Finding aid for the Samuel Wagstaff papers, 1796-1987 (bulk 1952-1986)
Laura Schroffel
Descriptive Summary
Title: Samuel Wagstaff papers
Date (inclusive): 1796-1987 (bulk
1952-1986)
Number: 2005.M.46
Creator/Collector:
Wagstaff, Samuel J., Jr.,
1921-1987
Physical Description:
96 Linear Feet
(126 boxes, 5 rolls, 19 flatfiles)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
reference@getty.edu
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10020/askref
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: The papers document Sam Wagstaff's
activities as curator and collector, with a focus on his collections and collecting
processes. The papers are rich in correspondence and include letters from artists,
photographers and cultural institutions. Original photographs and non-photographic original
artworks are included, as well as slides, negatives, postcards, film reels, prints and
drawings.
Request Materials: Request access to the physical materials
described in this inventory through the
catalog
record
for this collection. Click here for the
access
policy
.
Language: Collection material is in
English.
Biographical / Historical Note
Curator and visionary photography collector Samuel Wagstaff Jr. was born 1921, in New York
City. The son of a lawyer from an old New York family and fashion designer Olga Piorkowska,
Wagstaff graduated from Yale University and served in the Navy during World War II. After
the war and a short career in advertising he studied Renaissance art at New York
University's Institute of Fine Arts under the mentorship of Richard Offner. In 1959 he
received a David E. Finley art history fellowship at the National Gallery of Art. He assumed
a curatorial position in contemporary art at the Wadsworth Atheneum from 1961 to 1968 and
then at the Detroit Institute of Arts from 1968 to 1971. At both institutions Wagstaff
pursued his interest in the avant garde and helped promote the careers of artists such as
Michael Heizer, Tony Smith, Gordon Newton and Richard Tuttle.
In addition to his curatorial work, Wagstaff was a noted collector. He originally
concentrated on avant-garde paintings. Following his return to New York in the 1970s, he
turned his attention to photography, with an initial focus on nineteenth- and early
twentieth-century French, British and American photography. Influenced by his long-term
partner, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, Wagstaff's collecting later shifted toward more
daring and contemporary photography. At a time when scholarship on the subject was limited,
Wagstaff promoted the significance of photography in lectures, on panels, and famously on
the Dick Cavett television show. Wagstaff loaned works from his photography collection for
national and international exhibitions, often served as a freelance curator, and regularly
responded to requests for curatorial advice. In 1977 his own press published
A Book
of Photographs from the Collection of Sam Wagstaff
.
When Wagstaff's photography holdings numbered more than 2,500 masterworks, he sold the
collection to the J. Paul Getty Museum and focused on building a collection of 19th-century
American silver. The New York Historical Society exhibited more than 100 examples from his
silver collection in 1987, the last show curated by Wagstaff. His silver collection was sold
at auction following his death. Wagstaff died in 1987.
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers with the following exceptions. Film reels are
unavailable until reformatting is complete.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Samuel Wagstaff papers, 1796-1987 (bulk 1952-1986), The Getty Research Institute, Los
Angeles, Accession no. 2005.M.46
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2005m46
Acquisition Information
Acquired from the Mapplethorpe Foundation in 2005.
Processing History
The Samuel Wagstaff papers were initially processed and a preliminary inventory was made by
Rheim Alkahdi in 2009. Laura Schroffel completed processing the collection and created a
finding aid under the supervision of Andra Darlington in 2011.
Related Archival Materials
Sam Wagstaff postcard collection, ca. 1880-1980, Accession no. 96.R.13*.
Separated Materials
Some books were transferred to the Getty Research Library general collection and may be
found by searching the
library catalog for the Samuel Wagstaff Source Collection.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Samuel Wagstaff papers document his activities as curator and collector, with a focus
on his collections and collecting processes. The papers are rich in correspondence and
include letters from artists, photographers and staff from cultural institutions. Also
included are original photographs, both contemporary and historic, as well as
non-photographic original artworks. Among other materials are slides, negatives, postcards,
film reels, prints and drawings.
Series I is a collection of snapshots by Wagstaff, including color photographs (sometimes
housed in albums), color negatives, color slides, black-and-white contact prints and
black-and-white negatives. The collection highlights cultural institutions, landmarks, urban
and industrial landscapes, various exteriors and city inhabitants. New York City is featured
heavily. London, Paris, Spain, Italy, Belgium and Detroit are also documented. This series
is also rich in portraiture, including nudes, self-portraits, portraits of Robert
Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith and others.
Series II traces the development of Wagstaff's various collections through correspondence,
receipts and other documentation, and also includes original works of art by Dan Basen,
Robert Morris and Gordon Newton. The focus of the series is Wagstaff's collections of
photography, silver, postcards, and contemporary art, but items from his less-known
collections of prints, flowers, currency and postage are also included. Correspondents
represented in this series include artists Agnes Martin, Michael Heizer, Alan Saret, Tony
Smith and H.C. Westermann. Letters received, receipts and papers in this series often
provide substantial provenance information related to items in Wagstaff's collections. The
papers include information on photographs and other materials now owned by the Getty
Museum.
