Guide to the Ruth Asawa Papers M1585
Franz Kunst
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2015 ; revised 2024
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
Fax Number: (650) 723-8690
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Ruth Asawa papers
Identifier/Call Number: M1585
Physical Description:
236 Linear Feet
: 299 containers (275 boxes, 23 map folders, 1 tube)
Date (inclusive): 1926-2020
Date (bulk): 1939-2012
Abstract: The papers of artist Ruth Asawa relate over eighty years of her life and career, with documentation concerning her art and
commissions as well her involvement in arts education, civic art, and art administration.
Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36-48 hours in advance. For more
information on paging collections, see the department's website: http://library.stanford.edu/spc.
Language of Material:
English
.
Access to Collection
The materials are open for research use. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Selected audiovisual media have been reformatted and are available for access via the Special Collections Reading Room.
Arrangement
Asawa's papers were organized by her family prior to their arrival at Stanford, and for the most part this arrangement was
retained. Most files are chronologically ordered. Although there is considerable overlap throughout the various series, the
following general categories were used:
1. Correspondence, Professional
2. Public Art Projects
3. Art Projects
4. Art
5. Correspondence, Artists and Colleagues
6. Lectures, Workshops, Classes, Events
7. Writing and Transcripts
8. Alvarado Arts Workshop and Alvarado Elementary School
9. San Francisco School of the Arts
10. Ruth Asawa Fund
11. Education and Schools, General
12. Student Art and Correspondence
13. Black Mountain College
14. Public Service
15. Activism and Advocacy
16. Fellowships and Grants
17. Awards and Honors
18. Correspondence, Personal
19. Calendars, Planners, Notebooks, etc.
20. Clipping Files, Bibliography
21. Biographies and Portfolios
22. Juvenalia, School
23. Japanese American Internment
24. Family
25. Miscellaneous Photographs and Media
26. Clippings by Asawa
27. Addenda
Biographical / Historical
Ruth Aiko Asawa Lanier (1926–2013) was a sculptor, painter, and printmaker acclaimed for her biomorphic wire forms and public
art installations, as well as her activism in art education. Asawa was born in the agricultural community of Norwalk, California
on January 24, 1926, to Japanese immigrant parents Umakichi and Haru. She was the fourth of seven children. Her father was
a truck farmer, and the family worked in the fields to support the business. Asawa showed an aptitude for art at an early
age. In 1939, she won a school art competition with her drawing of the Statue of Liberty. On Saturdays, she attended a community
Japanese language and cultural school, where she practiced calligraphy. Although Asawa had hoped to attend art school in Los
Angeles, World War II and the signing of Executive Order 9066 changed everything. She was sixteen years old in February 1942
when her father was arrested by FBI agents and separated from his family for the next six years. A few months later, the family
received orders to relocate. Asawa's mother, who knew very little English, had to orchestrate the closing of the farm on her
own. They were at the Assembly Center at Santa Anita racetrack for six months, and were later moved to a more permanent camp
in Rohwer, Arkansas. Thanks in part to a sympathetic teacher, Ruth excelled in her art classes, and became the art editor
of the class yearbook. She graduated from Rohwer High School in 1943, at a time when certain Nisei were permitted to leave
camp to continue their studies, as long as they stayed away from the coasts.
She applied and was admitted to the Milwaukee State Teachers College on a scholarship sponsored by the National Japanese American
Student Relocation Council, an initiative of the American Friends Service Committee. She studied drawing, weaving, pottery,
painting, printmaking, and jewelry with Robert von Neumann, Elsa Ulbricht, Winifred Phillips, and Joseph Friebert, intending
to become a schoolteacher. To support her education, Asawa found work as a domestic servant and measuring hides in a tanning
factory. In the summer of 1944, a teacher and several students traveled to Black Mountain College, an experimental school
in North Carolina, for a workshop series known as the Summer Institute, and returned with positive reports. Ruth considered
attending the summer of 1945, but instead she and her sister Lois traveled to Mexico City to study Mexican art and history.
Among her instructors was designer Clara Porset, who also told Ruth about Black Mountain College. After attending the college's
1946 Summer Institute, Asawa decided to continue at Black Mountain. She spent three transformative years there under the guidance
and instruction of teachers such as Josef Albers and Buckminster Fuller, who became lifelong friends and mentors. She also
met her husband Albert Lanier at Black Mountain College. Albert had transferred from Georgia Tech to study architecture and
design. In 1947, Asawa returned to Mexico on a trip again sponsored by the Quakers, where she observed local techniques for
crocheting baskets which would inspire later work in wire.
In June of 1949, Ruth traveled to San Francisco to join Albert, who had come out earlier to find a job and aplace to live.
They were married a month later, and lived on Jackson Street in downtown's produce district. Ruth continued her studies by
taking silkscreening, drawing and dance classes at San Francisco State College. The 1950s and 60s saw Ruth diving headlong
into painting, drawing, paper folding, printing, casting, and her innovative crocheted wire forms. In addition to Albert's
work as an architect and draftsman, they both began working in industrial design, creating and selling fabric patterns and
other designs, as well as promoting Ruth's wire sculpture as an interior through Laverne Originals. However, they soon chose
to focus on developing Ruth's career in the art world, which at the time meant New York. A series of successful and favorably
reviewed shows at Manhattan's Peridot Gallery led to national exposure. Asawa has held major solo retrospective exhibits at
the San Francisco Museum of Art (1973), the Fresno Art Center (1978 and 2001), the Oakland Museum (2002), the M.H. de Young
Memorial Museum (2006), and the Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, 2007).
Aside from her wire sculptures, Asawa is perhaps best known for the many public commissions she created in the Bay Area. Her
most famous public sculptures are "Andrea," the mermaid fountain at Ghirardelli Square (1966); the Hyatt on Union Square Fountain
(1973); the "Buchanan Mall (Nihonmachi) Fountains" (1976); "Aurora," the origami-inspired fountain on the San Francisco waterfront
(1986) and the "Japanese-American Internment Memorial Sculpture" in San Jose (1994). She also served as guest faculty at San
Francisco State University, where she worked with landscape architects to create the outdoor "Garden of Remembrance" (2002).
In addition to her full-time work as an artist and activist, Ruth and her husband raised six children: Xavier, Aiko, Hudson,
Adam, Addie, and Paul. In 1968 Asawa joined Sally Woodbridge and other parents to found the Alvarado Arts Workshop at Alvarado
Elementary School, where her three youngest children were enrolled. With limited financial support and using cheap or recycled
materials such as milk and egg cartons, leftover paint, scrap fabric, and bakers' clay, they began to bring working artists
in to work with the students. Ruth formulated a teaching philosophy based on her personal experience: children develop as
critical thinkers by practicing art and gardening. With the arrival of busing in San Francisco, the Alvarado program spread
to other schools. This expansion was helped greatly by the 1973 federal Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program,
which provided resources for artists to teach throughout San Francisco. Building on the Alvarado model, Ruth was central to
the creation of the San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA) high school, which was renamed the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School
of the Arts in 2010.
Asawa served on the San Francisco Art Commission, the California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and on
the Board of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the American Conservatory Theater, and SCRAP. She received honorary doctorates
from San Francisco State University, the San Francisco Art Institute, and California College of the Arts, and in 1999 she
received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the Milwaukee State Teachers College that she had been denied as a student in 1946.
In 1982, February 12 was declared Ruth Asawa Day in San Francisco. Ruth Asawa died on August 5, 2013, at her home in San Francisco
at age 87.
Adapted from Wakida, Patricia. "Ruth Asawa." Densho Encyclopedia.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Ruth Asawa papers (M1585). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Scope and Contents
The papers of Ruth Asawa relate over eighty years of her life and career, with documentation concerning her art and commissions
as well her involvement in arts education, civic art, and art administration. The collection includes correspondence, notes,
memoranda, transcripts, exhibition notices and other publicity, articles and publications, design sketches, blueprints and
plans, photographs, and audiovisual media. The majority of correspondence is incoming, with some drafts of outgoing, including
some from her husband Albert Lanier, particularly in the 1950s. Asawa retained her maiden name for her art, but otherwise
used Lanier.
Although the collection has been divided into broad series, there are countless intersections between the various spheres
of her life. References between especially relevant series have been noted. Beyond Asawa's own art and advocacy work, her
papers chronicle the mid-to-late 20th century art, design, and architecture worlds, as well as the civic and cultural life
of the San Francisco Bay Area. Her work with the San Francisco Art Commission, the California Arts Council, and other organizations,
as well as her close friendship with other artists such as Imogen Cunningham, are especially valuable in this regard. In addition,
her personal experiences as an internee during World War II, attending Black Mountain College, and raising a large family
as a working artist provide further research opportunities.
Together, the Ruth Asawa papers serve to reinforce the values she fought for: the experience of making art as creative thinking
and problem solving, breaking down false barriers between art and science, and fostering an inclusive engagement with the
arts among people of all ages, but especially young people.
Publication Rights
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arts in education
Japanese American artists
Artists -- California -- San Francisco
Public art
Art -- Study and teaching.
Series 1. Correspondence, Professional
1951-2013
Scope and Contents
Contains incoming and outgoing draft correspondence concerning Asawa's career as an artist, primarily with galleries, museums,
agents, and patrons about exhibitions, loans and sales. The majority are chronologically arranged. Many of the files from
the 1950s document the Laniers' industrial design efforts, including work for Laverne, The Englander, and others.
Box 100, folder 1
Art Cataloging by Paula Freedman
1998-1999
Box 100, folder 5
Bartlett H. Hayes, Jr. to Asawa at Black Mountain College
1948-11-29
Scope and Contents
Hayes was the director of the Addison Gallery of American Art, where Ruth first exhibited. The check for her first sale (to
a man named Vandenberg) had been mailed to Norwalk.
Box 100, folder 6
Si [Sillman?] to Asawa
early 1950s
Scope and Contents
Undated drawing with text: "anytime you can send the sculpture we'll exhibit. soon maybe? love si." Probably before her Sillman
and McNair Associates show in New Haven, which opened September 28, 1953.
Box 100, folder 7
Laverne Originals, Inc.
1951-1954
Box 100, folder 9
textile designs (Everett Brown Associates, The Englander)
1952
Box 100, folder 12
Peridot Gallery
undated (after 1954)
Box 100, folder 13
Peridot Gallery
1953-1954
Box 101, folder 7
Peridot Gallery
1958-1960
Box 101, folder 14
Ankrum Gallery (Los Angeles)
1962
Box 102, folder 1
Shop One (Rochester, New York)
1962-1963
Box 102, folder 3
Estelle Dodge Associates, Inc.
1962-1963
Box 102, folder 5
Tamarind Lithography Workshop
1965-1992
Related Materials
See also Tamarind printed materials file.
Box 102, folder 7
Pasadena Art Museum
1964-1965
Box 114, folder 3
San Francisco Museum of Art
1972-1973
Box 114, folder 5
Van Doren Gallery
1973-1974
Box 176, folder 2
Open Studio, 1116 Castro
1991-11
Box 106, folder 2-5
J.J. Brookings Gallery
1994-1997
Box 107, folder 3-4
Fresno Art Museum
1996-2001
Box 107, folder 5
Fresno Show 2001 – Oakland additions
2002
Box 108, folder 2
Brooklyn Museum of Art
2001-2002
Series 2. Public Art Projects
1964-2002
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, memoranda, notes, photographs and administrative material related to Asawa's public art commissions. Files
are in approximate chronological order by project. All works are in San Francisco, California unless otherwise noted.
2.1 J.L. Hudson Company, Detroit
1964-1965
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa's first professional commission came from designer Gere Kavanaugh's interest in her work following the 1960 de Young
show. Wire sculptures were placed in Joseph Magnin department stores in both San Francisco and Topanga Canyon. No files from
this are present. Kavanaugh, who worked for architects Victor Gruen Associates, then arranged for Asawa to create ten tied
wire sculptures for display at Westland Center, a Detroit-area shopping mall.
Box 117, folder 1
correspondence, memoranda, notes, etc.
2.2 Fox Plaza fountain
1964-1966
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa designed a fountain and wire sculpture for the lobby of this large mixed-use building named for the theater it replaced
at 1390 Market Street. Victor Gruen Associates was the architect for the project. The 1975 San Francisco Bicentennial Survey
of Art Work in the City and County of San Francisco describes the fountain as follows: "Tens of hollow tubes 3-4 feet tall
of anodyzed bronze come together at the base and then spread out and tip downwards as petals of a flower, allowing water to
dribble out. Two other similarly composed anemone-like forms with diameters of approximately 10" and 15" rest at the bottom
of the marble fountain." In the midst of a 2008 lobby remodel when the property was to be put on the market, the fountain
was removed.
Box 117, folder 2
correspondence, notes, etc.
2.3 Bethany Center mosaic
1967-1968
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa designed a colorful mosaic based on tied wire designs for the entrance to the Bethany Center Senior Apartments at 580
Capp Street. Alfonso Pardinas of Byzantine Mosaics did the fabrication. Extra tiles were used in mosaic projects at Alvarado
and Edison Elementary. Bethany is now home to Ruth's Table (http://www.ruthstable.org), an arts workshop in her honor.
Related Materials
See also Bethany Center printed materials file
Box 117, folder 3
correspondence, notes, printed items, etc.
1967-1968
2.4 Ghirardelli Square, "Andrea Fountain"
1965-2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
After the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company relocated to the East Bay from its San Francisco factory in the early 1960s, there
was widespread concern about the fate of the historic location, and William Matson Roth and Roth Properties intervened by
purchasing the entire block for a pioneering adaptive reuse project known as Ghirardelli Square. The architectural firm of
Wurster, Bernardi and Emmons was used, as well as landscape architect Lawrence Halprin.
Prior to Ruth's involvement with the project, Albert Lanier was contracted to assist with the design. Although shops and restaurants
began to move in by 1964, the Square was not formally dedicated until the Spring of 1968, when the fountain was completed.
Overall concern about representing an appropriate historical environment without kitsch was present from start, with Halprin's
modernist aesthetic a considerable factor. Asawa was known for her abstract wire sculpture, but she chose something different
for Ghirardelli.
The Andrea Fountain, featuring two mermaids cradling infants surrounded by turtles, frogs and lilly pads, was still informed
by nature, but more human, whimsical, even sentimental. Ruth attributed its Italianate character and aquatic theme to the
proximity of North Beach and the Wharf. It was installed at night to appear as if it had always been there.
Friend, neighbor, and namesake Andrea Jepson was the model for the mermaids. Her body was cast for the molds, and woven wire
was used for constructing their tails. Jepson was also involved with Alvarado Arts Workshop, which began around the same time.
Halprin's disapproval of Asawa's design eventually led to his distributing a press release distancing himself from the fountain,
but as can be seen in the enclosed editorials and letters of support, the public was overwhelmingly supportive. The fountain,
located approximately at 900 North Point Street, has since become one of San Francisco's most recognizable icons.
This series contains correspondence, memoranda and other material from Ruth Asawa, Albert Lanier, William Roth, Roth Properties
president William Lemmon, Karl Kortum (Ghirardelli Square board member and head of the Maritime Museum), Lawrence Halprin
and Associates, developers Stuart and Caree Rose, Onno de Ruyter of the S.F. Art Foundry, and others. There are also design
sketches and notes, as well as many photographs and slides.
Box 117, folder 6
Isenberg inquiry and interview
2005
Scope and Contents
Rutgers historian Alison Isenberg researched Ghirardelli and the fountain for a journal article and later a book.
Box 117, folder 7
printed items, article clippings
1967-2004
Box 238
scrapbook by Warner Jepson [unfoldered]
Scope and Contents
Jepson was Andrea's husband at the time, and documented the fountain's creation and installation. At one point, Ruth considered
playing recordings from Jepson, an electronic music composer, through speakers around the fountain.
Box 78, folder 4
original design concept drawing, four mermaids
Box 41, folder 10
Ghirardelli, Ruth Asawa and Mae Lee [audio]
1997-04-04
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Lee, Asawa, other (Addie Lanier?) re: mermaid fountain at Ghirardelli Square.
2.5 Grand Hyatt Hotel, "San Francisco Fountain"
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The San Francisco Fountain, like the mermaids in Ghirardelli Square, has become a cherished part of San Francisco's landscape.
Located outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 345 Stockton Street, the fountain consists of 41 curved cast bronze panels depicting
San Francisco landmarks modeled in baker's clay.
Ed Bassett, a partner and chief designer at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, first saw Asawa's cast dough work at a Spring 1969
exhibition and wanted her to create a fountain for Skidmore's Hyatt project using the technique. Hyatt president Donald Pritzky
had some reservations, and according to a story, said "I'm afraid it will look like a big cookie," to which Ruth replied,
"It will!" The contract was signed November 1970, and the fountain was dedicated two years later in October 1972.
Building the fountain was not only a vast group effort, it was explicitly designed that way: to make participation a part
of the process. 250 people aged 3 to 90 contributed to the dough designs, including 120 Alvarado School students. Asawa had
three main assistants- Mae Lee, Sally Woodbridge, and Aiko Cuneo. Albert Lanier calculated the fountain's dimensions and with
Hector Villanueva constructed a wooden model in the Lanier backyard. Woodbridge contributed architectural research, and Ruth
herself traveled around the city taking pictures.
As with Ghirardelli, San Francisco Art Foundry did the casting. Ruth's mother Haru made trees, grass, and sea gulls. Imogen
Cunningham, who is featured on the fountain, did a palm tree like the one in her yard. Ruth's friends Alan Brooks, Mark Adams,
and Beth Van Hoesen are also portrayed, as well the Foundry, Skidmore's offices, even the Mermaid Fountain.
The San Francisco Fountain was part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture survey in 1992, and made headlines in 2014
when a new Apple Store expressed interest in redesigning the plaza without sufficient assurance that the fountain would remain.
Of course, following public outcry, this was made clear. The fountain would only be moved a few feet.
Box 118, folder 2
foundry and other payments
Box 118, folder 4
notebook with correspondence and notes
Box 118, folder 5
photographs, printed material
Box 118, folder 6
publicity (articles and press releases)
map-folder 66
oversize blueprints, drawings, etc.
Box 78, folder 2
booklet in braille for Lighthouse for the Blind event
1998
Box 205, folder 7
proposal, sample panel, etc.
Box 205, folder 8
1116 Castro backyard and studio, Haru Asawa, etc.
Box 206, folder 2
dedication, other images of Ruth and fountain
1973
Box 206, folder 4
snapshots of 1993 rededication, etc.
Box 206, folder 6
Rose Resnick Lighthouse for the Blind event
1998
Box 45, folder 4
Union Square Sculpture Cleanup [video]
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Hyatt fountain cleaning, with Asawa present.
Box 46, folder 10
Fountain/Ruth. Elliot Davis. Fountain + Ruths [video]
1998-05
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Lighthouse for the Blind event at Hyatt fountain ; [6:54] students and Aiko walk to 1116 Castro where Paul Lanier conducts
a workshop making clay faces (with Ruth's assistance)
2.6 Phoenix Civic Plaza, Arizona
1971-1973
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa designed a series of tied wire sculpture fountains for a Charles Luckman Associates project in Phoenix, Arizona. From
the text of an enclosed banquet program marking their dedication: "These facile, airy forms appear to rest in water-filled
urns where they are misted with a fine spray of water. The mist slowly trickles as shimmering droplets to the ends of the
intricate branches and reluctantly returns to the fountain pools." The plaza has since been redesigned, and the disposition
of Asawa's art is unknown.
Box 118, folder 7
correspondence, memoranda, notes, printed items, etc.
map-folder 63
oversize blueprints
1970-1973
2.7 Japanese Tea Garden, Hagiwara plaque
1970-2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Makoto Hagiwara was hired to run the Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park by John McClaren following the 1894 California Midwinter
International Exposition, where the site served as a model "Japanese Village." The Hagiwara family were caretakers of the
Japanese Tea Garden until World War Two, when they were forcibly relocated to Topaz. Their role in the development of the
Japanese Tea Garden was not well known until the efforts of the John McClaren Society, Isabel Bachels, Raymond Clary, Ed Schuster
and others. The plaques were sponsored by the Society, with some funding provided by George Hagiwara's donation of 740 tea
pots from the original tea garden, which were then sold.
The memorial was mounted on a carefully chosen and positioned rock. The plaque, which featured a statement honoring Makoto
Hagiwara in English and Japanese as well as frogs, lizards, and flora, was cast at Berkeley Art Foundry.The plaque's dedication
took place February 1974, during cherry blossom season. Sada Yamamoto, Makoto's adopted daughter, attended.
This series contains correspondence and memoranda by Asawa, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Commission, Art Commission,
Supervisor Dianne Feinstein, George Hagiwara and others. There are also photographs, design sketches and notes. Besides the
memorial plaques, there is also material about the Tea Garden's general history and concessions management, as well as the
John McClaren Society's Sir Francis Scott Key statue restoration efforts.
Other correspondence series also contain letters or notes by Schuster, Clary, George Hagiwara and other descendants. See also
file for Asawa's 2000 plaque for master carpenter Shinshichi Nakatani. Asawa also illustrated Elizabeth McClintock's book
about the Garden published by the McLaren Society in 1977.
Box 118, folder 8
correspondence, memoranda, notes, etc.
1970-2005
Box 118, folder 9
articles, printed items, design sketches, photographs
Box 46, folder 9
California's Gold. Japanese Garden. #1712 [video]
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
"California's Gold" KCET Los Angeles/California Public Television program hosted by Huell Howser, touring Japanese Tea Garden
in Golden Gate Park. Includes gardener, Hagiwara descendents. Plaque at 24:10
2.8 Nihonmachi Pedestrian Mall, Japantown "Origami Fountains"
1972-2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
In the early 1960s, the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency plan for Japantown called for a new design for Buchanan Mall, a
pedestrian plaza on Buchanan Street between Post and Sutter, and architects Van Bourg, Nakamura, Katsura, Karney, Inc. subsequently
partnered with Rai Okamoto and Okamoto Associates for the project.
Okamoto, who had studied with Albers at Yale and saw Ruth Asawa's wire work in 1950s, first approached her in July 1973. The
Board of Directors of the Nihonmachi Community Development Corporation, an umbrella organization for businesses, property
owners, and the community, approved Asawa's involvement.
This involvement was not just limited to the origami fountains, however; Ruth participated actively in the design of the entire
mall, including benches with dough art side panels of Japanese fairy stories and a cobblestone path.
Ruth attributed her fountain design to "Albers' design class where we worked with folded paper, and childhood experience with
origami." She practiced with paper models and cast a small prototype before executing the full sculpture. Schrader Iron Works
assembled and installed the fountains, which were made of corten steel.
Opening ceremonies for the Nihonmachi Pedestrian Mall took place March 27, 1976. However, due to draught-related water rationing
a year layer, the fountains were turned off. In 1979 the water was restored, but due to neglect and poor design the fountains
did not functioning properly. Rust continued to be an issue. By 1992, Nihonmachi considered removing them. Asawa conceded
they "never functioned as they were designed to," and allowed their removal in 1995. Some members of the community formed
the Friends of the Origami Fountains in order to rally for their replacement.
Subsequently, the Buchanan Street Mall Preservation and Renovation Organizational Group and its Ruth Asawa Fountains Task
Force met throughout 1997, resulting in a Redevelopment Agency funded project that included recasting the fountains in bronze
and an improved water pumping system. Working with Asawa were contractor John Handa and consulting engineer Watson Takahashi.
Casting was done at Artworks Foundry in Berkeley with molds made from the original fountains. The rededication ceremony was
held October 20, 1999. The origami fountains have been since been accepted in the S.F. Arts Commission's collection, thus
ensuring their long term maintenance and care.
Box 207, folder 6-7
snapshots (refabrication, installation, rededication)
map-folder 64
oversize drawings and blueprints
2.9 Mission Viejo Center
1977-1980
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
In 1977, the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation was developing the Mission Viejo Center shopping center in southern Orange County
near San Juan Capistrano and wanted, as agent Tamara Thomas wrote to Asawa, "some kind of a sculpture or fountain sculpture
for their project which would have a story-telling aspect to it along the lines of your San Francisco fountain." Ruth's design
was accepted, and she and her team (Mieko, Aiko, Ken, Adam, Phyllis Matsuno, Mai Arbegast, and Janet Abramonitz) began their
research and design phase by studying Californian and Native American history and nature. The eight bronze and eight concrete
panels would form a series totaling nine feet high. Berkeley Art Foundry did the casting, and the sculpture was installed
in the Fall of 1979. It is unknown (but unlikely) whether the sculpture is still present in the mall, now known as The Shops
at Mission Viejo.
Box 119, folder 3
correspondence, memoranda, etc.
Box 119, folder 4
notes, sketches, blueprints
1977-1980
Box 55, folder 1
oversize drawings
1977-1978
Box 119, folder 5
2.10 SF Department of Social Services, Children's Play Area (cancelled)
1980
Language of Material: English.
Box 120, folder 1
2.11 Las Vegas cast dough relief sculpture (proposal, cancelled)
1980
Language of Material: English.
Box 120, folder 2
2.12 Merritt Hospital, Oakland
1979-1981
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Oakland architects Stone, Marraccini and Patterson worked with Dr. Bruce Anderson to feature art in various locations in Merrit
Hospital. The files discuss the potential display of Asawa sculpture or a fountain, and in 1981 Helen Novy commissioned a
wire sculpture for the hospital in memory of husband.
Box 120, folder 3, map-folder 75
2.13 University of California Berkeley Sather Tower bell
1980-1981
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
In 1981, Asawa designed a bell for UC Berkeley's Sather Tower, popularly known as The Campanile. She created a four-panel
relief design featuring carvings of bears, seagulls, clipper ships, and other animals, which was then cast in France by Cirecast.
Weighing over five tons, the "Great Bear Bell" faces the constellation Ursa Major and rings every hour.
2.14 Ramada Renaissance / Parc 55 Hotel, "San Francisco Yesterday and Today"
1982-1987
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa made a seven-panel frieze for the carriage entrance of a hotel at 55 Cyril Magnin Street (near Powell and Market Streets)
with bas-relief images of San Francisco area people and places, similiar to the Hyatt fountain on the other side of Union
Square. Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall were architects for the then-U.S. Hotelier Associates property, and Asawa was
contracted through a broker for the project.
Since brass would be too heavy for the scale of the panels, Asawa used glass-fiber reinforced concrete, her first experience
with the material. The reliefs originated in carved styrofoam, which was then coated with a layer of bakers clay (using 700
pounds of flour) and sealed with wax. After having a series of molds created, the concrete panels were produced by Lafayette
Manufacturing in Hayward.
Design planning for the frieze began with copious research at the Bancroft Library, San Francisco Maritime Museum, the California
Academy of Sciences and elsewhere. There are many sketches, photocopies, and photographs here, some of which may have been
recycled from the Hyatt project. Albert Lanier, Cyril Magnin, cable car gripman Fay Royal Baxter, and many others are represented
on the panels.
Architect Bud Duffy did the renderings. Paul Lanier and a friend built the plywood base from Albert's design. The workshop
team also included Mae Lee, Mary Lee, Naoe Fukuyama and Laurie Lanier, as well as apprentices Robert Rajiewski (Academy of
Art) and SOTA students Tamie Passalalpi and Erwin Lerias. Full credits are on the frieze itself. "San Francisco Yesterday
and Today" was unveiled October 4, 1984. Tickets were sold as a benefit for the School Of the Arts. The hotel is now known
as the Parc 55, owned by Wyndham Hotels.
Box 120, folder 4
correspondence, memoranda, notes, etc.
Box 120, folder 5
articles, printed items, sketches
Box 208, folder 3-8
photographs, slides, contact sheets
map-folder 62
oversize drawings, blueprints, architectural renderings, etc.
