Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

Archives related to: Reis, Bernard J.

titleBernard J. Reis interviews, 1976 June 3-1976 June 10.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionAn interview of Bernard Reis conducted by Paul Cummings for the Archives of American Art. Reis speaks of his family background and education; the development of his art collection; and his friendship with various artists, including Jacques Lipchitz, George Grosz and Mark Rothko. He also recalls Peggy Guggenheim.
extent2 sound tape reels ; 5 in. (64 p. transcript)
formatsSound Recording Transcript
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttp://www.siris.si.edu/
acquisition informationPart of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958.
updated03/16/2023 10:29:49
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titleBernard J. Reis papers, 1934-1979.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionLetters, photographs, writings, scrapbook, interview, and printed matter.

Material on Mark Rothko, Peggy Guggenheim, and Marc Chagall; letters to Reis and his wife, Rebecca, from Edward Albee, Massimo Campigli, Jacques Lipchitz, and Sir Herbert Read; general correspondence with one or two letters from William Congdon, Philip Guston, Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Abraham Rattner, Ad Reinhardt, Larry Rivers, Jose Luis Sert, and Adlai E. Stevenson; transcripts of a 1954 speech by Franz Kline and a 1961 interview of him by Katherine Kuh; catalogs and clippings relating to Reis's daughter, Barbara Reis Poe; photographs; catalogs, clippings and printed material; Christmas cards; material regarding tours of the Reis house and Rebecca Reis's cookbook; a caricature of Bernard Reis by Abe Birnbaum; and miscellany.

Photographs include Bernard and Rebecca Reis, their collection, and artists, dealers, and collectors including William Congdon, Piero Dorazio, Helen Frankenthaler, Peggy Guggenheim, Philip Guston, Albert Lasker, Jacques Lipchitz, Frank and Suzanne Lloyd, Robert Motherwell, Beverly Pepper, Kurt Seligmann, Theodoros Stamos, Konstantin Stanislavski, Jean Varda, and Adja Yunkers.
extent2.4 linear ft.
formatsCorrespondence Photographs Writings Scrapbooks Printed Materials
accessUnmicrofilmed; use requires an appointment and is limited to Washington, D.C. storage facility.
record sourcehttp://www.siris.si.edu/
acquisition informationThe papers were given in 1979 and 1980 by Reis's widow, Rebecca G. Reis.
updated11/12/2014 11:29:49
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titleBernard and Rebecca Reis papers, ca. 1924-1985.
repositoryThe Getty Research Institute
descriptionThe Bernard and Rebecca Reis Papers contain correspondence, business and financial records, printed ephemera, and photographs. The two primary foci, 20th century artists and the art collection formed by Bernard and Rebecca Reis, are brought out through a substantial body of letters from major and minor figures of the American art world, written and visual documentation of the Reis collection of art and books, and ephemeral material relating to artists and patrons.

Biographical or Historical Notes:
Bernard Reis (1895-1978) was an accountant and art collector who served as a financial advisor and patron to many artists; his wife, Rebecca Reis (b. 1900), was an art collector and hostess.
extent3.4 linear ft. (8 boxes)
formatsCorrespondence Printed Materials Ephemera Photographs Financial Records
accessOpen for use by qualified researchers.
record linkhttp://archives2.getty.edu:8082/xtf/view?docId=ead/900184/900184.xml;query=;brand=default
record sourcehttp://hdl.handle.net/10020/cat242908
finding aidIn repository and on repository's Web site
acquisition informationAcquired 1990.
updated11/12/2014 11:29:49
....................................................................


titleBernard J. Reis interviews, 1976 June 3-1976 June 10.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionAn interview of Bernard Reis conducted by Paul Cummings for the Archives of American Art. Reis speaks of his family background and education; the development of his art collection; and his friendship with various artists, including Jacques Lipchitz, George Grosz and Mark Rothko. He also recalls Peggy Guggenheim.
extent2 sound tape reels ; 5 in. (64 p. transcript)
formatsSound Recording Transcript
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttp://www.siris.si.edu/
acquisition informationThese interviews are 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 11:29:52
....................................................................


titleBernard J. Reis papers, 1934-1979.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionLetters, photographs, writings, scrapbook, interview, and printed matter.

