Guide to the Rhode Island School of Design. Museum of Art. Office of the Director Exhibition files, 1948-1983

I. 1948-1965
4.0 linear feet

Created by the museum director and/or the secretary, these files contain information pertaining to the scheduling and implementation of exhibitions, tours, and lectures, 1948-1965, including those events which were considered then rejected. These files contain a mix of correspondence, exhibition catalogs, form duplicates and receipts, along with miscellaneous notes regarding attendance, physical plant requirements, installation of exhibits, etc. The level of documentation regarding each event varies widely, from just a few leaves of correspondence to dozens of pages of mixed notes. Most of the files were generated during the tenures of John Maxon and David Carter, spanning the years from 1952-1965. Exhibition files that contain correspondence from the artist are marked with an asterisk in the box/folder list.

The file "Italy at Work, 1953" contains blueprint drawings documenting the exhibition layout at the Brooklyn Museum of Art held 1950 November 30-1951 January 31. Five drawings show the floor plan, textile display, textile and glassware display, display tables, and sign design.

II. 1963-1969
2.5 linear feet

This series documents exhibitions held under Directors David Carter, Hugh J. Gourlay, III, and Daniel Robbins, 1963-1969. The records include correspondence, memoranda, financial materials, non-RISD exhibition catalogues, press releases and clippings, photographs, curatorial notes and research materials, loan forms and detailed checklists, invitations, and Art for Your Collection price lists.

III. 1966-1971
3.75 linear feet

The records document exhibitions held under Director Daniel Robbins, 1966-1971, with extensive loan and curatorial records for a limited number of exhibitions. Records include loan forms and correspondence, press releases and clippings, catalogue drafts, detailed checklists, and correspondence from Robbins, Visiting Curator Henri Zerner, and staff. The Rothschild Collection records consist of 5x7 black and white photographs of the art works with detailed catalogue cards that may list the artist, biographical information, provenance and previous publication of the work, and physical descriptions of the art works. The Joaquin Torres-Garica records include correspondence with his family. The J.J.J. Tissot records include extensive loan correspondence organized by owner.

IV. 1961-1983
4.0 linear feet

The series documents exhibitions and related events held between 1961 and 1983. The files may include correspondence with lenders, artists, inviited guests, galleries, museums, and scholars. Files may contain records for events including openings and dinners such as invitations and responses, guest lists, dinner table organization lists, and receipts. Exhibition records include checklists, publicity clippings and magazine articles, loan requests and loan forms, draft catalogue entires, and shipping records. Non-RISD catalogues may be found in the files. See series V for a list of these catalogues.

V. Non-RISD Exhibition catalogues
The artificial series lists all the non-RISD exhibition catalogues located in Series I-IV.

VI. Brown University Graduate Students Caricature Exhibition files
.50 linear feet)

Correspondence, loan forms, and memoranda organized by lending institution document the Brown University, Department of Art's exhibition "Caricature and Its Role in Graphic Satire" held at the RISD Museum of Art 1971 April 8-May 9. This was one of a series of yearly exhibitions organized by graduate students in the third semester of the program's basic course. Brown University Professor and Museum of Art Visiting Curator Juergen Schulz and Museum Director Daniel Robbins led the effort.