1984
2.15 Father Boeddeker Park, "Redding School, Self-Portrait"
1983-1987
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Landscape architects Royston, Hanamoto, Alley and Abbey worked with the Recreation and Parks Department in developing a park
and receation center at the corner of Jones, Eddy, and Ellis Streets, a site once home to a bowling alley, pinball arcade
and grocery store. Asawa created a frieze wall in the Tiny Tot area, with her now-familiar dough figures cast in glass-reinforced
concrete. The dough was molded with children from Redding Elementary School and other local residents, resulting in a 4'x16'
concrete mural, cast once again using Lafayette Manufacturing. In March of 1983, the park opened under the provisional name
of Saint Francis Park, but a year later it was officially named honoring Father Alfred Boeddeker. The Asawa frieze was conserved
and re-installed while park underwent a complete overhaul in the Fall of 2014.
Box 120, folder 6
correspondence, notes, etc.
Box 120, folder 7
2.16 Public Memorial to Congressman Phillip Burton (proposal)
1984
Language of Material: English.
2.17 Bayside Plaza, "Aurora Fountain"
1984-1986
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
For her fifth fountain in San Francisco, Asawa returned to the origami form. The Aurora Fountain, located at 188 Embarcadero
at Howard Street, features 120 triangles of polished stainless steel fit together in a 13 foot circle. Bayside Plaza was an
Embarcadero South Investors development with Ed Tower as architect. Albert Lanier and Lanier/Sherrill/Morrison did some calculations
and design work, and fabrication was done by Robert Yick and Latter Manufacturing Company (which usually constructed plant
equipment). Landscape architect Mai Arbegast designed the 22 foot-diameter pool and contributed to the overall plaza design.
Gaps in the fountain's progress were due to Ruth's bout with lupus and the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway. Opening ceremonies
took place March 19, 1986, with Mayor Dianne Feinstein turning on the water and a coin toss benefiting Alvarado.
Box 121, folder 1
correspondence, memoranda, notes, etc.
map-folder 71
oversize blueprints, patterns, architectural drawings
1986
map-folder 71
Tower Architects/Mai Arbegast oversize material
1985-1986
2.18 Santa Rosa Courthouse Square fountain
1984-1993
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
In the early 1980s, Santa Rosa's Old Courthouse Square was renovated as part of Redevelopment Agency downtown revitalization
efforts. A Fine Arts Committee first began looking for artists in 1979. Prior to Asawa's involvement, local artist Bruce Johnson
had been selected, but the City Council overruled the jury, rejecting his winning entry. He later sued the city and won.
Asawa began as a consultant in 1984 amidst the controversy, but was eventually selected to create one of her dough relief
murals for a fountain in the square. Legal discussions and prolonged contract negotiation occurred amidst media scrutiny,
including the publishing of her $100,000 fee. Many (including a group called "Artists in the Schools of Sonoma County" and
Johnson himself) urged her to withdraw. Some staged a protest at the fountain's opening.
However, Asawa continued to receive support from people such as Steve Burke, Director of Housing and Redevelopment, and Mayor
Donna Born, who hosted history meetings at her home, referred her to historians, and contributed to the mural. Other community
representatives also came to the workshop and sculpted dough.
Work on the mural offically began in January 1986. Surrounding the 32 foot-long fountain would be four panels of Sonoma County
history and nature, including images of Luther Burbank's farm, Jack London's Wolf House, and marine wildlife molded by over
300 students from nearby Burbank Elementary School. Asawa also employed a staff of ten, including Nancy Thompson, Atsuko Sells,
Aiko Cuneo and Paul Lanier. The panels were cast in glass reinforced concrete by Lafayette.
Following a logistically complex installation, the fountain was dedicated February 7, 1987. Beginning in 2016, the square
underwent a significant re-design and the mural panels were placed in storage. As of 2023, it was reported that the original
concrete panels were to be used to cast replacements in bronze, Asawa's original choice of medium.
Box 121, folder 5
articles, printed items, childrens' letters and artwork, etc.
map-folder 61
oversize concept and scale drawings, blue and sepia prints, architectural renderings, etc.
1986-1987
Box 41, folder 6
Ruth Asawa and Steve From Santa Rosa Project Feb. 26? ; March 7, 1985. Sandy Nozenzo on "Calvin Brown/Anna Harmon." John Hoode
/ Sandy Nozenzo, John Hood [audio]
1985
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Side A: telephone conversation between Ruth Asawa and Steve Burke, City of Santa Rosa re: Bruce Johnson, diagnosis, extension
on project 1985-02-26 ; [13:58] Ruth Asawa interviewing Sandy Nozenzo about family history 1985-03-07 (Santa Rosa) ; [25:46]
answering machine message re: acupuncture ; [28:57] Ruth Asawa outgoing answering machine message re: bronze casting. Side
B: meeting re: Santa Rosa.
Box 43, folder 1
TV 50 Show - Ruth Asawa [video]
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
"Ruth Asawa: Courting History" TV news segment re: Santa Rosa fountain.
Box 79, folder 8
Old Courthouse Square Fountain [slideshow]
2010-01-19
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (dvd)
Scope and Contents
Slideshow set to music with photographs of Santa Rosa commission.
2.19 Beringer Winery, St. Helena "History of Wine" fountain
1987-1988
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
In recognition of the 150th anniversary of viniculture in Napa Valley and the 112th birthday of the Beringer brand, Wine
World, Inc. (then owner of Beringer) hired Asawa to create a signature fountain for the Beringer Winery at 2000 Main St. St.
Helena, California. The center of the fountain features a large bronze amphora eight feet high and three feet in diameter,
with a relief pattern made of baker's clay.
This historical mural included George Yount, the first Napan to plant grapevines in 1838, and Jacob and Frederick Beringer,
the German immigrants and winemakers who established the winery in 1876. Nancy Thompson did research and all the drawings.
Paul Lanier, Addie Lanier, and Mae Lee also assisted. The sculpture was cast by Artworks Foundry, and dedicated November 16,
1988. It stands in the courtyard behind the Rhine House on the property.
Box 121, folder 6
correspondence, notes, etc.
Box 81, folder 7
printed items, photographs, clippings, sketches, work journal, research material
Box 55, folder 13, tube 70, map-folder 69
oversize drawings, blue and sepia prints, etc.
Box 45, folder 11
Bay Area Backroads KRON-TV [video]
1990-04-01
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Beringer Winery profile. 4:56 "Ruth's Cast Piece at Beringer is Shown Very Briefly"
2.20 Murphy Street Public Art Project, Sunnyvale (not completed)
1988-1989
Language of Material: English.
Box 122, folder 1
correspondence, notes, etc.
1988-1989
map-folder 76
Nancy Thompson drawing proposal
1988-11-02
Box 122, folder 2, map-folder 60
2.21 Allright Auto Park, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles (proposal)
1988
Language of Material: English.
2.22 San Jose Japanese-American Internment Memorial
1985-1994
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
In many ways this sculpture was the culmination of Ruth's public installation career. It certainly is the best documented.
In July 1989, the Commission on the Internment of Local Japanese Americans, in conjunction with the City of San Jose, the
City Council, Transit Mall Art Committee, and the Fine Arts Commission selected Asawa to create an internment memorial. The
Commission also mandated an oral history project, a curriculum guide, and the construction of a resource center.
The six foot-high and 14 foot-long bronze monument stands at 280 South First Street near the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building.
Peckham had assisted with returning property to former internees after the war. Due to administrative delays, contract negotiation,
and the Loma Prieta earthquake, the project was slow to begin. A great deal of correspondence concerns insurance, legal matters,
and installation logistics. Among the correspondents are Richard Tanaka, chair of the Internment Commission, Mayor Ron Gonzales,
Representative Norm Mineta, Jerry Hiura of the Fine Arts Commission, and David Allen, acting director of the Office of Cultural
Affairs.
Research, drafting, and dough sculpting was done with Nancy Thompson, Paul Lanier, and Addie Lanier. East Bay sculptor Dennis
Fujimoto also helped. Nancy's work journal provides excellent insight to the project's daily progress.
The memorial's two long sides depict prewar nikkei scenes on one side and images representing internment, the 442nd Infantry
Regiment and other JA soldiers, and the redress movement on the other. Historical accuracy was an important design component,
and the research phase was extensive. The team talked to hundreds of people at senior centers and historical societies and
sought community leader feedback on images once the design was drafted. Ruth was quoted in a 1997 SJSU magazine article: "I
used my house and our farm and sheds. I represented orchards and vegetable farms in the Santa Clara Valley. I tried to represent
the Buddhist temple and other actual buildings in San Jose where Japanese-Americans congregated. All of us had the same experience."
Each end of the sculpture features family crests known as mon, which were solicited from as many local residents as could
be found. Ads were placed in several newspapers. In the end, 177 mon were used, including those of Representatives Norman
Mineta and Robert Matsui, resistors Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Minoru Yasui, and 442nd veteran Wayne Kanemoto.
Ruth's friends also contributed their mon, including Kiku Funabiki, Ibuki Hibi Lee, Mai Kitazawa Arbegast, Janice Mirikitani,
Kay Sekimachi, Alice Takemoto, and June Watanabe. Ruth's sister Mary Oye sent in the Asawa crest. The mon correspondence files
contain many remembrances and other details. Refer to the Internment series for related material.
Artworks Foundry cast the bronze, and Lafayette manufactured a concrete base. The memorial was installed in February 1994,
and dedicated in March with a taiko performance and speakers including Norm Mineta and Fred Korematsu, who remarked "I have
heard people say that they didn't know anything about the internment. Well, here it is... And for those who don't want to
talk about it, well, this will talk for them."
Box 122, folder 5
design, project notes, photographs
Box 123, folder 1
internment stories, correspondence
Box 123, folder 2
miscellaneous correspondence re: mons
Box 178
mon index cards (unfoldered)
Box 82, folder 1-9, Box 83, folder 1-13
Box 211, folder 1-3, Box 210, folder 6
Box 212
two photo albums [unfoldered]
Box 239, Box 240
drymounted prints by Terry Schmitt [unfoldered]
Box 46, folder 1
Ruth Asawa. San Jose Internment. Artworks Foundry, Terry Schmitt
1994
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Unedited footage shot by Terry Schmitt. The San Jose Japanese American Internment Memorial was constructed in a studio adjoining
the Mussi Artworks Foundry in Berkeley. First eight minutes shows operations at foundry, rest is Nancy Thompson, Paul Lanier,
and Ruth Asawa working with baker's clay.
Box 46, folder 2
San Jose Internment Memorial
1994-01-27
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
San Jose Museum of Art program previewing March 1994 unveiling. Program produced by Educational Curator Madelyn Crawford.
Introduced by Jerry Hiura. Asawa slide presentation begins 13:40.
Box 46, folder 3
San Jose Internment Memorial Dedication. For Ruth Asawa From Louise Kinoshita
1994-03-05
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
KNTV Channel 11 news segment on opening (off-air recording) ; [2:07] amateur camcorder recording of opening. taiko performances,
speeches, including SJ mayor Hamer, Norm Mineta and Fred Korematsu, as well as brief comments by Asawa, Paul Lanier.
Box 46, folder 5
Museum Trustees Tour of Foundry and San Jose Memorial. The Friends of the Fine Arts Museums and Museum Associates
1995-03-01
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
"To San Jose With The Museum Trustees." Fine Arts Museums Board field trip to see Internment Memorial, Artworks Foundry, 1116
Castro.
Box 46, folder 8
1. "The View From Within" Japanese American Art from Internment Camps. 2. Japanese American Internment Memorial. 3. San Jose
Japantown Rediscovery. A Gift to Ruth Asawa from Dave and Alice Tatsuno
1995-04
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Friend's narrated amateur video of SJMOA exhibition (Mine Okubo was "a classmate of mine at UC Berkeley"), Internment Memorial,
And San Jose Japantown history event 3/25/95 (includes Ruth Asawa slide presentation).
Box 46, folder 12
Ruth Asawa at San Jose Internment Memorial Wall 12-16-98 55" ; SJ JACL Dinner Pres 10-10-98 20"
1998
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
1. Japanese American Internment Memorial in San Jose, 442nd veteran Rudy Tokiwa remarking on features (including his pet rabbit),
Asawa and Tokiwa speak to class, Ruth points out features of memorial. 2. 55:18 JACL 75th Anniversary Dinner, Asawa, Tokiwa
honored. Asawa slide presentation.
map-folder 77
oversize drawings and blueprints
2.23 Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale (proposal)
1989-1990
Language of Material: English.
Box 124, folder 4
correspondence, notes, etc.
Box 45, folder 8
Advanced Micro Devices Competition [video]
1990
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Computer simulation of proposed commission.
Box 45, folder 10
At The Limits: Making The Microchip. Advanced Micro Devices [video]
1986
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Documentary about the development and workings of the IC / Microchip. Produced by Semiconductor Services, Inc. Written and
Directed by Peter Van Zant.
Box 124, folder 6
2.24 M. Gaehwiler Construction, Bush Street sculpture
1991-1992
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Martin Gaehwiler Jr. hired Asawa to create an outdoor sculpture for his mixed-use building at 570-580 Bush Street. She made
a seven foot-tall tile column with handmade glazed ceramic tiles and bronze corners cast by Artworks Foundry.
Box 124, folder 7
2.25 Fairfield Civic Art, Price Club Competition (proposal)
1993
Language of Material: English.
2.26 Tifton, Georgia, "Our Town Tifton"
1995-1996
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This sculpture project was part of Asawa's arts residency in Georgia. The "Our Town Tifton" theme was chosen by the community,
and the resulting 30 foot-long wall features rural and agricultural images of South Georgia in baker's dough. Asawa spent
five weeks working with children, teachers, and artists. Dura Art Stone cast the concrete panels and a fountain was placed
in the middle. The sculpture was installed December 15, 1996.
Box 124, folder 8
correspondence, memoranda, etc.
1995-1996
2.27 Cordele, Georgia (consultation)
1996-1997
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Following Asawa's success in Tifton, Crisp County, the Crisp Arts Alliance and the Crisp Visual Arts Association sponsored
her residency March 9-14, 1997. Ruth only consulted on their sculpture project, however. She also taught origami and gave
slide shows of her community arts projects.
Box 125, folder 1
correspondence, etc.
1996-1997
Box 45, folder 3
Cordele, Georgia. Crisp County [video]
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Research for Cordele, Georgia public art project. Narrated by unknown cameraman.
Box 125, folder 2
2.28 National Japanese American Memorial, Washington, D.C. (proposal)
1996-1997
Language of Material: English.
Box 125, folder 3
2.29 Ontario Airport, California (proposals)
1997-1999
Language of Material: English.
Box 125, folder 4
2.30 San Mateo County Hospital (proposal)
1997-1999
Language of Material: English.
Box 125, folder 5
2.31 Murie Leff Mini Park plaque
2000
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Ruth designed a plaque in the Muriel Leff Mini Park after community activist Leff, who founded this park at Seventh Avenue
and Geary.
2.32 Japanese Tea Garden, Nakatani plaque
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Shinshichi Nakatani (1846-1922), master builder from Hiroshima, was commissioned by Japan to create a Drum Bridge (Taiko Bashi)
for the San Francisco Midwinter Fair of 1894. Nakatani also built a Bell Gate (Shoro-no-mon). Both are now part of the Japanese
Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. The plaque was initiated by Katsuya "Kats" Nakatani; Shinshichi was his great-uncle. The bronze
plaque was cast by Artworks along with several mons as gifts/fundraisers. The City paid for the casting and installation.
Box 125, folder 6
correspondence, etc.
2000
Box 46, folder 15
Plaque Dedication For Shinshichi Nakatani. For Ruth Asawa From Kate Kalatani. Two Tapes Combined [video]
2000-09-26
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, dedication of plaque for master builder created by Ruth Asawa. Ruth present but does
not speak. Amateur footage.
2.33 San Francisco State University, "Garden of Remembrance"
1996-2002
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
In 1996, Carole Hayashino of San Francisco State University's Advancement Office found a campus registrar's internal memorandum
from April 6, 1942 naming nineteen Japanese American students who were forced to leave the school due to wartime incarceration.
Hayashino urged SFSU to honor these students, and they were recognized with honorary degrees during June 1998 graduation ceremonies
(Asawa received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts at the same time).
However, President Corrigan wanted more a permanent memorial, not just for the students, but for all 120,000 internees. After
choosing a suitable location, Corrigan and staff approached Asawa for a fountain. The concept developed into a garden in the
courtyard between Burk Hall and the Fine Arts Building. The garden would feature ten boulders, one for each camp and roughly
positioned according to their geographic location, and a waterfall symbolizing a return to the West Coast from the dry, dusty
interior.
Work began in the Fall of 2001. Shigeru Namba and Isao Ogura oversaw the garden's construction. Namba had built a Japanese
garden for Oracle CEO Larry Ellison's Woodside estate, and Ogura had practiced landscaping for almost fifty years. Asawa designed
a large bronze marker shaped like a scroll with the names of the camps, the students' family crests, Executive Order 9066,
and the registrar memo.
A California Civil Liberties Public Education Fund grant was supplemented by donations from Ellison, Hayashino, Phil Evans
(Director of Grounds and Facilities), Lewis Kawahara (author of a book on Japanese American gardeners in Northern California),
and others.
The April 19, 2002 dedication was attended by over 300 people. A Shinto priest performed purification rights, and guests included
Osaka Mayor Takafumi Isomura and California State Librarian Kevin Starr. Two of the nineteen students were able to attend
the ceremony: Helen (Nitta) Hori and Kaya Ruth (Kitagawa) Sugiyama. Sugiyama had been a 20-year old music major when her family
was relocated to Tanforan. She attended the University of Colorado while her family was sent to Topaz (see also her Japantown
memories in the Internment series). Hori was a Junior majoring in education in 1942 when her family was sent to Tule Lake.
She eventually returned to SFSU for her teaching certification, and was one of the first Japanese American teachers in the
San Francisco School District. The garden also honors the late redress leader and SFSU teacher Edison Uno. This was Asawa's
final public commission.
Box 125, folder 7
correspondence, notes, etc.
Series 3. Art Projects
1967-1998
Scope and Contents
Smaller private commissions. Files are in approximately chronological order.
3.1 Scientific American paper airplane trophy
1967
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The trophy for Scientific American magazine's paper airplane contest, known as "The Leonardo," was designed by Victor Moscoso,
but Asawa sculpted the hand and plane in plaster. Hector Villanueva made the base, Foundry Three cast the hand, and C&M Plating
Works plated and finished the trophy.
Box 115, folder 1
trophy correspondence, etc.
Box 115, folder 2
3.2 Needham Harper and Steers, Chicago
1967
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This advertising firm placed Asawa's dough art in a Morton Salt Christmas promotion. She produced 10 pieces, including a wreath,
candle holder and ornaments. See also professional correspondence series.
Box 115, folder 3
3.3 Crown Zellerbach plaques
1978-2007
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
In 1979, the Crown-Zellerbach Corporation hired Asawa to design a limited edition commemorative bronze bas relief plaque for
selected employees. Artworks Foundry did the casting.
3.4 National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) plaques
1979
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
For the NCSL annual meeting in July 1979, Asawa worked with Earle Curtis, Mae Lee and Mary Lee to make 2500 plaques for attendees.
Curtis made the press molds and glazed and fired the tiles, which depict a Victorian house façade and a cable car.
Box 115, folder 4
correspondence, notes, etc.
Box 115, folder 5
3.5 Milk Carton Book
1981-1983
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa, with John Brunn, Aiko Cuneo, Mae Lee, Mary Lee, and Sara Morgan, produced a self-published instructional book for recycled
milk carton constructions.
3.6 Macy's, "Faces of San Francisco" busts
1980-1982
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
"Faces of San Francisco" was a series of twelve caricatures of notable San Franciscans created for Macy's 36th Annual Easter
Flower Show in April 1982. Featured were Ruth Asawa herself, Joan Baez, Willie Brown, Herb Caen, Carol Channing, Joe DiMaggio,
Dianne Feinstein, S.I. Hayakawa, Cyril Magnin, O.J. Simpson, Sally Stanford, and Isaac Stern. The heads were made by Asawa,
Robert Ernstthal, Paul Lanier, Mae Lee, Aiko Cuneo, Judy Dunworth, and Mary Lee. Ernstthal, who had made puppets for the
Bread and Puppet Theater, suggested using celastic, a lightweight material used in stagecraft. Using 1500 pounds of clay,
the team sculpted oversized busts based on extensive photo research. A celastic shell was created, which was then painted.
After the event, the busts were donated by Macy's to Alvarado.
Box 115, folder 6
correspondence, notes, printed items
map-folder 56, Box 115, folder 8
3.7 Emporium angel design
1981
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Ruth drew this design for the Emporium department store in San Francisco, which used it for ornaments and holiday cards. All
proceeds went to Alvarado Arts Workshop.
Box 115, folder 9
3.8 United Nations 40th anniversary poster (proposal)
1984-1985
Language of Material: English.
Box 115, folder 10
3.9 Asian American Medal of Freedom
1985-1986
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa created the design for the 1986 Asian American Community Involvement Award.
Box 193, folder 1, Box 115, folder 11
3.10 KNBR Bridge To Bridge Run t-shirt design
1987
Language of Material: English.
3.11 Clarendon dragons
1988
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Ruth worked with Clarendon Alternative Elementary School to create two baby dragons that marched in the Chinese New Year Parade
and the Cherry Blossom Parade. Aiko Cuneo and Terry Lanier helped with project, which was sponsored by AT&T.
Box 115, folder 12
correspondence, notes, etc.
1988
Box 47, folder 16
Chinese Parade [video]
1989
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
KTVU coverage of 1989 Chinese New Year Parade with Clarendon dragon project. ends abruptly at 1:06:09.
3.12 Sadako Project
1987-1995
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa contributed graphic design as well as promotion and fundraising for the film version of the 1977 book "Sadako and the
Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr. The film's director was George Levenson, founder of Santa Cruz non-profit media group
Informed Democracy.
Box 116, folder 1
correspondence, sketches, press releases, articles
Box 116, folder 2
sketch, calligraphy, origami
Box 40, folder 12
Sadako. Edited, Dolby B [audio]
1988-08-05
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
copy of commercial recording of Sadako story for children.
Box 49, folder 12
Sadako And The Thousand Paper Cranes [video]
1990
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Not digitized. Available as VHS or DVD from: http://www.informeddemocracy.com/sadako/
3.13 Al Daniels bust
1990-1994
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Alfred H. Daniels was the former CEO of I. Magnin, as well as a philanthropist and a friend of Ruth's. His bust was constructed
from rag paper and acrylic paint. Paul Lanier assisted.
Box 116, folder 3
correspondence, notes, etc.
3.14 Noah Wolfson memorial
1988-1992
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Wolfson was a high school student with leukemia who passed away in June 1988. Ruth was hired by his father to create a memorial
with animals in cast bronze. She also illustrated the card sent to donors.
Box 116, folder 4
correspondence, notes, etc.
Box 215, folder 2
3.15 Let's Go Dutch, de Young event photographs
1992
Language of Material: English.
Box 116, folder 5
3.16 Russell and Miller, Inc. cast persimmons
1994
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Ruth made and sold fifty cast fruit in folded paper boxes through this company.
3.17 Kitt residence gate
1995-1996
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Asawa designed a metal front gate for a private residence at 2801 Broadway in San Francisco.
Box 116, folder 6
correspondence, notes, etc.
Box 116, folder 7
3.18 Senior Center logo
1996
Language of Material: English.
Box 78, folder 9, Box 116, folder 8
3.19 Felissimo plate
1997-1998
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This company commissioned celebrity-designed plates as a fundraiser, known as the "Tribute 21" series.
Box 215, folder 4
3.20 miscellanous project photographs
Language of Material: English.
4.1 original drawings and sketches
Language of Material: English.
grammar school and high school work
Related Materials
See also Norwalk series in Juvenalia/School series.
Box 276
seventh grade transportation report
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Scrapbook from class at Norwalk Grammar School. Contains original art and clippings from newspapers and magazines. Handle
with care: adhesive is failing.
Box 264, folder 1-3
drawings
1939
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Pencil and ink drawings and lettering exercises, most or all from Fall 1939 "Design Craft" and Art classes taught by Edith
Lowe at Excelsior.
"TV sketches," numbered
1966-1994
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The majority of this series of portraits were drawn by Asawa while watching television, especially guests on the Charlie Rose
program. A smaller number date from the 1970s, including a group from Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Marin County with the
California Arts Commission. These sketches were displayed in her de Young retrospective along with selections from her Black
Mountain College class notes. A listing of these sketches is available.
Box 197, folder 3
Asawa drawings #40-59
General
There are 2 drawings labeled #41; drawings #50 and #58 are in map folder.
Box 193, folder 5
Asawa drawings #50
Language of Material: English.
Box 195, folder 5
SB080 "Laurie, Alaska 1975"
1975
Box 195, folder 8
SB136 "Lilli, Bucky"
1981-1982
Box 196, folder 2
unnumbered [but filed here]
1996-1997
other work
Related Materials
See also notebook and planner series.
Box 198, folder 5
originals from photocopy file
Scope and Contents
Pulled from original photocopy series. Includes Guerneville family sketches 1998.
Box 65, folder 3
ballet drawings and copies
Box 65, folder 4
leaf print, Taro Family From the Delta
Scope and Contents
Unknown source, may not be by Asawa.
Box 78, folder 17
unidentified portrait, "TV drawing"
4.2 printed and photocopied art
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Photocopies, mostly used in process of creating graphic layouts, with various uses of contrast, enlargement, etc. However,
some are signed, stamped reproductions.
miscellaneous large photocopies
Box 55, folder 9
printed chrysanthemum drawing on newsprint
1975-03-12
Scope and Contents
With receipt for engraving from United Brass & Iron Works
4.3 photographs of art
Language of Material: English.
Box 202, folder 7
miscellaneous wire sculpture photographs
Scope and Contents
Mostly older prints, including Cuneo proofs. One photo is noted as having been taken "from your bedroom floor," probably 21
Saturn. Some photos are from owners (including Janet and Gryff Partridge) showing where their work is displayed. Others appear
to depict a gallery exhibition, possibly at Peridot.
Box 202, folder 8
sculptures used for de Young permanent installation
Scope and Contents
Older prints of nine out of the total of fifteen sculptures in the installation.
Box 78, folder 3
screentones of wire sculpture designs for Maremonts
1960
Box 55, folder 2
screentones of wire sculpture, used in Guggenheim application
1955
Box 55, folder 11
chart of different wire sculpture shapes, from Guggenheim application
1952
Box 201, folder 1
"bubbles/mixed work/miscellaneous"
Box 199, folder 5
snapshots
Scope and Contents
Mostly woven sculpture, recent prints.
Box 201, folder 6
"stained glass/miscellaneous/unclear"
electroplated and cast works
Box 202, folder 4
electroplated wire slides
Box 202, folder 5
cast wire and other sculpture
Box 204, folder 1
slides and transparencies
Box 204, folder 2
photographs
Scope and Contents
Includes industrial design work (plastic wall covering), Nihonmachi fountain prototyping, 1974 Exploratorium workshop, props
for SOTA dance piece.
drawing, painting, lithography
Box 204, folder 4
photographs
Scope and Contents
Includes images of two 1943 Rohwer paintings (Sumo wrestlers, swamp) ; Black Mountain College art including stamp patterns
; works originally owned by the Albers photographed at the Busch-Reisinger Museum by Mary Emma Harris ; iguana on Xavier Lanier
surfboard. Many also depict Ruth at work.
Box 204, folder 5
Braun-Childress reproductions
1947-1949
Scope and Contents
Black and white prints mounted on cardboard, from the 135 Jackson St. era.
