A Finding Aid to the André Emmerich Gallery Records and André Emmerich Papers, 1929-2009, in the Archives of American Art
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A Finding Aid to the André Emmerich Gallery Records and André Emmerich Papers, 1929-2009, in the Archives of American Art Julie Schweitzer, Rihoko Ueno and Harriet E. Shapiro Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Leon Levy Foundation. 2012 April 17 and 2015 February 27 Archives of American Art 750 9th Street, NW Victor Building, Suite 2200 Washington, D.C. 20001 https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions https://www.aaa.si.edu/ Table of Contents Collection Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1 Historical Note.................................................................................................................. 2 Scope and Content Note................................................................................................. 3 Arrangement..................................................................................................................... 5 Names and Subjects ...................................................................................................... 5 Container Listing ............................................................................................................. 7 Series 1: General Correspondence Files, 1958-2006.............................................. 7 Series 2: André Emmerich Appointment Books, 1954-2007.................................. 54 Series 3: Administrative Files, 1954-2003.............................................................. 57 Series 4: Subject Files, 1958-1967, 1971-2000..................................................... 80 Series 5: Exhibition Files, circa 1954-1998............................................................ 84 Series 6: Artists Files, 1929-1932, 1938-2007 (bulk 1955-1999)......................... 112 Series 7: Artist Accounts, 1958-1998................................................................... 160 Series 8: Inventory Records, circa 1954-2000..................................................... 183 Series 9: Sales Records, 1959-1998................................................................... 202 Series 10: Purchase Records, 1961-1966, 1972-1994........................................ 247 Series 11: Consignment Records, 1961-2002..................................................... 249 Series 12: Chronological File of Incoming and Outgoing Artwork, 1968-1998...... 293 Series 13: Other Financial and Legal Records, 1956-1999................................. 307 Series 14: Printed Materials, 1955-1960, 1965-2008........................................... 323 Series 15: Original Artwork, 1933, 1974, 1998.................................................... 327 Series 16: Photographic Materials, circa 1930-1935, 1941-1998, circa 2005...... 328 Series 17: General Audio and Video Recordings, 1985, 1990-1995.................... 483 Series 18: André Emmerich Personal Papers and Records, 1937-1940, 1946-2008............................................................................................................. 485 Series 19: Addition to the André Emmerich Gallery records and André Emmerich papers, 1956-2009............................................................................................... 502 André Emmerich Gallery records AAA.andremmg Collection Overview Repository: Archives of American Art Title: André Emmerich Gallery records Identifier: AAA.andremmg Date: circa 1929-2009 Creator: André Emmerich Gallery Extent: 311.4 Linear feet Language: Records are in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Japanese and Korean. Summary: The André Emmerich Gallery records and André Emmerich papers measure 311.4 linear feet and date from 1929 to 2009. The collection documents the business of the André Emmerich Gallery as well as André Emmerich's life and activities related to the business of selling art. Gallery records include correspondence; appointment books; administrative and subject files; exhibition files; artist files and accounts; inventory, sales, purchase, and consignment records; chronological files; financial and legal records; printed materials; original artwork; photographic and audiovisual materials. Also found are personal papers and records relating to André Emmerich. TheA small addition received in 2014 includes general correspondence, administrative files, exhibition files, artists' files, inventory records, consignment records, printed material, photographic materials, and André Emmerich personal papers and records. Administrative Information Acquisition Information The André Emmerich Gallery records and André Emmerich papers were donated to the Archives of American Art by André Emmerich in eight accretions between 1999 and 2002. Two additional accretions were donated by Emmerich's wife Susanne in 2008 and 2009; and by James Yohe, Emmerich's former business partner, in 2009 and 2014. Related Material Among the holdings of the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with André Emmerich conducted by Mona Hadler on January 18, 1993. Processing Information This collection was processed by Julie Schweitzer and Rihoko Ueno between 2009 and 2011, with funding provided by the Leon Levy Foundation. Materials with Social Security numbers were redacted with copies left in the collection. The original documents are maintained separately. An addition received in 2014 was processed to a minimal level and the finding aid updated by Harriet E. Shapiro in 2015. Minimal processing included arrangement to the series and folder Page 1 of 503 André Emmerich Gallery records AAA.andremmg levels. Items within folders were simply verified with folder title, but not arranged further. Material is housed in archival containers and folders, but not all staples and clips were removed. Preferred Citation André Emmerich Gallery records and André Emmerich papers, circa 1929-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Restrictions on Access Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Access of diaries and appointment books required written permission. Terms of Use The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information. Historical Note André Emmerich (1924-2007) was one of America's most noted contemporary art dealers and opened the André Emmerich Gallery in New York in 1954. The gallery showcased contemporary art, particularly Color Field painting and monumental sculpture. André Emmerich was born on October 11, 1924 in Frankfurt, Germany. From age 7 he was raised in Amsterdam before emigrating with his family to New York City in 1940. He studied at Oberlin College and developed an interest in pre-Columbian art and antiquities. After graduation, he spent ten years in Paris working as a writer and editor before returning to New York. He married Constance Emmerich and the couple had three sons, Adam, Noah, and Toby. In 1954 Emmerich opened the André Emmerich Gallery at 18 East 77th Street and initially specialized in contemporary American and European art and pre-Columbian antiquities. In 1956, the gallery moved to 17 East 64th Street, and in 1959 to the Fuller Building at 41 East 57th Street. Emmerich wrote two books about pre-Columbian art, Art Before Columbus in 1963 and Sweat of the Sun, Tears of the Moon: Gold and Silver in Pre-Columbian Art in 1965. In 1961, Emmerich learned that French and Company, a gallery advised by art critic Clement Greenberg, was closing its department of contemporary art. French and Company had represented Color Field painters Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, and Jules Olitski. Emmerich immediately invited Louis and Noland to be represented by his gallery. In 1966 he extended the invitation to Olitski as well, and Helen Frankenthaler joined soon after. The gallery's reputation as one of the earliest and most important promoters of Color Field painters was launched. In addition to Color Field painters, the gallery represented, among others, Pierre Alechinsky, Karel Appel, Milton Avery, Herbert Ferber, Sam Francis, John Graham, Al Held, David Hockney, Hans Hofmann, John Hoyland, Judy Pfaff, Miriam Schapiro, and Anne Truitt. Until January 1983, sales of pre-Columbian art primarily went through an entity called André Emmerich Inc. (AE Inc.), while sales of contemporary went through the André Emmerich Gallery Inc. (AEG). In 1983, the two entities were merged and operated under the name André Emmerich Gallery Inc. In 1971, Emmerich began operating a downtown gallery at 420 West Broadway, in SoHo, in space shared with Leo Castelli, Virginia Dwan, and Ileana Sonnabend. In 1972, Emmerich opened a branch of his gallery in Zurich. He incorporated the Galerie André Emmerich Gmbh primarily for the purpose of leasing gallery space in Zurich. Until February 1974, sales of Pre-Columbian art in Zurich were made by an entity called Page 2 of 503 André Emmerich Gallery records AAA.andremmg