Guide to the Founders Gallery Exhibit records

Finding aid prepared by Ashley Toutain
University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections
Copley Library
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Telephone: 619-260-2730
Email: spcoll@sandiego.edu
© 2016


Overview of the Collection

Title: University of San Diego Founders Gallery Exhibit records
Date (inclusive): 1970-1993
Collection number: USDA_2009_022
Creator: Whitcomb, Therese
extent: 4 boxes (3.5 linear feet)
Abstract: These records consist of the planning materials, newspaper clippings, and photographs gathered for University of San Diego Founders Gallery exhibits between 1971 and 1993.
Languages: English
Repository: University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections
Copley Library
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Telephone: 619-260-2730
spcoll@sandiego.edu

Historical Note

The University of San Diego Founders Gallery, located in Founders Hall, was established by Therese (Hanafin) Whitcomb '53 in 1971. The first show premiered on April 23rd, 1971 featuring San Francisco artist Jeff Ruocco. The Founders Gallery was organized as a permanent, professional exhibition area to provide instruction in art history and design. Exhibits frequently changed monthly during the academic year featuring an array of local, national, and international art, as well as student work. In 2002, the exhibit space was renamed the Hoehn Family Galleries, in honor of Robert and Karen Hoehn, long time supporters of the arts at USD.
Therese (Hanafin) Whitcomb was the first, and only, graduate of the San Diego College for Women in 1953. She became a faculty member in the University of San Diego Art Department after earning her master's degree from San Diego State University. Shortly thereafter she became the Chair of the Art Department. In addition to establishing the Founders Gallery, Whitcomb curated the majority of the exhibits put on display. Whitcomb continued her integral role in the Art Department for 35 years and, in 2015, was awarded the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.

Scope and Content Note

These records include the exhibition planning materials, press releases, newspaper articles, photographs, and correspondence about exhibitions featured in the Founders Gallery. Exhibition planning materials include lists of exhibited work, research materials, exhibit space sketches, announcements and exhibit lables. Photographs are of both the exhibit space as well as exhibited artifacts. Correspondence is largely between exhibit curator, Therese Whitcomb, and the featured artist(s). Correspondence also includes praise from Gallery attendees.
Exhibitions often changed monthly. The majority of Founders Gallery exhibitions from 1971 to 1993, though not all, are represented in these materials.

Arrangement

These records are arranged in chronological order.

Access Information

This collection is open for research.

Preferred citation

[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, University of San Diego Founders Gallery records, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections.

Processing Information

This collection was initially processed by Tessie Camina in 2009. Additional processing was done by Ashley Toutain in 2016.
Exhibition dates are included at the beginning of each folder title. Accompanied by the folder title is a second set of dates that reflects the date range of materials within each folder. Often the materials gathered about an exhibition spanned more than the period of exhibition.

Separated Material

Some photographs, slides, and negatives throughout the collection have been moved to photograph storage for preservation purposes. Copies of these have been made and remain in the original folder.

Related Material

More slides related to Founders Gallery Exhibits can be found in the Archives slide collection. Please contact the USD University Archives and Special Collections for information on these materials.
See also the Therese Whitcomb papers for more Founders Gallery materials.

Index Terms

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Whitcomb, Therese Truitt
Ruocco, Jeff
Greene, Ethel
Horowitz, Ida
Emerson, Charles
Hill, Lilli
Hubbell, James
Nobile, Myrna
Lench, Maria
Stratton, Dorothy
King, William
Dirks, John
Perine, Robert
Lebrun, Rico, 1900-1964
Gilot, Françoise, 1921-
DiGiulio, Lou Brown
Sparks, James Barry
Freeman, Earl
Gathings, Evelyn
Esaki, Carol
Leavitt, Dan
Leavitt, Donna
Wenger, John
Graff, Herman
Stacklick, Paul
Avery, Mary Ann
Boyd, Neil
Bradshaw, Glenn
Morgan, Robert
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952
Morales, Esteban
McGraw, DeLoss
McCosker, Duncan
Hassam, Childe, 1859-1935
Rocha, James
Levett, James
Seager, Richard
Flinicello, Ralph
Flores, William Vann
Domingues, Jesus
Levinthal, David
Chow, Grace
Azar, George
Dixon, T.J.
Stoddard, Clint
Whitaker, Eileen Monaghan, 1911-
Burgess, Michele
Chick, Victoria
Gonzales, Fred
Theime, Fred
Gregoire, Mathew
Lowe, Jean, 1960-
Cha, Guo Jun
Bailey, Clayton, 1939-