Box 205, folder 2
Tamarind Lithography Workshop snapshots and slides
1965
4.4 publication and other secondary uses
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Various secondary uses of Ruth's art, including cards, announcements, programs, stationery, and photographed sculpture.
Box 196, folder 8
card design (Lanier holiday card?)
Box 196, folder 14
memorials (Including Albert Lanier)
Box 196, folder 15
Oakland Museum, other museums
Box 196, folder 16
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
map-folder 65
Gail Ceramics poster, Ruth Asawa tile mosaic
4.5 research and development
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Small file concerning the technical development of Asawa's art and design work. Includes catalogs, price lists, order forms,
samples, and receipts, as well as some correspondence.
Box 109, folder 2
paneling patent
1956-1959
Scope and Contents
Industrial design patent for plastic molded paneling based on paper fold. Includes correspondence with A. Donham Owen Law
Offices. See Box 55 Folder 7 [oversize] for printed diagrams.
Box 267
prototype of proposed Asian American Lifetime [Achievement] award
1993
Box 109, folder 7
photocopied leaves, plants etc.
Box 55, folder 7
printed patent drawings for plastic paperfold design paneling, figures 1-5
1956-1959
Box 78, folder 6
holiday wrapping paper with design similiar to wire sculpture
1950s
4.6 exhibition announcements and catalogs
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Contains catalogs, cards, posters, and fliers for Asawa exhibitions and events. The majority are from museums and galleries,
including solo and group show notices from Peridot Gallery, the Tin Angel (with Jean Varda), the San Francisco Museum of Art/Museum
of Modern Art, the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, and the San Francisco Art Commission Gallery (then known as Capricorn Asunder).
Some bear notes or addresses. Also filed here are publications related to her public sculpture projects including the Hyatt
Fountain, Parc 55 frieze, and Nihonmachi Fountains, as well as auction catalogs from Christie's and Bonhams.
Box 110, folder 3
III Biennial, Sao Paulo catalog
1955
Box 113, folder 3
Contours in the Air, de Young
2006-2007
Box 55, folder 8
original pencil drawing for Shop One exhibition, Rochester, New York
1963
Box 78, folder 8
"An Afternoon With Asawa" Kinokuniya Bookstore, Buchanan YMCA Benefit
1969-06-01
Scope and Contents
Illustration by McDonnell and Masursky, printed by SF Arts Commission Neighborhood Arts Program.
map-folder 56
"Images of Bay Area Artists" SF MOMA October 13-November 21, 1976 poster by Mimi Jacobs, with enclosed note
1976
Box 78, folder 5
Oakland Museum: 100 Years of California Sculpture [exhibition catalog]
1982
Box 193, folder 4
miscellaneous exhibition and event posters
Scope and Contents
Some posters are publicity for events not involving Asawa but use her art.
4.7 exhibition photographs
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Also contains floor plans, media, etc.
Box 55, folder 6
Albert's Design for Laverne Showroom
circa 1951
Box 215, folder 5
"Four Artist-Craftsmen" show, San Francisco Museum of Art, April 1-May 2, 1954
1954
Scope and Contents
Show featured Marguerite Wildenhain, pottery; Merry Renk, jewelry; Ruth Asawa, sculpture; and Ida Dean [Grae], weaving. The
installation was designed by Albert Lanier.
map-folder 56
SF Museum of Art floorplan [for "Four Artist-Craftsmen" show]
1954
Box 215, folder 6
Peridot Gallery
1954
Scope and Contents
Possibly the opening of the show. Most people in photos are identified as Ruth's friends from Black Mountain College, including
Bobbie Dreier, Anne Fuller, Joan Stack, John Urbain, Wade Williams, Peggy Bennett Cole, William Cole, Pete Jennerjahn, Richard
Lippold, and Ray Johnson (from behind only). Multiple prints.
Box 241, folder 7, Box 215, folder 8
Box 215, folder 9
Kinokuniya Bookstore exhibit
1960s
Box 215, folder 10, Box 241, folder 8
Capper Gallery
1969
Scope and Contents
Opening of show, with Asawa and Imogen Cunningham.
Box 216, folder 1
"Retrospective View" show, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
1973
Box 216, folder 2
San Francisco Art Commission Honor Award Exhibition, Art Commission Gallery (slides)
1976
Box 216, folder 3
Los Robles Gallery, Palo Alto
1986
Box 216, folder 4
"In the Advent of Change, 1945-1969" show, Fresno Arts Center
1986
Box 216, folder 5
Strength And Diversity show, Oakland Museum
1990
Box 216, folder 6
"With New Eyes: Toward an Asian-American Art History in the United States" show, SFSU Art Department Gallery
1995-1996
Box 216, folder 7
"Leading The Way" show
2001
Box 47, folder 1
Brooklyn Museum of Art "Vital Forms" Introduction [video]
2001
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
"Vital Forms: American Art and Design in the Atomic Age 1940-1960" exhibition promotional video. Asawa speaks at 6:13, Imogen
Cunningham photograph of Asawa at 7:10, Gordon Onslow Ford at 3:22.
Box 216, folder 8
"Completing the Circle" show, Fresno Art Museum
2001
Box 241, folder 9, Box 216, folder 9
"Completing the Circle" show, Oakland Museum
2002
Box 216, folder 10
Tobey C. Moss Gallery
2003
Box 78, folder 7
de Young Museum opening photographs by Scott Wall [contact sheets]
2006-11
map-folder 194
de Young Museum floorplan, including tower with permanent installation of wire sculptures
2005-2006
Box 216, folder 11
"Contours In The Air" retrospective show, de Young
2006
Box 216, folder 12
Christies Private Sales Gallery
2013-05
Box 216, folder 13
miscellaneous slides
1962-1979
Scope and Contents
Includes Ankrum Gallery, SF Art Festival, Fresno Art Center 1978-79, Cabrillo College, Cedar Street Gallery, etc.
Box 216, folder 14
miscellaneous slides
1982-2002
Scope and Contents
Includes Fibreworks 1982, MOCA "Blueprints for Modern Living" 1989-1990, J.J. Brookings Gallery 1996, "Parallels and Intersections:
Art/Women/California" show at San Jose Museum of Art 2002, etc.
Series 5. Correspondence, Artists and Colleagues
1948-2009
Scope and Contents
Please note that there are articles, exhibition announcements, and other material in addition to correspondence here, and
that no correspondence is present for some listed individuals. The vast majority of letters are incoming, and some address
Albert or the Lanier family. This series shares some material with personal and professional correspondence, Black Mountain
College, and other series.
Box 13, folder 1
Mark Adams
Language of Material: English.
Related Materials
Stanford University holds the Mark Adams papers (M1747):
http://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8610212
Scope and Contents
Textile artist, Ruth referred him for some commissions. See also wife Beth Van Hoesen (cards from both are filed there).
Josef and Anni Albers
Scope and Contents
Correspondence with and printed materials concerning artist, color theorist, designer, and teacher Josef Albers and his wife
Anni Albers, herself a textile artist and jeweler. The Albers were refugee scholars from Germany who taught at Black Mountain
College for sixteen years, and are perhaps its most referenced faculty in a sea of famous names. He had both studied and taught
at the Bauhaus; Anni had also been a student teacher. Their presence in the rural mountains of North Carolina set many on
a new path.
Ruth Asawa took Josef Albers' classes at Black Mountain repeatedly, beginning with the arts-intensive Summer session in 1946.
He was initially put off by her messiness (he would not visit her studio until she cleaned it), but their rapport became quite
strong, and we can owe much of Ruth's approach to art-making to him in particular.
After Black Mountain, Josef Albers remained eager to assist his former student, and there are referrals from him in her applications
for scholarships, fellowships, and further academic study. It is in her 1950 San Francisco State recommendation that Albers
famously stated "I consider her as a most gifted art student and one of the most talented I have ever had." She in turn frequently
credited Albers in interviews, lectured on him at the San Francisco Museum of Art, and the Laniers traveled to Europe for
the opening of the Albers museum in Bottrup. They also traded art many times over the years.
Files include letters and notes to and from the Albers, holiday and other cards, prints (some inscribed), photographs, and
published material such as catalogs, books, magazines, and articles. Some of the correspondence has been copied from the Albers
Foundation, which overlaps in part with original drafts present here. See also Black Mountain files, Ruth's BMC class notes,
and the Fellowships and Grants series.
Box 1, folder 1
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes photograph of Albers probably at Black Mountain College, attributed to Ted [Dreier] Jr., as well as notes and cards
from the Albers, etc.
Box 10, folder 1-2
articles and publications
Box 218, folder 3
snapshots of Albers show at Guggenheim
Box 50, folder 3
Josef Albers. Homage to the Square. Produced by Museum At Large [video]
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Josef Albers documentary featuring Robert Rauschenberg and Richard Anuszkiewicz. Produced and directed by Hans Namuth and
Paul Faulkenberg. A Chelsea House Publishers Production for University-at-Large Programs.
Box 13, folder 2
Irene Poon Anderson
Scope and Contents
Art historian, included Ruth in her "Leading the Way" book and exhibition. Mostly holidays cards from Irene and her husband
Stan.
Box 13, folder 3
Elaine Badgely Arnoux
Scope and Contents
Drew portrait of Asawa in "People of San Francisco" book.
Box 13, folder 4
Mai Arbegast
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Landscape architect specializing in garden design. Worked with Ruth on many projects, including Bayside Plaza and Mission
Viejo Mall.
Related Materials
UC Berkeley's Environmental Design Archives holds the Mai Kitazawa Arbegast Collection:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt4v19r98p.
Box 13, folder 5
Lisa Jalowetz Aronson
Scope and Contents
Daughter of Black Mountain College Music teacher Heinrich "Jalo" Jalowetz and his wife Johanna (often referred to as "Mrs.Jalo").
Her sister was Trude Guermonprez; both Trude and Johanna relocated to Northern California after BMC. Lisa later married theatrical
set designer Boris Aronson. See also BMC correspondence.
Box 13, folder 6
Kazuko Asaba
Scope and Contents
Japanese children's art advocate and cultural ambassador, produced "Kids Paradise IV: An Exhibition of Children's Art from
the West Coast of the U.S.A." with Asawa and others in 1988.
Box 13, folder 7
Raymond Barnhart
Scope and Contents
Sculptor who was part of the Black Mountain contingent in Northern California.
Box 13, folder 8
Maggie Baylis and Doug Baylis
Language of Material: English.
Related Materials
UC Berkeley's Environmental Design Archives holds the Douglas and Maggie Baylis Collection:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt2k4004jk
Scope and Contents
Douglas Baylis was a landscape architect and San Francisco Art Commissioner who helped design Civic Center Plaza. His wife
was a graphic designer who collaborated with him on articles; most correspondence is from her (he passed away in 1971).
Box 13, folder 9
Elio Benvenuto
Scope and Contents
Artist, served on the San Francisco Art Commission with Ruth. See also Art Commission files.
Box 13, folder 10
Mary Phelan Outten Bowles
Scope and Contents
Black Mountain alumnus, later she and Ruth would paint together while their children had play dates. See also BMC files.
Box 13, folder 11
Alan Brooks
Scope and Contents
Black Mountain alumnus, taught art at City College, collaborated with Ruth on projects.
Box 13, folder 12
Michael D. Brown
Scope and Contents
Collector of Japanese art, introduced himself to Ruth by writing "Please call me. Arthur Okamura and Hisako Hibi have been
trying to get me to see you."
Box 13, folder 13
Brio Burgess
Scope and Contents
Author, musician, mutual friend of Peggy Tolk-Watkins.
Box 14, folder 1
A-B
Scope and Contents
Joan Abrahamson ; Masha Archer ; Olive Ayhens ; Jeanne Babette ; Eric Barnes ; Mark Baugh ; Mary and Alfred Baxter ; Fletcher
Benton ; Al Benson ; Fred Berman (MSTC student) ; David Best ; Susan Hooper Billstein (CAC executive director) ; Bernice Bing
; Lucienne Bloch ; Bill Bondy ; Esther and Ernest Born ; Morris Broderson ; Leo Burnett
Box 14, folder 2
John Cage
Scope and Contents
Articles only, no correspondence.
Box 14, folder 3
Remy Charlip
Scope and Contents
Dancer, author. Performed with Merce Cunningham at Black Mountain. Moved to San Francisco much later, worked with Ruth.
Box 14, folder 4
Perci Chester
Scope and Contents
Sculptor, Alvarado artist-in-residence.
Box 14, folder 5
Chester Comstock
Scope and Contents
Metalworker, did casting for Ruth at foundry.
Imogen Cunningham
Scope and Contents
Unlike many of their artist friends, the Laniers did not meet Imogen Cunningham through Black Mountain College, but indirectly
through Albert's job. In 1950 Albert worked for architect Mario Corbett, and Imogen's son Ronderly had been assigned to photograph
Corbett's house down the peninsula in Redwood City. Albert assisted Ron with mounting the photos, and on the way home he told
Albert about his mother. Coincidentally, Imogen lived only a few blocks away from their apartment on Russian Hill, and not
long after she paid them a visit bearing a jar of Satsuma plum jam.
Subsequently, they became fast friends and a source of mutual artistic support. Ruth, and her family, friends, and art were
subjects of many photographs by Imogen. She invited Ruth to join the San Francisco Women Artists, where she met Hisako Hibi,
Emmy Lou Packard, Beth Van Hoesen, and others. Imogen also supplied photographs for Ruth's portfolios and fellowship applications.
She convinced Ruth to use her maiden name professionally, and tried to discourage her from having more children. Imogen was
also critical of Ruth's work in schools and thought it was a waste of time compared to her own art. Nevertheless, she did
contribute to Ruth's dough fountain along with many school children, and participated in its opening ceremonies.
Imogen's friendship with Albert Lanier shouldn't be overlooked. Early on, Albert did a lot of carpentry and odd jobs for her,
and an interest in gardening and botany further bonded them. They also shared birthdays with an annual party in Golden Gate
Park.
Files also contain a great deal of Friends of Imogen Cunningham and Imogen Cunningham Trust correspondence and other material.
Box 7, folder 1-3
Friends of Imogen Cunningham
1976-1983
Box 12, folder 1
articles and publications
Box 218, folder 4
photographs
Scope and Contents
Includes photos from from birthday celebrations at Golden Gate Park, dining with the Laniers and Devadases by Rajan Devadas
(Ruth's brother-in-law) in 1965 and with Ruth at the Hyatt opening in 1973.
Box 218, folder 5
photographs, Asawas and Laniers by Cunningham
map-folder 56
Friends of Imogen Cunningham Valentines Day Attendance roster
Box 40, folder 14
Imogen. Produced By The Kitchen Sisters For National Public Radio [audio]
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
radio program about Cunningham, produced by The Kitchen Sisters (Nikki Silva and Davia Nelson). Ruth is quoted.
Box 14, folder 6
Julia Connor
Scope and Contents
Poet, protege of M.C. Richards.
Box 14, folder 7
Merce Cunningham
Scope and Contents
Articles only, no correspondence.
Box 14, folder 8
Merry Renk Curtis and Earle Curtis
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The Curtises were very close friends with Ruth and Albert. Merry Renk was a jewelsmith and artist, Earle Curtis was a potter
and ceramicist. Although they shared a duplex with the Laniers in the early 1950s, they may have known each other before.
Both were Alvarado artists-in-residence and worked creatively with Ruth. Renk exhibited with her in the "Four Artist-Craftsmen"
show at the Museum of Art in 1954.
Related Materials
The Smithsonian Archives of American Art holds the Merry Renk papers: http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/merry-renk-papers-6039
Box 177, folder 1
C
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Herb Caen ; Charles and Glenna Campbell ; Kit Cameron ; Art Carpenter ; Lynn Carruthers-Dupell ; Kaleo and Elise Ching ; Benjamin
Chinn ; Lenore Chinn ; Lu Churchill ; Carmen Cicero ; Judith Clancy (Johns) ; Trudy Clawson ; Gordon Cook ; Mariana Cook ;
Charles Counts ; Marilyn Coyote ; Peter Coyote ; Mitzi Cunliffe ; Gabrielle Curry
Jacques D'Amboise
Related Materials
See also D'Amboise material in School of the Arts series.
Scope and Contents
Dancer and teacher, taught several workshops at the School of the Arts.
Box 177, folder 2
correspondence, clippings etc.
Box 47, folder 18
Jacques D'Amboise John F. Kennedy Presidential Award [video]
1995
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Off-air recording of 18th annual Kennedy Center Honors, D'Amboise one of several recipients, includes his segment only.
Box 50, folder 5
Jacques D'Amboise ["He Makes Me Feel Like Dancing" video]
1983
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Off-air recording of Academy Award won by Jacques D'Amboise documentary "He Makes Me Feel Like Dancing," followed by documentary
itself.
Box 50, folder 6
Dancing Up A Storm. The Story of NDI's 1st International Residency: Israel 1997. With Jacques D'Amboise [note from D'Amboise
& press release enclosed]
1997
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
documentary about Jacques D'Amboise teaching children in Israel, directed by Amir Gera.
Box 177, folder 3
Ron Davis
Scope and Contents
Artist from Sebastopol, California.
Box 177, folder 4
Margaret De Patta, Eugene Bielawski, Martha Bielawski
Scope and Contents
De Patta was a pioneering modernist jewelsmith in San Francisco who traded work with Ruth. De Patta was an early member of
the Metal Arts Guild along with Merry Renk. She took her life in 1964, and there is very little correspondence from her here.
Her husband and his second wife wrote a few letters later.
Box 177, folder 5
Onno and Aty De Ruyter
Scope and Contents
Onno De Ruyter was one of the founders of S.F. Art Foundry, which did alot of casting for Ruth, including the Ghirardelli
Fountain.
Box 177, folder 6
Eleanor Dickinson
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
San Francisco painter, graphic artist and teacher. Active in Artists Equity Association with Ruth.
Related Materials
The Smithsonian Archives of American Art holds the Eleanor Dickinson papers: http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/eleanor-dickinson-papers-6477
Box 177, folder 7
Shoshana Dubiner
Scope and Contents
CETA/Alvarado artist-in-residence in the 1970s.
Box 177, folder 8
Anne Smith Easley
Scope and Contents
Artist, daughter of Page and Eloise Smith.
Box 177, folder 9
Joe Ehreth
Scope and Contents
Artist, photographer, and cinematographer who worked with the Halprins.
Box 177, folder 10
D-E
Scope and Contents
Chantal DeCleve ; Kenneth Derby ; Verity Diefauf ; Judy Dunworth ; Maurice English ; Harold Ehrensperger ; Eunice Elton ;
Bob Ernstthal ; Lisa Esherick ; Connor Everts
Box 15, folder 1
Valerie Ferrier
Scope and Contents
Later Valerie Jacobs. Graphic designer, printer, Alvarado artist-in-residence. Designed Japanese Tea Garden book that Ruth
illustrated.
Box 15, folder 2
Gordon Onslow Ford
Scope and Contents
Bay Area post-Surrealist painter who once owned a Sausalito houseboat with Jean Varda. Contains exhibition notices, little
or no correspondence.
Buckminster and Anne Fuller
Language of Material: English.
Related Materials
Stanford holds extensive collections on Fuller, including the R. Buckminster Fuller Papers (M1090): http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf109n9832.
Fuller's Dymaxion Chronofile contains a good deal of correspondence with Asawa.
Scope and Contents
Canonical 20th century thinker and polymath R. Buckminster Fuller needs little introduction. Ruth and Albert met Bucky and
Anne Fuller at Black Mountain College in 1948. Both studied with Fuller. Albert took part in the famous "supine dome" episode,
and Ruth cut his hair (she made extra money barbering) and Fuller in turn made her a barber pole from venetian blinds. Their
enduring friendship is reflected in the great deal of correspondence present, especially from Anne. As with the Albers, Asawa
respectfully addresses them as Mr. and Mrs. Fuller ; he often calls her Dearest Ruth.
In one of Fuller's reference letters for an Asawa Guggenheim application, he is quite generous with his praise: "I state,
without hesitation or reserve, that I consider Ruth Asawa to be the most gifted, productive and originally inspired artist
that I have ever known personally." She also received the first Dymaxion Award for Artist-Scientist in 1966.
Ruth credited him for her educational direction: "He inspired me to work with young children. When I asked him what should
I do in the schools, he said 'Give every kindergarten child a PhD! Create an environment and learning will take place. Work
directly with the children.' I took his advice."
Asawa cast Fuller's hands and face in 1966, and later sculpted a large bust of his head. She also attended many lectures,
some of which she arranged, and made sketches and notes. See the Calendars and Planners series for these.
Asawa was on the board of the Buckminster Fuller Institute for one year following Fuller's death in 1983, and there is correspondence,
newsletters, catalogs and other material from this time.
Also of note are photographs, audio recordings of lectures, and videotaped news segments on the discovery of "Buckyballs."
More material related to Fuller can be found in the Black Mountain College series and elsewhere in the collection.
Box 11, folder 1-5
articles and publications
1946-2008
Box 5, folder 3
Snyders
Scope and Contents
Correspondence with Fuller's daughter Allegra Fuller Snyder and her husband Robert Snyder, as well as some from their children
Jaime Snyder and Alexandra Snyder. The majority concerns Robert Snyder's "On Forms and Growth" documentary on Asawa, which
was partially funded by Fuller.
Box 5, folder 4
Geo-Globes
Scope and Contents
Asawa's son Xavier (and later Adam) built and sold Fuller-designed spherical polyurethane lamp shades (referred to as "Geo-Globes"
or "Geodesic Globes").
Box 133
Buckminster Fuller's cast bronze hands
Related Materials
Buckminster Fuller's life mask has been cataloged separately:
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9178266
Box 271
model kits, etc.
Scope and Contents
One tetrahedron model has a tag that reads "Ruth Asawa Lanier, Geometry Workshop, L.A. January 1988."
map-folder 68
posters and notes
Scope and Contents
Two posters (one autographed) ; patterns and calculations probably re: Lanier lampshade ; Russell Chu "Octa Space Station"
design September 1986 ; Notes from "Nineness" lecture to Lanier family.
Box 51, folder 3
The World of Buckminster Fuller. Robert Snyder. Masters & Masterworks
1974
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Not digitized.
Box 40, folder 2
Buckminster Fuller Lecture to S.F. City College, Art Department
1974-04-26
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Box 40, folder 1
Buckminster Fuller in Marin. Integrity Day. Intuitive Audio, Larkspur
1983-04-30
Physical Description: 5 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Fuller speaking at Marin Veteran's Auditorium in San Rafael. Introduced by "Integrity Day" producer Ron Lanzman and Fuller's
son-in-law Jaime Snyder.
Box 40, folder 10
Bob Snyder
1992-03-30
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Snyder at the Laniers for dinner, Ruth and Albert speak some too.
Box 51, folder 1
Re: Buckminster Fuller. Masters & Masterworks Productions. Discovery's Inventions on "Buckyballs" 5" ; CNN Futurewatch on
"Energy Grid" 4" ; Camcorder Footage, Exterior, Traveling Exhibit at Atrium, Art Center College 5" ; Video Loops in Travelling
Exhibit 33"
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
News features about Buckminster Fuller and discovery of buckminsterfullerine aka "buckyballs." 1. Inventions ; [10:06] CNN
Futurewatch ; [16:45] raw footage of museum exhibit.
Box 51, folder 2
Race To Catch a Buckyball #2216. Nova. WGBH
1995
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Nova episode about buckminsterfullerine aka "Buckyballs." WGBH Production, Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Box 52, folder 1
RBF Oral History for Stanford. Ruth Asawa, Bucky Fuller Influence 32" ; Ruth Asawa, Black Mountain College 61" ; Ruth Asawa
& Albert Lanier, Black Mountain College. Couples 47" ; Albert Lanier, BMC Bucky Dome 14" ; Ruth Asawa, Bucky Connections 15"
2002-08
Physical Description: 2 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Thomas Zung interviews Ruth Asawa (first) and Albert Lanier (second) at their home August 24-25, 2002 about Fuller, Black
Mountain, art, and other subjects. Collection contains SUL access copies produced for the Laniers. Transfers are from original
mini-DV cassettes in the "Bucky Conversations" Humanities Lab Oral History project:
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9948063
Box 218, folder 7
photographs, "Insights Into the Future" Symposium
1982-09
Scope and Contents
Hazel Larsen Archer organized the "Insights Into the Future: The Individual In Question" Symposium at Santa Fe Preparatory
School in Santa Fe, New Mexico September 22-28, 1982. Archer had attended Black Mountain with Fuller and Asawa, and former
BMC teacher Beaumont Newhall also took part. During the symposium, Asawa and a group used 2000 pounds of clay to sculpt an
oversized likeness of Fuller's head, with Fuller as a live model. The clay head was then used to create a Celastic shell.
There are many photographs from the event and the sculpting, taken by Jean Dunaway, Laura Wilson and others.
Box 15, folder 3
Ida Dean Grae and H.D. "Dan" Grae
Scope and Contents
Textile artist Ida Dean exhibited in the 1954 SFMA "Four Artist-Craftsmen" show with Ruth. Exhibition notices, little correspondence.
Box 15, folder 4
Georgia Guback
Scope and Contents
Artist and illustrator, studied with Ruth, Mark Adams, and at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Box 15, folder 5
Paul Hassel
Scope and Contents
Photographed many of Ruth's wire sculptures and other art. After a visit to the desert with his wife, they gave her the dried
plant that inspired her tied wire forms. Passed away unexpectedly in 1964. Very little correspondence.
Box 15, folder 6
Eva Heinitz
Scope and Contents
Musician, taught at Black Mountain, played cello in the Pittsburgh Symphony and later lived in Seattle.
Box 15, folder 7
Hisako Hibi
Scope and Contents
Issei painter and printmaker who lived in San Francisco for most of her life. She sent Ruth several handmade cards.
Box 15, folder 8
Jacqueline Hoefer and Peter Hoefer
Scope and Contents
The Hoefers owned a successful scientific instrument business and bought several of Ruth's sculptures. After Peter's death,
Jacqueline, who was a writer, poet and Fine Arts Museums trustee, continued her patronage and supported Alvarado and the School
of the Arts. She also wrote a chapter in the Contours in the Air catalog.
Box 15, folder 9
Robert Howard
Scope and Contents
Exihibition notices, little or no correspondence. Sculptor, married to Adaline Kent. Exhibited with Ruth.
Box 15, folder 10
F-H
Scope and Contents
Charles Griffin Farr ; Lissie Fein ; Bob Fennell and Ron Young ; Lawrence Ferlinghetti ; Fiberworks ; Frank Foreman ; Helen
Frankenthaler ; Mary Fuller-McChesney ; Jenny Hunter Groat ; Daniel Galvez ; Warren and Ida Lou Glass ; Stephen Goldstine
; Noriko Goto ; Gary Graham ; Scot Grenfell ; Karl Grimm ; John Gutman ; Eric Hoffer, Stephen Hoffer, Lili Osborne ; Wynne
Hayakawa ; Bea Henderson ; Jon Herbst and Karla Clement ; Lynne Hershmann ; Leo Holub and Florence Holub ; Galen Howard ;
Leigh Hyams ; Bill Hyde
Andrea Iuppa Jepson and Werner Jepson
Scope and Contents
The Jepsons were neighbors of the Lanier family. Andrea was the model for the Ghirardelli mermaids, and was involved with
the Alvarado Arts Workshop from the beginning. Warner Jepson was a composer and musician who collaborated with Ruth on a variety
of projects, some involving experimental video and electronic music.
