Reel NY59/11: Letters concern membership and organizational business (1937-1954). Alice Trumbull Mason material consists of a resume (1952), a statement (1948), a letter from Charles Dunlap (1957), 2 letters to Mary Bartlett Cowdrey (1958), clippings (1935-1955), exhibition announcemnts and catalogs (1938-1959), and a press release (1942). Other material consists of 2 exhibition catalogs (1942), a book THE WORLD OF ABSTRACT ART edited by American Abstract Artists (1957), clippings (1954-1956), minutes (1937-1938), and lists of officers, members and committee members (ca. 1937).

UNMICROFILMED: Letters concern membership, exhibitions, and organizational business (1978-1982). Financial material includes insurance records (1978-1982), receipts and dues lists (1979-1982), a ledger of dues payments with other financial data and membership lists (1956-1982), notes, and 2 savings account books (1974-1982). Other material consists of exhibition catalogs (1951-1981), press releases (1981-1982), a membership list (1947), minutes (1978-1982) and an exhibition guest book (1979-1982).

Language Note:
Some printed material is in French.
Some letters and a poster are in German

Bio / His Notes:
Organized in 1936 by a group of artists interested in abstract painting and sculpture. Its chief function is the holding of exhibitions. Former presidents include Alice Trumbull Mason, Leo Rabkin, and Irene Rousseau.

extent2.3 linear ft. (partially microfilmed on 7 reels)
formatsMicrofilm Administrative Records Financial Records Exhibition Files Correspondence
accessMicrofilmed portion must be consulted on microfilm. Use of unmicrofilmed portion requires an appointment and is limited to Washington, D.C. storage facility.
record sourcehttp://siris-archives.si.edu
acquisition informationA 1942 exhibition catalog (reel N69/72, frames 320-354) and materials on reel NY59/11 (frames 1-16, 322-369, 371-401, and 406-407) have also been filmed on reel N69/137. The 1946 issue of AMERICAN ABSTRACT ARTISTS (reel N69/72) and materials on Reel NY59/11 (frames 148-317) are duplicated on reel D359. Reproduction: Some letters and printed material are photocopies. Location of Original: Originals are in the possession of the donors.
updated11/12/2014 11:30:14
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titleEsphyr Slobodkina papers, 1938-1995.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionLetters, photographs, exhibition materials, drawings, and printed materials.
REELS N70-54 and N70-55: Correspondence; photographs including two of Slobodkina in her studio, two of works by Harold Krisel, 1960, 1963, and one each of works by members of the American Abstract Artists Society,

including Josef Albers, Barbara Blair, Ilya Bolotowsky, Eleanor De Laittre, N. Kasak, Paul Kelpe, Ibram Lassaw, Alice Trumbull Mason, George L. K. Morris,Leo Rabkin, Hans Richter, and Charles Shaw; exhibition data; clippings; papers relating to the American Abstract Artists; examples of Slobodkina's designs; and ephemera.

REEL N70-61: Letters from Ilya Bolotowsky, Piet Mondrian, and others; and a list of Slobodkina's works with prices.

ADDITION: Correspondence, 1940s-1991, includes letters from Ilya Bolotowsky, Leo Rabkin, Alice Trumbull Mason, Paul Kelpe, Curt Valentin, Charles Shaw, John Sennhauser, and Charmion Von Wiegand and printed facsimiles of Bolotowsky letters (with typescript translations) and drawings; correspondence concerning the artists Harry Tedlie and Ruth Eckstein; and letters from school children at Forest Lake School, Wantagh, N.Y., after receiving a visit from Slobodkina in 1980;

printed material, including exhibition announcements and catalogs, 1934-1991, clippings, and 2 books by Slobodkina, "Esphyr Slobodkina, Notes for a Biographer, An Illustrated Manuscript," 1976 (illustrated with photographs), and "American Abstract Artists, Its Publications, Catalogs & Membership," 1979.

Language Note:
Many letters in Russian (most with English translations).


Bio / His Notes:
Painter, illustrator, designer, and author; Great Neck, New York, and Florida. b.1908. d. 2002. Slobodkina was married to Ilya Bolotowsky.
extent 0.2 linear ft. (on 3 partial microfilm reels) Addition: 1.4 linear ft.
formatsCorrespondence Photographs Exhibition Files Drawings Printed Materials
accessMicrofilmed portion must be consulted on microfilm. Use of unmicrofilmed portion requires an appointment.
record sourcehttp://siris-archives.si.edu/
acquisition informationMaterial on reel N70-61 lent for microfilming. The remainder was donated 1970, 1995 and 1996 by Slobodkina. Location of Original: Reel N70-61: Originals returned to lender, Esphyr Slobodkina, after microfilming.
updated11/12/2014 11:30:14
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titleArtist file.
repositoryThe Brooklyn Museum Libraries and Archives
descriptionFound In BMA artist files

The file may include any of the following materials: announcements, clippings, photographs, press releases, brochures, reviews, invitations, small exhibition catalogs, resumés, other ephemeral material.

Cite as
Brooklyn Museum of Art Library Collections. BMA artist files.

Location: Brooklyn Artist Files
Call Number: AF BMA R
extent1 folder
formatsEphemera
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttps://library.nyarc.org/permalink/01NYA_INST/ai54l4/alma991006380409707141
acquisition informationFiles compiled by BMA library staff from 1917 to the present.
updated11/29/2022 15:49:51
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