Marion Kronfeld Collection MS.2019.011
Finding aid by Megan Riley, revisions by Rebecca Fenning Marschall
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
2022
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles 90018
clark@humnet.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Title: Marion Kronfeld Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS.2019.011
Physical Description:
5 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1912-1999
Abstract: Marion Kronfeld (1912- 2004) was an American artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She worked primarily with printmaking and lithography
techniques, and was an avid diarist. Her sketchbooks include landscapes, portraits, and rough sketches in pen and ink, pencil,
pastels, colored pencils, and watercolors. Many of the sketchbooks also have handwritten musings, shopping lists, names and
contact information, and other notes in them. Marion's diaries document her life, marriage, travels, philosophical and political
reflections, and artistic process.
Language of Material:
English
.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of 17 notebooks and sketchbooks of varying sizes, 1 baby book, and 1 small booklet bound with staples,
created by or related to artist Marion Campbell Kronfeld. Materials include 11 of Kronfeld's sketchbooks, a bound copy of
a short story written and illustrated by Marion titled "Adventures of the Pruitts at Fenimore," five of her handwritten diaries
(as well as a diary written by Marion's husband Alfred Kronfeld), and Marion's baby book. Some of the items contain laid-in
ephemera. Additional correspondence from Marion to friend and colleague Vance Gerry is also included here, most of which is
written by Marion on pochoir cards designed by her.
Biographical / Historical
Marion McDonald Campbell Kronfeld was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 12, 1912. After studying at the Cleveland Institute
of Art, she married Alfred Kronfeld (1915- 1996) in 1935, and they toured Europe together after Marion won a scholarship to
study abroad. Marion also studied printmaking, particularly lithography, at the National Academy and the New School for Social
Research, both in New York. After her studies in New York, she and Alfred moved to Pasadena, where he became the longtime
owner of The Campus Bookstore. In 1954, Marion traveled to Mexico to study printmaking and materials such as lacquers with
José Gutierrez. Her published illustrations were primarily for works from the Plantin Press in Los Angeles - most notably
"Designs Cut for Plantin Press Calendars 1941-1946: With Some Additional Designs" and "Early American Inebrietatis" in 1964.
She was also accomplished with various forms of printmaking, including woodcut, linocut, and lithography. Some of Marion's
more political work was included in an exhibit titled "You Say You Want a Revolution" at Galerie St. Etienne, New York, in
2016-17. Her diaries in this collection document her daily life, particularly her dreams and philosophical interests, as well
as musings on and anxieties around her artwork. Marion died in Los Angeles in 2004.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Series 1: Clark Library purchase, Johnson Rare Books, 2019 (accession MS.2019.011)
Series 2: Clark Library purchase, Jeff Weber Rare Books, 2009 (accession MS.2009.007)
Processing History
This collection was physically processed and described in 2019 by Megan Riley. Materials from accession MS.2009.007 (correspondence
to Vance Gerry) was processed and described in 2022 by Rebecca Fenning Marschall.
Sketchbooks, Notebooks, and Diaries
1912-1993
box 1, Folder 1
Marion's baby book and ephemera
1912-1918
Physical Description: 1 itemOff-white hardcover baby book with design of baby and title on cover. Binding is loose, and items have been laid in.8.5" x 11"
Scope and Contents
First page contains a space for "To" and "From" handwritten notes; the "To" space is filled out with "Marion Mabel Campbell"
and the "From" section reads "Hazel and Hilda Reeve." Full title of baby book is "A History of the Doings and Sayings of Our
Baby." Arranged and illustrated by Josephine Bruce, published by C.R. Gibson and Company, NYC. Has baby photo of Marion around
2 months pasted in on "The First Photograph" page. Has another baby photo, taken two months later, pasted in a few pages after
the first. Laid in on this page is a small folder - the inside of which is labeled with her name, age and address - containing
two other photographs, as well as the stub of an envelope that has a handwritten note on it reading "Cutting from Marion's
first haircut" and which contains some baby hair. Another photograph pasted in on the page opposite "First Birthday". Middle
section of book is mostly empty. Final few pages, which are titled Mother's Notes, contain many pasted in but undated/unidentified
photos, presumably of Marion at various ages. There is also a small photo laid in of a man holding a baby. The last dated
entry is from June 1918. Habitat for Humanity greeting card sent to Marion (addressed to Miggie) from someone named Clare
is laid in, as well as a holiday card from the Guttman-Kaufman family with a note on the reverse and its mailing envelope,
addressed to Miggie Kronfeld; both of these items appear to be no older than the 1990s.
