Annette (Thorley) Françoise Collection
Ciara Hernandez
Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library
800 North Dartmouth Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
Phone: (909) 607-3977
Email: specialcollections@claremont.edu
URL: http://library.claremont.edu/scl
© 2022
The Claremont Colleges Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
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
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to
Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
[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.
Accruals
No additions to the collection are anticipated.
Processing Information
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.
Organization and Arrangement
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
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library’s online public access catalog.
Subject Terms
Art--Exhibitions
Artists
Claremont Graduate School
Claremont Graduate University
Françoise, Annette (Thorley)
Women artists
Quilting
Quilts
Genre and Form of Materials
Articles
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Correspondence
Drawing
Exhibition catalogs
Photographs
Sketches
Slides (Photography)
Textiles
Series 1:
Public relations materials, correspondence, and press
1974-2000 and undated
Scope and Contents
This series includes public relations materials, press releases, interview transcripts,
exhibition proposals, reviews, and correspondence related to Annette Françoise and her
artwork. Strengths of this series include Françoise's exhibition proposals and related
correspondence, which provide insight into the artist's frame of mind and provide
descriptions and explanations of the artist's work in her own words. The series also
includes press regarding Françoise's contributions to the fine art scene in Toronto,
providing exterior perspectives of the artist and her work.
Processing Information
Individual items were removed from original folders and placed in acid-free archival
folders. Items were sequentially arranged using the artist's original order. The large
presence of undated or vaguely dated items prevented a more specific arrangement.
Box 1, Folder 1
Professional materials, Vendor/trade show information
1999 and undated
Note
Includes copies of resumes/CVs and artist's statements.
Box 1, Folder 2
Artist and work featured in press
1977, 1992, undated
Note
Includes press profiles on Annette Françoise and artist Gitta Whillier, transcripts
of an interview done by Joan Murray for the Robert McLaughlin Gallery (1977), and the
artist's works featured in City and Country Home Magazine (1992 September).
Box 1, Folder 3
Artist's work reviewed in press
1974, 1978, 1991, 1995-1996, undated
Note
Newspaper and magazine clippings of reviews of the artist's work from publications
such as The Globe, The Mail, The Toronto Star, The Brantford Express, The Hamilton
Spectator, and others.
Box 1, Folder 4
Exhibition proposals and correspondence
1990, 1995, 1999-2000, undated
Note
Includes exhibtion proposals and correspondence between the artist and host venues
including the Cambridge Gallery, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the
Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, and Whitby Psychiatric.
Box 1, Folder 5
Exhibition advertisements
1979, 1988, 1990-1993, 1997, 2000, undated
Note
Includes exhibition advertisements for the artist's works showcased in the Hamilton
Art Gallery, the Cambridge Gallery, the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, the Skin and
Bones Exhibit at the John B. Aird Gallery, and the Fabric Works Exhibit at the Art
Gallery of Brant. Also includes the artist's work featured on postcards and in a
publication called Surfacing (issues ranging from 1992-1997).
Box 1, Folder 6
Artistic inspiration
undated
Note
Includes magazine clippings, printouts and photocopies, and fabric and pattern
samples.
Box 1, Folder 7
Survivors: In Search of a Voice exhibition
materials
1995
Note
Exhibition folder including featured artists' quotes and biographical statements,
advertisements, and show itineraries and schedules.
Series 2:
Artwork and photographs
1963-2000 and undated
Scope and Contents
This series includes photographic materials of the artist's work as well as hand drawn
artwork and sketches by the artist, spanning the years 1963 to 2000. Several folders
include 35mm slides taken by Françoise and capture images of artwork in progress,
sketches, as well as slides of the artist's travels and personal life. Highlights
include images of the artist's travels to Spain in 1971, a fine art exhibition in York
in 1969, and her submissions for her graduate school application to the Claremont
Colleges in 1965. Photographs taken by Françoise are included and primarily showcase
artwork in progress and publicly displayed pieces. Hand-drawn artwork, loose leaf
drawings, and four sketchbooks are also featured.
