Finding aid for the Rolf Nelson Gallery records, 1953-1973
Finding aid prepared by Laura Schroffel
Descriptive Summary
Title: Rolf Nelson Gallery records
Date (inclusive): 1953-1973
Number: 2010.M.38
Creator/Collector:
Rolf Nelson Gallery
Physical Description:
7.7 linear feet
(11 boxes)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: The Rolf Nelson Gallery made a significant contribution to the vibrant Southern California art scene of the 1960s by exhibiting
emerging as well as established artists. The archive contains correspondence, photographs, and printed ephemera related to
the operation of the gallery and Nelson's subsequent work as a private dealer. The collection is rich in materials from Lowell
Nesbitt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago, Robert Indiana, Harry Partch and George Herms.
Request Materials: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
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Language: Collection material is in
English.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Rolf Nelson Gallery made a significant contribution to the vibrant Southern California art scene of the 1960s by exhibiting
emerging as well as established artists. Born in Brooklyn in 1935 to Norwegian immigrant parents, Rolf Nelson began his career
at the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York in the early 1960s. After moving to Los Angeles in 1962 Nelson worked at the Southern
California branch of the San Francisco-based Dilexi Gallery. By 1963 he had opened his own gallery in Los Angeles on La Cienega
Boulevard. The gallery was subsequently moved to two other locations on La Cienega Boulevard, gradually expanding with each
move. The Rolf Nelson Gallery played an integral role in disseminating art of the pop movement in the 1960s and promoting
emerging artists such as Llyn Foulkes, George Herms and Jess, along with more established artists including Georgia O'Keeffe,
Judy Chicago and Alfred Jensen. In 1966 Nelson closed his gallery and worked as a private dealer. He returned to New York
by 1972 and retired soon thereafter.
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Rolf Nelson Gallery records, 1953-1973, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 2010.M.38.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010m38
Acquisition
Acquired in 2010.
Processing History
In 2010 Laura Schroffel processed the collection and wrote the finding aid under the supervision of Andra Darlington.
Separated Materials
Four books were transferred to the Getty Research Library general collection and may be found by searching the
library catalog : Lowell Nesbitt,
Athens in ruins, Rome in ruins, New York in ruins (New York: Gimpel & Weitzenhoffer, 1971); Claes Oldenburg,
Claes Oldenburg (Paris: Ileana Sonnabend, 1964); Lowell Nesbitt,
Lowell Nesbitt: Bilder, Serigraphien (Köln: Galerie M.E. Thelen, 1970); Jess,
Translation (New York: Odyssia Gallery, 1971).
Scope and Content of Collection
The Rolf Nelson Gallery records contain correspondence, photographs, and printed ephemera related to the operation of the
gallery and Nelson's subsequent work as a private dealer. The collection is rich in materials from Lowell Nesbitt, Georgia
O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago, Robert Indiana, Harry Partch and George Herms. There is original artwork by Judi, Jess, George Herms
and Michael Cady. Letters sent and received during Nelson's tenure at the Martha Jackson Gallery and his own gallery make
up the bulk of the collection. While most of the collection deals directly with artists and clients, there are also documents
related to Nelson's involvement with the Save the Museum Committee and the Artist Protest Committee.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the gallery's original order. Files are organized alphabetically by artist, client, institution
or topic, with some files of assorted items grouped under the letter of the alphabet.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Cady, Michael
Chicago, Judy, 1939-
Herms, George, 1935-
Indiana, Robert , 1928-
Jensen, Alfred, 1903-1981
Jess, 1923-2004
Nesbitt, Lowell, 1933-
O'Keeffe, Georgia, 1887-1986
Subjects - Corporate Bodies
Martha Jackson Gallery
Rolf Nelson Gallery
Subjects - Topics
Art galleries, Commercial--United States
Art, Modern--20th century
Artists--California
Artists-United States-Correspondence
Genres and Forms of Material
Black-and-white negatives
Color slides--United States--20th century
Gelatin silver prints--United States--20th century
Contributors
Cady, Michael
Herms, George, 1935-
Jess, 1923-2004
Nelson, Rolf
Rolf Nelson Gallery records
Box 1, Folder 1
Papers and black-and-white photographs
Box 1, Folder 2
Artist Protest Committee,
1966
Scope and Content Note
Includes draft of prospectus for the Artists' Tower Against the War in Vietnam.
Box 1, Folder 3
Papers and black-and-white photographs
Scope and Content Note
Some photographs were originally housed in a paper album.
Box 1, Folder 4
Business cards,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Cards were originally housed in a card file.
Box 1, Folder 5
Chicago, Judy,
1966-1970
Scope and Content Note
Contains Rolf Nelson price list, various exhibition announcements, biographies, black-and-white photographs and clippings.
Box 1, Folder 6
Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art,
1969-1972
Box 1, Folder 7
Collection, Rolf Nelson personal,
1970
Scope and Content Note
See also Farlin Street inventory.