box 1, Folder 2
Blue "The Scribble-In Book" sketchbook
undated
Physical Description: 1 itemBlue hardcover sketchbook.5" x 7"
Scope and Contents
Contains mostly pencil sketches with a few ink and watercolor pages. Names, telephone numbers, addresses, and some price lists
are written inside front and rear covers.
box 1, Folder 3
Green "The Scribble-In Book" sketchbook
undated
Physical Description: 1 itemGreen hardcover sketchbook.5" x 7"
Scope and Contents
Second page is inscribed "This is the Sketch Book of Marion M. Campbell, 3839 Holly Park Place, Los Angeles, Cal." with a
small sketch of a woman's face. Contains ink and pastel sketches, as well as some names, telephone numbers, addresses, and
inventory/shopping lists.
box 1, Folder 4
Green "The Scribble-In Book" sketchbook and ephemera
undated
1985
Physical Description: 5 itemsGreen hardcover sketchbook, three photographs, single-page handwritten note.sketchbook is 5" x 7"
Scope and Contents
Has three undated and unidentified photographs and a single-page handwritten note about a dream dated 11/23/85 laid in. Contains
sketches in ink, pencil, and pastel; some names and addresses are written inside front and rear covers.
box 1, Folder 5
Light brown "The Scribble-In Book" sketchbook
undated
Physical Description: 1 itemLight brown hardcover sketchbook.5" x 7"
Scope and Contents
Contains sketches in ink, pencil, and pastel. Also includes several pages of writing about markets and capitalism, information
about various art shows, names, telephone numbers, and addresses.
box 1, Folder 6
Dark brown "The Scribble-In Book" sketchbook
undated
Physical Description: 1 itemDark brown hardcover sketchbook.5" x 7"
Scope and Contents
Contains sketches in ink, pencil, colored pencil, and pastel. Small ink sketch of couple at a table and an unidentified clipping
from a magazine or postcard laid in. A couple of pages of handwritten notes on the nine muses. Names, phone numbers, and addresses
written inside front cover.
box 2, Folder 1
Florida Sketches
February 1934
Physical Description: 1 itemOrange hardcover sketchbook. binding is damaged and loose. Paper label affixed to the front cover with sketchbook title, date,
and artist initials.5" x 7"
Scope and Contents
Contains sketches mostly in pencil and colored pencil with some watercolors. Latter third or so of sketchbook is blank except
for final few pages. Binding is loose and pages are starting to come out.
box 2, Folder 2
Florida Sketches
September 1934
Physical Description: 1 itemBlue hardcover sketchbook with staining on cover and spine.5" x 7"
Scope and Contents
First page inscribed "Sketches, made in Florida September 1934 by Miggie Campbell". Contains sketches mostly in pencil, colored
pencil, and watercolor, as well as some in ink towards the end of the book.
box 2, Folder 3
Cleveland Sketches
October 1934
Physical Description: 1 itemBrown hardcover sketchbook.5" x 7"
Scope and Contents
Second page is inscribed "People, sketched by Marion McDonald Campbell, Oct. 1934" and in a different hand, possibly at a
later date, "Dedicated to t Ackley". Contains mostly pencil sketches but also a few watercolors and ink sketches. Interior
of rear cover contains handwritten notes about a spring dance, as well as a list of womens' names.
box 2, Folder 4
New York City sketchbook
April 1936
Physical Description: 1 itemTan limp cover binding sketchbook.6.5" x 8"
Scope and Contents
First page contains aerial sketch of NYC buildings and the inscription "New York City as she is to a certain one Marion McDonald
Campbell in April 1936". Contains pencil, ink and watercolor sketches as well as various handwritten notes interspersed with
drawings.
box 4
Large manila sketchbook with sketch of woman drawing on cover
1942
Physical Description: 1 itemSoftcover manila sketchbook, binding is fragile and back cover has detached9" x 12"
Scope and Contents
Hand-drawn cover with sketch of a woman drawing and titled "Sketch book, 1942". First half of the sketchbook contains watercolors,
pencil, ink, pastel, and colored pencil sketches and landscapes. Latter half of book is empty except for final few pages which
contain more sketches. Binding is fragile and rear cover is detached.
box 2, Folder 5
Terracotta sketchbook
early to mid 1950s
Physical Description: 1 itemTerracotta-colored hardcover sketchbook, 79 pages.5.5" x 8"
Scope and Contents
Contains some spiritual/philosophical writing, as well as notes/descriptions of art principles. Sketches in ink, pencil, paint,
pastels, and colored pencils. Sketchbook is undated but one drawing approximately halfway through the book is dated Feb. 1
'53.