Processing Information
Slides and photographs were removed from their original casings and placed in archival
slide sheets and mylar photograph sleeves. Hand-drawn pieces were disbound and
interwoven with acid-free tissue paper to preserve the integrity of the sketches. Items
were sequentially arranged using the artist's original order. The large presence of
undated or vaguely dated items prevented a more specific arrangement.
Box 1, Folder 8
Curated collection and commission pieces
undated
Note
This folder includes photographs of curated collection pieces including "Night Wind,"
"Seeing Red," "Turkish Delight Pt. 2," "Downtown Razmataz," "Forest Floor with Jazz
Time Border," "Dews and Lopes," "Chant of the Groove," "Afterbeat," and "Vertical
Rhythm I-IV." This folder also includes photographs of curated commission pieces
including a piece for the Hamilton Public Library in Ontario, Canada and a piece for
the Canadian Cancer Society at Henderson Hospital.
Box 1, Folder 9
Slide descriptions
undated
Note
This folder includes 35mm slides descriptions, however correlation to the slides
within the collection is unknown as the slides were unlabeled when received. The
folder includes cogent descriptions of the artist's most widely circulated works as
well as labels and captions for art pieces.
Box 1, Folder 10
35mm slides
1973 May-1976
December
Box 1, Folder 11
35mm slides
1973 January-1979
January
Box 1, Folder 12
35mm slides
1975 March-1983 November
Box 1, Folder 13
35mm slides
1982 July-2000
May
Note
This collection of slides includes two labeled sets. The first is "Masterset Detail"
(approximate date range: March 1988 to September 1994), the second is "Masterset"
(approximate date range: March 1986 to May 2000). A third set of slides is
unlabeled.
Box 1, Folder 14
35mm slides
1989 July-2000
May
Note
This collection of slides includes one labeled set entitled "Available Works"
(approximate date range: July 1989 to May 2000).
Box 1, Folder 15
35mm slides
1996
September-2000 May
Box 1, Folder 16
35mm slides
1989 January-1999
March
Box 1, Folder 17
35mm slides
1985
February-1994 September
Box 1, Folder 18
35mm slides
1982 June-1994
September
Box 1, Folder 19
35mm slides
1996 September-1999 February
Note
This folder includes 5 labeled sets of slides including "Interlude I" (approximate
date: February 1999), "2 and 3" (approximate date: February 1999), "4" (approximate
date: February 1999), "Untitled 1" (approximate date: September 1996), "135 Ex"
(approximate date: November 1997).
Box 1, Folder 20
35mm slides
1996
September-1997 November
Note
This folder includes sets of slides labeled by the artist as "135ex" (November 1997)
and "Untitled 2, 3 and 4" (September 1996).
Box 1, Folder 21
35mm slides
1963-1994
Note
This folder contains sets of slides labeled by the artist as "Early work"
(1968-1971), "Near Istanbul REI" (October 1973), "Summer Stream" (1994), "Spain"
(1971), A2 Crafts 1963" (1963-November 1964), Summer Hyde Park" (May 1973), Paintings
+ Crafts" (1963-November 1964).
Box 1, Folder 22
35mm slides
1964 October-1971
August
Note
This folder includes sets of slides labeled by the artist as "Untitled 7" (October
1964), "Draw + Water animals" (1969-January 1970), "Claremont Admission" (October
1965), "Paint + Draw" (1964-February 1965), "Draw" (1970-August 1971), "Water Colours"
(1970-August 1971), "Scarborough Paint Show" (1969-January 1970), "York Draw Show"
(1969-January 1970).
Box 1, Folder 23
35mm slides
1964 August-1971
June
Note
This fodler includes sets of slides labeled by the artist as "CA Paintings + Harvey
Mudd mural proposal" (December 1966-January 1967), "Untitled 6" (December 1970),
"Draw" (1963-August 1964), "Ontario Place" (June 1971), "Untitled 6" (undated).