Box 79, folder 9
Ruth Asawa and N.C.E.T. [National Center for Experiments in Television] with Warner Jepson and Buchla Box [video]
1974
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (dvd)
Scope and Contents
Avant-garde video art from composer and artist Warner Jepson. 3 segments, first two in collaboration with Asawa. Some sound.
See letter enclosed with DVD.
Ray Johnson
Scope and Contents
Although Ray Johnson attended Black Mountain College with Ruth and Albert, he actually knew Ruth from Milwaukee through mutual
friend Elaine Schmitt, who was also studying at MSTC. In fact, he was one of the people who convinced her to go to Black Mountain.
His letters to Ruth, sometimes adorned with small drawings or collage, date from after he moved to New York (beginning late
1948/early 1949). There is reportedly very little of his early correspondence in existence; therefore, each letter has been
described individually. Also of note are several sheets of typescript prose, including "What Is a Moticos," fliers from the
New York Correspondance School, and various exhibition notices.
In a 1998 interview by Mary Emma Harris, Asawa said "Ray was one of the most talented that ever came out of Black Mountain.
He would not go with the flow of New York or any art scene. He was always contradicting them or trying to knock them down
from that pedestal that they were being put on. Artists going into this style or that style and Ray wouldn't put up with any
of it. So, he was never the big name that he should have been but he was probably more talented than anyone that I have ever
known."
Box 8, folder 1
Johnson "Xmas Greetings" postcard/photograph
Scope and Contents
Image of Ray Johnson and others watching a musical demonstration, possibly koto. Undated but originally foldered with empty
December 30, 1948 envelope.
Box 8, folder 2
Johnson - Lanier postcard
1948-11-23
Box 8, folder 3
Johnson – Asawa postcard
1948-12-03
Box 8, folder 4
Johnson – Lanier
1948-12-10
Box 8, folder 5
Johnson - Asawa
1948-12-14
Box 8, folder 8
Johnson – Asawa
1949-01-08
Scope and Contents
Empty but decorated envelope.
Box 8, folder 9
Johnson – Asawa
1949-01-25
Scope and Contents
Photographs of [Lippold?] sculpture. No text.
Box 8, folder 10
Johnson – Asawa
1949-01-29
Box 8, folder 11
Johnson – Asawa
1949-03-07
Scope and Contents
Larger envelope, contains Naum Gabo quote only.
Box 8, folder 12
Johnson – Asawa
1949-05-12
Scope and Contents
No text, clipping from magazine or book only.
Box 8, folder 13
Johnson – Asawa
1949-05-22
Scope and Contents
Stylized writing, collage, crayon. Last one to Ruth at BMC.
Box 8, folder 14
Johnson – Asawa
195u-07-14
Scope and Contents
Dated July 14th, no year, possibly 1950.
Box 8, folder 15
Johnson – Asawa
1950-01-30
Box 8, folder 16
Johnson – Asawa
1951-04-19
Scope and Contents
Also enclosed, a 2004 transcription by Addie Lanier for Mary Emma Harris research.
Box 8, folder 17
Johnson – Asawa
1951-04-30
Box 8, folder 18
Johnson – Laniers
undated 1951
Box 8, folder 19
Johnson – Asawa
195u-05-29
Scope and Contents
Dated May 29th, no year, possibly 1951 or 1952. A small color photograph of Ray with "Calm Center" was with letter in plastic
sleeve and was possibly originally enclosed, although there is no reference to it in the text.
Box 8, folder 20
Johnson – Laniers
195u-11-08
Scope and Contents
Dated November 11th, no year, probably 1951.
Box 8, folder 21
Johnson – Laniers
1952-07-18
Box 8, folder 22
Johnson – Asawa
1952-09-22
Box 8, folder 23
Johnson – Asawa
195u-12
Scope and Contents
undated Christmas 1951 or 1952 (1951 more likely).
Box 8, folder 25
Johnson – Asawa
1952-11-10
Box 8, folder 27
empty envelopes
1955, 1956, 1959
Box 8, folder 28
Johnson – Lanier
1962-03-26
Scope and Contents
Forwarded response from Sidney Lanier, one of Albert's distant relatives in New York who was involved with Saint Thomas Church.
He wrote Johnson saying he did not know Albert.
Box 8, folder 29
Lanier – Johnson
1964-12-15
Scope and Contents
Draft of a letter to Johnson, with enclosed draft of a letter from Albert to Soren Agenoux. Agenoux was a friend of Ray's
who stayed at the Laniers for ten days. Albert countersigned a check from Michael T. Smith (probably theatrical director Michael
Townsend Smith) which bounced. He also borrowed shoes and didn't return them.
Box 8, folder 30
Johnson – Laniers
1969-03-19
Box 8, folder 31
Johnson – Asawa
1985
Scope and Contents
Dated from accompanying note, no envelope. Photocopy art with crayon inscription "Ruth Love Ray" and address stamps.
Box 8, folder 32
Johnson – Laniers
1987-10-13
Box 8, folder 33
Johnson – Laniers
1989-10-23
Scope and Contents
Five photocopied sheets, no handwriting except on envelope.
Box 8, folder 37
unidentified black and white photograph
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Print of young man with cropped hair perched on a window sill with arms outstretched. Typed on the back: "Well. It got her
out of College, didn't it?" Pinholes indicating display, including holes stuck through face. There is a slight resemblance
to Ray Johnson circa late 1940s, but it's probably not him. Was originally located in Albers series.
Box 9, folder 1
"What is a moticos" etc.
circa 1950s
Scope and Contents
Five typed sheets of newsprint featuring abstract poetry mostly referring moticos including "What is a moticos." The Laniers
owned several actual moticos as well.
Box 9, folder 2
Correspondance fliers, etc.
Box 9, folder 4
exhibition posters
Scope and Contents
For Willard Gallery, New York 1967 and University of Virginia 1968.
Box 9, folder 3
miscellanous oversize
Scope and Contents
Harper's Bazaar July 1952 article about the art scene at 326 Monroe with photographs of John Cage and Richard Lippold, Feldman,
Cage and Ray Johnson in Lippold's hearse ; "How To Draw A Bunny" movie poster with note from Mark [Bloch] 2004
Box 16, folder 1
Gere Kavanaugh
Scope and Contents
Interior designer who brought Ruth some of her first commercial commissions, including the Joseph Magnin store installation.
Box 16, folder 2
Adaline Kent
Scope and Contents
Bay Area sculptor, died in a car accident in 1957. Exhibition notices, one with a short note.
Box 16, folder 3
Toby Judith Klayman
Scope and Contents
Artist, advocate for artist rights, member of Women's Caucus For Art with Ruth. She also taught a workshop at School of the
Arts.
Box 16, folder 4
Christopher Lane
Scope and Contents
Painter and teacher who studied calligraphy with Hodo Tobase in the 1950s and probably met Ruth there (his brother Mervin
had gone to Black Mountain College with her). He worked with Ruth on a few projects, including the Youth Guidance Center murals,
and was also involved with the School of the Arts.
Box 16, folder 5
Jack Lenor Larsen
Scope and Contents
Fabric designer, asked Ruth for textile patterns in 1955, and later included her in the book "Beyond Craft: The Art Fabric."
See also professional correspondence.
Box 16, folder 6
Lisa Lee Peterson
Scope and Contents
Mae Lee's daughter.
Box 16, folder 7
Mae Lee
Scope and Contents
Friend, neighbor, and one of Ruth's closest collaborators. She assisted with projects beginning with Ghirardelli, and helped
Ruth develop a paperfolding curriculum.
Box 16, folder 8
N'ima Leveton
Scope and Contents
Artist who worked with Si Sillman and Merry Renk, friends with Ruth since the 1950s. Birth name was Nancy.
Box 16, folder 9
I-L
Scope and Contents
Larry Inada ; Karen Iuppa ; Elyse Jacobs ; Bud and Fran Johns ; Willie Joseph ; Howard Junker ; John Keel ; Eleanor Kent ;
Bruce Klein ; Ruth Kneass ; Freda Koblick ; Marlene Kramer ; Tracy Krumm ; Beryl Landau ; Gyöngy Laky ; Howard Lazar ; Ted
Lindberg ; Lisa Livoni ; Paulette Long ; Jeanie Low
Box 16, folder 10
Margery Mann
Scope and Contents
Photographer, Art Forum photo critic, worked with Imogen Cunningham.
Box 16, folder 11, Box 26, folder 1
Joan and Vincent Mastropaul
Scope and Contents
Artist couple that ran Mastropaul Design in Syracuse, New York. Very prolific correspondents.
Box 26, folder 2
Valerie Matsumoto
Scope and Contents
History professor and author, met Ruth through Mark Johnson. Illustrated her own cards.
Box 26, folder 3
Emiko Matsutsuyu
Scope and Contents
East Bay artist who discovered her talent in her mid-50s after taking classes at California State University, where she was
employed.
Box 26, folder 4
Michael McMillan
Scope and Contents
Graphic artist from the San Francisco underground comics scene. File contains three unfoldered sheets from his Big Time Comics
series of 1978.
Box 26, folder 5
Forrest Luis Merrill
Scope and Contents
Art collector, designed his own annual holiday cards.
Box 26, folder 6
Ruth Ewart Muehlmeier
Scope and Contents
Schoolmate of Ruth's at Milwaukee State Teacher's College.
Box 26, folder 7
M
Scope and Contents
Susan MacDonald ; Dawn MacNutt ; Betsie Miller-Kusz ; Margaretta Mitchell ; Pamela Morin ; Sara Morris ; Lee Mullican ; Museum
of Conceptual Art ; Mussi Artworks Foundry
Box 26, folder 8
Andy Oates
Scope and Contents
Textile artist who attended Black Mountain College, studying with Anni Albers. Full name was Andrew Francis "Andy" Oates,
Jr.
Box 26, folder 9
Jacque Overhoff and Elfriede Overhoff-Cryns
Scope and Contents
Dutch sculptor who lived in San Francisco for a time, creating many public commissions. His wife wrote the majority of correspondence.
Box 26, folder 10
Emmy Lou Packard
Scope and Contents
Artist, illustrator, activist. Member of San Francisco Women Artists. Exhibited with Asawa and many others at the SF Museum
of Art "Bay Region Painting and Sculpture" show in 1952. Worked with Ruth on several art preservation campaigns, including
the Diego Rivera murals at City College and the WPA murals at Rincon Annex.
Blanche Pastorino
Scope and Contents
Pastorino was a close friend of Ruth's who owned a cafe on a pier by the Fourth Street Bridge known as Galerie de Blanche.
The restaurant, which she opened in 1959 while the area was still fully industrial, attracted many artists, and the walls
were covered with paintings. Ruth took Buckminster Fuller and many other friends there, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti used to
come by in the morning to write and drink coffee. After the café closed in 1987, she continued to maintain the landscaped
pier, which became known as Blanche's Garden. The garden was used for parties and other events until around 1998, and the
pier no longer exists today. In addition to correspondence, Ruth recorded a series of interviews with her, and several events
at the Garden were videotaped.
Box 219, folder 4-5
photographs
Scope and Contents
Mostly from events at Galerie de Blanche/Blanche's Garden, including a Lawrence Ferlinghetti party for Nancy Peters. See also
A/V series.
Box 51, folder 8
Gallerie De Blanche: Channel 7 News. Carol Ivy
1981-09-17
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Off-air recording of KGO news segment on closing of Blanche Pastorino's restaurant Gallerie de Blanche. The art collection
will be auctioned to benefit SOTA. Asawa at 3:04.
Box 40, folder 7
Blanche In The Garden
1985
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Answering machine message from Blanche to Ruth and Albert re: Ruth's bench, approx. 1:22.
Box 40, folder 3
Blanche Pastorino
1991-02
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Asawa recording Pastorino re: Galerie De Blanche cafe. Started in 1958, lasted 29 years. Blanche reminisces about establishing
herself among longshoremen, warehouses and banana boats, developing a reputation as an eccentric and attracting artists of
all kinds.
Box 51, folder 9
Blanche's Party With Turk Murphy Band
1991-09-21
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
party at Blanche's Garden on pier, with music by a traditional jazz trio (no Turk).
Box 40, folder 8
Lawrence Ferlinghetti At Blanche's
1991-10-03
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Lawrence Ferlinghetti speaking informally about Blanche and her restaurant, at a gathering there. Live music in background.
Box 40, folder 4
Blanche Pastorino
1991-12-10
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Asawa recording Pastorino. At least part of Side A is copy of other Blanche recording.
Box 40, folder 5
Blanche Pastorino. B- With Frank Fredericks
1992-01-03
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Side A: Asawa interviewing Pastorino ; [15:10] broadcast news. Side B: Pastorino, Asawa, Fredericks
Box 40, folder 6
Blanche. Just Begun
1992-12-26
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Asawa recording Pastorino recounting Oscar De La Renta story (about 5 min.)
Box 51, folder 10
Blanche's Garden
1994-11
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Promotional video for Blanche's Garden, available for parties and events. Asawa at 6:16, etc. Produced by Friends of Blanche.
Box 27, folder 2
Nina Payne
Scope and Contents
Probably the poet and fiber artist known for her childrens' books.
Box 27, folder 3
Betty and Willys Peck
Scope and Contents
Couple from Saratoga, California. Betty was a kindergarten teacher and author, Willys a historian and journalist. Both were
also avid gardeners. Contains mostly holiday cards. Ruth wrote a short statement for one of Betty's books.
Box 27, folder 3
Fumiko Murayama Pentler
Scope and Contents
Weaver with an interest in silk production. She also shared recipes for Japanese dishes with Ruth.
Box 27, folder 4
N-P
Scope and Contents
Any Nelder ; Keiko Nelson ; Stephen Nomura ; Gerald Nordland ; Gloria Nusse ; Ruby Baird O'Burke ; Irene Oppenheim ; Leonora
Oppenheimer ; Shizu Oyama ; John Pai ; Joseph Park ; Stephanie Peek ; Samuel Provenzano ; Glenna Putt
Box 27, folder 5
Trudy Myrrh Reagan/YLEM
Scope and Contents
Palo Alto-based artist, founded the non-profit group YLEM: Artists Using Science and Technology in 1981. Ruth was the first
dues-paying member.
Box 27, folder 6
Harland Ristau
Scope and Contents
Art teacher who went to Milwaukee State Teacher's College with Ruth.
Box 28, folder 1-2
Tommy Roberts
Scope and Contents
Puppeteer, poet and essential San Francisco character of the 1970s and 80s. Born Morris Diamond. Ruth made several puppets
for him, and he staged puppet shows as a CETA artist-in-residence at Alvarado and other schools. Contains many of his self-published
books of poetry.
Box 28, folder 3
Jean Maurice Rochin
Scope and Contents
Went to Black Mountain College with Ruth, was part of an informal drawing club in San Francisco that also included Merry Renk
and Trude Guermonprez. Later lived in France.
Box 28, folder 4
William Roth and Joan Roth
Scope and Contents
Very little correspondence here, more in other series. Roth was a businessman, trade ambassador and philanthropist who provided
Ruth with her first major public commission as part of his Ghirardelli Square development. Roth was an investor in The Tin
Angel jazz club, run by Ruth's friend Peggy Tolk-Watkins, and it is there they probably first met.
Box 28, folder 5
R
Scope and Contents
Robert Radziejewski ; Joe Ramos ; Robert Rauschenberg ; Pat Ravarra ; Fred Reichman ; B. Reiss ; Florence Resnikoff ; Lori
Rossetti
Box 28, folder 6
Jeanne Schulz / Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center
Scope and Contents
Jean was the wife of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. Ruth first contacted them for permission to use Snoopy on the Hyatt Fountain.
Box 29, folder 1
Arthur Secunda
Scope and Contents
Artist, wrote for Art Forum. One of Ray Johnson's oldest friends, but met the Laniers through Merv Lane. Did a show with Ruth.
Mostly exhibition notices.
Box 29, folder 2
Kay Sekimachi and Bob Stocksdale
Scope and Contents
Mostly exhibition notices and clippings. Sekimachi is a fiber artist known especially for her basket designs. She studied
with Trude Guermonprez and Jack Lenor Larsen, and taught at San Francisco Community College. Her older sister and her husband
(who worked with Albert) bought a duplex on Alpine Terrace with the Laniers in 1950. She was also a member of the Women's
Caucus For Art with Ruth. Sekimachi and Stocksdale were married, and exhibited together frequently. Ruth also exhibited with
her. See also the Stocksdale file.
Box 29, folder 3
Raymond Sells and Atsuko Sells
Scope and Contents
Raymond was an artist, and was friends with Albert in Georgia. After having passed away unexpectedly in 1983, the Laniers
remained close with his family.
Box 29, folder 4
Sewell "Si" Sillman
Scope and Contents
Painter, printer, teacher. Studied architecture at Georgia Tech with Albert Lanier, both decided to transfer to Black Mountain
College. After having studied with Albers there, Sillman went on to work with him at Yale. He founded Ives/Sillman Publications
with Norman Ives, and they published Albers' landmark "Interaction of Color," among many other works. See also professional
correspondence, Albers, and Black Mountain series.
Box 29, folder 5
Anna Deavere Smith
Scope and Contents
Performance artist who profiled Asawa in a work. Ruth cast her face.
Box 29, folder 6
Eloise Smith and Page Smith
Scope and Contents
Page Smith was an author, historian, and professor at UC Santa Cruz. He included Asawa in his book "Democracy on Trial" about
WWII camps, and Ruth invited him to speak at a Black Mountain College reunion. Eloise Smith was active in the arts in the
Santa Cruz area, and was briefly head of the California Arts Council before working with such groups as the California Prison
Arts Program. See also their daughter Anne Easley.
Box 29, folder 7
Gary Snyder and Masa Snyder
Scope and Contents
Ruth served on the California Arts Council with Snyder, but they were friends before that. Contains a few short notes and
cards from Gary and his wife Masa.
Bob Stocksdale
Scope and Contents
Woodworker known for his turned bowls, married to Kay Sekimachi. Exhibited with Ruth. Contains exhibition notices, memorial
program, and photographs.
Box 29, folder 8
exhibition cards, obituary and memorial
Box 219, folder 2
photographs
circa 1954
Scope and Contents
Photographs of wooden bowls, Stocksdale's hands by Ernest Braun-Halberstadt.
Box 29, folder 9
Kate and John Swackhamer
Scope and Contents
The Swackhamers were Black Mountain College alumni, although Ruth apparently didn't meet John until afterwards. More correspondence
in BMC series.
Box 29, folder 10
S
Scope and Contents
Doug Salim ; Carol Sauvier ; Barbara Scales ; Howard Schatz ; Bruce Schnabel ; Ward Schumaker ; Monica Scott ; Hisako Sekijima
; Takashi Senda ; Ravi Shankar ; Larry Shaw ; Steve Silver ; Alette Simmons-Jimenez ; Laurie Snyder ; Irene and Peter Stern
; Jack Stuppin ; Takeshi Sugimoto
Box 37, folder 2
Tamarind Lithography Workshop
Scope and Contents
Ruth was invited for a fellowship at LA's Tamarind Workshop by founder June Wayne in 1965. Despite (or perhaps because of)
her lack of experience with printing, Ruth found a number of interesting approaches to reproducing her drawings, and the lithographs
produced during that time are an underated among her two-dimensional works. See also professional correspondence and photographs
in Art series.
Box 36, folder 1
Alice Imamoto Takemono
Scope and Contents
Childhood friend and schoolmate of Ruth's, later had a career as a pianist and teacher.
Box 36, folder 2
Nancy Howry Thompson
Scope and Contents
Artist and teacher whose role in Ruth's public commissions, from working drawings to dough sculpture, is generally underacknowledged.
She was a founder of Alvarado Arts Workshop and conducted countless workshops, including several murals at Alvarado and elsewhere.
Box 219, folder 3, Box 241, folder 3
Hodo Tobase photographs
1950s
Scope and Contents
Paul Hassel portraits of Hodo Tobase (Tobase Sensei), a Zen buddhist priest who ran the Sokoji Soto Mission in San Francisco.
Tobase taught calligraphy to many artists, including Asawa, Gordon Onslow Ford, Adaline Kent, Beth Van Hoesen, Betty Wedell,
Lucienne Bloch and Stephen Dimitroff. Includes photos from some of his calligraphy classes.
Box 36, folder 3
Bernard Tolk
Scope and Contents
Peggy Tolk-Watkins' brother, also an artist.
Box 36, folder 4
Peggy Tolk-Watkins
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Peggy was an artist and poet who had attended Black Mountain College, where she met and later married Albert Lanier's friend
from Georgia, Ragland "Rags" Watkins. The couple moved to San Francisco (although they soon separated) and were instrumental
in convincing Albert and Ruth to move there. Peggy operated the Tin Angel, a jazz club owned by Sally Stanford which was located
first in Sausalito and later on the Embarcadero. One of Ruth's first exhibitions was at the Tin Angel with Jean Varda. Fantasy
Records, whose Max and Sol Weiss temporarily owned the club, recorded some live albums there, and Peggy's paintings were used
on some LP covers (she also modeled for the cover of a comedy album). Later she ran Stanford's Fallen Angel club, but eventually
left the entertainment world to teach in Richmond and pursue art more vigorously. Unfortunately, as with so many creative
people, her health and personal affairs were victims of her zest for life, and and she passed away in 1973 at the age of 51.
Contains correspondence with family and friends, as well as a few of her letters.
Box 36, folder 5
Elaine Schmitt Urbain
Scope and Contents
Artist, traveler, journalist, and one of Ruth's oldest and closest friends. They first met at Milwaukee State Teachers College,
where they worked on the yearbook together, and her sister Elizabeth Schmitt (later Jennerjahn) was one of the MSTC group
that returned from a semester at Black Mountain College with glowing reports. Subsequently, Ruth, Elaine, and their friend
Ray Johnson (whom Elaine was dating) enrolled at Black Mountain. She later married artist and fellow student John Urbain.
See also BMC series for more correspondence, including copies of her letters home in 1945 or 1946.
Box 36, folder 6
Beth Van Hoesen and Mark Adams
Scope and Contents
Van Hoesen met Ruth through San Francisco Women Artists. They also both took classes from Hodo Tobase. Albert redesigned the
old firehouse where she lived with her husband Mark Adams. Beth and Mark did self-portraits on the Hyatt fountain. Filed here
are cards from them as a a couple; see also Adams' file.
Box 36, folder 7
T-V
Scope and Contents
Lois Takaoka ; Jerry Takigawa ; Billy Taylor ; Toad the Mime (Antoinette Attell) ; Betsy Tharp ; Wayne Thiebaud ; Holman
"Bob" Turner ; Tuscan Alley Press ; Luis Valdez/El Teatro Campesino ; Virginia Varda ; Royce Vaughn ; Manuel Villamor ; Peter
Voulkos
Box 36, folder 8
Jean Waldberg
Scope and Contents
Florida potter, photographer, and arts advocate.
June Watanabe
Scope and Contents
Dancer and choreographer. Ruth's mask/headpiece was used in her work "The Tower Collection."
Box 51, folder 7
June Watanabe In Company. Tower Collection. 20 Min. Excerpt [video]
1990
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Highlights from "The Tower Collection," a June Watanabe dance performance with art by Ruth Asawa.
Marguerite Wildenhain
Scope and Contents
Bauhaus-trained potter who eventually settled at the Pond Farm art colony in Guerneville in 1942. The initial colony's workshops
ceased in 1953, but Wildenhain continued to teach there through 1980. Ruth exhibited with her in the SF Museum of Art's pivotal
"Four Artist-Craftsmen" show, and the Laniers frequently visited her at Pond Farm. Albert remodeled her home there and designed
a guest house, and Paul Lanier studied with her. Her first husband Frans Wildenhain (whose name she kept) was also a ceramicist,
and he arranged for Ruth's show at Shop One in Rochester. Very little correspondence is present. See also professional correspondence.
Box 36, folder 10
correspondence, exhibition announcements, etc.
Box 219, folder 1
photographs
Scope and Contents
Photographs from Pond Farm in Guerneville, some with Paul Lanier. See also Exhibition Photographs for 1954 de Young show.
Box 36, folder 11
W-Z
Scope and Contents
John Waggaman ; June Wayne (Tamarind) ; Susan Witka ; Franz and Marjorie Wildenhain ; Bryan Wilson ; Carol Witten ; Juanita
Wolff ; Rene Yanez ; Althya Youngman ; Jamin Zegart
Box 37, folder 1
group show announcements
Scope and Contents
Also includes Tamarind Lithography Workshop printed material.
Box 50, folder 2
Peter Dema, "Discovery"
1990
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Two "Discovery" television programs (Pacifica Community Television). Host Peter Dema interviews photographer Jane Los (1989)
and sculptor Joe Robles (1987). Note from director Dema enclosed.
Box 50, folder 7
A Glimpse Of De Kooning
1984-12-20
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Robert Snyder documentary about artist Willem De Kooning.
Box 50, folder 8
Willem De Kooning: Artist
1994
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Not digitized. Available from Masterworks. A Film By Robert Snyder. Masters & Masterworks Productions, Inc. Brief note from
Snyder enclosed.
Box 51, folder 4
[Frank] Ghery, Architect. Charlie Rose
2005-08-05
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Not digitized. Off-air recording of Episode 0805 by Marlyeen Stettner.
Box 51, folder 5
Shoji Hamada: A Potter's Way To Work. Susan Peterson
1997-01-10
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Not digitized.
Box 51, folder 6
Dorothea Lange: A Visual Life. By Meg Partridge. Pacific Pictures
1994
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Not digitized.
Box 219, folder 6
photographs of friends and associates
Scope and Contents
Slides (and a few prints) featuring Trude Guermonprez, Tommy Roberts, Cyril Magnin, Ann Marie Theilan, Mae Lee, Anna Deveare
Smith, Kiku Funabiki, Eva Heinitz, and Susan Stauter.
oversize
Scope and Contents
Contains artwork and printed items by or about Georgia Guback, Paul Hassel, Larry Inada, Emmy Lou Packard, Merry Renk, Jim
Sanz, Arthur Secunda, Elaine Urbain, June Wayne, and others, as well as one unidentified work. Also a letter from Trudy King
to Albert Lanier concerning his friend Frances Xavier Profumo (Trudy's great aunt), with a color photocopy of a drawing titled
"Time Puddled in my Heart" Albert created in 1946.
Box 38, folder 2
exhibition catalogs, posters, etc.
Box 38, folder 3
Trudy King letter with copy of Albert Lanier art
1999
map-folder 59
oversize posters and prints
Series 6. Lectures, Workshops, Classes, Events
1966-2007
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, fliers, brochures and other material concerning lectures, workshops and other events. Working with schools,
community organizations, arts councils, and other groups, Ruth taught art (especially origami, life casting, and "dough-ins"),
judged art, consulted, presented awards, and participated in meet-and-greets. Beyond the Bay Area, Ruth traveled to Alaska,
Utah, Florida, Georgia, and elsewhere. Some events were in connection with exhibitions of her art. Speech transcripts are
filed in their own series. Given the breadth of Ruth's activities, there is overlap with other series: professional correspondence,
public service, activism, awards, etc.
6.1 chronological files
Language of Material: English.
Box 96, folder 2
Los Angeles County Fair
1969
6.2 SFSU "Zen, the Bauhaus and Public Art" class
1996-1997
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Ruth was one of the teachers for this San Francisco State University class, the goal of which was the creation of a public
sculpture to be installed in a lightwell on campus. SFSU's Creative Arts Department appointed her the first Distinguished
Urban Artist, and during the Fall semester of 1996, she taught this class with eighteen graduate students from the Art Department,
one art student from Galileo and thirteen SOTA students. See also SOTA files.
Box 97, folder 4
correspondence, memoranda, notes, etc.