box 2, Folder 6
Mexico notebook and ephemera
1954
Physical Description: 1 itemMarbled hardcover notebook with 99 handwritten pages and several loose papers of varying sizes - some printed, some handwritten
- laid inside front cover.7" x 9"
Scope and Contents
Contains many handwritten formulas - both in the notebook and on loose papers laid or glued in - for lacquers, etc. as well
as mural-painting. Also many lists of Spanish words and phrases with English translations, addresses, sketches, journaling
about her dreams/life/work/marriage, and philosophical/spiritual writing (particularly about Albert Guérard).
box 1, Folder 7
Copy of "Adventures of the Pruitts at Fenimore" illustrated book
undated
Physical Description: 1 itemSmall chapbook-style paperback, 24 printed and illustrated pages.5.5" x 8.5"
Scope and Contents
Written and illustrated by Marion M. Campbell; inscription on verso of rear cover reads "Here 'Butch' is my pièce de résistance,
my maiden voyage - this is yours to keep, to remember your artist-authoress. - Miggy".
box 2, Folder 7
Europe - 58 Winter - Spring 59 sketchbook
December 4, 1958-April 7, 1959
Physical Description: 1 itemSpiral-bound notebook with hand-drawn illustration on cover.6.5" x 8"
Scope and Contents
Spiral-bound notebook with a pen and ink illustration of a tree and landscape on the cover, and is labeled "Marion Kronfeld"
in the lower corner and "Europe - 58 - Winter Spring '59" across the top. Contains densely handwritten journal pages about
her Europe trip, beginning with the first entry dated Thursday, Dec. 4, Málaga and the last Tuesday, Apr. 7, '59. Latter third
of journal is blank except for the final few pages, which contain some ink sketches and several handwritten recipes.
box 3, Folder 1
Alfred's European trip diary
1958-1959
Physical Description: 1 itemBrown three-ring soft-cover binder with approximately 75 handwritten loose-leaf pages.6.5" x 9"
Scope and Contents
Alfred Kronfeld's diary of the couple's European trip, with the first entry beginning while they were in Poros, Greece. Diary
is a three-ring notebook with looseleaf pages. About one-third of the way through there is an inventory of items and prices.
Sheet of Campus Book Store letterhead laid in inside rear cover; note on letterhead is about import customs requirements.
box 3, Folder 2
Blue diary book
January 20, 1974-September 26, 1979
Physical Description: 1 itemBlue hardcover diary, 284 handwritten pages. Binding is fragile.6" x 9"
Scope and Contents
Handwritten diary about life, dreams, artwork, and her marriage.
box 3, Folder 3
Black notebook
October 15, 1979-May 15, 1989
Physical Description: 1 itemBlack hardcover notebook with 278 handwritten pages and 9 loose pages of varying sizes. Binding is loose and some pages seem
to have been cut out of the notebook at the end.8.5" x 11"
Scope and Contents
Densely handwritten diary about her life, work, and marriage. Journal entries begin in 1979 but there are some loose papers
laid inside front cover dating from earlier in the 1970s. Loose papers are on various topics, particularly philosophical/spiritual
ideas.
box 3, Folder 4
Floral notebook
May 11, 1993-September 7, 1993
Physical Description: 1 itemFloral hardcover notebook, 160 handwritten pages.9" x 11"
Scope and Contents
Densely handwritten diary, which includes discussion of her marriage and her husband's deteriorating health. First entry is
dated May 11, 1993 and last entry is Sept. 7, 1993. Inscription inside front cover reads "July 1990. Happy Birthday Miggy!
May you enjoy filling these pages. Much love, Pam, Jay and Aaron".
Correspondence sent to Vance Gerry
1977-1999
box MS.2009.007 Bx 1, Folder 2
One Heart to the Globe [print]
before 1935
Physical Description: Signed Marion Campbell. From the collection of Vance Gerry.
box MS.2009.007 Bx 1, Folder 1, 3-6
Cards and other correspondence to Vance Gerry
1977-1999
Physical Description: Cards and letters written by MK to Vance Gerry. Nearly all items are written on pochoir cards made by Kronfeld. Others are
embellished by small drawings or paintings.
box MS.2009.007 Bx 1, Folder 7
Case made by Vance Gerry
about 1970s?
Physical Description: Folding slipcase with patterned boards, printed and made by Vance Gerry, to house his collection of cards and work by Kronfeld.