Subjects and Indexing Terms

University of San Diego

Subjects and Indexing Terms

San Diego (Calif.)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

fine arts
galleries (display spaces)
art exhibitions


Box/Folder: 1 / 1

[Book Plates], [undated]

Scope and Content Note

[Exhibit label text]
Box/Folder: 1 / 2

[June 1970 - Postcard], 1970 June

Box/Folder: 1 / 3

[April to May 1971 - Ruocco's Art, The First Show of a New Gallery], 1971 March-August

Scope and Content Note

[Material for the first show in the Founders Gallery. Includes correspondence between Art Department Director, Therese Hanafin and featured artist, Jeff Ruocco.]
Box/Folder: 1 / 4

[November 1971- Ethel Greene, Paintings], 1971 October-December

Box/Folder: 1 / 5

[December 1971 to February 1972- Ida Horowitz], 1971 October-1972 February

Box/Folder: 1 / 6

[February 1972 - Charles Emerson], 1972, 1979

Box/Folder: 1 / 7

[March 1972 - Lilli Hill, Future Memories], 1971-1973

Box/Folder: 1 / 8

[May to June 1972- James Hubbell Show, Remembered Traces of Earth...Stars...and Hands], 1972 April-May

Box/Folder: 1 / 9

[September 1972 - Politico, Sculpture by Myrna Nobile], 1972-1976

Scope and Content Note

[Includes photographs and negatives of Nobile's sculpture. In addition to the Politico exhibition materials are later correspondence and newspaper articles about Myrna Nobile, a member of the University of San Diego Fine Arts faculty in the early 1970s.]

Access Information

Some materials from this folder have been restricted until 2028.
Box/Folder: 1 / 10

[October to November 1972 - Primitive Indian Batiks], 1972 October-November

Box/Folder: 1 / 11

[Maria Lench - November to December 1972 - Fiber Exhibit; October to December 1977 - Dimensions in Texture], 1972, 1977-1980

Scope and Content Note

[Correspondence and planning materials for both of these Maria Lench exhibits are included.]
Box/Folder: 1 / 12

[March to April 1973 - Dorothy Stratton, Intaglios and Paintings], 1972-1981

Scope and Content Note

[Includes materials for the Intaglios and Paintings exhibit as well as for the Dorothy Stratton Retrospective Exhibit in 1980. Additionally includes information about Dorothy and her husband, William King's, contributions to the University of San Diego as well as correspondence between the Kings and members of the USD community.]
Box/Folder: 1 / 13

[May to June 1973 - John Dirks Sculpture], 1972-1973

Box/Folder: 1 / 14

[June to July 1973 - Pioneers of Modern Painting Film Series], 1972-1973

Box/Folder: 1 / 15

[October to November 1973 - Robert Perine Watercolors], 1972-1973

Box/Folder: 1 / 16

[November to December 1973 - Rico LeBrun show], 1973 October-December

Box/Folder: 1 / 17

[January to February 1974 - Francoise Gilot], 1972-1974

Scope and Content Note

[In addition to materials for the Francoise Gilot exhibit are newspaper articles about Gilot's artwork not related to the Founder's Gallery exhibit.]
Box/Folder: 1 / 18

[February to March 1974 - Lou Brown DiGiulio - Photo Sculpture], 1974-1975

Box/Folder: 1 / 19

[March to May 1974 - Woven Art of South Asia], 1973-1974

Box/Folder: 1 / 20

[May 1974 - Student All-Media Art Exhibition], 1974 April-May

Box/Folder: 1 / 21

[September to October 1974 - Adobes in the Sun], 1974 September-October

Box/Folder: 1 / 22

[October to November 1974 - Paintings by James Barry Sparks], 1974 September-November

Box/Folder: 1 / 23

[December 1974 - Earl Freeman Ceramics], 1974 November-December

Box/Folder: 1 / 24

[April 1975 - Six from Kentucky], 1975 March-April

Box/Folder: 1 / 25

[May 1975 - Student Art Competition], 1975 May

Box/Folder: 1 / 26

[August to September 1975 - Evelyn Gathings], 1974-1975

Box/Folder: 1 / 27

[October to November 1975 - American Primitive Sculpture], 1975

Box/Folder: 1 / 28

[November to December 1975 - Carol Esaki - Graduation Series], 1975 November-December

Scope and Content Note

[Includes a cassette tape. Handwritten list on the cassette case includes “New Guinea (field recordings by Eddie Lund); Fiji Island Chant; Java; Music from Tonga.”]
Box/Folder: 1 / 29

[May 1976 - Student All-Media Art Competition], 1976 May

Box/Folder: 1 / 30

[September to November 1976 - Some Pictures, Montage, Delos McGraw], 1976 September-November

