Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Romansky, Alvin
| title | Oral history interview with Alvin S. Romansky, 1979 September 17 | repository | Archives of American Art |
| description | An interview of Alvin S. Romansky conducted by Sandra Curtis Levy for the Archives of American Art. Romansky speaks of his history as a painter, ceramist and collector; the art scene in Houston as he knew it; his political and law activities; artists and collectors who were his friends and associates; the Contemporary Arts Association; his European experiences; his personal philosophies; and the future of museums. He recalls the Blaffer family, Alexander Calder, Nina Cullinan, John and Dominique de Menil; William Hayter and Buck Schiwetz. |
| extent | Sound recording: 6 sound cassettes Transcript: 234 p. (on 1 microfilm reel ) |
| formats | Sound Recording Transcript |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record link | n/a |
| record source | https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-alvin-s-romansky-11762 |
| acquisition information | Part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958. |
| updated | 06/08/2023 16:42:18 |
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| title | Alvin S. Romansky papers, 1940-1981. | repository | Archives of American Art |
| description | Letters, photographs, writings, sketches and drawings, business records, and printed material. REEL 1683: Personal and business correspondence; clippings and other printed material; exhibition catalogs and announcements; inventories of prints and drawings on loan, or given to, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; photographs of the Romansky collection at the University of Texas, Austin; and photographs of Romansky, Alexander Calder, and others. REEL 2093, FRAMES 327-509: An "Inventory of the Alvin and Ethel Romansky Collection of Prints and Drawings Relating Chiefly to the Second Empire, the Franco-Prussian War and the Commune of Paris." The Collection is in the M.D. Anderson Library, University of Houston. REEL 2093, FRAMES 514-585: Correspondence, clippings, catalogs and announcements, a photograph of Alexander Calder taken by Romansky and a photograph of Romansky with others. REELS 3451-3452: Correspondence; lists of loans for exhibtions; invoices, receipts and printed material dealing with Romansky collection; 5 prints by Romansky and 3 prints by Bill Condon; clippings; photographs of Romansky and other artists; information on the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston including by-laws, minutes of accessions committee and board of directors, and lists of trustees. |
| extent | ca. 1175 items (on 4 microfilm reels) reel 1683, reels 2093 and 3451-3452 |
| formats | Correspondence Photographs Writings Business Records Printed Materials |
| access | Patrons must use microfilm copy. |
| record source | http://www.siris.si.edu/ |
| acquisition information | Material on reels 1683 and 2093 (fr. 327-509) lent for microfilming 1979-1980; and material on reels 2093 (fr. 514-585), 3451-3452 donated 1980-1981 all by Alvin S. Romansky. Originals returned to Romansky after microfilming. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:29:49 |
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| title | Alvin Romansky Papers, 1907-1994 | repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| description | The Alvin Romansky Papers include photographs, correspondence, documents, printed materials, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia related to the life and civic pursuits of Alvin Romansky, his father Joseph Romansky, and his uncle Thomas Flaxman. The bulk of the material (principally that related to Alvin Romansky) dates from the 1950s, but a significant amount of material related to Thomas Flaxman dates from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The first two boxes in the collection contain loose papers and photographs. Material related to Alvin Romansky comes first in these boxes, followed by material related to Thomas Flaxman, and then material related to Joseph Romansky. The third box holds a silver loving cup presented to Thomas Flaxman by the Directors of No-tsu-oh Association. The fourth box holds portions of two scrapbooks. Two publications were removed from this collection and cataloged: The Houston clubber. Houston, Tex.: Houston Club, 1958. Spec Coll HS2725.H68 H684 The new Houston Club. Houston, Tex.: The Club, [1955]. Spec Coll Ovs HS2725.H68 H68 1955 Special Collections holds a large number of materials that were donated to the department by Alvin Romansky, including rare books, and art books and catalogues. In addition, Special Collections also holds a large collection of fine art prints which were donated by Alvin Romansky. A large sub-collection of these prints are cartoons from the French Third Empire and the Franco-Prussian War. Biographical Note Alvin Sylvan Romansky was born in Houston, Texas on March 15, 1907, the only child of Joseph L. Romansky and Kate Flaxman. Following his childhood in Houston, he attended the Wharton School of Commerce and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Houston Law School, where he received an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree in 1929. Romansky remained in Houston to practice law. He was a member of the Texas State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Commercial Law League of America. In 1948, Romansky and five others chartered the Contemporary Arts Association, a non-profit organization founded to present exhibits of contemporary art to supplement the more traditional art shown at the Museum of Fine Arts. In 1949, the Association became the Contemporary Arts Museum, with its own building. Romansky served as Vice President of the Contemporary Arts Association/Museum from 1947-1952. An art patron and collector, Romansky favored French graphics, contemporary French art, and Ashanti objects. He arranged the Rufino Tamayo exhibit and the Contemporary in Cotton exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Museum, and Ashanti Goldwrights exhibit at the University of Texas, as well as many others. He was also active in the Lithography Department of the Glassell School of Art. He donated a collection of graphics to the University of Texas, and an Alvin Romansky Print Room to the Museum of Fine Arts. Romansky was appointed a Life Trustee by the Museum of Fine Arts. In addition, Romansky served as "Lieutenant Colonel" on the staff of Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson between 1933 and 1935, representing the State of Texas at official functions. He was co-founder of the Harris County Heritage Society, and drafted its original charter. He also served as a member of the Chancellor's Council of the University of Texas at Austin. Alvin Romansky was married to his wife Ethel for nineteen years. He died on March 14, 1994. Sources: "Contemporary Arts Museum."Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/ (3 May 2001). Who's Who in American Art. 11th edition. New York: R.R. Bowker Co., 1973. 1994. Deaths. Houston Chronicle. 15 March (B). |
| extent | 3.1 linear feet |
| formats | Correspondence Photographs Scrapbooks Clippings |
| access | Contact repository for further details. |
| record source | http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/uhsc/00037/hsc-00037.html |
| finding aid | In the repository and on the repository's website. |
| acquisition information | Donated by Mr. Romansky in 1968 and 1969 |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:16 |
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