Series III contains family photographs, including pictures of Wagstaff at various ages, and
members of his immediate and extended family. The series also contains assorted financial
and personal documents, such as estate papers, tax records, property ownership documents,
medical records, astrological papers and identification.
Series IV contains the letters that were not filed by Wagstaff in another series. The bulk
of the correspondence in this series is from the 1970s and 1980s, after Wagstaff had stopped
working as a professional curator and moved back to New York to focus on collecting.
Series V contains photographs and documents regarding exhibitions, publications and artist
research by Wagstaff. This series includes documents regarding the founding of Wagstaff's
publishing company, Gray Press, and its only publication,
A Book of Photographs from
the Collection of Sam Wagstaff
. Also in this series is a collection of cat
photographs assembled by Wagstaff in relation to an article he wrote for
Artforum (1986).
The ephemera in Series VI consists of posters and exhibition announcements. Clippings
include articles profiling Wagstaff and his collections.
Series VII contains a film reel labeled, "Potatoes on a Studio Floor," as well as seven
unidentified film reels and four undeveloped reels. Films are unavailable until reformatting
is complete.
Arrangement
Arranged in seven series:
Series I. Snapshots, 1969-1983, undated;
Series II.
Collections, 1819-1987;
Series III. Personal papers, 1796-1986;
Series IV.
Correspondence, 1909-1986;
Series V. Projects, 1914-1986;
Series VI.
Ephemera and assorted papers, 1941-1986;
Series VII. Film reels, undated.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Heizer, Michael, 1944-
Smith, Patti
Mapplethorpe, Robert
Westermann, H. C. (Horace Clifford),
1922-1981
Martin, Agnes, 1912-2004
Smith, Tony,
1912-1980
Subjects - Corporate Bodies
Detroit Institute of Arts
Wadsworth Atheneum
Subjects - Topics
Artists -- Correspondence
Art -- Private collections -- United States
Silver -- United States -- Collectors and collecting
Photography -- Collectors and collecting
Photographs -- Collectors and collecting -- United States
Photography -- Exhibitions
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- Collectors and collecting -- United
States
Genres and Forms of Material
Gelatin silver prints
Cyanotypes
Contact prints
Photograph albums
Stereoscopic photographs
Albumen prints
Art objects
Photographs, Original
Color slides
Color photographs
Color negatives
Cartes-de-visite
Postcards
Photographic prints
Contributors
Martin, Agnes,
1912-2004
Westermann, H. C. (Horace
Clifford), 1922-1981
Smith, Tony,
1912-1980
Heizer, Michael,
1944-
Morris, Robert,
1931-2018
Basen, Dan
Newton, Gordon,
1948-
Wagstaff, Samuel J., Jr.,
1921-1987
Series I.
Snapshots,
1969-1983,
undated
Physical Description:
11.3 Linear
Feet
(51 boxes)
Scope and Content Note
This series contains snapshots by Wagstaff, including color photographs (sometimes
housed in albums), color negatives, color slides, black-and-white contact prints and
black-and-white negatives. The collection highlights cultural institutions, landmarks,
urban and industrial landscapes, various exteriors and city inhabitants. New York City
is featured extensively. London, Paris, Spain, Italy, Belgium and Detroit are also
documented. This series is also rich in portraiture, including nudes, self-portraits,
portraits of Robert Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith and others.
Other photographs taken by Wagstaff can be found in Series II.
There are some annotations on photo processing envelopes. Wagstaff handwriting is in
pen. Most descriptions in pencil are curator's notes.
Arrangement
Chronological with undated materials at end.
box 49
1969
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color slides.
box 48
1970
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color slides
box 1, 45, 49
1971
Physical Description:
458
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs, negatives and slides.
box 1
1972
Physical Description:
136
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs and negatives.
box 2-22, 45-47
1973
Physical Description:
8700
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs and negatives.
box 2-6, 45
New York
Physical Description:
2167
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of the Metropolitan Museum, Pulitzer Fountain and Central
Park. Also includes self-portraits, portraits of David Hayes and others.
box 6-11
London
Physical Description:
2054
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of British Museum, St. James Guard and Albert Memorial in Hyde
Park. Portraits of Mapplethorpe and others.
box 11
Brussels
Physical Description:
35
items
box 11-14
Paris
Physical Description:
1326
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of Eiffel Tower, Luxembourg gardens, Parc de Sceaux, Parc de
la Terlure and Bastille Day festivities. Also includes portraits of Mapplethorpe and
others.
box 14, 45
Ostend
Physical Description:
473
items
box 15-21
Fire Island
Physical Description:
2936
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of the beach and landscapes. Also includes portraits of
Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith, self-portraits and several unidentified nudes.
box 21
Detroit
Physical Description:
18
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of Detroit Institute of the Arts outdoor sculpture.
box 22, 46-47
Unidentified locations
Physical Description:
833
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes portraits of a woman with two boys before Warhol painting.
box 22-29, 47
1974
Physical Description:
3169
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs and negatives.
box 22-25
New York
Physical Description:
1228
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes portraits of Patti Smith, Dennis, Jim [Nelson?] and unidentified
subjects.
box 25
London
Physical Description:
131
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of London Science Museum.
box 26-29
Spain
Physical Description:
1495
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of Formentera, Soller, Polensa, Las Salinas, San Fernando,
Ibiza, Torrent de Parreis, Punta Berberia, Bellver, Illetas, Deya beaches, El Pujols
beaches, Salinas beaches. Also includes nude portraits.
box 25, 47
Unidentified location
Physical Description:
354
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of wedding and Edmond I and II performance.
box 30-34
1975
Physical Description:
1714
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs and negatives.
