Donald B. Goodall Collection, 1946- 1999, undated, bulk 1957-1995

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Summary

Creators:
Goodall, Donald B.
Abstract:
This collection contains correspondence, cards, letters, notes, artists' files and interviews, photographs, transparencies, slides, multimedia (film, video and audio cassettes) and other realia and ephemera connected with the studies and work of Donald Bannard Goodall from 1946-1997.
Extent:
37.99 Linear Feet 25 boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Description of item], Donald B. Goodall Collection, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Balch Art Research Library, GOO.001.001.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of 25 Hollinger boxes (37.99 linear feet) of correspondence, cards, letters, notes, artists' interviews and files, photographs, transparencies, multimedia (film, video, and audio tapes) and other realia and ephemera connected with the art historical studies and work of Dr. Donald B. Goodall.

The majority of items range in date from the mid-1950s through the early 1990s, a substantial portion concerning art in Mexico and Brazil. The Columbian artist Enrique Grau figures prominently. The Correspondence series (1981-1995, undated) contains Dr. Goodall's professional and personal correspondence, including files related to the operation of his gallery and his interactions with other galleries, his lawyer Robert Plomgren, professors, private collectors, and family and friends. The Window South series (1979-1989, undated) contains files produced in the course of running his gallery that featured artists from South America. The Country Files series (1977-1983, undated) includes documents made in preparation for or acquired during trips to visit artists in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. The Artists' Files series (1974-1994, undated) contains research and ephemera about South American artists that supported his writing, exhibitions, and personal collecting. The Latin American Presence series (1984-1986, undated) documents Dr. Goodall's curatorial work on an exhibition for the Bronx Museum of Arts, including planning, loaning artwork, catalog publication, and eventual resignation from the project. The Special Projects series (1946-1991, undated) contains documents related to various projects: biennales, symposia, conferences, and an article on Enrique Grau. The Photographs series (1966-1999, undated) consists primarily of photographs taken on trips to Europe, Jamaica, South America, and New York, mostly documenting exhibitions and artwork, as well as some images of landmarks, architecture, city scenes, artist studios, and auctions. The bulk of the slides in the Slides series (1963-1993, undated) document exhibitions and artwork, including artists' studios, outdoor sculpture, galleries, and museums, mostly in South America. Finally, the Audiovisual series (1976-1995, undated) contains audiovisual materials, including audio cassettes, microcassettes, video cassettes, and one roll of film, which record interviews, notes, and seminars from throughout Dr. Goodall's career.

Biographical / historical:

Donald Bannard Goodall, (b. October 8, 1912, Los Angeles, California / d. October 26, 1997) Donald B. Goodall was a professor of art history and an art administrator who specialized in Latin American art. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, his master's from the University of Chicago, and his doctorate from Harvard University (thesis; Gaston Lachaise, sculptor, 1969).

Dr. Goodall served as director of the Utah Art Center from 1938 to 1942. He joined the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin in 1942, and served as Chairman of the Department of Art in 1945. He left the University to serve as Acting Dean of the museum school of the Toledo (Ohio) Art Museum in 1947-48. He joined the faculty of the University of Southern California (USC) in 1949, where he headed the Department of Fine Arts until 1959. He returned to the University of Texas in 1959 and headed the Department of Art until 1973, when he was named Director of the University art collections. During his tenure with the University of Texas, he built the nation's largest collection of Latin American art. Dr. Goodall also served as a director of the College Art Association (CAA). He was a trustee of the Pasadena Art Museum, a vice president of the Los Angeles County Museum Association, and a consultant to the Ford Foundation.

Acquisition information:
Dr. Goodall was 85 years of age when he passed away, survived by his daughters. The Goodall Collection was graciously donated to LACMA Art Research Library and LACMA's Lewin Galleries by Hollis Goodall and Brooks Goodall-Szlyga.
Processing information:

In May 2002 through July 2002, the collection was processed and the original finding aid created by Heather Cleary (May 2002) and Necia Gelker (May-July 2002).

In March 2017, Raphael Sasayama partially revised the finding aid and entered its data into Archivists' Toolkit to create this EAD finding aid.

From October 2022- March 2023, the collection was partially reprocessed by Allison Wall under the supervision of Jessica Gambling to add Slides and additional Artist Files. In addition, photographs and audiovisual materials were rehoused and the finding aid was updated and revised as necessary.

Arrangement:

At the time of reprocessing this collection in 2022-23 and the creation of this revised finding aid in March 2017, it is believed that the original order was maintained when processed in 2002.

Series I:
Correspondence, 1981-1995, undated (22 folders)
Series II:
Window South, 1979-1989, undated (9 folders)
Series III:
Country Files, 1977-1983, undated (9 folders)
Series IV:
Artists' Files, 1974-1994, undated (115 folders)
Series V:
Latin American Presence, 1984-1986, undated (50 folders)
Series VI:
Special Projects, 1946-1991, undated (30 folders)
Series VII:
Photographs, 1966-1999, undated (290 envelopes)
Sub-series i:
European Trip, 1966
Sub-series ii:
Jamaica and South America Trip, 1987
Sub-series iii:
New York, 1986
Sub-series iv:
E. Grau Photos, circa 1980s-1990s
Sub-series v:
1966-1979 Photos
Sub-series vi:
1986 Photos
Sub-series vii:
1988 Photos
Sub-series viii:
1980-1988 Photos
Sub-series ix:
1994 Photos
Series VII:
Slides, 1963-1993, undated (85 folders)
Series IX:
Audiovisual, 1976-1995, undated (6 folders)
Sub-series i:
Audio Cassettes, 1976-1980, undated (67 items)
Sub-series ii:
Microcassettes, 1981-1990, undated (25 items)
Sub-series iii:
Moving Image, 1982-1995, undated (6 items)
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment only through the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Balch Art Research Library. Telephone 323-857-6118 or email library@lacma.org.

Terms of access:

Contact the Balch Research Library for information on publishing or reproducing materials included in these records. Permission is granted by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as the owner of the physical materials, and does not imply permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Description of item], Donald B. Goodall Collection, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Balch Art Research Library, GOO.001.001.

Location of this collection:
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036, US
Contact:
(323) 857-6118
library@lacma.org
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