Material on Mark Rothko, Peggy Guggenheim, and Marc Chagall; letters to Reis and his wife, Rebecca, from Edward Albee, Massimo Campigli, Jacques Lipchitz, and Sir Herbert Read; general correspondence with one or two letters from William Congdon, Philip Guston, Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Abraham Rattner, Ad Reinhardt, Larry Rivers, Jose Luis Sert, and Adlai E. Stevenson; transcripts of a 1954 speech by Franz Kline and a 1961 interview of him by Katherine Kuh; catalogs and clippings relating to Reis's daughter, Barbara Reis Poe; photographs; catalogs, clippings and printed material; Christmas cards; material regarding tours of the Reis house and Rebecca Reis's cookbook; a caricature of Bernard Reis by Abe Birnbaum; and miscellany.

Photographs include Bernard and Rebecca Reis, their collection, and artists, dealers, and collectors including William Congdon, Piero Dorazio, Helen Frankenthaler, Peggy Guggenheim, Philip Guston, Albert Lasker, Jacques Lipchitz, Frank and Suzanne Lloyd, Robert Motherwell, Beverly Pepper, Kurt Seligmann, Theodoros Stamos, Konstantin Stanislavski, Jean Varda, and Adja Yunkers.
extent2.4 linear ft.
formatsCorrespondence Photographs Writings Scrapbooks Printed Materials
accessUnmicrofilmed; use requires an appointment and is limited to Washington, D.C. storage facility.
record sourcehttp://www.siris.si.edu/
acquisition informationThe papers were given in 1979 and 1980 by Reis's widow, Rebecca G. Reis. Bernard and Rebecca Reis papers, also located at: Getty Center, California.
updated11/12/2014 11:29:52
....................................................................


titleBernard and Rebecca Reis papers, ca. 1924-1985.
repositoryThe Getty Research Institute
descriptionThe papers contain correspondence, business and financial records, printed ephemera, and photographs. The two primary foci, 20th century artists and the art collection formed by Bernard and Rebecca Reis, are brought out through a substantial body of letters from major and minor figures of the American art world, written and visual documentation of the Reis collection of art and books, and ephemeral material relating to artists and patrons.

Series I, Correspondence and papers, contains ca. 720 letters, Christmas cards, and postcards to Bernard and Rebecca Reis from over 100 art world figures, including artists, museum officials, and critics, many of whom were also clients of Bernard Reis’s accounting firm. Typically, these letters discuss the purchase of art works, loans of works from the Reis’s collection, social engagements, and travels, and include requests for financial advice. There are numerous items from William Congdon, who discusses his travels and philosophy of painting (1954-1984); Helen Frankenthaler, who writes from summer vacations on Cape Cod and includes inscriptions from Robert Motherwell (1950-1970); and George Grosz, who requests financial advice and discusses his assignments for Esquire magazine (1935-1958). Marc and Vava Chagall and their daughter Ida discuss planning for exhibitions and travels; one group of letters deals with Chagall’s royalties and unauthorized reproductions of his work (1956-1985). Material concerning Jacques Lipchitz includes letters from Jacques, Berthe, and Yulla Lipchitz and papers detailing loans and sales of Lipchitz’s work (1931-1964). Letters from Peggy Guggenheim discuss purchases and sales of art works, the 1971 robbery at her palazzo in Venice, and legal and tax issues relating to the Peggy Guggenheim Foundation (1950-1977); there is also an office file with material relating to the Foundation and Guggenheim’s will (1968-1981).