Scope and Content Note

[Includes materials from the Ferdinand Roten Galleries.]
Box/Folder: 1 / 31

[November to December 1976 - Toy and Game Specialty Show], 1976 November-December

Box/Folder: 1 / 32

[February to March 1977 - Carousel Animals as Sculpture], 1977 January-March

Box/Folder: 1 / 33

[March to April 1977 - Thompson, Still Life Interiors], 1977 January-April

Box/Folder: 1 / 34

[May 1977 - Student All-Media Art Competition], 1977 April - May

Box/Folder: 1 / 35

[February to March 1978 - Stations on the Tokaido Road], 1977 - 1978

Box/Folder: 1 / 36

[March to April 1978 - Leavitt, Dan and Donna], 1975 - 1978

Box/Folder: 1 / 37

[May 1978 - Student All-Media Art Competition], 1978 May

Box/Folder: 1 / 38

[September to October 1978 - TAPA], 1978 September-October

Box/Folder: 1 / 39

[October to December 1978 - The Theatrical Design of John Wenger], 1978-1979

Removed or Separated Material

11 3.5”x3.5” photographs moved to Events – Exhibits – John Wenger – Theatrical Design - 1978. Copies of photographs are located in this folder.
Box/Folder: 1 / 40

[February 1979 - All San Diego Student Exhibition], 1979 February

Box/Folder: 1 / 41

[March 1979 - Beauties of the Fleeting World], 1979, 1984

Box/Folder: 1 / 42

[May 1979 - Student All-Media Art Competition], 1979 May

Box/Folder: 1 / 43-44

[September to October 1979 - California Chair], 1979 September-October

Scope and Content Note

[Includes CD of building photographs and exhibit text. Also includes negatives, many of which duplicate the images on CD.]
Box/Folder: 2 / 1

[November to December 1979 - The Native Eye Now], 1974, 1979

Box/Folder: 2 / 2

[February to March 1980 - Herman Graff Retrospective], 1980 February-March

Box/Folder: 2 / 3

[March to April 1980 - Paul Stacklick and Mary Ann Avery], 1980 March-April

Box/Folder: 2 / 4

[May 1980 - Student All-Media Art Competition], 1980 May

Box/Folder: 2 / 5

[June to September 1980 - Neil Boyd, The West Illustrated], 1980

Box/Folder: 2 / 6

[November to December 1980 - Indians: The Photographic Images of Edward S. Curtis], 1980

Box/Folder: 2 / 7

[February to March 1981 - Keweenaw Suite, Glenn Bradshaw], 1981, 1986-1989

Box/Folder: 2 / 8-9

[March to May 1981 - Robert Morgan, Costumes], 1981 March-May

Box/Folder: 2 / 10

[May 1981 - Senior Thesis, First Annual Student Exhibition], 1981 May

Box/Folder: 2 / 11

[August 1981 - Esteban Morales Paintings], 1981 August

Box/Folder: 2 / 12

[DeLoss McGraw], 1981-1988

Box/Folder: 2 / 13

[September to October 1981 - Mother and Children, Edward S. Curtis], 1981 September-October

Box/Folder: 2 / 14

[November to December 1981 - The Face and Form of Melanesia], 1981 November-December

Box/Folder: 2 / 15

[January to February 1982 - Watercolor: San Diego], 1981-1982

Box/Folder: 2 / 16

[March to April 1982 - Bathers: Photographs by Duncan McCosker], 1982 March-April

Box/Folder: 2 / 17-18

[April to May 1982 - The Impressionist as Printmaker, Childe Hassam], 1982

Box/Folder: 2 / 19

[May to September 1982 - James Rocha: Recent Works], 1982, 1985, 1986

Box/Folder: 2 / 20

[September to October 1982 - Edward S. Curtis, The Indian Venus], 1980, 1982

Box/Folder: 2 / 21

[November to December 1982 - A Passion for Detail], 1982 November-December

Box/Folder: 2 / 22

[February to March 1983 - Nagare: Evolution of the Japanese Wood-Block Print], 1983 January-March

Box/Folder: 2 / 23-24

[April to June 1983 - Arbol De La Vida], 1982-1984, 1989

Box/Folder: 3 / 1

[June to August 1983 - James Levett, Images in Black and White], 1983 June-August

Box/Folder: 3 / 2

[September to November 1983 - Beasts], 1983 September-November

Box/Folder: 3 / 3

[February to March 1984 - The Indignant Artist], 1984

Box/Folder: 3 / 4

[April to May 1984 - Class of '84 Senior Exhibition], 1984 April-May

Box/Folder: 3 / 5

[October to December 1984 - Designs for the Stage, Ralph Flinicello and Richard Seager], 1984-1987