1996-1997
Box 47, folder 5
Ruth's Class. SFSU SOTA [video]
1996-09
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Raw footage of Ruth, other teacher, class. Mark Johnson lecture on Albers and color.
Box 47, folder 6
Ruth's Class. SFSU Field Trip to See Ruth's Artwork and Classroom Time. Sneak Preview of Belfast [video]
1996-09
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Multiple days, including 9/19/1996. Ruth and Nancy Thompson demonstrate paper folding. Mark Johnson leads class to "Crossing
Boundries: Belfast" exhibition of Irish muralists. field trip to Ghirardelli fountain, Bayside Plaza fountain, Parc55 freize.
Box 47, folder 7
SFSU. Uncatalogued [video]
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Asawa, Nancy Thompson and others working on paper folding sculpture.
Box 48, folder 4
SFSU Decision 1 and 3 [video]
1996-11-26
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Two group discussions concerning sculpture installation. Includes student and artist presentations, criticism, and remarks
from Ruth Asawa, Mark Johnson, many others. Break between recordings about 1:13:45.
6.3 origami/paper folding curriculum planning
1997
Language of Material: English.
Box 96, folder 6
correspondence, notes, etc.
Box 44, folder 2
Interviews - Mae Lee, Mary Lee, Sally Woodbridge, Ruth Asawa, Nancy Thompson. Terry Schmitt. #2 Kitchen Origami 7/97 [video]
1997-07
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Kitchen table discussion at Ruth's home about teaching with origami. recording by Schmitt.
Box 49, folder 11
Kitchen Origami. Terry Schmitt, Mae Lee, Ruth Asawa [video]
1997-07-15
Physical Description: 2 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Kitchen table discussion about educational video, including Alvarado, paperfolding and geometry.
Box 50, folder 1
Paper Folding Instruction October 3-4, 1997 [video]
1997-10
Physical Description: 3 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Geometric paper folding demonstrations at Ruth Asawa's home studio. Nancy Thompson, Mary Lee, Mae Lee?
6.4 mask making videos
Language of Material: English.
Box 46, folder 11
Masks
1998-05-19
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Class on field trip to 1116 Castro for clay mask sculpting project. Paul Lanier leads, Aiko, other teacher, Ruth assist. Raw
footage, partial duplicate.
Box 46, folder 6
Masks: Tim Houlihan & Peter Dunnigan
1994-05-07
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Life mask session in home studio. Paul Lanier, others assist.
Box 45, folder 6
Masks. Elliot Davis, Cinematographer
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Paul Lanier conducts a workshop making clay faces (with Ruth's assistance).
Box 43, folder 6
KTVU News with artist Ruth Asawa. Masks Made For the Cherry Blossom Parade. Gary Kauf, Reporter ; Willie Kee, Cameraman [notes
from both enclosed]
1989-04-01
Physical Description: 2 videotape(s) (u-matic)
Scope and Contents
"On Scene" art feature. Paul Lanier, McAteer students making Cherry Blossom Festival masks in Ruth's studio. Willie Kees life
mask. Broadcast and raw footage.
Box 46, folder 14
Jan Yanahiro + Son + Masks
2000-04-24
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Ruth and Paul at 1116 Castro studio, making life masks for a mother and son
Box 47, folder 9
Masks At Clarendon. Terry Schmitt
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
foundry tour (probably Mussi/ Berkeley Art Foundry) includes Nihonmachi origami fountain ; [33:20] life maskmaking. Shot by
Terry Schmitt
6.5 other class & workshop A/V
Language of Material: English.
Box 47, folder 12
Rooftop Workshop ; Paul's Ceramics at Alvarado ; Teachers & Parents in Ceramic Mosaic ; Aiko's Bookmaking Workshop. Uncatalogued
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Ruth Asawa and other teachers with elementary art class ; closeups of student clay sculpture ; Paul Lanier mural class ; Aiko
Cuneo bookmaking class
Box 40, folder 15
Puppet. James Dottson. Youth Guidance Center (Schools)
1977-04-27
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Puppet show, probably at 1116 Castro, using antique Chinese puppets and musicians from Flowing Stream Ensemble ; James Dottson
from Youth Guidance Center, reading aloud ; unidentified Japanese (?) music.
Box 47, folder 14
Summer Arts Workshops
1982
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Summer school art workshops (possibly Alvarado). Asawa is present but classes taught mostly by others.
Box 48, folder 11
Aiko Teaches Pop-Up Books at Alvarado
1998-11-12
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Aiko Cuneo teaching art class, making Day of the Dead altars using paper construction.
Series 7. Writing and Transcripts
1959-2007
Scope and Contents
Contains various forms of Ruth's writing, including artist's statements used for exhibitions, interview and lecture transcripts,
editorials, essays, and biographical notes. Most concern her professional career as an artist, but there is also educational
and activist writing such as the Alvarado Arts Workshop Statement of Purpose. Many other examples of her writing can be found
in the collection, especially under the Art Commission, California Arts Council, biography/portfolio and fellowship application
series. Some writing here has been copied from other series.
Box 127, folder 4
UC Berkeley Oral History
1980-1983
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Both Ruth and Albert were interviewed by Harriet Nathan of UCB's Regional Oral History Office in 1974 and 1976, resulting
in the publication of "Art, Competence and Citywide Cooperation for San Francisco" in 1980.
Box 128, folder 3
Florin JACL Oral History Project
2000
Scope and Contents
Interview by Joanne Iritani on behalf of the Florin, California chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. See Interviews
and Profiles A/V series for the audio recording.
Series 8. Alvarado Arts Workshop and Alvarado Elementary School
1964-2002
Language of Material: English.
8.1 chronological files
Language of Material: English.
Box 134, folder 6
Zellerbach Family Fund
1970-1998
Box 134, folder 9
Board of Education
1972-1974
Box 134, folder 10
SFUSD Contracts
1972-1975
Box 135, folder 2
Five Year Report - Joan Abrahamson and Sally Woodbridge
1973
Box 135, folder 6
Everett Junior High report
1974-1976
Box 135, folder 7
Joan Abrahamson notes, evaluation materials, etc.
1973-1975
Box 135, folder 8-9
SF Twin Bicentennial Interagency/Community Gardening Project
1975-1976
Box 136, folder 4, map-folder 75
Lincoln High School Creative Arts Summer School
1976
Scope and Contents
Includes UC Medical Center mural project with Asawa, Thompson, students.
Box 137, folder 1
Alternatives in Education Evaluation (CAC)
1977-1978
Box 137, folder 2
Apprentice Programs in Art
1977-1982
Box 137, folder 3
1978
Scope and Contents
Includes copies of "The Alvarado Experience."
Box 137, folder 7
1982
Scope and Contents
Alvarado is incorporated in the School of the Arts Foundation. Most files from here on concern Alvarado school.
Box 137, folder 9
Arts in Education program
1984-1987
Scope and Contents
The Arts in Education program is not explicitly Alvarado-related, but was filed here originally. The San Francisco Arts Education
Collaborative Steering Committee was chaired by Jackie Nemerovski, and members included Ruth Asawa, Fred Sonnenberg, Leah
Forbes, Myra Kopf, and various people from the SFUSD, SF Arts Commission, and SF Education Fund. Tasked with arts curriculum
planning, they held a symposium and met regularly.
Box 138, folder 3
Video Documentation Project
1997-1998
Box 138, folder 5
Alvarado history interviews by Valerie Soe
2000
8.2 photographs
Language of Material: English.
Box 220, folder 1
people (mothers, Artists in Residence, children, etc.)
Box 220, folder 2
tile mural/mosaic project
1969-1970
Box 220, folder 3
Paul Lanier tile mural/mosaic project
1998-2000
Box 220, folder 4
Nancy Thompson butterfly mural
Box 221, folder 1, Box 220, folder 5
miscellaneous murals/mosaics
Box 221, folder 2
slides, visual art (clay/masks/milk carton art)
Box 221, folder 4
slides, visual art (painting/paper/stained glass)
Box 222, folder 1
slides, visual art (baker's clay)
Box 222, folder 2
slides, visual art (projects)
Scope and Contents
banners/wall hangings, costume, batik, paper mache, plaster, prints/etchings, scarecrows, tie dye, sewing, weaving, rugmaking,
woodworking.
Box 222, folder 3
slides, performing arts (dance, music, puppetry, drama)
Box 222, folder 5
slides, secondary schools (Everett, James Lick)
Scope and Contents
Murals, puppets, etc.
Box 226, folder 5
Mission High School murals (Polytechnic site)
Box 223, folder 1
slides, Mission High School
Scope and Contents
Baker's clay, drama, campus (old Polytechnic HS), life masks, milk carton art, mime, painting, puppetry, sewing, stained glass,
tai chi, woodcarving.
Box 223, folder 2
slides, miscellaneous events, etc.
Scope and Contents
Summer School 1981, exhibitions (Noe Valley Ministry), field trips (1116, foundry, etc.), Schoolworks, Learning Center
Box 223, folder 3
slides, miscellaneous projects
Box 223, folder 4
photos for Alvarado report
1998
Box 224, folder 1
clay projects, Paul Lanier
Box 224, folder 3
Bill Horgas wood carving demo
Box 224, folder 5
Alvarado Revisited photo album
Box 226, folder 2
field trips- 1116 Castro (Alvarado)
8.3 oversize
Language of Material: English.
Box 55, folder 10
Alvarado Art Workshop Grows Up poster
1982
Scope and Contents
For 14th year anniversary, Ruth Asawa Day. With Nancy Thompson illustration.
Box 74, folder 1
Alvarado Elementary School New Art Room blueprints
1994-04-10
Box 78, folder 10
Alvarado Workshop Statement of Purpose by Ruth Asawa
Box 270, Item 1
Schoolworks Unlimited apron
Scope and Contents
Apron with Schoolworks logo, as sold in the Schoolworks store.
Box 269
Alvarado quilt
1974
Scope and Contents
Patchwork quilt made by parents, artists and teachers as a gift to Ruth.
8.4 A/V
Language of Material: English.
Box 47, folder 10
Alvarado Arts Day
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Arts Day at Alvarado Elementary School
Box 47, folder 11
Alvarado Class At Castro. Elliot's
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Alvarado Elementary School field trip to 1116 Castro. Nancy Thompson present. Shot by Terry Schmitt.
Box 54, folder 12
Edison Alvarado Art P.
1972
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Low budget self-produced audio documentary about Alvarado Art Workshop. unidentified speaker, possibly Sally Woodbridge. interview
with Alvarado principal McGinnis, teacher Marlyeen Stettner, custodian Matt Swan, artist Nancy Thompson, Edison principal
Mr. Sanchez with a second unidentified female speaker. Segments separated by singing children.
Box 43, folder 4
Evening Show, KPIX. Ruth Asawa
1977-01-20
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (u-matic)
Scope and Contents
0-6:31 news segment with Asawa at Alvarado school making life masks with children. 7:28 interview with Harlem Globetrotters
Meadowlark Lemon, Jackie Jackson [possibly raw]
Box 79, folder 6
Alvarado #1 Carlos ; Alvarado #2 Carlos NG [no good?] ; Alvarado #3
1978
Physical Description: 4 audiotape reel(s)
Scope and Contents
Raw audio for documentary? interviewing various San Francisco teachers in art, dance, theater, music, gardening, etc. (not
just Alvarado). 1a- Carlos Lorca ; Elyse Jacobs ; unknown speaker ; Miranda, Youth Guidance Center ; other speakers ; [23:58]
Ruth Asawa Lanier ; Benito Santiago ; other speakers -- 1b- recorded music and speech, unknown language. 2a- Carlos Lorca
; Barbara Manini ; Mary Ann Crandall ; George Sams ; Sal Steinberg ; other speaker -- 2b. electronic sound effects, for theater?
3a- speech, unknown language ; [1:06] Ginger Drake, CETA Artist in Residence at Mission HS ; [11:47] Ruth Asawa ; [26:19]
Benito Santiago ; [34:04] Carlos Lorca ; [43:17] speech, unknown language.
Box 48, folder 8
Annette Clark AAW Dinner Table
1997-06-28
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Alvarado Arts Workshop reunion gathering hosted by Annette [?], with Ruth Asawa, Nancy Thompson, Dottye Dean, Leah [Forbes?],
Trudy Clawson, Andrea Jepson, many others. shot by Terry Schmitt.
Box 48, folder 10
Alvarado, Nancy Thompson. Terry Schmitt. Mural Project
1998
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Nancy Thompson working with children on "Butterfly Gardens" mural at Alvarado Elementary School. Shot by Terry Schmitt.
Box 48, folder 12
Alvarado. Renegade Recess
2000-03-15
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Ruth and a woodcarver making de Young fundraiser piggybank at Alvarado during recess.
Box 48, folder 13
Alvarado Mural Installation. Easter Week 2000 / April 2000
2000-04
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Alvarado mural installation
Box 49, folder 2
Each One Teach One. The Alvarado School Art Program. by Valerie Soe and Ruth Asawa
2002
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Professionally produced program on Alvarado Arts Program.
Series 9. San Francisco School of the Arts
1973-2012
Scope and Contents
The San Francisco School of the Arts, renamed the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts in 2010, is a four-year public
high school founded by Ruth Asawa and others. SOTA's arts-intensive program within a regular academic context was modeled
after NYC's School of Performing Arts, with the Artists-in-Residence concept inherited from the Alvarado Arts Workshop. An
arts/alternative magnet school was first discussed in the early 1970s, and Ruth wrote a proposal for a High School For The
Creative Arts in 1976, but it really took until Myra Kopf's election to the Board of Education in 1980 for real planning to
begin. An ad hoc committee met for a year and a half, and in September 1982 SOTA began with a ninth grade class, adding a
class each year until June 1986's first graduating class of 65 seniors.
As a public school, it relied on San Francisco Unified's administrative support, and SFUSD's well-chronicled difficulties
in the 80s and 90s were SOTA's too. To assist with the guiding and fine-tuning of the school's mission, the SOTA Task Force
was charged in 1987, and the Laniers were active members. The SOTA Foundation developed from the Alvarado Arts Workshop, in
large part to manage fundraising for SOTA. Support came mostly from philanthropic foundations, as well as the NEA, California
Arts Council, and local organizations. Ruth was on the Foundation Board from 1980 to 1988 with six years as president. After
leaving the foundation, Ruth mostly devoted her SOTA efforts to fundraising and independent site planning.
SOTA had begun by sharing a campus and many classes with McAteer High School, but in 1985 a concerted effort had begun to
find an independent site (one in fact that continues today). In 1992, the district approved a move to 700 Font Boulevard,
an unused elementary school across from San Francisco State University. To alleviate some of the moving expenses, students
and staff volunteered to renovate the space themselves. The location's proximity to SFSU had advantages, but its remoteness
and limited size were problematic. Within a few years, Superintendent Bill Rojas promised SOTA a site at the former SFUSD
headquarters at 135 Van Ness, a location central to the Arts District which the school had long campaigned for. After innumerable
hurdles, including lawsuits, rising costs, and endless meetings, reports, and disagreements, SOTA in the end chose to return
to 555 Portola Drive after McAteer was dissolved in 2002.
Asawa's SOTA files are relatively comprehensive and there are many copies of correspondence and memoranda that she was not
directly involved with. They are chronological for the most part, except for separated administrative files, class files,
printed material related to performances and events, Albert Lanier's 135 Van Ness dossier, and others.
9.1 chronological files
Language of Material: English.
Box 139, folder 3
other alternative/arts/magnet schools
1975-1998
Box 140, folder 2
Concept Paper, Articles of Incorporation
Box 140, folder 5-6
SOTA Task Force
1987-1988
Box 140, folder 8
Noh Mask project for Cherry Blossom Festival 1989
1989
Box 140, folder 9
Projections In Performance event
1989
Scope and Contents
Ruth Asawa and Mae Lee developed folded paper sculpture for a SOTA dance performance. Herbert Bielawa did music for the piece.
Box 141, folder 4
SFUSD/Cortines correspondence
1990-1991
Box 141, folder 6
Long Term Site Committee
1991-1993
Box 141, folder 7
SOTA Task Force Letters of Support
1990-1992
Box 142, folder 5
NEH proposal for "Imagine: Arts and Humanities" lecture series
1994-1995
Box 143, folder 7
SOTA Task Force
2000-2001
Box 146, folder 6
9.2 yearbooks
1993, 1997
Language of Material: English.
Box 146, folder 7
9.3 student publications: Freestyle Expression, Epiphany, etc.
Language of Material: English.
Box 147, folder 1
9.4 PTSA "The Font" newsletter
1983-1998
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Formerly "SOTA Parents Association Newsletter," then "The Link"
Box 147, folder 2
9.5 student events and performances (non-benefit)
1984-2013
Language of Material: English.
Box 147, folder 3
9.6 gardening
Language of Material: English.
Box 147, folder 4
9.7 Governance/Power Struggles
Language of Material: English.
Box 147, folder 5
9.8 Artists vs. Teachers
Language of Material: English.
Box 147, folder 6
9.9 Asawa light correspondence
Language of Material: English.
9.10 administrative files
Language of Material: English.
Box 144, folder 5
fundraising – direct mail
Box 144, folder 6
fundraising – events, benefits
1982-1998
Box 144, folder 7
Event of the Year/National Dance Institute (NDI)/Circus Wagon project
1986
Box 145, folder 1
funding requests
1982-1989
Box 145, folder 2
funding requests
1990-1992
Box 145, folder 3
funding requests
1993-1997
Box 145, folder 6
donors: materials, products
Box 145, folder 7
financial reports and budgets
Box 145, folder 9
letterhead, other master copies
Box 146, folder 1
applications, student recruitment
Box 146, folder 3
artists-in-residence (including Asawa and non-resident guest artists)
Box 146, folder 4
staff, including PTSA, Foundation
9.11 photographs
Language of Material: English.
Box 227, folder 7
Font site (before move)
1992
Box 228, folder 1-2
Font site renovation/Workdays
1992-1994
Box 229, folder 3
paperfolding for dance performance "Breathing"
Box 230, folder 1
Japanese mask project/Cherry Blossom Festival
Box 230, folder 2
clay/ceramics projects
Scope and Contents
Includes series (probably by Allen Nomura) of Paul Lanier, Jamin Zaigert, others teaching.
Box 230, folder 5
Chantal Decleve drawing class
Box 231, folder 1
field trips (Sacramento, 1116 Castro, Embarcadero, San Jose, Foundry)
Box 232, folder 1, Box 231, folder 2-4
Creative Arts Summer School, McAteer (Middle School students)
Box 232, folder 3-4, Box 233
Service Learning
1996-1997
Box 233, folder 2-3
SFSU Class and project
1996-1997
Box 234, folder 1
slides - dance, music, visual arts, garden
Box 234, folder 2
slides – events, field trips, meetings, service learning, summer school, McAteer/Font sites
9.12 Albert Lanier SOTA/135 Van Ness files
Language of Material: English.
Box 148, folder 1
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes notebook with notes and sketches by Ruth.
Box 151, folder 1
SFUSD/Board of Education meetings
1999-2000
Box 149, folder 2-4, Box 150, folder 1-2
reports re: 135 Van Ness
Scope and Contents
Includes proposals, blueprints, EIR and other site evaluations, etc.
9.13 oversize
Language of Material: English.
Box 55, folder 4
SOTA Schematic Design [facilities blueprints]
1996-07-31
Scope and Contents
San Francisco Unified School District - Gordon H. Chong & Associates - Castro-Blanco, Piscioneri and Associates.
map-folder 72
circus wagon drawings for Event of the Year
1986
Language of Material: English.
9.14 A/V
Language of Material: English.
Box 50, folder 4
Jacque Brel. "Jamie's Tape"
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Begins with a few minutes of children dancing and pretending to play along with a recording, followed by miscellaneous student-shot
footage of SOTA at Font, including rehearsal for a production of Jacques Brel and students and Susan Stauter discussing it.
Box 47, folder 15
Highlights From The Event Of The Year. 20 Minute Version
1987-05-09
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Highlights from "Event of the Year" at War Memorial. song and dance performance by 350 San Francisco children, with narration
by Howard Hesseman.
Box 45, folder 7
Breathing: Ruth Asawa and Randee Pauvre "Projections in Performance" Theatre Artaud. Wide Shot and Closeup
1989-12
Physical Description: 2 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
"Breathing" dance performance featuring SOTA dancers and paperfolded sculpture by Asawa. Tape 1 is dance rehearsal, Tape 2
is the performance, wide shot camera followed by close up.
Box 41, folder 15
San Francisco Unified School District School of The Arts. From Bach to Bebop & Back Again
1992
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Commercial recording, see j-card for contents.
Box 41, folder 14
SOTA. Susan Stauter, Lois Gordon, Ruth Asawa. Commonweath Club
1992-01-07
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
School of the Arts panel discussion at Commonwealth Club.
Box 41, folder 13
SOTA. Luis Valdez
1992-11-13
Physical Description: 2 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Opening programs for new home for School of the Arts. Tape 1, Side A, Side B until 5:00 : afternoon speech by Luis Valdez
; unknown dramatic performance. Tape 2, Side A: Jim Gonzalez introduces principal Yvonne McClune, Commissioner Carlotta Portillo,
[7:25] Ruth Asawa [presenting bronze lifecast to Valdez], Luis Valdez
Box 47, folder 17
SOTA. Introduction to the San Francisco School of the Arts
1993-01-26
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
1. KTVU news story on first day of school at SOTA at Font. Ruth seen briefly 2. "On Our Own" SOTA promo pitch produced by
Media Arts Department
Box 47, folder 8
SFSU Class. Uncatalogued [mostly SOTA performances]
1996
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
School of the Arts Expo event with various performances Poetry, dance, music, drama ; [1:47:14] San Francisco State art class
Box 48, folder 1
SOTA. Jacques D'Amboise. Fisk Video Productions
1996-02-28
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
D'Amboise dance workshop at SOTA 1996. 33:06 ends abruptly.
Box 48, folder 6
SFCCH [SF Community Convalescent Hospital]] Mural. SOTA Field Trip
1997-03
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
SOTA field trip to mural under construction at SF Community Convalescent Hospital. Nancy Thompson, Isabelle Mixon, others
(possibly not Ruth Asawa). content ends 42:50, camera kept recording
Box 48, folder 5
SOTA Mural Dedication [SF Community Convalescent Hospital]
1997-04-11
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
Mural opening at SF Community Convalescent Hospital. Nancy Thompson, Susan Stauter, Sumiko Kawashima, Isabelle Mixon (whose
self-portraits are part of mural), singing students. Ruth Asawa and Albert Lanier are present but don't speak.
Box 48, folder 3
Jacques D'Amboise at SOTA. Dance
1998
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
D'Amboise dance workshop at SOTA.
Box 48, folder 9
Face Masks at Clarendon Oct. 98 ; Jacques D'Ambois at SOTA 98 ; Alvarado Cleanup 11/7/98
1998
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Life maskmaking at school, 39:47 D'Amboise class [duplicate] ; 48:10 school cleanup
Box 49, folder 1
SOTA. Lawrence Hamilton, Male Lead in "Ragtime." 700 Font Blvd.
2000-10-13
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Actor Lawrence Hamilton and SOTA drama teacher(?) on stage talking.
Series 10. Ruth Asawa Fund
1995-2002
Scope and Contents
The Ruth Asawa Fund was incorporated in December 1995 as a 501(c)3 organization "to bring art and artists to the children
of San Francisco" by soliciting and channeling financial contributions to arts education in the city. In November 1995, Asawa,
as co-chair of the School Of The Arts' Service Learning in the Arts Ad Hoc Committee, successfully submitted a proposal to
the Miranda Lux Foundation for a Service Learning Pilot Project which resulted in $15,000 awarded to the Ruth Asawa Fund early
the next year, and service learning was the first major Fund project. The Fund also provided life drawing models to SOTA and
brought guest teachers such as Jacques D'Amboise and Toby Klayman. Most files consist of correspondence with and reports to
various foundations, especially Philanthropic Ventures. In general these files were less organized than the rest of the collection,
and many files related to SOTA, Alvarado, the Youth Arts Festival, and other projects and workshops, some predating the Fund,
can be found here.
Box 151, folder 2
announcement, thank you notes
Box 151, folder 3
office conversation notes
Box 151, folder 4
Vashti Becktell (administrative assistant)
Box 151, folder 8
artists-in-residence resumes
Box 151, folder 10
budget, fundraising
1995-1997
Box 151, folder 11
Brian Asawa recital fundraiser
1997
Box 152, folder 6-8
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
1991-2001
Box 152, folder 9
Louise and Claude Rosenberg, Jr. Family Foundation
1992-2001
Box 152, folder 12
Wallace Alexander Gerbose Foundation
Box 152, folder 13
Wells Fargo Foundation, Libby Dietrich, consultant
Box 153, folder 2
report material
1996-1997
Box 153, folder 4
Documentation Project Proposal
1997-05
Box 153, folder 6
Wells Fargo Report/Background Information
Box 153, folder 7
report material
1998-2000
Box 154, folder 3
Deck The Hall event, Davies Symphony Hall (origami decorations)
1996
Box 154, folder 5
Neighborhood Beautification Fund Project / Eureka Valley Trails and Art Network
1998-2002
Series 11. Education and Schools, General
Box 97, folder 5
11.1 educational correspondence
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence not easily absorbed by any other series. Majority are from Asawa to such people as Bill Honig and State Assemblyman
John Vasconcellos. Subjects include educational reform, the SFUSD, the Board of Education, the Feingold Snack Program, etc.
Also included are some editorials and inquiries from arts educators.
Box 98, folder 1-4
11.2 educational resources
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Articles, reports, pamphlets, etc. concerning arts education, educational reform, and the San Francisco Unified School District.
See also clipping files on education and art education.
11.3 photographs, other school/youth art projects
Language of Material: English.
Box 226, folder 3
field trips - 1116 Castro, Jamin Zegart and class
Box 226, folder 4
puppetry
Scope and Contents
Includes Chinese puppet show at 1116 Castro.
Box 226, folder 9
Oroville, California projects
Box 226, folder 10
"Ceasefire" peace murals, Golden Gate Park
Box 227, folder 3
McKinley tile mural, etc.
Box 227, folder 4
face casting, Malcolm X
1989
Box 224, folder 6
miscellaneous projects
Scope and Contents
Includes Alaska 1975, Japanese Cultural Center cleanup.
Box 227, folder 6
slides, miscellaneous school/youth projects
11.4 oversize
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 65
Map of The City and County of San Francisco Unified School District
1971
map-folder 57
Jim Schermerhorn sketches of Rooftop Elementary school kids on playground [brochure for children's organization]
11.5 A/V
Language of Material: English.
Box 40, folder 11
All Things Considered #821018. Arts Cutaway
1982
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
NPR All Things Considered radio program about public school of the arts in New York City.
Box 47, folder 3
Schools [Class Action: A Town Hall," KQED video]
1991
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
"Class Action: A Town Hall" KQED Channel 9 panel discussion on state of California public schools
Series 12. Student Art and Correspondence
Box 157, folder 1-3, Box 158, folder 1
12.1 artist books
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Unknown origin, but probably from an adult workshop.
Box 158, folder 2
12.2 calendars
1972-2002
Language of Material: English.
Box 158, folder 3
12.3 printmaking
Language of Material: English.
Box 158, folder 4
12.4 SFUSD Creative Arts Summer School project report
1991
Language of Material: English.
Box 158, folder 5, Box 159, folder 1
12.5 Everett Junior High School Alvarado Arts Workshop project
1974-1976
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Project led by Merry Renk, Marion Norberg, and Annette Clark. Includes photographs and captions [removed from photo album],
student report, Renk draft report, and other writing.
