Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Annette (Thorley) Françoise Collection
H.Mss.1125
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Annette (Thorley) Françoise Collection
Dates: 1963-2000 and undated
Collection number: H.Mss.1125
Creator:
Françoise, Annette (Thorley)
Extent:
2.4 Linear Feet
(2 records boxes, 1 oversize document box)
Repository:
Claremont Colleges. Library. Special Collections, The Claremont
Colleges Library, Claremont, CA 91711.
Abstract: This collection
includes materials that trace and span the career of artist Annette (Thorley) Françoise. The
collection features public relations materials, press releases, interview transcripts,
exhibition proposals, reviews, and correspondence related to Françoise and her artwork, as
well as photographic materials and sketches by the artist.
Physical Location: Please consult repository.
Language of Material: Languages represented in the
collection: English.
Administrative Information
Collection open for research.
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to
Special Collections.
[Identification of item], Annette (Thorley) Françoise Collection (H.Mss.1125). Special
Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, The Claremont Colleges Services, Claremont,
California.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of June Toohey, December 2020.
No additions to the collection are anticipated.
35mm slides of artist's original artwork were removed from their original casings and
transferred to archival slide sleeves. Photographs were transferred to mylar sleeves.
Sketches were disbound from original sketchbooks and interwoven with tissue paper. Other
materials were removed from original folders and placed in acid-free archival folders and
boxes.
Biography / Administrative History
Annette (Thorley) Françoise was an alumna of the Claremont Colleges, earning her MFA from
Claremont Graduate School (now University) in 1967. Prior to coming to Claremont Graduate
School, she was an art student at Long Beach State College (now California State
University, Long Beach) with a focus on sculpture. While attending graduate school,
Françoise was introduced to Amish quilts, which shifted her focus and artistic
inclinations towards textiles. She became intrigued by the dichotomously complex, yet
simple nature of the quilts and textiles became her medium of choice. Original writings
from the artist go deeper into this proclivity; in the standalone fabric pieces she saw
ready-made swatches of color, comparable to paint, ready to be pieced together to convey
her abstract style.
Over her artistic career, Françoise's quilted exhibitions were displayed in galleries
such as the Pasadena Museum of Art, the Long Beach Museum of Art, the Isaacs Gallery, the
Deson-Zaks Gallery of Chicago, and the Atrium Gallery. Similarly, her artwork was
commissioned by the Ontario Science Centre, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Hamilton
Public Library, and as a book cover for the publisher Coach House Press. She was
recognized by the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council for her contributions to the
fine art space of Toronto and her work received reviews from publications such as Arts
Canada, the Chicago Sunday Times, the Toronto Star. Throughout her career, she also led
numerous courses and workshops at institutions including the City University of New York,
Brock University, and Emily Carr College.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Annette (Thorley) Françoise Collection includes materials that trace and span the
artist and Claremont Graduate school alumna's professional career. The collection's first
series includes public relations materials, press releases, interview transcripts,
exhibition proposals, reviews, and correspondence related to Françoise and her artwork.
Materials in this series also provide insight into the artist's contributions to the fine
arts community in Toronto, Canada. A second series compiles slides and photographs of the
artist's work, spanning the years 1963 to 2000, and capture images of artwork in progress,
sketches, publicly displayed pieces, and the artist's travels and personal life. Hand-drawn
artwork, loose leaf drawings, and four sketchbooks by Françoise are included. An original
Kaiser Diascop 3 slide viewer belonging to the artist is stored in a separate archival
enclosure as a part of the collection.
This collection is organized into the following two series:
- Series 1: Public relations materials, correspondence, and press, 1974-2000 and undated
- Series 2: Artwork and photographs, 1963-2000 and undated
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library’s online public access catalog.
Art--Exhibitions
Artists
Claremont Graduate School
Claremont Graduate University
Françoise, Annette (Thorley)
Women artists
Quilting
Quilts
Articles
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Drawing
Exhibition catalogs
Photographs
Sketches
Slides (Photography)
Textiles