Box/Folder: 3 / 6

[February to March 1985 - William Vann Flores, Horsefeathers], 1985 February-March

Box/Folder: 3 / 7

[March to April 1985 - Jesus Dominguez, Parallel Directions], 1985 March-April

Box/Folder: 3 / 8

[July to September 1985 - War Dreams], 1985 July-September

Box/Folder: 3 / 9

[September to November 1985 - David Levinthal, Modern Romance], 198,3 1985

Removed or Separated Material

20 slides have been moved to Events – Founders Gallery Exhibits – Levinthal – “Modern Romance” - 1985.
Box/Folder: 3 / 10

[November to December 1985 - Grace Chow, Tales from my Homeland], 1985 November-December

Box/Folder: 3 / 11

[January to March 1986 - George Azar, The Boys of Beirut: A Snipers Tale], 1985-1986

Box/Folder: 3 / 12

[April to May 1986 - Seniors! All Media Exhibition], 1986 January-May

Box/Folder: 3 / 13

[October to December 1986 - T.J. Dixon Figurative Sculpture], 1982-1991

Removed or Separated Material

16 slides have been removed to Events- Founder’s Gallery Exhibits – T.J. Dixon – Figurative Sculpture - 1986.
Box/Folder: 3 / 14

[October to November 1987 - Centuries of Architecture in Spain], 1985-1987

Box/Folder: 3 / 15

[December 1987 to January 1988 - Clint Stoddard Paintings], 1985-1988

Box/Folder: 3 / 16

[March to April 1988 - Mission Vestments], 1988 January-April

Box/Folder: 3 / 17

[April to June 1988 - Eileen Monaghan Whitaker Watercolor Paintings], 1974-1975, 1988-1990

Box/Folder: 3 / 18

[September to October 1988 - Hmong: Needle Work of the Golden Triangle], 1987-1988

Box/Folder: 3 / 19

[November to December 1988 - Michele Burgess, Prints and Drawings], 1988 November-December

Box/Folder: 3 / 20

[February to March 1989 - Lost Architecture of Kiev], 1989

Removed or Separated Material

5 photographs have been moved to Events – Founders Gallery Exhibits – “The Lost Architecture of Kiev – 1989.
Box/Folder: 3 / 21

[May to September 1989 - Victoria Chick, Paintings and Drawings], 1989 May-September

Box/Folder: 3 / 22

[September to October 1989 - Art of the Children of Leningrad], 1989 September-October

Box/Folder: 3 / 23

[November to December 1989 - Drooji: An Imagined View of Russia], 1989 November-December

Box/Folder: 3 / 24

[February to March 1990 - James Rocha, Apparitions], 1990

Box/Folder: 3 / 25

[April to May 1990 - Yugi: Paintings and Toys from the Children of Japan], 1990

Removed or Separated Material

14 color photographs moved to Events – Founders Gallery Exhibits – Yugi – 1990.
Box/Folder: 3 / 26

[September to October 1990 - Fred Gonzales, Xicotencatl], 1990 September-October

Box/Folder: 3 / 27

[November to December 1990 - Fred Theime, Changing of the Guard], 1990 November-December

Box/Folder: 4 / 1

[April 1991 - Maiolica: Key to the People], April 1991

Box/Folder: 4 / 2

[April to May 1991 - Place and Presence: Studies of San Diego's Art in Public Spaces Since 1980], 1991 April-May

Box/Folder: 4 / 3-4

[November to December 1991 - Second Spring: Contemporary Chinese Painting and Sculpture], 1991-1992

Removed or Separated Material

3 photographs moved to Events – Founders Gallery Exhibits – “Second Spring” – 1991.
Box/Folder: 4 / 5

[February to March 1992 - Mathew Gregoire Sculpture], 1992 February-March

Box/Folder: 4 / 6

[April to May 1992 - Jean Lowe, Jardin Zoologique], 1992 April-May

Box/Folder: 4 / 7

[August 1992 - Thu's Tranquility Garden], 1992 August

Box/Folder: 4 / 8

[September to October 1992 - The Voice of Women: Arpilleras of Chile], 1992

Box/Folder: 4 / 9

[December 1992 to January 1993 - Cha Guo Jun: Mystic World Series], 1992-1993

Box/Folder: 4 / 10

[March 1993 - Dr. Gladstone's Wonders of the World - Clayton Bailey], 1993 March

Removed or Separated Material

10 photographs moved to Events – Founders Gallery Exhibits – “Dr. Gladstone’s Wonders of the World - 1993.
Box/Folder: 4 / 11

[April to May 1993 - This Is Our Yard], 1993 April-May