Ruth Armer Collection, 1912-1979

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Summary

Creators:
Abstract:
Extent:
One document box (containing 11 folders), approximately 0.35 linear feet.
Language:
Preferred citation:

Ruth Armer Collection. San Francisco Art Institute Archive

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of eleven folders. One includes Ruth Armer's 1914-1919 transcripts from when she was a student at the California School of Fine Arts (later known as the San Francisco Art Institute) and subsequent references for employment as an art teacher. Another includes documents from some of Ruth Armer's exhibitions from 1940-1975. There is a folder of items related to her death in 1977. Another folder includes a children's story Ruth Armer wrote. There is a folder of photographs, most unlabeled and undated, and a folder of drawings that are all undated and unlabeled, but were attributed to Ruth Armer in the original collections list. Another folder includes drawings, prints, and lithographs gifted to Ruth by other artists. There are folders of receipts and other administrative items related to the business side of Ruth's art. Much of the material is undated, but the earliest dated item comes from 1912 and the latest from 1979.

Biographical / historical:

Ruth Armer (1896-1977) was born and raised in San Francisco. In 1914, at the age of seventeen she became a student at the San Francisco Institute of Art’s California School of Design (later known as the San Francisco Art Institute). Later, she moved to New York to join the Art Students League and also took classes at Parsons School of Design. She began her artistic career painting landscapes. Her interest was not in literal reproductions of a scene, but in the relationships between objects and the sensations aroused: “Feelings that nature pressed upon me were my theme” (from her chapter in Art and Artist, 1956, University of California Press). She also painted portraits and abstract works, and was a lithographer. Her art was influenced by her experience living in California, and her subject matter included the California desert and cityscapes of San Francisco. She was also inspired by music, finding that certain composers evoked certain images and feelings, which she painted. Her career as an exhibiting artist spanned from 1922 to 1977. From 1933-1940 Ruth Armer joined the faculty of the California School of Fine Arts. She taught drawing, painting, design, and children’s Saturday classes. She went on to serve on the Board of Trustees from 1945-1951, 1955-1956, 1960-1967, and 1969-1972. In June 1977 she was elected as an Honorary Trustee in recognition of her many years of service to the school. She was also active with the San Francisco Society of Women Artists during the 1940s and 1950s, serving as a director from 1950-1952 and frequently exhibiting in their annual show. Upon her death in August 1977, she left a substantial bequest to the San Francisco Art Institute; at the time, it was the largest bequest ever received by the school and was slated to be used to fund student scholarships.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

Ruth Armer Collection. San Francisco Art Institute Archive

Location of this collection:
20 Hawthorne St.
San Francisco, CA 94105, US