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Steinitz (Kate Traumann) Papers
LSC.1770  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
Kate Traumann Steinitz (1889-1975) was an artist, art historian, librarian, and Da Vinci and Renaissance scholar. As an artist and art historian, Steinitz maintained acquaintances and friendships with renowned German Expressionist and Dada artists such as Kurt Schwitters as well as curators from influential institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). As honorary curator of the Elmer Belt Library of Vinciana at UCLA, she was also a scholar and expert on Leonardo Da Vinci, frequently delivering speeches and lectures on his life and works. She was also involved with a variety of other activities like advocating for the creation of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at UCLA. Steinitz was involved with the activities of the Belt Library, maintained multiple careers, and pursued a variety of interests until her death on April 7, 1975 at the age of 85. This collection contains correspondence, administrative records, publications, research notes, lecture notes, and exhibition records related to Steinitz' careers as honorary curator of the Belt Library of Vinciana and as an art historian. The collection also contains a small sample of her artwork as well as personal records like travel diaries, family correspondence, scrapbooks, and creative writing.
Background
Kate Traumann Steinitz (1889-1975) was an artist, art historian, librarian, and Da Vinci and Renaissance scholar. Born in Germany on August 2, 1889, Kate Traumann became enamored with art at the age of 11 after visiting a museum for the first time. She took a beginners' course with Käthe Kollwitz before transferring to a school associated with the Berliner Succession. In 1913, during a trip to Paris and after becoming acquainted with works in the Louvre Museum and works by Cubist painters, she decided to pursue a career as an art historian instead.
Extent
51 Linear Feet (117 boxes, 1 carton, 2 flat boxes, 2 shoe boxes, 1 map folder)
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical objects belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Availability
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.