Among the correspondence are painted, illustrated, and collage cards by Elise Asher, Abe Birnbaum, William Congdon, Julio De Diego, Helen Frankenthaler, George Grosz, Larry Rivers, Hans Richter, Lucy and Attilio Salemme, and Ernst and Karin Van Leyden. The papers also include materials relating to the Reis’s art collection (inventories, estimates, and requests for loans or purchases); legal and financial documents (many facsimile copies) relating to the Rothko estate, as well as to Reis’s bankruptcy and Rebecca Reis’s lawsuit; and a few personal items such as Rebecca Reis’s diary (1945).

The bulk of Series II, Printed ephemera (press clippings and exhibit catalogs and invitations), concerns Jacques Lipchitz. Other ephemera relates to Marc Chagall, Marcel Duchamp, George Grosz, Peggy Guggenheim, and Mark Rothko. Series III, Photographs, contains 65 photographs of Marc Chagall and family, 8 of Peggy Guggenheim, and 14 of Jacques Lipchitz and family. One photo album contains 81 photographs of sculptures by Jacques Lipchitz, paintings and drawings by George Grosz (2 signed), and art works in the Reis’s collection.
extentca. 3.4 linear ft. (8 boxes).
formatsCorrespondence Photographs Printed Materials Ephemera
accessOpen for use by qualified researchers.
record linkhttp://archives2.getty.edu:8082/xtf/view?docId=ead/900184/900184.xml;query=;brand=default
record sourcehttp://hdl.handle.net/10020/cat242908
finding aidFinding Aid online, Box list available in the repository: folder level control.
acquisition informationAcquired 1990.
updated11/12/2014 11:29:52
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titleLee H. B. Malone correspondence and miscellaneous subjects, Bernard J Reis, 1949-1960.
repositoryMuseum of Fine Arts, Houston
descriptionThe Correspondence and Miscellaneous Subjects files include a body of materials related to the annual convention of the American Federation of Arts which was held in Houston in 1957 (April 3-6) under the joint sponsorship of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Contemporary Arts Museum. The convention was largely organized by Malone and John de Menil. Correspondents include Daniel Longwell, then President of the American Federation of Arts; Robert David Straus; Stanley Marcus; Harris Masterson; and Jermayne McAgy. Speakers and panelists present were Meyer Schapiro; James Johnson Sweeney, subsequently Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from 1961 to 1967; Stuart Davis; William C. Seitz; Marcel Duchamp; Jimmy Ernst; and Vincent Price. Transcripts of speeches and panel discussions are included, as well as printed ephemera such as the program booklet for the convention and AFA newsletters. The files also contain materials related to the 1956 meeting of the Houston Fine Arts Forum (March 9-11) which explored "American Heritage and the Southwest". Correspondents include Alice Winchester, then editor of the periodical "Antiques"; Ralph E. Carpenter, Jr.; Marshall B. Davidson; Henry Needham Flynt; Maxim Karolik; John Palmer Leeper; and Paul Horgan. The papers contain texts of the talks given at the sessions. Also featured is Director Malone's 1959 report entitled "Looking Ahead for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston"; his 1957 accessions plan, with priority lists of works to be acquired for the permanent collection; lists of objects approved for deaccessioning in 1957; and extensive correspondence with galleries and dealers concerning possible accessions. A small amount of Malone's miscellaneous correspondence is also present.

Bio/History:
Lee H. B. Malone (1913-1989) served as the first full-time Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from May 1953 to June 1959. Malone was raised in Europe and educated at Yale University. His years were characterized by the expansion of the Museum's permanent collection and the growth of its facilities, which came to include the monumental Cullinan Hall designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and completed in 1958.
extent1.5 linear ft.
formatsCorrespondence Ephemera Printed Materials Notes Research Files
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record linkhttps://hirsch.mfah.org/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=45468
record sourcehttps://hirsch.mfah.org/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=45468
finding aidUnpublished finding aid available in repository
updated08/25/2017 16:07:35
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