Box 1, Folder 8
Collector's list,
1969-1971
Box 1, 9*, 10
Collins, Jess,
1964-1970
Scope and Content Note
Also known as Jess.
Box 1, Folder 9
Papers and correspondence
Box 1, Folder 10
Contracts,
1968-1971
Scope and Content Note
Includes Betty Asher consignment agreement.
Box 1, Folder 12
C file,
1969-1971
Scope and Content Note
Includes one postcard from Christo, a Noma Copley exhibition announcement and letters to Noma Copley.
Box 1, Folder 13
De France, James,
1965-1967
Box 1, Folder 16
Downey Museum of Art,
1965
Box 1, Folder 18
Editions Press,
1969-1972
Box 1, Folder 19
Robert Elkon Gallery,
1964
Box 1, Folder 20
Farlin Street inventory,
1972
Scope and Content Note
Contains papers regarding Nelson's personal art collection and other belongings in relation to the property settlement agreement
between Nelson and Gehry.
Box 1, 11*
Foulkes, Llyn,
1963, undated
Scope and Content Note
Contains artist biographies and contract. Includes photograph by Julian Wasser.
Box 11*
Maquette
Scope and Content Note
Maquette for an invitation to the Llyn Foulkes exhibition at Rolf Nelson Gallery in 1963.
Box 2, 10
Freeman, Betty,
1970-1971
Box 2, Folder 2
Black-and-white photographs
Box 2, Folder 3-4
Frumkin, Allan, and Allan Frumkin Gallery,
1962-1973
Box 2, Folder 5
F file,
1969
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence and papers regarding Ernest Fleischmann and correspondence with the Richard Feigen Gallery.
Box 2, Folder 6
G file,
1971
Scope and Content Note
Includes one letter to Patrecia Grieve.
Box 2, Folder 7
Hamrol, Lloyd,
1965-1966
Scope and Content Note
Contains artist biographies, a contract and black-and-white photographs.
Box 2, Folder 8
Hefferton, Philip,
undated
Box 2, Folder 9-11
Papers, black-and-white photographs and original art
Scope and Content Note
Includes letter sent by Herms containing hair.
Box 3, Folder 1
Hirshorn, Joseph,
1967-1968
Box 3, Folder 3
H file,
1971
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence with Hansen Fuller Gallery.
Box 3, 10
Indiana, Robert,
1962-1973
Box 3, Folder 6
Black-and-white photographs
Box 10, Folder 7
Color photographs and transparencies
Scope and Content Note
All the transparencies were photographed by Eric Pollitzer Color Photography.
Box 10, Folder 8
Color photograph
Scope and Content Note
The photograph, a portrait of Rolf Nelson with a child, was originally attached to an undated letter.
Box 7, Folder 2
Calendar
Scope and Content Note
Calendar of happenings,
Days Off.
Box 3, 9*, 10
Letters sent and received,
1953-1961
Scope and Content Note
Contains assorted letters the bulk of which were sent and received during Nelson's tenure at the Martha Jackson Gallery. Includes
original art by Bölin and Cady.
Box 3, Folder 10-11
Letters (New York)
Scope and Content Note
Includes letter from Stan Vanderbeek.
Box 9*, Folder 2
Oversize letters
Scope and Content Note
Letters are from Michael Martin Cady.
Box 8
Nelson, Rolf,
1964, undated
Box 4, 10
Nesbitt, Lowell,
1960-1969
Scope and Content Note
Includes one exhibition announcement with a 33 1/3 rpm record (D1).
Box 4, Folder 6-7
Black-and-white photographs
Box 5, Folder 1
N file,
1969
Scope and Content Note
Contains letters sent to Mort and Arthur Neumann.
Box 5, 7, 10
O'Keeffe, Georgia,
1966-1969
Box 5, Folder 5-6
Papers and black-and-white photograph
Box 5, Folder 8
Printer materials,
1965
Scope and Content Note
Contains materials related to the printing of exhibition announcements and other ephemera from vendors. Includes mock-ups
for some Nelson Gallery exhibition announcments.
Box 5, Folder 10
Save the Museum Committee,
1965-1968
Scope and Content Note
Mostly comprised of bank statements.
Box 5, Folder 11
Sissor Bros. Warehouse,
1963
Scope and Content Note
Also known as Blink Works at Sissor Bros. Warehouse. The exhibition featured work by Robert Watts, Alison Knowles and George
Brecht.
Box 5, Folder 13
Assorted art historical clippings,
1969
Scope and Content Note
Clippings are not specifically related to Rolf Nelson or his Gallery.
Box 5, Folder 14
Assorted papers and black-and-white photographs,
1959-1968
Scope and Content Note
Includes photograph of gallery show May 1968, featuring Judy Chicago.
Box 6
Unidentified art object,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Scroll by Judi.