Box 1, Folder 24
35mm slides
1963-1974
October
Note
This folder inclides sets of slides labeled by the artist as: "Paintings + Crafts"
(1963-November 1964), "LB State" (October 1964-November 1964), "Palmer Canyon"
(December 1966), "Untitled 5" (May 1975), "Leamington + Bayview Bridge" (Ocotober
1974).
Box 2, Folder 1
35mm slides
1968-1974
April
Note
This folder includes sets of slides labeled by the artist as "Draw Book Proposal"
(January 1970), "Ontario Place 4" (June 1971-August 1971), "Draw ’68" (1968-December
1967), "Recent Paint ’73" (April 1973), "Poole Show" (April 1974), "Cutouts" (December
1970-August 1971).
Box 2, Folder 2
Photographs of pieces
undated
Box 2, Folder 3
Postcards
1998, undated
Note
Postcards featuring the artist's work.
Box 2, Folder 4
Curated and labeled pieces
undated
Note
Photographs of curated and labeled pieces.
Box 2, Folder 5
Curated pieces in progress and negatives
undated
Note
This folder contains quilts in phases of construction and one sheet of negatives
labeled "mural."
Box 2, Folder 6
Commissions on display (1 of 3)
undated
Note
Photographs of commissions on display.
Box 2, Folder 7
Commissions on display (2 of 3)
undated
Note
This folder contains photographs of commissions on display, two large print
photographs of building exteriors, one magazine clipping.
Box 2, Folder 8
Commissions on display (3 of 3)
undated
Note
This folder includes photographs of commissions on display, five sheets of
negatives.
Box 2, Folder 9
Commission pieces in stages of creation and on display
undated
Note
This folder includes photographs of commissions in progress and on display.
Box 2, Folder 10
Architectural photography
undated
Box 2, Folder 11
Architectural and sculpture photography
undated
Box 2, Folder 12
Polaroids of pieces
undated
Box 2, Folder 13
Polaroids and photographs of pieces
undated
Box 2, Folder 14
Photographs of commissions and pieces
undated
Note
This folder includes photographs of commissions on display and large print
photographs of curated pieces.
Box 2, Folder 15
Photographs of pieces and fabric sample
undated
Note
This folder includes photographs of quilts, large prints of work, fabric sample with
initials "AF."
Box 2, Item 1
Kaiser Diascop 3 35mm slide viewer
Note
This box contains a 35mm slide viewer. The model is a Kaiser Diascop 3 in like new
condition.
Box 3, Folder 1
Loose leaf drawings (pages 1-25)
undated
Note
This folder includes loose leaf drawings, interwoven with tissue paper between each
page (pages 1-25).
Box 3, Folder 2
Loose leaf drawings (pages 26-47)
undated
Note
This folder includes loose leaf drawings, interwoven with tissue paper between each
page (pages 26-47).
Box 3, Folder 3
Sketchbook 1
undated
Note
This folder includes disbound pages of sketchbook 1, interwoven with tissue paper
between each page.
Box 3, Folder 4
Sketchbook 2 (cover-page 15)
undated
Note
This folder includes disbound pages of sketchbook 2, interwoven with tissue paper
between each page (front cover to page 15).
Box 3, Folder 5
Sketchbook 2 (page 16-back cover)
undated
Note
This folder includes disbound pages of sketchbook 2, interwoven with tissue paper
between each page (page 16 to the back cover).
Box 3, Folder 6
Sketchbook 3
undated
Note
This folder includes the carefully disbound pages of sketchbook 3, interwoven with
tissue paper between each page.
Box 3, Item 1
Sketchbook 4
undated
Note
This sketchbook was not disbound due to the structure of it's spine. It has been kept
intact and interwoven with tissue paper between each sketch.