12.6 student publications and project documentation
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Poetry, art, photographs and other work, much of which appears in magazine or scrapbook format. Many are connected with Alvarado
Arts Workshop. Some appear self-produced, others were made by teachers or workshop coordinators.
Related Materials
see also student publications in School of the Arts series.
Box 159, folder 2
1970-1973
Scope and Contents
unknown school Valentine's Day 1970 ; James Lick "Skipper's Log" Spring 1971 ; McKinley (Redwood City) 1972 ; Mission High
School "West Wing" circa 1973 (with Asawa interview).
Box 159, folder 3
"…and the sun is still shining" (Mission High School PACE project)
1972
Box 159, folder 4
Boathouse Mural project (Winfield Scott, Jedediah Smith)
1974
Scope and Contents
Alvarado project organized by Asawa.Contains photographs by Laurence Cuneo.
Box 159, folder 5
1975-1976
Scope and Contents
Documents Alvarado Arts Workshop projects at Commodore Stockton, Jefferson, and St. Philip.
Box 159, folder 6
Teaching Poetry to Kids (Dudley Stone, Daniel Webster)
1976
Box 159, folder 7
AAW Chinese Puppet Theatre Report
1977-1978
Box 159, folder 8
Facets
1977-1978
Scope and Contents
Two issues. Began at Galileo High as an AAW project, later expanded to include Mission and George Washington. Second issue
includes punk rock photo collage by Karen Wong, "courtesy CREEP magazine."
Box 159, folder 9
In Small Dreams (Opportunity II HS Creative Writing)
1978
Box 159, folder 10
California Poets in the Schools anthologies
1981-1987
Scope and Contents
"Could Sweet Taste Change Us" Edison 1981 ; "My Eyes Are All Out of Breath" California 1981 ; "Where the Hawks Hide" John
Swett 1983 ; "I Hear The Sounds" Alvarado School 1987.
Box 160, folder 1
The Giant And the Clever Children (Alvarado After School Art Class, Nancy Thompson)
1989
Box 160, folder 2
Ewald Foundation
1994-1995
Box 160, folder 3
MYEEP MegaZine Vol.3 No.1
1998-1999
Box 160, folder 4
Estudiantes de Una Gran Clase/ Students From a Great Class (Alvarado School)
2001
Scope and Contents
With portraits by Asawa.
Box 160, folder 5
miscellaneous publications (non-Bay Area)
12.7 letters and artwork from students
Language of Material: English.
Box 162, folder 2
guestbooks
1988-2002
Scope and Contents
studio registry 1988-1991 ; open studio 1991 ; field trip to 1116 Castro 2000 ; "Completing the Circle" comment book, Oakland
Museum 2002.
Box 126
two bound items [unfoldered]
Scope and Contents
Photo collages and poetry honoring Ruth's art teaching workshops (Mission High, early 1970s) ; Courthouse Square Fountain
Project (Santa Rosa, Burbank School 2/7/87, see also commission file).
Box 78, folder 11
12.8 poster from Mission High School Graphics Department "Thank You Both - Ruth Asawa, Charlie Fowlie"
1973-06-06
Language of Material: English.
12.9 MADDS (Music Art Drama Dance Science) / Youth Arts Festival
1969-2006
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Annual festival of children's art and performance in San Francisco. The first was organized by the Neighborhood Arts Program
in 1973, but various groups have sponsored it since under different names.
Box 222, folder 4
slides - MADDS festival 1973-1975, Youth Arts Festival 1978, Event of the Year 1986
Box 227, folder 2
photographs - Youth Arts Festival, MADDS 1975, Hooray For Kids Festival 1977
Box 193, folder 3
Youth Arts Festival, SOTA event posters
Box 49, folder 3
Images of the Youth Arts Festival 2006 ; DVD Movie ; A Short Documentary of Student Visual Art as People View It [video]
2006
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (dvd)
Scope and Contents
Produced program on 1986 Youth Arts Festival at de Young Museum. Asawa, Aiko Cuneo present.
Box 49, folder 4
S.F. Youth Arts Festival Gala Evening at the De Young [video]
2006-06-09
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (dvd)
Scope and Contents
informally produced program on Youth Arts Festival 1986 gala at de Young Museum. Music by SOTA Orchestra, speeches, awards
ceremony. Asawa, Paul Lanier present
Series 13. Black Mountain College
Related Materials
See also Ruth Asawa's Black Mountain College applications, records, and class notes under Juvenalia/School. Some alumni and
faculty are filed in artist correspondence.
Scope and Contents
Milwaukee State Teachers College Art Education teacher Howard Thomas had attended Black Mountain College's Summer Art Institute
in 1944 with several students including Asawa's friends Hazel-Frieda Larsen and Elizabeth Schmitt. The following summer two
other friends, Elaine Schmitt (Elizabeth's sister) and Ray Johnson signed up for the Art Institute. Asawa also applied, but
decided to go study in Mexico instead.
Meanwhile, after three years of MSTC, Asawa could not complete her degree without student teaching, but was told by her counselor
that due to lingering anti-Japanese sentiment finding an internship in the area would be difficult. Based in part on her friends'
recommendations, she decided to officially enroll at Black Mountain to study painting. Ruth spent nearly three years at BMC,
from the summer of 1946 to June 1949, with two breaks: a second trip to Mexico in the Summer 1947 and to see her family in
California the summer of 1948. Tuition was always hard to manage, and she relied on scholarships and extra work-study (including
cutting hair, laundering, and making butter) to attend. A popular student, she was even voted student moderator her last semester.
At the time, Black Mountain's pioneering educational experiment was hitting a post-war stride, and between the special summer
sessions and regular semesters, Ruth was able to study with many of the school's greatest teachers. She repeatedly took Albers'
Design and Color classes, and was a favorite student of his. She enrolled in Buckminster Fuller's Architecture and Industrial
Design class and took math and philosophy with Max Dehn, music with Charlotte Schlesinger, English with M.C. Richards, and
dance with Elizabeth Schmitt Jennerjahn and Merce Cunningham.
Since there were no grades, it was also easy to sit in lectures by Jean Varda, Jacob Lawrence, Charles Olson, Beaumont Newhall,
Leo Amino, and others. Ilya Bolotowsky, who taught art during one of the Albers' sabbaticals, described Asawa as "an excellent
draftsman. In a style all her own, she combines modern realism with the Japanese elegance of line drawing." See the Juvenalia/School
series for her class notes.
Classmates included Robert Rauschenberg (with whom she danced in Rites of Spring), Arthur Penn (who directed Ruse of Medusa,
for which Ruth made props), Joseph Fiore, Kenneth Noland, and Kenneth Snelson, but contrary to Black Mountain's reputation
many alumni did not pursue careers in the arts. Of course this is also where she met Albert Lanier, who had come from Georgia
to study architecture and design. Ruth and Albert were engaged at the school and from there moved to San Francisco, where
there was a growing community of former students and teachers.
Ruth and Albert first met Marguerite Wildenhain when she came to the College recruiting artists for the Pond Farm Workshops
in Northern California. Textile artist and designer Trude Guermonprez, who was the Jalowetz' daughter, would later teach at
Pond Farm after resigning from Black Mountain. Although there is almost no correspondence from them here, Guermonprez and
her mother Johanna Jalowetz were among the closest of former BMCers in San Francisco.
Correspondence includes letters from Mary Phelan Outten Bowles, the Dreier family, Mary Jo Slick Godfrey, Lorna Blaine Halper,
Pete and Elizabeth Schmitt Jennerjahn, Frank Eisenrath, Toni and Max Dehn, Willie Joseph, Merv Lane, Charlotte "Bimbus" Schlesinger,
Piet and Johanne Swierstra, Mary Parks Washington and many others. Original chronological order was retained.
The artist correspondence series also contains files on alumni and teachers such as the Albers, the Fullers, and Ray Johnson,
as well as Elaine Schmitt Urbain, Peggy Tolk-Watkins, Eva Heinitz, Raymond Barnhart, Remy Charlip, Marguerite Wildenhain,
Andy Oates, Lisa Jalowetz Aronson, Kate and John Swackhamer, Allan Brooks, Ragland "Rags" Watkins, and Sewell Sillman.
A great deal of the material here concerns various reunions and conferences about Black Mountain. Ruth was one of primary
organizers for the large 1992 de Young reunion/symposium, and hosted multiple parties at her house. There are many files for
this reunion, including audiovisual documentation. Some reunion participants are not otherwise represented in the correspondence
section. Likewise, there is material in the reunion section from people who were not able to attend.
13.1 correspondence with alumni and faculty
Language of Material: English.
Box 17, folder 1
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes a late 1940s letter from Lorna Halper with an Asawa drawing on the back.
Box 17, folder 2
1949-1953
Scope and Contents
Includes a letter to Asawa from her mother (in Japanese, see below for translation) 1/49; Paul Williams to the Laniers re:
Minimum House article 2/50; Max and Toni Dehn to Asawa 11/24/51 with response by Ruth; and Mervin Lane to Asawa 7/52.
translation of Haru Asawa letter by Mieko Mazza
Happy New Year. How are you, Aiko-san? Please be assured that we are healthy and working.
Thank you very much for sending us various things. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Shirts, skirts, blouse and walnuts, quite a few gifts
you sent us. Did you stay in college during your Christmas break? I expect you are having cold weather over there, too. Here
in California, we are also having very cold weather. We have frost falling every day. How did you enjoy your New Year's holidays?
Please take care of yourself as it is cold, and keep up the good work with your study. Are you going to have a school break
on February? Masako-san wrote to us and told us she will visit us in June.
January 3rd, Norwalk
From mother to Aiko-sama
Box 18, folder 5-6
re: de Young reunion and symposium
1990-1992
13.2 Mary Emma Harris
Language of Material: English.
Box 25, folder 5
CD-Rs from Mary Emma Harris
Scope and Contents
Data discs containing documents and images for the de Young retrospective.
Box 20, folder 3
13.3 Asawa-Lanier art loans, etc.
Language of Material: English.
13.4 BMC Museum and Arts Center
Language of Material: English.
Box 20, folder 5
publications
Scope and Contents
Newsletters, exhibition cards and catalogs.
Box 20, folder 6
13.5 Asheville Art Museum
Language of Material: English.
Box 24, folder 2
13.6 1970 reunion
1970-05-12
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Inspired by the publication of the Duberman book on BMC, Larry Fox organized a small reunion at a Jesuit monastery in Lenox,
Massachusetts. Contains notes from Elaine Schmitt Urbain.
Box 24, folder 3-4
13.7 1987 Bard College exhibition/symposium
1987
Language of Material: English.
Box 20, folder 7
13.8 Tampa Museum of Art exhibition
1991
Language of Material: English.
13.9 1992 de Young reunion
Language of Material: English.
Box 21, folder 4
documentation (videographer, etc.)
Box 21, folder 6
Merce Cunningham Foundation
Box 21, folder 7
list of slides for presentation
Box 21, folder 10
speaker correspondence and biographies
Box 21, folder 14
attendee addresses for distribution
Box 22, folder 1
group photo identification
Box 22, folder 2
transcript and video distribution, with release forms
Box 24, folder 1
statements and transcripts (as distributed)
Box 39
de Young Reunion guest book, March 6-8, 1992 (oversize)
1992-03
13.10 1992 de Young reunion A/V
Language of Material: English.
Box 51, folder 12
"Return to Black Mountain" by Aiko Cuneo and Sally Young
1992-03
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Black Mountain alumni reunion. Party at 1116 Castro, group photo outside. A few shots from de Young event. Starring Sophia
& Henry & [illeg.]. Edited By Fred [illeg.]. Video By: Sally Young.
Box 52, folder 3
BMC Reunion
1992-03
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Black Mountain College reunion event at de Young Museum. See other videos, audio.
Box 52, folder 4
BM Reunion. Ruth's Reception. Tape 1
1992-03-08
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
By Sally Young. Black Mountain College reunion party at 1116 Castro. Tape log enclosed.
Box 52, folder 5
BM Reunion at the De Young and the Legion of Honor. Tape 1/ Tape 2
1992-03
Physical Description: 2 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
By Sally Young. Black Mountain College reunion event at de Young Museum. 1. Different recording of second half of remarks
and panel (lesser quality) 2. de Young event continued ; [12:53] shots of 1116 Castro and neighborhood ; [16:18] second part
of Concert of Music and Dance, California Palace of the Legion of Honor. Remy Charlip dance performance followed by music
composed Lou Harrison (present at end). Tape log enclosed.
Box 53, folder 1
BMC. Camerini Inc. Manvel Schauffler Interview at Ruth Asawa's House #1 ; Schauffler & Bonge. Ruth Asawa's House #2 ; Bonge
Interview to 5 min. 20 sec. Party Shots. Ruth Asawa's House #3 ; Oberlander & Various Outtakes. Party Shots, Group Picture.
Ruth Asawa's House. CH1 transmitted; CH2 on wire #4 ; Ruth Asawa's House. Group Picture, Conversation Bites #5 ; Mervin Lane,
Ruth Asawa's House #6 ; Mervin Lane interview Cont'd. Ruth Asawa interview. Ruth Asawa's House #7 ; Ruth Asawa interview cont'd.
Ruth Asawa Home #8
1992-03-08
Physical Description: 8 videotape(s) (digital betacam)
Scope and Contents
Formal interviews with and conversation among Black Mountain College reunion participants at 1116 Castro. Some footage from
party, group photo.
Box 54, folder 1
BMC Reunion 3/6-8/1992. Master I-V
1992-03
Physical Description: 5 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Black Mountain College Reunion, de Young Museum, Trustee's Auditorium. Tape 1: Asawa introduction (also introduces each speaker)
; John Swackhamer (slides) ; Elizabeth Jennerjahn (slides, short silent film) ; Fielding Dawson -- Dawson cont. ; M.C. Richards.
Tape 2: Richards cont. ; Asawa closing remarks, museum announcement ; Joan Peterson ; Page Smith -- Merv Lane ; Manvel Schauffler
; Eve Milton ; Morton Steinau ; Sue Spaeth Riley ; Barbara Steinau ; Lucian Marquis. Tape 3: Marquis cont. ; Claude Stoller
; Robert Bliss ; Vera Williams ; Patsy Lynch Woods ; Judd Woldin ; Larry Fox ; Pete Jennerjahn ; Elaine Urbain ; Knute Stiles
; Peter Oberlander. Tape 4: Lyle Bonge ; Mary Bowles ; Mary Parks Washington ; Stanley Cooke ; Dick Spahn ; John Corkran --
Eva Jungermann ; Fielding Dawson ; Stephen De Staebler ; break ; Hannelore Hahn ; Ruth Asawa, Mark Phillips, Joan Abrahamson
(panel, Lois Gordon, moderator). Tape 5: panel cont.
Box 54, folder 2
Elaine, Rupert, Schmitt Family 3/92 ; Elizabeth Jennerjohn, Larry Fox
1992-03
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Black Mountain College Reunion, informal gatherings. Side A: multiple conversations simultaneously, probably at 1116 Castro.
Silence 15:50-26:43. different location, buffet, music. Side B: back at home, less overlapping talk. [17:00] discussion of
Ruth's childhood.
Box 54, folder 3
Betty Jennerjahn. 1116 Castro
1992-03-09
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Asawa, Jennerjahn and male speaker (Pete and or Albert?) re: reunion, Fiore, homosexuality, Duberman, Dawson, Eisendrath,
etc.
Box 54, folder 4
Pete [Jennerjahn]. BM
1992-03
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Elaine Urbain, Pete Jennerjahn, Rupert Schmitt, Albert Lanier, Ruth Asawa in casual conversation, probably at 1116 Castro
Box 54, folder 5
BMC Reunion. Lou Harrison, Legion of Honor
1992-03-07
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Ruth's recording. Concert of Music and Dance, Florence Gould Theater, California Palace of the Legion of Honor. Side A: John
Cage program. "Nocturne" (1947). David Abel, violin and Julie Steinberg, piano ; "Music For Two" (1984). Barbara Chaffe, flute
and William Winant, percussion ; "Aria" (1958). Judith Bettina, sporano ; Remy Charlip "Five Dances and Four Songs in One
Place" ; Lou Harrison program. "May Rain" (1941). Judith Bettina, soprano ; "Air for Solo Flute" (1947). Barbara Chaffe, flute
; "Songs in the Forest" (1951, edited 1992, premiere). Barbara Chaffe, flute, David Abel, violin, Julie Steinberg, piano,
William Winant, percussion, Lou Harrison, narration ; "Varied Trio" (1987). Abel-Steinberg-Winant Trio
Box 24, folder 5
13.11 1993 reunion honoring Jacob Lawrence and Gwendolyn Knight
1993
Language of Material: English.
Box 24, folder 6
13.12 1995 reunion
Language of Material: English.
13.13 interview transcripts
Language of Material: English.
Related Materials
See also Asawa statements series
Box 35, folder 1
Lanier and Asawa, "Summer of 48" draft of book chapter with edits
undated
Box 35, folder 2
Lanier and Asawa interview for Duberman book
1968-06-28
Box 35, folder 3
Lanier, Asawa, Outtens interviews by Mary Emma Harris
1971
Box 35, folder 5
Asawa College of Arts and Crafts lecture
1973
Box 35, folder 7
Asawa public television
1989
Box 35, folder 8
Asawa interview by Mary Emma Harris
1998-02-17
Box 35, folder 9
Asawa interview by Aiko Cuneo re: BMC art
2003-12-05
Box 35, folder 10-11
Harris and Cuneo working notes for BMC portion of "Contours" book/exhibition
Box 25, folder 1
13.14 miscellaneous publications (exhibitions, symposia, etc.)
Language of Material: English.
Box 25, folder 2
13.15 BMC articles
Language of Material: English.
Box 25, folder 3
13.16 new Black Mountain College
1989-1991
Language of Material: English.
Box 25, folder 4
13.17 Jonathan Williams, Jargon Society
1991-1992
Language of Material: English.
13.18 photocopies
Language of Material: English.
Box 25, folder 6
Mary Parks Washington – Albers class notes
1946
Box 25, folder 7
Elaine Schmitt correspondence home
1945-1946
Box 25, folder 8
photographs from Clemens Kalischer ; song lyrics
Box 25, folder 9
student petition [original]
Scope and Contents
Petition to Board re: accepting Charles Olson as summer faculty. Signed by several students, but not Asawa.
13.19 photographs
Language of Material: English.
Box 217, folder 1
miscellaneous alumni and faculty
Scope and Contents
Charlotte "Bimbus" Schlesinger, Ted Dreier and Drier Family, Piet and Johannes Swierstra, Peter Oberlander and Eva Heinitz
1993, Wes Huss 1998, Max Dehn's grave at BMC (photographed 1956), Robert Rauschenberg in San Francisco 1992, etc.
Box 217, folder 2
Albert Lanier and Johanna Jalowetz
1949
Scope and Contents
Copy of old print with new negative. With other BMC and family negatives.
Box 217, folder 3
Ruth Asawa in Elizabeth Schmitt Jennerjahn dance class
1948
Scope and Contents
Photographs probably by Jennerjahn. Seven original prints cut from scrapbook with new prints and negatives.
Box 217, folder 4
portrait of Asawa by Hazel-Frieda Larsen Archer
Scope and Contents
Mounted on cardboard.
Box 217, folder 5
portraits of Asawa by Hazel-Frieda Larsen Archer
Scope and Contents
Four vintage prints with new negatives.
Box 217, folder 6
miscellaneous BMC photographs (photocopies)
Scope and Contents
Sent by Frank Eisenrath, who originally took them.
Box 217, folder 7
copy of 1995 letter from Renee Siegel Collins with new print of Eisenrath photo and 3 slides
Box 217, folder 8
copy of 2009 Ted Dreier Jr. letter with photocopy of Ruth and Albert photograph (now in NC State Archive)
Box 217, folder 9
photos of Asawa and San Miguel Mission by Hazel-Frieda Larsen Archer
1957
Scope and Contents
Sent to Ruth c/o Kneedler-Fauchere (they sold her industrial designs for wall coverings).
Box 217, folder 10
BMC Reunion Bard College
1987
Box 217, folder 11-12
BMC Reunion San Francisco
1992
Scope and Contents
Many snapshots of de Young and 1116 Castro events, including some with correspondence by Elaine Schmitt Urbain, the Jennerjahns,
Frank Eisenrath. See also video.
Box 217, folder 13
BMC Reunion, group photo in front of 1116 Castro
1992
Scope and Contents
Includes Aiko's original negative.
Box 217, folder 14
BMC Reunions, etc.
1993
Scope and Contents
Lisa Aronson hosted small reunion in New York. Ruth and Albert hosted Jacob Lawrence and Gwendolyn Knight at a small gathering
at their house. Raymond Barnhart sent photos of his trip to Black Mountain in 1993.
Box 218, folder 1
BMC Reunion at Black Mountain
1995
map-folder 56
Reunion of Alumni and Friends of Black Mountain College, by Benjamin Porter
1995-10-28
Scope and Contents
Group photograph in front of Lake Eden.
Box 218, folder 2
landscape photos
2000, 2011
Series 14. Public Service
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, etc. from the various commissions, committees, councils, boards, task forces, and other
groups Ruth Asawa participated in. See also the Activism and Advocacy series.
14.1 California Arts Council
1973-2003
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Following a reorganization of the California Arts Council in 1975, Asawa served on the Council, working especially with the
Artists-in-the-Schools and Artist-in-Communities programs. Other members during her tenure included Gary Snyder, Peter Coyote,
Luis Valdez, Noah Purifoy, and Allauddin Mathieu. She chose to leave in 1979.
Box 88, folder 4
Artists-In-Communities grant applications for review
1975
Box 89, folder 1
Artists-in-the-Schools
1976
Box 89, folder 2
Alternatives in Education grant program
Box 90, folder 1
budget proposal FY
1978-1979
14.2 CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act)
1970-1982
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, a Labor Department job program, was signed in to law by president Ford in December
1973. San Francisco was the first city to recognize that these funds could be directed towards the arts. Administered through
the Office of the Mayor's Manpower Program, CETA fueled the Art Commission's Neighborhood Arts Program and to a lesser degree
the Alvarado Arts Workshop. Beginning in 1975, there were 123 allotted positions for un- or underemployed artists, with all
but the Fine Arts Museums program jointly supervised by the NAP and AAW. Workshops were held in schools, YMCAs/YWCAs, community
centers, senior homes, and even jails. As a result of these workshops, gardens, murals, theatrical performances, and many
other projects thrived, but by the early 1980s, CETA had been dismantled and San Francisco arts organizations were forced
to seek other funding sources.
Box 237
art and gardening photographs by Allen Nomura [unfoldered]
1970s
Scope and Contents
Prints mounted on cardboard, and a scrapbook featuring many of same images.
Box 88, folder 2
14.3 Commission for the Reform of Intermediate and Secondary Education (RISE Report)
1975
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
California school reform task force, with members appointed by State Superintendent Wilson Riles. Contains a typescript draft
of Asawa's contribution, as well as correspondence, memoranda, and a copy of the final report.
14.4 Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is comprised of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum and the California Palace of the
Legion of Honor. Although Asawa joined their Board of Trustees in 1989, there is relatively little material prior to 1995.
She had long been an advocate for the museums, and had worked with de Young education program coordinator Elsa Cameron and
their outreach programs (such as the Trip-Out Truck). The majority of files concern planning and fundraising for the construction
of the new de Young. Ruth remained involved with the Education Trustee Committee after having left Board around 1998. See
also her own exhibition history at the de Young and the Piazzoni Mural preservation files in the Activism series.
Box 94, folder 6
de Young articles
1997-1998
Box 95, folder 1
Children's Campaign for the New de Young Museum (Tower Piggybanks)
1999-2000
Box 47, folder 2
New de Young Tower, General. About New Building [video]
2005
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (dvd)
Scope and Contents
"Inside the New de Young Museum" KGO-TV extended profile on new museum. Asawa not featured.
14.5 National Crafts Planning Project
1980-1984
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The National Crafts Planning Project (sometimes referred to as the National Craft Council) was an early 1980s initiative sponsored
by the National Endowment of the Arts. There were many meetings across the country (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Ruth
attended many but not all of them. The majority of material here consists of reports, but there is also correspondence from
artists and other task force members.
Box 94, folder 2
March-July
1981, 1983-1984
Box 94, folder 3
National Crafts Planning Board
1982-1984
14.6 NEA (National Endowment for the Arts)
1972-1995
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The National Endowment for the Arts was involved in one way or another with many of Asawa's art education endaevors, particularly
in the 1970s. Included here are reports, memoranda and correpondence, especially about NEA's funding of Alvarado and the Artists-in-Schools
program. Ruth served on various task forces and advisory panels, attended conferences, and applied for grants. In the midst
of 1990's art funding controversy she wrote a letter to the Senate defending the NEA, and testified on their behalf in 1994.
Box 92, folder 2
Alternatives in Education (AIE) Task Force
1976
Box 92, folder 6, Box 93, folder 1
Task Force on Education, Training and Development of Professional Artists and Art Educators of the National Council of the
Arts, Subcommittee on Art Education
1977-1978
Box 93, folder 2
AIS Panel Policy Meeting
1978
Box 41, folder 9
Ruth Asawa Panelist on NEA, KQED "Forum" [audio]
1992-07-06
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
KQED "Forum" radio program re: NEA funding, featuring panel: Peter Hiro, Andy Grundberg, Ruth Asawa, Neil Wellever.
14.7 The New Older Woman, Esalen Institute
1991
Language of Material: English.
Box 166, folder 2
correspondence, notes, etc.
14.8 President's Commission on Mental Health
1977-1978
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Jimmy Carter created the President's Commission on Mental Health in December 1977, and Asawa served for one year on a Task
Panel for the Role of the Arts in Therapy and Environment.
Box 91, folder 3
articles, white papers, other reference sources
14.9 San Francisco Art Commission
1960-2013
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Ruth Asawa served on the San Francisco Art Commission (since renamed the San Francisco Arts Commission) from 1968 to 1975,
and continued to work with the Commission following her last term. She was chairman of the Visual Arts Committee, was appointed
to the Civic Design, Planning and Art Enrichment Committee, and did much of the organizing for the annual San Francisco Arts
Festival. Asawa had displayed her work at the festivals since the 1950s. This series contains commission and committee meeting
minutes, reports, and memoranda, as well as Asawa's own notes, draft correspondence, and public statements. There is a great
deal of material on the politically charged emergence and development of the Neighborhood Arts Program, as Asawa was on the
NAP Ad Hoc Committee. See also the CETA and Alvarado Arts Workshop series, and correspondence from fellow commissioners elsewhere.
Box 84, folder 5
Neighborhood Arts Program
1968
Box 84, folder 6
Vaillancourt fountain articles
Box 85, folder 1-2
Neighborhood Arts Program
1970
Box 86, folder 1-3, Box 85, folder 4-6
Box 87, folder 1, Box 86, folder 6
Box 87, folder 2
BART Art Council
1973-1974
Box 87, folder 5
Presidio Arts Concept Plan
1994-1995
Box 234, folder 3
photographs
1972-1976
Scope and Contents
Mostly from annual Art Festival. Includes signed photos with then-mayor Alioto
Box 78, folder 12
Neighborhoods Arts Program printed fliers for Galeria De La Raza and SF Black Writers Workshop
Box 169, folder 2
14.10 San Francisco Symphony Association Community Advisory Board, Symphony-in-Schools Program
1970
Language of Material: English.
14.11 SCRAP
1976-2010
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The Scrounger's Center for Reusable Art Parts (SCRAP) was founded in 1975 by Ann Marie Theilen of the San Francisco Art Commission.
