György Kepes papers, 1918-2010, bulk 1960-1990

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Summary

Creators:
Kepes, Gyorgy
Abstract:
Collection contains the personal papers of artist, designer, and visual theorist György Kepes.
Extent:
115 Linear Feet (192 boxes, 2 oversize folders, 1 tube)
Language:
While most of the collection is in English, there is also a significant amount of Hungarian text, as well as printed material in German, Italian, Japanese, and other languages.
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], Gyorgy Kepes papers (M1796). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The Gyorgy Kepes collection contains manuscripts, typescripts, notes, research files, correspondence, photographs, slides & exhibition panels, artwork, catalogues, publications, media, and other material.

Biographical / historical:

Artist, designer, and visual theorist György Kepes was born in 1906 in Selyp, Hungary. Originally associated with Germany's Bauhaus as a colleague of László Moholy-Nagy, he emigrated to the United States in 1937 to teach Light and Color at Moholy's New Bauhaus (soon to be called the Institute of Design) in Chicago. In 1944, he produced Language of Vision, a landmark book about design theory, followed by the publication of six Kepes-edited anthologies in a series called Vision + Value as well as several other books. In addition to being a prolific painter and photographer, Kepes relentlessly explored the various crossed paths between art and the sciences. In 1956, The New Landscape in Art and Science, an exhibition (and later book) focused on these interests, gathering scientific imagery including x-ray, infra-red, microscope and telescope photographs. Several original panels from this exhibition are present in the collection. Kepes began teaching at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1947, first as an associate professor of visual design and becoming a full professor in 1949. As the first artist-in-residence, he encouraged collaboration between artists, designers, architects, and engineers by organizing seminars, workshops and exhibitions. In 1967 Kepes founded MIT's Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) and was its director until 1972, retiring two years later. Kepes died in 2001 at the age of 95.

Acquisition information:
This collection was purchased by Stanford University, Special Collections 2010-2012, accessions 2010-186, 2011-058, and 2012-063.
Physical location:
Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36 hours in advance.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy. Selected video has been transferred and is available digitally.

Terms of access:

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], Gyorgy Kepes papers (M1796). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
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