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Index of American Design Records
mssIndex
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Index of American Design records
Creator:
Index of American
Design
Identifier/Call Number: mssIndex
Physical Description:
7.76 Linear Feet
(15 boxes and 1 oversize volume)
Date (inclusive): 1933-1943
Abstract: This collection contains the records of
the Southern California chapter of the Index of American Design, which was a Federal Arts
Project, 1933-1943, and consists of reports, correspondence, drawings, paintings,
photographs, and ephemera.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.
For more information, contact Reader Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Index of American Design records, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Works Progress Administration of Los Angeles, January 1949.
The Index of American Design was a subunit of the Works Progress Administration's Federal
Art Project. The Index was a nationwide project whose mission was to document the evolution
of American decorative, provincial and folk arts from the early 17th century to the close of
the 19th century. The Southern California chapter of the Index was primarily focused on the
pioneer art and design of native peoples and immigrant settlers with a particular emphasis
on documenting the Spanish influence on art within California. Areas of interest included
indigenous arts and crafts, Spanish-American art and design (including missions), the
evolution of Califonia communities and the biographies of their founders, and the
contributions made by Native Americans within the spheres of art, costume and
storytelling.
This collection contains over 3,000 items from the files of the Southern California chapter
of the Index of American Design, a Federal Arts Project, 1933 to 1943. The vast majority of
the items are brief reports on a particular topic, many of which are accompanied by drawings
and photographs. Also included are more in-depth reports, correspondence, newspaper
clippings, and printed matter such as pamphlets on museum exhibits and political issues.
Every aspect of California art from the 17th to 19th centuries is covered to varying
degrees, including household embroidery, metal work and sculpture. Art and artifacts of
nearly every type were meticulously studied and recorded for posterity. Topics covered with
substantial depth are: art, architecture and history of California missions; Native American
art and design; and Native American legends, which were written by artist White Bead Quann
expressly for the Index, and are punctuated with Cherokee words and phrases. There is also a
large amount of material on the proposed Ham and Eggs amendment of 1939, a pension movement
in California during the 1930s. Most of the material was authored by the Southern California
Citizens Against 30 Thursday group. The growth and development of California is represented
through community studies that tracked regional demographics over time. The studies track
the growing ethnic, social and economic diversity in Los Angeles County and small
communities such as Inglewood and El Monte. The Los Angeles Negro Survey of 1935 is a
notable in-depth study of the economic and social status of African Americans in Los
Angeles.
Processed by Marisa E. Diehl in 2001. In 2020, Suzanne Oatey created this finding aid from
a legacy summary report.
Organized in five series:
- Pre-California: 17th to early-19th centuries
- California: Mid-19th century to 1943
- Spanish-American arts and crafts
- Reports by topic
- Special interest and political organizations
Former call number: mssIndex American Design.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African Americans -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- 20th
century
Architecture -- California -- Los Angeles
-- History -- 20th century
Art and society -- California
Art, American -- California
California -- History -- 20th century
California -- Politics and Government --
1850-1950
Indians of North America -- California -- History
Los Angeles County (Calif.) -- Social conditions -- 20th
century
Missions, Spanish -- California --
History
Old age pensions -- California
Spaniards -- California --
History
Business records -- California -- 20th century
Clippings (information artifacts) -- California
Ephemera -- California -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century
Photographs -- California -- 20th century
Reports -- California, Southern
United States. Works Progress
Administration
Federal Art Project
Index of American
Design