At the time, the Commission's CETA workshops employed 140 artists but had no supplies. SCRAP was able to solicit industrial
overage of various materials and distributed it to artists as well as conducting on-site worskhops. Asawa was on the SCRAP
Board and served as president. Long-time Treasurer Dorice Murphy's files were given to Ruth and are now mixed with hers. SCRAP
continues today: http://www.scrap-sf.org.
Box 156, folder 7
Children's Book Project, Vicki Pollack
Box 156, folder 8
miscellaneous reference publications
Box 226, folder 1
photographs, SCRAP workshops (Alvarado)
Box 225, folder 4
photographs, SCRAP workshops
Box 79, folder 10
SCRAP [video]
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (hi-8)
Scope and Contents
School field trip to SCRAP. Children making rainsticks from recycled material. Asawa is present, speaks briefly.
14.12 committee and event documentation
Language of Material: English.
Series 15. Activism and Advocacy
1957-2012
Scope and Contents
Files concerning the Lanier's political and social advocacy work. This broad range of activities includes urban planning and
historical preservation (Civic Center Plaza, Goodman Building, Noe Valley Public Library, Eureka Valley Promotion Association,
Neighborhood Beautification Fund), environmentalism and gardening (especially the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners),
artist's rights (Artists Equity, Art Enrichment Program, Bay Area Lawyers for the Arts), feminism (San Francisco Women Artists,
Women's Caucus For Art), and Japanese American cultural affairs (JACL, NJAHS, Bilingual Bicultural Project). This series is
arranged chronologically for the most part, with separate files for printed material (and some correspondence) from some organizations.
Other organizations in this series include the Community Music Center, Artists Embassy International, Creativity Explored,
and the Farm. See also the Public Service series.
15.1 chronological files
Language of Material: English.
Box 163, folder 1
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes early 50s San Francisco Women Artists application for general membership. Asawa was nominated by Imogen Cunningham.
Box 163, folder 12
Artist Law
1977
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, reports and guides from Bay Area Lawyers for the Arts and others concerning a charter requirement for art
enrichment in public buildings, as well as contract law, rights of resale, reproduction, and other matters. See also Artists
Equity.
Box 164, folder 5
Legislation
1982-1989
Scope and Contents
Includes California State Summer School of the Arts funding, Art in Public Buildings Bill, California State Foundation for
the Arts Advisory Committee, etc.
Box 165, folder 6
Diego Rivera "Pan American Unity" mural at City College
1989-1993
Scope and Contents
When the City College of San Francisco announced their decision in 1989 to move the Diego Rivera "Pan American Unity" mural,
many people opposed the plan. Involved were various campus groups, artists, historians, and the San Francisco Art Commission.
Also among those protesting were Emmy Lou Packard, who had been Rivera's assistant on the work in the late 1930s, and her
friend Ruth Asawa, who had met Rivera and watched him paint in Mexico. The mural remains installed in the campus theater lobby.
Packard and Asawa also worked together to preserve the Rincon Annex murals.
Box 165, folder 8
Goddess of Democracy
1989-1993
Scope and Contents
Following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, the San Francisco Goddess of Democracy Project wanted to present the city with
a bronze statue modeled after the original Goddess that had been part of the demonstration. Asawa was on the site task force
with Lawrence Halprin and others. The statue, which was sculpted by Thomas Marsh and others, was installed in Portsmouth Square
Park in 1994.
Box 167, folder 1-3
Committee to Retain the Piazzoni Murals
1997-1999
Scope and Contents
In 1996, the design for the new Asian Art Museum in the former San Francisco Public Library called for moving the original
Gottardo Piazzoni murals, which were felt to be inappropriate for the museum. In response, many groups expressed concern for
their safety. Some argued that they should remain, while others sought an appropriate new location for them. In the end, after
a three year struggle including a failed lawsuit and a great deal of mudslinging, the murals were restored and installed at
the new M.H. de Young Museum. The Laniers were very involved in the preservation battle, and Ruth's role as a Fine Arts Museums
trustee probably helped with determining the de Young site.
Box 168, folder 4
15.2 Artists Equity Association, Incorporated, Northern California Chapter
1974-1992
Language of Material: English.
Box 168, folder 5
15.3 Bethany Center
1989-2012
Language of Material: English.
Related Materials
See also Bethany Mosaic material under Public Art Projects.
Box 168, folder 6
15.4 Exploratorium
1975-1995
Language of Material: English.
Box 169, folder 1
15.5 Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center
Language of Material: English.
Box 169, folder 3-4
15.6 SLUG (SF League of Urban Gardeners)/Gardening/CETA Bicentennial
1974-2004
Language of Material: English.
Box 169, folder 5
15.7 Teatro Campesino
Language of Material: English.
Related Materials
See also Luis Valdez material in School of the Arts series.
15.8 oversize
Language of Material: English.
Box 193, folder 2
political posters [mostly election campaigns]
map-folder 56
First Annual Artists' Soapbox Derby poster [Asawa designed a trophy]
1974
15.8 A/V
Language of Material: English.
Box 43, folder 7
Anti-War Protest / Ruth Asawa
1991-02-09
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Unknown local news segment. Vietnam vets anti-war protest downtown, meanwhile in Golden Gate Park, Asawa organizes temporary
peace mural
Box 47, folder 4
Paintbrush Diplomacy: Making Friends Through Art
1989
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Program by San Mateo organization Paintbrush Diplomacy about their efforts to promote peace through the exchange of art between
Russia and the United States.
Box 49, folder 10
Honoring The Past, Celebrating The Future. Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program. Aureus Media
2003
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
self-produced program on JBBB on 30th anniversary, founded by Phyllis Matsuno (later Alvarado Elementary principal), Naomi
Nishioka, Nob Fukuda, Will Tsukamoto, and Kay Higashi. K-5 public education program, mostly at Clarendon
Box 49, folder 5
The Women's Caucus For Art. Small Planet Productions
1993
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Introduction to organization followed by 1993 awards ceremony. Asawa honored along with several others. Mary Emma Harris tribute/slide
show, Asawa accepting award.
Box 49, folder 7
Alumnae Resources. 1999 Wave
1999
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Alumnae Resources honors "Women of Achievement, Vision, and Excellence" (WAVE) Ruth Asawa Lanier, Marian Cleeves Diamond,
Gladys Hu, and Marie Fielder
Series 16. Fellowships and Grants
Scope and Contents
Contains applications and related correspondence. The majority chronicle Ruth's repeated attempts to secure a fellowship from
the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Despite her fruitful fundraising for arts education, her efforts to receive
grants for her own work were less successful. However, these applications, and especially her artist's statements, provide
an excellent perspective on her vision of herself as a working artist and the development of wire crocheting techniques in
the 1950s.
Her sponsors, some of whom also wrote reference letters, make an impressive list; they include Josef Albers, Buckminster Fuller,
Imogen Cunningham, Bartlett Hayes (Addison Gallery director), John Entenza (Arts and Architecture editor), sculptor Richard
Lippold, June Wayne (Tamarind Lithography Workshop), Grace McCann Morley (SFMA director), Thomas Hawe (Palace of Legion of
Honor director), Alfred Frankenstein (SF Chronicle critic), Jean Lipman (Art in America editor), and Philip Johnson (an early
patron).
There are also photographs (including otherwise unpublished images by Imogen Cunningham) and half-tone images of her art in
the applications, most of which are bound in paper folders. Some also exist as incomplete copies or drafts. See also the Biography/Portfolio
series, and the various Tamarind fellowship files.
Box 129, folder 1
Guggenheim application
1952
Box 129, folder 2
Guggenheim application
1955
Box 129, folder 3
Guggenheim application (no portfolio)
1956
Box 129, folder 4
correspondence re: Guggenheim, Graham Foundation
1957-1958
Box 129, folder 5
Guggenheim application
1959
Box 129, folder 6
fellowship correspondence
1960-1967
Scope and Contents
Guggenheim, Graham, National Teacher Corps Project, etc.
Box 129, folder 7
Guggenheim application
1971-1972
Box 129, folder 8
National Endowment for the Arts
Box 129, folder 9
Guggenheim application
1987
Box 129, folder 10
Guggenheim application
1994
Box 129, folder 11
Civil Liberties Public Education Fund
1996
Box 129, folder 12
grant correspondence
1998-2001
Series 17. Awards and Honors
1960-2013
Scope and Contents
Recognition of Asawa's accomplishments in the form of awards and other honors. Contains correspondence, photographs, and other
documentation, including some of the actual awards, trophies and proclamations. Also filed here are Ruth's honorary degrees
from the University of Wisconsin, San Francisco State, California College of Arts and Crafts, and the SF Art Institute, and
memorial acknowledgements from the California State Senate and others.
Box 235, folder 4-5
Ruth Asawa Day photographs
1982
Box 272, Box 273
trophies, plaques, medals, etc.
Box 235, folder 3
photographs
Scope and Contents
Includes images from the following award ceremonies and events: Jefferson Award ; American Institute of Architects Award ;
Cable Car Award 1973 ; Kirkwood Award 1974 ; Phelps-Dodge Award ; Firestone ; signed photo with Rosalyn Carter ; Rennaisance
Faire 1985 ; Asawa with mayor Willie Brown ; signed photo with Barbara Boxer ; Asawa and Ambassador of India Kaul (he hosted
a reception in her honor when she won the AIA award. one photo also features Ravi Shankar) ; Women Artists Picnic honoring
Ruth, with Hisako Hibi ; Milwaukee Teaching Credential ; SF State Honorary Doctorate ; Precita Eyes Muralist award, etc.
Box 131, folder 5
miscellaneous ephemera
Scope and Contents
Susan Stauter speech mentioning Asawa, stencil portrait, school report, map of her commissions in San Francisco, etc.
Box 193, folder 8-9
oversize
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Includes various city and state government honors, Master of Fine Arts diplomas from San Francisco State and the San Francisco
Art Institute, AIA 1974, Ruth Asawa Day, San Francisco Art Commission awards, etc.
Series 18. Correspondence, Personal
Scope and Contents
Includes postcards, holiday and birthday cards, thank you notes, fan mail, appeals, and other relatively superficial communication,
but also more significant exchanges. Included are letters from Edith Lowe, her art teacher at Norwalk High; Harold Alexander,
a doctor who had met Ruth on the train to Rohwer; journalist Mary Oyama Mittwer who was at Santa Anita Relocation Center;
MSTC students Marge Voshnik Fiasca and Beth Christel Vierregge (whom Ruth lived with); Celia Sieverts and Joe Friebert, both
of whom Ruth worked babysitting for in Milwaukee; Susanah and Gabriela Sotres, Ruth's host family in Mexico; and Mary Montgomery
Childs, who was with her in Mexico in 1947.
Original chronological order was retained. As with most other correspondence series, almost all are incoming. Letters and
cards are typically from friends, schoolmates, current and former teachers and students, politicians, neighbors, and some
Lanier and Asawa family members (see also the family series). While the majority are filed in artist and professional correspondence
series, there are art-related letters here, including some from patrons, collectors, artists, and musicians. Among the most
prolific writers here are Marlyeen Stettner, Roy Leeper and Gaylord Hall, Lee and Jack Churchill, Joan Abrahamson, Dottye
Dean, Lili Fabilli Osborne, Jean Minasian, and Pansy Ryan. Other correspondents of note include Phyllis Matsuno, William and
Joan Roth (also in other series), Paul and Ruth Sherrill, and members of the Zellerbach family.
Box 34, folder 5
correspondence with enclosed photographs
Box 258, Box 259, Box 262, Box 263, Box 260, Box 261, Box 256, Box 257
cards and fan mail
Scope and Contents
Arranged chronologically. Cards and other similiar material in other correspondence series.
Series 19. Calendars, Planners, Notebooks, etc.
1956-2002
Scope and Contents
Contains notebooks, day planners, calendars, datebooks, phone logs, address books, mailing lists, and related material. Many
notebooks have sketches and doodles by Asawa. Refer to the numbered notebooks in the art series for more of these. Arrangement
is chronological, although many notebooks span multiple years or have significant gaps and unused portions, and some are barely
used at all. Albert and other family also used the notebooks and logs.
Box 179, folder 2
1956, 1959, 1964, 1967, 1969
Box 180, folder 1
undated early 70s, 1971, 1973
Box 187, folder 1
1985-1986
Scope and Contents
Includes diary from her lupus attack.
Box 192
oversize wall calendars [unfoldered]
Box 271
realia
Scope and Contents
Buttons, nametags, ID cards, business cards, etc.
Series 20. Clipping Files, Bibliography
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Newspaper and magazine articles about or mentioning Ruth Asawa. Most are clippings but there are also entire issues. Many
feature photographs of Ruth and her art and commissions. Some 1950s magazines feature Ruth and Albert's industrial designs
in advertisements, and wire sculptures as props in fashion photographs. Many articles, editorials, and columns are from the
San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, Noe Valley Voice, and the Japanese American paper Hokubei Mainichi. An index
based on these clipping files, including a listing of books, has been posted in the Stanford Digital Repository as the Ruth
Asawa Bibliography: http://purl.stanford.edu/xx128db6087
Box 265, Box 266
books
Scope and Contents
Assorted books and publications, the majority of which either refer to Asawa or include her work. Some are inscribed copies.
Most are not available in the Stanford library catalog. Refer to the bibliography for a more comprehensive list.
Series 21. Biographies and Portfolios
Related Materials
See also grant and fellowship applications.
Box 129, folder 13
biographies, CV/resumes, etc.
Box 275
unpublished promotional brochure
early 1950s
Scope and Contents
Probable maquette, "never got printed" according to note.
Box 99
bound portfolio [unfoldered]
circa 1974
Scope and Contents
"Compiled 1969" but probably from 1974 (Art Commission appointment listed in CV). Many photographs by Paul Hassel, Imogen
Cunningham, and Rondal Partridge.
Box 132, folder 3
portfolio binder
circa 1986
Box 132, folder 7
portrait for biographies by Allen Nomura
1986
Box 132, folder 5
Alvarado/SOTA scrapbook
1986
Scope and Contents
"Made by woman from arts collective"
Box 132, folder 6
bound photocopies of articles
circa 1990
Series 22. Juvenalia, School
Related Materials
See also school drawings, sketches, and scrapbook in Art series.
Scope and Contents
Contains notes, artifacts, and other material from Asawa's childhood and schooling in California, Mexico City, Milwaukee,
Black Mountain, and San Francisco.
22.1 Norwalk
Language of Material: English.
Box 173, folder 8
miscellaneous
Scope and Contents
Birth certificate; Bellflower Old Timers Reunion flier 1996; Norwalk historical tour brochure; Hargitt House material.
Box 173, folder 9
Norwalk history books (2)
Box 173, folder 10
Norwalk School
1939
Scope and Contents
Staff photograph 10/5/39 (includes Gwendolyn Cowan, Asawa's seventh grade art teacher) ; program for "White Gypsy" performance
4/27/39 (Ruth played one of the gypsies, her friend Alice played piano) ; homework assignments, mostly September 1939 (also
some schoolwork and drawings from her sister Chiyo).
Box 78, folder 15
Current Events: The National School Newspaper
1938-1939
Scope and Contents
Ruth's name is written on most issues.
Box 173, folder 11
Excelsior High School
1939-1996
Scope and Contents
Program for 1939 Christmas concert ; Class of 1943 50th reunion material 1993 (including copy of Asawa letter re: internment)
; Excelsior Life (alumni editions) 1995-1996.
Related Materials
See the Japanese-American Internment series for more material related to Ruth's education. She continued her studies informally
while at Santa Anita and graduated from high school at Rohwer.
Box 55, folder 12
Excelsior school newspapers
1939-1941
Scope and Contents
Excelsior Life and Excelsior Spotlight. In Spotlight dated 5/23/1939, Ruth's older sister Lois is listed as a reporter and
is mentioned in an article: "Miss Lois Asawa will leave for Japan to enroll in an English Language College in June. Miss Asawa
will spend a day at Treasure Island, and hopes to stop over in Honolulu enroute to Japan." In an October 1940 Excelsior Life,
Ruth is on the publicity committee for a surrealism-themed dance.
Box 40, folder 9
Excelsior Reunion [audio]
1993-09-19
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
22.2 Milwaukee State Teachers College
1943-1946
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Ruth attended MSTC from September 1943 to June 1946.
Box 173, folder 12
yearbooks
1945
Scope and Contents
In the Ivy Annual 1945, Elaine Schmitt is on the art staff and Asawa is listed as "art contributor." Although nothing is attributed,
Ruth and Elaine did the faculty caricatures and other incidental illustrations. Ruth is also on C.W.A. [i.e. Civil Works Administration?]
Board, and is in their group photograph. There is also a photocopy of a different yearbook with pictures of Ruth and Elaine,
as well as her friends Ruth Ewart Muehlmeier and Edith Maletz.
Box 173, folder 12
drawing of mollusk
1946-04-12
Scope and Contents
Presumed to be from MSTC.
Box 173, folder 12
etching from 4th year class
1945
Box 173, folder 12
transcripts
Scope and Contents
Includes her 1999 degree award from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
22.3 University of Mexico, Mexico City
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 1
Mexican History class notes, July-August
1945
Scope and Contents
Notebook containing many drawings and doodles in addition to class notes.
22.4 Black Mountain College
Language of Material: English.
Related Materials
See other Black Mountain College series for correspondence and reunion files.
Box 174, folder 2
application for Spring 1946 [photocopy]
1945-10-02
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 3
application for 1946 Summer Art Institute [photocopy]
1946
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 4
application for Fall 1946 [photocopy]
1946-07
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 5
scholarships [originals and copies]
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 6
grades/evaluations [photocopies]
1946-1949
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 7
correspondence - Asawa and college administration [photocopy]
1944-1948
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 8
transcript [originals and copies]
1951
Language of Material: English.
22.5 Black Mountain College class notes
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 9
Albers (etc.) class notes
undated
Language of Material: English.
Box 174, folder 10
Albers class notes July-August
1946
Box 174, folder 11
Jean Varda design class notes July-August
1946
Box 174, folder 12
M.C. Richards class notes September-October
1946
Box 174, folder 13
Albers class notes Spring
1947
Box 174, folder 14
Schlesinger music class notes Spring
1947
Box 174, folder 15
Dehn math class notes
1947-1948
Existence and Location of Copies
161 pages of notes have been scanned.
Box 174, folder 16
Schlesinger music class notes Spring
1948
Box 174, folder 17
Albers class notes
1948-1949
Box 175, folder 1
Tsui, Albers, Olson etc. class notes
1949-early 1950s
Scope and Contents
notebook labeled "Biology: Dr. Tsui." Includes notes from General Biology Spring 1949, Albers class Spring 1949, an audited
Charles Olson class, and later Silkscreening class notes from San Francisco State College.
Box 175, folder 2
miscellaneous typed classwork
Scope and Contents
essay on Paul Klee ("from first year") ; senior exam first semester 1946-1947 (photocopy only)
Black Mountain College note pages used in the 2006 Asawa Retrospective at de Young Museum
Box 175, folder 3
"Sonata Sketch" (from music class)
[1946]
Box 175, folder 8
"Meaning of Form, Mirror Drawing" (Albers design class, Summer Institute 1946)
1946-07-03
Box 175, folder 9
"F and Meander" [design class, Summer Institute 1946)
1946-07-16
Box 175, folder 3
"Greeks - Romans" (design class, Summer Institute 1946)
1946-07-16
Box 175, folder 5
"Proportional 1-2-3-4" (design class, Summer Institute 1946)
1946-07-31
Box 175, folder 10
"Art is Order" (Albers design class, Summer Institute 1946)
1946-08-07
Box 175, folder 6
"Figure Background" (Albers design class, Spring 1948)
1948-05-05
22.6 SF State
Language of Material: English.
Box 175, folder 12
1951-1953
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence concerning credits for her BMC classes, her library card from Spring 1953, an exam essay on the Constitution,
dance notation notes, mimeographed folk dance music, and other loose notes and handouts.
Series 23. Japanese American Internment
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
The Asawa family was among the 110,000 West Coast Japanese Americans interned during World War Two. Following Executive Order
9066 Ruth's father Umakichi was arrested in February 1942 by FBI agents and sent to a camp in New Mexico. Two months later,
the Asawas were ordered to report to nearby Santa Anita Assembly Center, a hastily converted race track. After several months
of waiting, they were transferred to Rohwer War Relocation Center in McGehee, Arkansas. Ruth was in Rohwer for eighteen months,
although her mother Haru stayed through 1945.
At Santa Anita, college students organized classes for younger students so they wouldn't get too behind in their studies.
Held in the track's bleachers, they taught Ruth English, Math, Geometry and Art. Her sister, who had attended Long Beach State,
taught English. Drawing was taught by former Disney Studio artists Tom Okamoto, Chris Ishii (who created the Lil' Neebo comic
while at Santa Anita), Robert Shiroruro Kuwahara, and James Tanaka. Ruth often acknowledged the influence her art teachers
had on her, especially Okamoto. "No other 16 year-old Americans were receiving (and still aren't) such training: many hours
of instruction and practice with professional artists." Other artists at Santa Anita included Shingo Nishiura, Kinichi Nakanishi,
Shinkichi Tojiri, and Hideo Date.
At Rohwer, Asawa took art classes from Mabel Rose Jamison (later known as Jamie Vogel). They corresponded later, and Jamison
sent Ruth her old artwork. Other artists at Rohwer included painter Henry Sugimoto and George Akimoto, who drew Lil Dan'l
cartoons for the Rohwer Outpost.
Ruth graduated from high school in July 1943. With the assistance of the Quaker Japanese American Student Relocation Council,
she was told she could continue her study in the Midwest, but not either coast. Since tuition for her first choice, the Art
Institute of Chicago, was too expensive, she decided on the more affordable Milwaukee State Teacher's College, where she would
train as an art teacher.
This series contains correspondence with family, friends, and former teachers ; ephemera including camp newspapers and the
Rohwer High School yearbook (with uncredited drawings by Asawa, who was art editor) ; notes and interviews ; material related
to camp reunions and monument efforts ; reparation paperwork ; reference material for creating the San Jose Internment Memorial,
including photographs and photocopied images, articles, newsletters, and magazines such as Nikkei Heritage and the Japanese
American National Museum Quarterly. More of this general background information is located with the Memorial files.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japanese Americans -- Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945
World War, 1939-1945 -- Japanese Americans.
23.1 Santa Anita Assembly Center
Language of Material: English.
Box 172, folder 4
Santa Anita Pacemaker Vol.1 No.3 April 28, 1942
1942
Language of Material: English.
Box 172, folder 4
sketches of Santa Anita Racetrack
1994-04-12
Scope and Contents
Two sides of a Lafayette Manufacturing envelope, drawn as Ruth remembered it. A news program shows her drawing it while sitting
in the grandstand.
Box 172, folder 4
miscellaneous photocopied photographs
23.2 Rohwer Relocation Center
Language of Material: English.
Box 172, folder 5
Jamison Art Club drawings
1943
Scope and Contents
Photocopies of art from Vogel's collection, mostly by Sam Ichiba.
Box 172, folder 5
Jamison Art Club: list of Asawa art
Scope and Contents
List of Ruth's art from Vogel with notes, probably for 2001 Fresno show.
Box 172, folder 5
miscellaneous photocopied photographs
Box 172, folder 5
Selected Photos, Evacuation and Internment of Japanese/Americans from West Coast : Stockton Assembly Center and Santa Anita
Assembly Center to Rohwer Relocation Center, McGehee, Arkansas, 1942-1945. [On cover: War Relocation Authority, Rohwer Relocation
Center, McGehee, Arkansas 1942-1945] [Los Angeles]: TecCom Productions, 1989
Scope and Contents
Published edition of photographs from U.S. Army Signal Corp., Associated Press and others.
Box 172, folder 5
George Akimoto, "Lil' Dan'l: One Year in a Relocation Center"
1989
Scope and Contents
1989 reproduction (with new typeset) of Akimoto's 1944 comic book "Lil' Dan'l: One Year in a Relocation Center," with enclosed
Hokubei Mainichi article. Akimoto, who lives in Stockton, had the reproduction made himself. His art was also featured in
the Rohwer Outpost.
Box 172, folder 5
Rohwer Center High School Class of 1943 Commencement program [photocopy]
1943-07
Scope and Contents
With Ruth, George and Victor Asawa.
Box 172, folder 5
research photos and negatives
Scope and Contents
Most are derived from print sources.
Box 172, folder 6
Rohwer Outpost letterhead stationery
Scope and Contents
Asawa was editor for one issue of the camp newspaper.
Box 172, folder 6
Leisure Time Program Groups, Summer
1943
Box 172, folder 7-8
Delta Round-Up yearbook Spring
1943
Scope and Contents
Two bound copies, one of which was Asawa's and is heavily inscribed, two unbound partial copies with no inset photographs
(probably proofs), and one photocopy. Ruth, who was the uncredited art director for the yearbook, is probably the artist behind
several caricatures and other illustrations.
Box 172, folder 9
Rohwer Restoration Project
1994-02-02
Scope and Contents
Letter from project coordinator George Sakaguchi with photographs of monuments at Jerome and Rohwer.
Box 172, folder 10
Laurie: Rohwer Today
Scope and Contents
Photographs of Rohwer monuments and gravestones (probably by Addie Lanier).
Box 173, folder 1
Rohwer High School reunion program
1980-05
Scope and Contents
Reunion was in Stockton, California. Program includes reproduced letters from Vogel/Jamison and Betty Hunter, whose father
was Dr. Hunter, who had assisted with monument upkeep.
Box 173, folder 2
Rohwer Outpost [reunion edition] No.1-3, 5-8
1989-1990
Scope and Contents
published by the First Rohwer Reunion Committee.
Box 173, folder 3
First Rohwer Reunion
1990
Scope and Contents
This reunion took place July 20-21, 1990 in Los Angeles. File contains a "mini-yearbook," booklet and program, as well as
photographs, slides, and negatives. The yearbook features photos of Ruth, Addie and other Asawa family members, including
Chiyo Asawa Knewbow, George and Florence Asawa Hamamoto, George and Sako Asawa, George and Masako Asawa, Janet Asawa Davis,
Lois Asawa Shishido, Joe and Mary Asawa Oye, and Stella Asawa Yano.
Box 173, folder 4
Rohwer Reunion III
2001-10
Box 173, folder 5
notes about camp
Scope and Contents
Includes speech draft, 1998 student interview, document recounting Asawa family activity during the war.
Box 78, folder 13
unidentified student art [not by Asawa]
Scope and Contents
Most or all from Rohwer according to attached notes.
Box 173, folder 7
23.3 miscellaneous
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
American Friends Service Committee policy handbook ; address label from father to Milwaukee 8/7/44 ; Lois Asawa's menu from
MS Tatuta Maru 10/29/1941 (with sketches presumably by her).
Box 171, folder 3
23.4 conferences, exhibitions, other events
1976-2010
Language of Material: English.
Box 171, folder 5
23.5 Day of Remembrance Curriculum Committee
1990-1991
Language of Material: English.
23.6 correspondence
Language of Material: English.
23.7 A/V
Language of Material: English.
Box 79, folder 11
Ruth Asawa Interview on Japanese American Internment Camps During World War II. Granby High School [Norfolk, Virginia] 9th
Grade World History, History Day Project [audio]
1998-03-16
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
High school students Robin Veracruz, Lauren Leaptrot, and Stephanie Owens interview Ruth Asawa about her internment experience.
See transcripts. The students sent Ruth their interview form with their notes along with a copy of the tape.
Box 43, folder 3
NBC Reports "Guilty By Reason of Race" [video]
1972-09-19
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
NBC documentary re: Japanese-American Internment. NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE; FILMS
INCORPORATED/PMI; 1972. 18:34 Santa Anita
Box 49, folder 8
The New Americans #110. Starting Over: Japanese Americans After The War. B. Somerville, KCSM
1996
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Produced and directed by Dianne Fukami, Copyright 1996 San Mateo County Community College District.
