Scope and Contents
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Related Materials
Preferred Citation
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Selma Holo papers
Creator:
Holo, Selma
Identifier/Call Number: 5251
Identifier/Call Number: /repositories/3/resources/2985
Physical Description:
14.44 Linear Feet
20 boxes and 2 oversize folders
Date (inclusive): 1937-2022
Date (bulk): 1980-2015
Abstract: The Selma Holo papers consists of publications, reports, photographs, and research notes created and collected by Selma Holo.
Included are the original typescript of Dr. Holo's dissertation; typescripts of two of her publications, "Beyond the Prado"
and "Managing Memory"; research files produced during trips to Mexico and Spain; research for the exhibition "Keepers of the
Flame"; and various personal and ephemeral items. Selma Holo received her doctorate from the University of California, Santa
Barbara, in 1980, and worked as a curator at the Norton Simon Museum of Art before joining USC to serve as the director of
the Fisher Museum of Art. She also serves as Professor of Art History in the Dornsife College.
Language of Material:
English
, Spanish; Castilian
.
Scope and Contents
The Selma Holo papers consists of publications, reports, photographs, and research notes created and collected by Selma Holo.
Included are the original typescript of Dr. Holo's dissertation; typescripts of two of her publications, "Beyond the Prado"
and "Managing Memory"; research files produced during trips to Mexico and Spain; research for the exhibition "Keepers of the
Flame"; and various personal and ephemeral items.
Selma Holo included the following message to future users of the collection when she donated an accrual to her papers in 2024:
"I am donating my archives so that there is evidence of the work that I did between about 1973 and my retirement in 2022.
The boxes include work and materials from before the time I came to USC in 1981 when I was formally employed at Art Center
College of Design; was doing research curating and publishing at the Getty (but not formally employed there); and the Norton
Simon Museum. It includes lots of independent projects, articles, catalogues, newspaper articles. Although I did donate
a great deal of material, I notice that this is by no means a complete history.
At the same time, there are some precious things in here, like letters handwritten from Jennifer Jones when I was curating
at Norton Simon, a typed note from Mike Nichols, and one from our Warren Bennis. Still, there are many things that are NOT
included here. There are many missing things, missing exhibitions, some of which can be pieced together by going to the USC
archives online. Also, go to Webcat for Fisher Gallery, known later as the USC Fisher Museum of Art. Other things that can
be found in the USC online archives are interviews (oral histories that I conducted and that I gave). I did lots of radio
work for KCRW; their archives or Google would be a place to locate them. I am working on my memoirs and will add them to
the archives when they are complete.
This is mostly professional but when you have a career such as I enjoyed, it is often impossible to separate the personal
from the professional: the artists who became friends; the work trips that imprinted my personality forever; the colleagues
at USC who remained in my life forever. Through it all: my family. Robbie and Chris, Sam and Jo; Josh and his children, Nelson
and Ghita. My mother Ghita Reuben Olit; my cousin Alice Berger. All of these people were a part of my life in art. Nothing
would have mattered without them. Thank you USC, Thank you Barbara Robinson, for accepting these archives."
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Selma Holo, 2009, 2012, 2019, and 2024.
Related Materials
Fisher Gallery records, Collection no. 0271, University Archives, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Selma Holo papers, Collection no. 5251, University Archives, Special Collections, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Art museum directors -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
College art museums -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Exhibitions -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Awards
Clippings (information artifacts)
Ephemera
Letters
Photographs
Posters
Publications (documents)
Reports
Holo, Selma -- Archives
USC Fisher Museum of Art -- Archives