Black, Mary, (1922-1992)

Scope and Contents

In this interview, art historian Barbara Holdridge discusses her journey unearthing and identifying the itinerant portrait painter Ammi Phillips. Holdridge shares the discovery process of connecting the “clues” of Phillips’s signature style, which include ham hands, swirling skirts and hook noses. She also discusses her friendship and collaboration with Mary Black (historian and former Curator at the American Folk Art Museum) in her process of legitimizing Phillips’s artwork.

Scope and Contents From the Series: This series primarily contains correspondence with directors of the Museum of American Folk Art, now called the American Folk Art Museum. The papers are organized by last name, and then chronologically. The bulk of the correspondence is with museum Director Bob Bishop and spans from 1976 to 1990. They exchange personal notes, discuss possibilities for future exhibitions and acquisitions, negotiate donations made by Earnest, and discuss plans for the future of the museum. The other directors...

Scope and Contents From the Collection: Like the “Topical Subject” files, the “People” files have two constituent parts, one deriving from materials donated to the library by Dr. Bishop, the other originating in the library and developed by Edith Wise during the last few years [c. 1988]. Both consist of folders devoted to individual persons but, whereas the “Wise” files are concerned wholly with prominent folk artists past and present, the “Bishop” segment is wide-ranging in coverage: a significant portion relates to contemporary...

Abstract

The record group contains exhibition files related to the American Folk Art Museum's exhibitions between 1966 and 1977, when the museum was called the Museum of American Folk Arts (MAFA). The files include a range of materials, such as correspondence, checklists, installation and object photography, publicity and press releases, and more.

Abstract

The record group contains exhibition files related to the American Folk Art Museum's earliest exhibitions (1962-1966), when the museum was called the Museum of Early American Folk Arts (MEAFA). The files include a range of materials, such as correspondence, checklists, installation and object photography, publicity and press releases, and more.