Box 49, folder 9
A Personal Matter: Gordon Hirabayashi Vs. The United States. Crosscurrent Media
1992
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Not digitized. Copyright 1992, The Constitution Project. 2011 DVD Distributed by Center for Asian American Media
Box 173, folder 6
23.8 reparations paperwork
1988-1991
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Includes photocopy of Asawa's reparation check from the United States government.
23.9 reference material, publications
Language of Material: English.
Box 170, folder 1
Nikkei Heritage (NJAHS)
1991-1996
Box 170, folder 2
National Council for Japanese American Redress newsletter
1987-1989
Box 170, folder 3
Japanese American National Museum Quarterly
1989-1996
Box 170, folder 4
other periodicals
Scope and Contents
NJAHS Focus, JANL Bulletin, Nikkei Family, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California newsletter.
Box 169, folder 6
other publications
Scope and Contents
brochures, pamphlets, three different photocopies of conspiracy tract "War Lords of Washington," sent by Asawa's cousin Stella.
Box 169, folder 7
calendars
1989-1996
Scope and Contents
From the National Japanese American Historical Society and Japanese American National Museum.
Series 24. Family
Scope and Contents
Files concerning the Asawa and and Lanier families. Much more can be found in other series, especially Aiko Cuneo and Paul
Lanier, both of whom taught art and worked on commissions. Letter from Ruth's mother filed under Black Mountain College.
Box 175, folder 13
Albert Lanier
Scope and Contents
letterhead from architecture firm ; notebooks with phone messages and SOTA-related notes 1976, 1996-1999 ; real estate ad
for home he designed ; Ruth and Albert 40th Anniversary invitation ; memorial program with drawings by Asawa ; obituaries
from Noe Valley Voice and SF Chronicle ; condolence from Board of Supervisors, etc.
Box 175, folder 14
Asawas
Scope and Contents
Asawa family documentation ; card from sister Janet, correspondence with first cousin Stella Yano (more elsewhere) ; color
copies of 1976 photographs of family gathering in Idaho, etc.
Box 175, folder 15
Ruth with Albert's Family in Georgia [photographs]
1949
Scope and Contents
Photographs, both original and copies, of Ruth in Georgia with Laurie Pearson, Ann and Peggy.
Box 175, folder 16
miscellaneous
Scope and Contents
Family cards, letters, photographs, notebook (with Japanese writing lessons, children's art, some Ruth sketches), etc.
Box 175, folder 17
Paul Lanier
Scope and Contents
mostly exhibition announcements for his pottery.
Box 175, folder 18
Brian Asawa
Scope and Contents
Brian, a professional singer, is Ruth's nephew. Contains a postcard, fliers, promotional material, and articles. See also
Secondary Uses file.
Box 175, folder 19
lupus get well soon cards
Series 25. Audiovisual Media and Photographs
Scope and Contents
Most media and photographs have been listed with their relevant subject files. This series contains interviews and profiles
of Asawa, as well as material about her house, studio and garden.
25.1 interviews, news profiles, etc.
Language of Material: English.
Box 41, folder 2
Asawa/Goldstine at de Young Museum
1974-06-10
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Panel of Elsa Cameron, Stephen Goldstine, Ruth Asawa, Richard Pron [?], Joan Abramson. Asawa interviewed re: Alvarado, art
education, her life (farming, internment, BMC)
Box 40, folder 16
Ruth Asawa and Clark Mitze Interviews w/Christian Lauritzen courtesy KORV Radio
1976
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Oroville, CA radio interview, "Viewpoint" program. Asawa producing puppet show at Chinese Temple in area, had helped produce
wooden Ishi statue, 1976 ; [12:19] Mitze director of California State Council on the Arts.
Box 45, folder 1
Of Forms and Growth. Robert Snyder
1978
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Existence and Location of Copies
Available through Stanford Libraries' Media and Microtext department: http://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/6779925
Scope and Contents
Documentary on Ruth Asawa.
Box 41, folder 1
Ruth
1980s
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Side A: unidentified live and recorded Japanese music. solo reed instrument ; Japanese koto ; reed and drums ; koto (from
recording?) ; flute. Side B: audio from program ("AM Weekend" probably KGO, Ray Taliaferro), Asawa interviewed at School Works
Unlimited store at Emporium (recorded twice) ; Barbara Streisand "Funny Girl" recordings.
Box 41, folder 3
Asawa #1, #2. Interview By Wendy Garfield
1980-07-07
Physical Description: 2 audiocassette(s)
Box 41, folder 4
Ruth Asawa
1980-07-09
Physical Description: 2 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Probably continuation of Garfield interview. Garfield (?), Asawa discussion, others present (Addie? teachers) re: Alvarado,
store at Emporium, etc. Tape 2 Side B: [20:23] woman singing with guitar, 2 songs.
Box 43, folder 5
Horizons, KGO-TV with Ruth Ajana [Asawa]. From BayScene
1982-07-17
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (u-matic)
Scope and Contents
"The World of Ruth Asawa" profile, Bayscene program
Box 41, folder 5
Ruth Asawa Interview AE [Artists Equity] - Carolyn Marks and Chiori Santiago
1985-02
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Asawa interviewed by Marks (Berkeley artist) and Santiago (journalist, wrote several articles about Ruth) re: Artists Equity,
etc. poss. for Metier magazine
Box 41, folder 7
Ruth Asawa on Internment
1990
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Side A: Addie Lanier interviews her mother Ruth Asawa for Noe Valley Voice "Voices of Noe Valley" article ; [15:45] Addie
Lanier telephone conversations re: other NVV articles, personal/family. Side B: more interview, mostly re: internment.
Box 45, folder 12
CAC [California Arts Council]
1990-11
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
"State of the Arts" program with host Bob Reid. interview with Asawa. Sacramento public television? Partially funded by CAC.
Box 43, folder 8
Ruth Asawa, Channel 4 News With Belva Davis [KRON]
1991-07-04
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Brief KRON profile.
Box 44, folder 1
CBS Sunday Morning Ruth Asawa "Changed By Art." FP-94-7952
1994-07-31
Physical Description: 2 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
CBS Sunday Morning profile by Jerry Bowen. Ruth at Santa Anita race track, sketching (see original in Internment files), San
Jose Internment Memorial opening, Alvarado. Asawa segment begins 28:41 in full episode.
Box 42, folder 1
Internment Interview by Joanne Iritani for the Florin JACL
2000-04-07
Physical Description: 3 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Iritani interviews Asawa about her life and art. "She got a civil liberties grant to interview camp/Japanese American experience.
Interview done Spring/Summer 2000." See transcript in Writing and Transcripts series.
Box 44, folder 3
Excerpts From a Research Interview of Ruth Asawa by Karin Higa and Sally Stein. Japanese American National Museum
2001-09-07
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (dvd)
Scope and Contents
Produced program with interviews of Asawa in her house.
Box 43, folder 2
Ruth Asawa and Albert Lanier Re: Valerie Harper [TK Zung interviews]
2002
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Video made for Valerie Harper by TK Zung. 1. Ruth Asawa 2. Ruth Asawa and Albert Lanier 3. Ring Designed by Bucky Fuller for
Ruth. Zung interviews Asawa and Lanier, 2002. Met actress Harper through Blanche Pastorino, involved with Hunger Project
along with John Denver, Buckminster Fuller. She invited them to her play when it was in SF. see other Zung interviews, some
same content.
Box 41, folder 11
Ruth Asawa Retrospective Broadcast [KNBR]
2002-05-25
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
radio interview with Gimmy Park Li, host of untitled public affairs program on KNBR.
Box 44, folder 4
Ruth Asawa Preview Video. Bridge Media, Inc.
2002-06-02
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Asawa profile, opens with new de Young, closes with San Jose Internment Memorial. Made before SFSU Garden video, also by Bridge
Media.
Box 44, folder 5
Ruth Asawa KGO-TV Profiles in Excellence
2003-08-05
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Profiles in Excellence series, hosted by Thuy Vu. Asian Art Museum, community leaders profiled. 6:54-11:57 Asawa segment
Box 44, folder 6
Oakland Museum of California Interview With Ruth Asawa by Suzanne Baizerman. San Francisco. [Tape 1 of 2 only]
2003-09-18
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
Unedited interview by Baizerman in Ruth's home.
Box 41, folder 12
D. Cornell Interview on Pacific Currents, KQED Radio [about Asawa]
2006-12
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Side B: Pacific Time, host Patricia Flynn. Radio interview with Daniell Cornell, de Young exhibit curator, author of Asawa
book ; [19:29] fishing program cont.
Box 44, folder 7
Asawa Symposium at de Young. D. Cornell, M. Johnson, V. Matsumoto, Lenore Chin
2007-01-06
Physical Description: 2 videotape(s) (vhs)
Scope and Contents
de Young Museum Symposium on Ruth Asawa. Harry Parker (introduced by John Buchanan) [25:29] ; short talks and panel discussion
by Daniell Cornell, Valerie Matsumoto, Mark Johnson, and Lenore Chinn. Questions and remarks from audience not audible.
25.2 de Young book interviews by Aiko Cuneo and Addie Lanier
2003-2004
Language of Material: English.
Box 79, folder 1
BMC & Ruth (after BMC State College) #13. 4 ; Ruth BMC ends with #31. 3
2003
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Cuneo interviews her mother Ruth Asawa about art and class notes at Black Mountain College. Side A: #12B cont-17, 2003-12-10.
Side B: #18-31. Albers, studio, San Francisco State, etc.
Box 79, folder 2
BMC work found later. Starts 1a ; BMC cont. #47
2003
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Cuneo interviews her mother Ruth Asawa about art and class notes at Black Mountain College.
Box 79, folder 3
BMC Transcribed 12/26/03
2003
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Cuneo interviews her mother Ruth Asawa about art and class notes at Black Mountain College.
Box 79, folder 4
BMC - Ruth 12/5/03 Starts With #1. 1 ; BMC Ruth 12/5/03 Ends With #4, Starts With #5 & On. 2
2003-12
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Cuneo interviews her mother Ruth Asawa about art and class notes at Black Mountain College. Side A: #1-4. Side B: #4
cont, #5-12b.
Box 79, folder 5
Ruth BMC starts with #31, Ends With #41. 5 ; Ruth BMC/SF Starts With #42 Ends With #49 & On. 6. #37 Between 30 & 50 [note]
2003
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Cuneo interviews her mother Ruth Asawa. Side A: #31 cont.-41, 2003-12-10. Side B: no numbers
Box 42, folder 2
Aiko Cuneo interviews Ruth Asawa for de Young book (Transcribed). Early Inspirations - Woven Wire - Tied Wire - Electroplating
- Cast Pieces
2003
Physical Description: 4 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Cuneo interviews her mother Ruth Asawa about her art. 1. 2003-09-24 tied wire ; 2/3. 2003-10-20 woven wire ; 4. 2003-09-24
electroplated wire.
Box 42, folder 5
Addie Lanier interviews Ruth Asawa and Albert Lanier in prep for De Young Book. Fact-checking
2004-07-20
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Box 54, folder 13
Ruth Early Childhood/Art ; Early Childhood, Camp, College. Both Sides Transcribed
2003-12-09
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Aiko Cuneo interviews her mother Ruth Asawa about her childhood, upbringing, education, and early artistic tendencies.
Box 54, folder 14
Albert's Stories 9/18/03 & 12/26/03 ; 11-24-03 Ruth- BMC, Bucky Ring, Coming to CA. Transcribed
2003
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Scope and Contents
Side A: Albert Lanier series of stories about growing up in Georgia 2003-09-18, 2003-12-26. Aiko present [38:22] late 40s,
moving to SF [40:54] wedding, Ruth at very end [46:28] Side B: Ruth Asawa interviewed by Aiko Cuneo 2003-11-24. "random questions
to integrate with other transcripts" re: wedding ring, Buckminster Fuller, intermarriage, how she met Albert, traveling to
California, Black Mountain, esp. Fall 1948 as student body president
Box 42, folder 4
Addie Lanier interviews Ruth Asawa's longtime friend Mae Lum Lee in prep for de Young Book
2004-07-19
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
Box 42, folder 3
Addie Lanier interviews Ruth Asawa's longtime friend Merry Renk in prep for de Young Book
2004-06-17
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
25.3 slide presentations
Language of Material: English.
Box 274, Item 1
Alvarado School-Community Arts Program [carousel]
1970s
Physical Description: 1 slide tray(s)
Box 274, Item 2
Oakland Museum [carousel with narrative]
2002-07-14
Physical Description: 1 slide tray(s)
25.4 photographs of house, studio, carved doors, garden
Language of Material: English.
Box 40, folder 13
City Planning Commission hearing re: Cuneo house expansion [audio]
1991-05-06
Physical Description: 1 audiocassette(s)
25.5 miscellaneous photos and slides
Language of Material: English.
Box 237, folder 1
Asawa portraits - slides
Scope and Contents
Includes youth, Rohwer, Black Mountain, and Imogen Cunningham photos.
Box 47, folder 13
Rooftop on Ruth. DVD and Photos ["Simple Gifts: Ruth Asawa"]
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (dvd)
Scope and Contents
Titled "Simple Gifts: Ruth Asawa." Still photographs of art workshop with soundtrack. No Ruth, but Hyatt fountain, Oakland
Museum sculpture are seen.
Box 236
duplicate slides [four metal cases]
Box 116, folder 9-10
art photos, non-Asawa
Scope and Contents
Snapshots, probably taken by Asawa. Runnymede Sculpture Farm 1990, Djerassi 1991, Vancouver museums 1993, etc.
Box 274, Item 3
overexposed negatives of Ruth and Albert
Series 26. Articles saved by Asawa
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Various articles saved by Ruth, some for portrait ideas, some for reference.
Series 27. Addenda
Language of Material: English.
Accession 2007-208
Language of Material: English.
Box 279, folder 1
Miscellaneous papers
1967-2005
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Receipts, page of income and expenditures, correspondence, sketches, jury summons, Albert Lanier's driver's examination, recipes,
and computer instructions.
Box 279, folder 2
Bank statements and other financial documents
1951-1964
Language of Material: English.
Box 280, folder 1
Ink sketch of Peanuts characters (Linus van Pelt and Schroeder)
Language of Material: English.
Accession 2020-158
Language of Material: English.
Box 280, folder 2
Photocopies of Ray Johnson paintings and moticos owned by Ruth Asawa and Albert Lanier
Language of Material: English.
Accession 2020-196
Language of Material: English.
Box 279, folder 3
Ruth Asawa USPS Forever stamps
Language of Material: English.
Box 279, folder 4
USPS first day of issue envelopes with stamps
2020
Language of Material: English.
Accession 2020-324
Language of Material: English.
Box 281, folder 1
Condolence pages from Ruth Asawa's memorial
2013
Language of Material: English.
Box 281, folder 2
Condolence pages from Ruth Asawa's memorial
2013
Language of Material: English.
Box 281, folder 3
Wall calendar with notes
1964
Language of Material: English.
Box 282
Contours publication with Laurence and Hudson Cueno photographs
Language of Material: English.
Box 283
Rolodexes
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 1
Correspondence
2002
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 2
Correspondence about projects
1974-2009
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 3
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Metropolitan Museum as an educational institution - a study with recommendations
1970
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 4
Fiberworks
1980-1982
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 5
Correspondence and documents regarding finances
1968-1983
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 6
Alvarado School art workshop
1970-1971
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 7
Photographs of Ruth Asawa, Christopher Lane and students from the School of the Arts
1980s
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 8
Interviews by Sally Woodbridge, Elizabeth Meyer and Sharon Savage
1997-1998
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 9
Magazine and newspaper clippings
1988-2017
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 10
Art in America
May 2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 11
Northern California home & garden
February 1993
Language of Material: English.
Box 284, folder 12
Aiko Cuneo exhibition at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel
2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 1
Wright catalog: Ruth Asawa - Art + design, Lot 114
September 24, 2015
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 2
Crafting a collection: Full Craft Museum recent acquisitions
2014-2015
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 3
San Francisco: art for the city, San Francisco Arts Commission
2013
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 4
Harvard design magazine: Family planning, No. 41 - F/W
2015
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 5
Artists, poets and visionaries of the S.S. Vallejo: 1949-1969
2018
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 6
Juxtapoz, No. 207, Fall
2018
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 7
LACMA Insider, Vol. 12, Issue 2/3
2018
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 8
David Zwirner: art/Basel
2017
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 9
David Zwirner: Art/Basel
2018
Language of Material: English.
Box 285, folder 10
David Zwirner: Art/Basel
2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 286, folder 1
Los Angeles Modern Auctions: Modern art & design
June 10, 2018
Language of Material: English.
Box 286, folder 2
Selected photos, evacuation of Japanese from Pacific Coast : Wartime Civil Control Administration, San Francisco, California,
1942
1987
Language of Material: English.
Box 286, folder 3
War Relocation Authority, Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Cody, Wyoming : 1942-1945
1990
Language of Material: English.
Box 286, folder 4
Designing San Francisco: Art, land, and urban renewal in the city by the Bay
2017
Language of Material: English.
Box 286, folder 5
Broad strokes: 15 women who mad art and made history (in that order)
2017
Language of Material: English.
Box 286, folder 6
Buckminster Fuller: anthology for the millenium
2001
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 1
Fog design + art
January 16-19, 2020
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 2
Our de Young
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 3
A book of faces - created by students from the Alvarado Summer Workshop
July 1981
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 4
University of California Clinics Building Mural by students of the Creative Arts Summer School at Lincoln High School, San
Francisco
1976
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 5
The Ivy Annual, Milwaukee State Teachers College
1945
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 6
MoMA appointment calendar: botanicals
2017
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 7
Remembering Black Mountain College, Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center
1996
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 8
Between form and content: perspectives on Jacob Lawrence and Black Mountain College, Black Mountain College Museum and Arts
Center
2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 9
Great American artists - for kids
2008
Language of Material: English.
Box 287, folder 10
2600 Japan international exposition
1940
Language of Material: English.
Box 288, folder 1
Christie's catalog: Post-war and contemporary art morning session, New York
November 14, 2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 288, folder 2
Christie's catalog: The loaded brush, Hong Kong
November 23, 2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 288, folder 3
Christie's catalog: contemporary Japanese art from the Estate of Blanchette H. Rockefeller, New York
April 27, 1994
Language of Material: English.
Box 288, folder 4
Rago: post-war and contemporary art featuring the Vermillion Editions Limited Collection
November 16, 2013
Language of Material: English.
Box 288, folder 5
Counterpoint: sculpture, music and Walter de Maria's Large Rod Series
2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 288, folder 6
North Carolina Literary Review: the Black Mountain College issue, Vol. II, No. 2
1995
Language of Material: English.
Box 288, folder 7
University of California Press
Fall 2006
Language of Material: English.
Box 288, folder 8
California gold, Tobey C. Moss Gallery
2005
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 1
25th anniversary celebration of Bethany Center - program
October 15, 1994
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 2
Food for art's sake: favorite recipes from San Francisco's School of the Arts
1996
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 3
16th annual San Francisco open studios
1991
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 4
The fourth r: art and the needs of children and youth. Jan Rindfleisch and Patricia Albers
1992
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 5
Drawing from experience: artists over fifty. Jan Rindfleisch with Patricia Albers
1990
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 6
Beyond weaving. Marcia Chamberlain and Candace Crockett
1974
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 7
The Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park. Elizabeth McClintock
1977
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 8
C magazine
December, 2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 9
Modern photography
June, 1972
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 10
Nikkei heritage - National Japanese American Historical Society, Vol. IX, Number 1
Winter 2002
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 11
Trips, No. 1, Spring
1988
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 12
Art ltd. - West coast art and design
March, 2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 13
Great nature: the transcendent landscapes of Chiura Obata, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum
2000
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 14
California studio craft - featuring works from the Forrest L. Merrill Collection, San Francisco International Airport
2020
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 15
Paper passion, Tobey C. Mors Gallery
2003
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 16
Gail Ceramics catalog
1972
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 17
Ruth Asawa: completing the circle - council of 100 distinguished woman artist for 2001, Fresno Art Museum/Oakland Museum of
California
2001-2002
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 18
American craft, Apr/May
2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 289, folder 19
The New Fillmore
October 2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 1
Marguerite Wildenhain: bauhaus to pond farm, Sonoma County Museum
2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 2
Fine arts
2007-2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 3
Bulletin, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 4
Kinfolk, issue 22
2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 5
360° views on the collection, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 6
Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center
2008-2020
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 7
Cultural windows: the art of Ruth Asawa, Ynez Johnson, Betye Saar, Art Gallery, Los Angeles Valley College
2010
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 8
Songs of the earth - landscapes by Jack Stuppin, San Jose Museum of Art
2009
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 9
Life? Biomorphic forms in sculpture, Kunsthaus Graz
2009
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 10
Bonhams & Butterfields - Made in California
November 19, 2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 11
ARTScene, Vol. 22, No. 9
May 2003
Language of Material: English.
Box 290, folder 12
Patek Philippe, Vol. 11, No. 11
2008
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 1
Dwell, July/August
2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 2
Art in America
2009
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 3
Art in America
2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 4
ARTnews
2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 5
Women's art journal
2008
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 6
Architectural digest
2011
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 7
Elle
2008
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 8
Cheers to muse: contemporary works by Asian American women
2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 9
Clippings
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 10
"Ruth Asawa" internet search results (partial sampling)
February 23, 2004
Language of Material: English.
Box 291, folder 11
Ruth Asawa interview transcript
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 1
Architectural digest
2015-2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 2
W magazine
2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 3
American craft
2015
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 4
Wall Street Journal - "Return to Black Mountain College"
October 6, 2015
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 5
Stitch in time, Kalmanovitz Gallery, University of California San Francisco
2007
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 6
Fine arts
2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 7
Blouin art and auction
2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 8
Passport 2015, San Francisco Arts Commission
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 9
Ruth Asawa: line by line, Christie's Private Sales
2015
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 10
Hammer, Winter/Spring
2016
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 11
The New York Times Style Magazine
August 18, 2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 12
San Francisco Examiner Image
May 29, 1988
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 13
Interiors
January 1951
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 14
Frieze
May 2018
Language of Material: English.
Box 292, folder 15
Member magazine, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
2020
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 1
David Zwirner books
Fall 2018
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 2
Ruth's table: annual report, Bethany Center
2015
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 3
Ruth Asawa exhibits
2018-2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 4
Correspondence
1956-2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 5
Photograph of Lois Peterson Perez
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 6
Wall Street Journal Magazine
October 2015
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 7
Clippings
2015-2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 8
Clippings
1964, 1996-2020
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 9
Estudiantes de una gran clase/Students from a great class
2001
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 10
Botanicals - San Francisco Museum of Modern Art desk calendar
2018
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 11
Fine arts, fall/winter
2005-2006
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 12
Architectural digest cover and flyer for an event at the de Young Museum
Language of Material: English.
Box 293, folder 13
Coming to our senses: the significance of the arts for American education
1977
Language of Material: English.
Box 294, folder 1
The sculptures of Ruth Asawa: contours in the air
2020
Language of Material: English.
Box 294, folder 2
Ruth Asawa: life's work
2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 294, folder 3
Tamarind touchstones: fabulous at fifty. Marjorie Devon
2010
Language of Material: English.
Box 294, folder 4
Words to live by: 50 inspiring quotes by 50 inspiring women
2019
Language of Material: English.
Box 294, folder 5
Christie's New York. November 2010 Bulletin
Language of Material: English.
Box 294, folder 6
Christie's New York. Post-war and contemporary art, morning session
November 11, 2010
Language of Material: English.
Box 295, folder 1
Christie's New York. Post-war and contemporary art, day sales
November 9, 2011
Language of Material: English.
Box 295, folder 2
Christie's New York. Post-war and contemporary art, day sales, session II
November 9, 2011
Language of Material: English.
Box 295, folder 3
Christie's New York. Open house: post-war and contemporary art
July 16, 2012
Language of Material: English.
Box 295, folder 4
Ruth Asawa: objects and apparitions. Christie's private sales
2013
Language of Material: English.
Box 295, folder 5
Christie's New York. Post-war and contemporary art, evening sale
May 15, 2013
Language of Material: English.
Box 295, folder 6
Christie's New York. Post-war and contemporary art, evening sale
May 15, 2013
Language of Material: English.
Box 295, folder 7
Christie's New York. Post-war and contemporary art, morning session
November 13, 2014
Language of Material: English.
Box 296, folder 1
Ruth Asawa, David Zwirner Books
2017
Language of Material: English.
Box 296, folder 2
Nora Eccles Museum of Art acquisition of S. 304 (woven wire sculpture)
2004
Language of Material: English.
Box 296, folder 3
Oakland Museum of California
2003-2004
Language of Material: English.
Box 296, folder 4
Smithsonian Archives of American Art
2004
Language of Material: English.
Box 296, folder 5
Aiko Cuneo's working binder for 2006
Contours in the air exhibit at the de Young Museum (1 of 3)
Language of Material: English.
Box 296, folder 6
Aiko Cuneo's working binder for 2006
Contours in the air exhibit at the de Young Museum (2 of 3)
Language of Material: English.
Box 296, folder 7
Aiko Cuneo's working binder for 2006
Contours in the air exhibit at the de Young Museum (3 of 3)
Language of Material: English.
Box 296, folder 8
Contours in the air condition reports
Language of Material: English.
Box 297, folder 1
Contours in the air exhibit binder
Language of Material: English.
Box 297, folder 2
Adam Lanier's poem and letter from teacher
1962
Language of Material: English.
Box 297, folder 3
St. Gabriel School letters to Ruth Asawa
1996
Language of Material: English.
Box 298, folder 1
San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle, California Living
March 23, 1969
Language of Material: English.
Box 298, folder 2
Ladies Home Journal
June 1964
Language of Material: English.
Box 298, folder 3
Luxury, The Telegraph
February 15, 2020
Language of Material: English.
Box 298, folder 4
Artforum magazine
March 1967
Language of Material: English.
Box 298, folder 5
Metropolis, July/August
1994
Language of Material: English.
Box 298, folder 6
Stanford University Libraries and academic information resources - 2006-2007 report
Language of Material: English.
Box 298, folder 7
Posters
1967-2010
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
Posters include:
Good Friday Service, Twin Peaks Baptist Church, March 24, 1967
A Celebration of Artists, R and G Lounge, October 20, 1993
Ruth Asawa: completing the circle. Oakland Museum of California, 2002
Imogen Cunningham: vintage photographs - the Ruth Asawa series. Charles Campbell Gallery, 1987
Origami Fountains rededication ceremony, October 20, 1999
National Japanese American Historical Society: strength and diversity - Japanese American women, 1990
Cultural windows: the art of Ruth Asawa, Ynez Johnston, Betye Saar. Art Gallery, Los Angeles Valley College, 2010
Box 298, folder 8
Hoefer Scientific Instruments calendar
1976
Language of Material: English.
Box 298, folder 9
Ruth's quilt pattern from a 3rd grade class
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 299, Item 1
Printout of masks
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 299, Item 2
Photograph of Black Mountain College reunion with list of attendees
October 28, 1995
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 299, Item 3
Poster for Asawa Graphics, Van Dozen Gallery
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 299, Item 4
TGIF (Thank God its Friday), Graduate School of Architecture, University of Utah
1981
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 299, Item 5
Christmas tradition poster
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 299, Item 6
Poster for the 4th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration
May 17, 2008
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 299, Item 7
poster for: Event of the year, NDI, San Francisco Unified School District, School of the Arts
1986
Language of Material: English.
map-folder 299, Item 8
Poster for
The eloquent object
1988-1989
Language of Material: English.