Includes photographs of New York, Paris and London. Also includes portraits of
Mapplethorpe, nude portraits, portrait series of a woman and portraits of an
unidentified man.
box 34-37
1976
Physical Description:
1385
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs and negatives.
Includes photographs of Los Angeles, Key West, Miami, New York possibly Fire Island
and unknown locations. Also includes self-portraits and various portraits.
box 37-39
1977
Physical Description:
783
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs and negatives.
Includes photographs of New York, Paris, London with images of Buckingham Palace and
unknown locations.
box 39
1978
Physical Description:
37
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs and negatives. Includes portraits of Peter Berlin.
box 39-41, 49
1979
Physical Description:
944
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs, negatives and slides. Includes photographs of Venice.
box 49
1983
Physical Description:
141
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color slides.
box 42-43, 47-51
Undated
Physical Description:
803
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color photographs, slides, color negatives, black-and-white contact sheets
and negatives.
Includes photographs of London: D'Offay, Sotheby's auction house, British Guard; New
York; Italy; Spain and North Africa. Also includes self-portraits, portraits of
Mapplethorpe and various nude portraits and studies.
Series II.
Collections,
1819-1987
Physical Description:
65.3 Linear
Feet
(46 boxes, 5 rolls, 15 flatfiles)
Scope and Content Note
Series II is comprised of Wagstaff's various collections and papers related to his
collections. While Wagstaff is most well known for his collection of historic
photographs, he also was a serious collector of silver, postcards, and contemporary art.
This series includes a small number of postcards from his postcard collection and
documentation, receipts, correspondence and photographs from his silver collection,
original art from his contemporary art collections and items from even less well known
collections of prints, flowers, currency and postage. Of note in this series are
correspondence and administrative documentation regarding works from his collection.
These papers include correspondence with artists as well as correspondence between art
institutions that relate to the provenance of various works. Conservation papers are
also included in this series and reflect Wagstaff's interest in maintaining the quality
of items in his collections.
Arrangement
Arranged by collection type. Correspondence, administrative and conservation papers
covering all collection types at the end.
box 52-63, 100*-101*, 114-117
Wagstaff photograph collection,
1819-1986
Physical Description:
2602
items
Scope and Content Note
The bulk of the photographs are from Wagstaff's personal collection; some study
photographs are also included.
box 52, folder 1
Carte-de-visite,
1819
Physical Description:
1
items
box 52, folder 2-9
Cabinet cards,
1894-1920
Physical Description:
48
items
Scope and Content Note
Two cabinet cards are hand tinted. Includes photographs of Stockade at World's Fair
Chicago, American landscape views, portraits, domestic interiors, Venice
architectural exteriors, city and rural scenes.
box 53, folder 1
Cyanotypes,
undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Silverspring.
box 53, folder 2
Stereographs,
1870-1893
Physical Description:
11
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes contact print sheet. Some stereographs are fragments.
box 53, folder 3-5
Albumen prints,
undated
Physical Description:
15
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes albumen prints adhered to canvas or board.
box 53-57, 54a, 100*-101*
Photographs, original assorted,
1895-1945
Physical Description:
192
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes various photographic processes.
box 58-60, 101*
Photographs, copies assorted,
1958-1982,
undated
Physical Description:
867
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs, contact print sheets and papers. Papers include indices and
various notes. Some photographs are annotated on verso in pencil with author, title
information and collection or negative number.
Includes copy prints of Von Gloeden photographs.
Some copy prints were made by Scott Hyde in 1982.
box 60, folder 9
Catalog listings,
1972-1983
Physical Description:
55
items
box 60-63, 114-117
Invoices and receipts,
1973-1986
Physical Description:
1707
items
box 60, folder 10
Lightfoot Collection,
1976-1982
Physical Description:
43
items
box 60, folder 11
1973
Physical Description:
95
items
box 60, folder 12
1974
Physical Description:
12
items
box 61, folder 1-2
1975
Physical Description:
194
items
box 61, folder 3-4
1976
Physical Description:
261
items
box 62, folder 1-2
1977
Physical Description:
130
items
box 62, folder 3
1978
Physical Description:
165
items
box 62, folder 4
1979
Physical Description:
119
items
box 62, folder 5
1980
Physical Description:
160
items
box 63, folder 1
1981
Physical Description:
128
items
box 63, folder 2
1982
Physical Description:
72
items
box 63, folder 3
1983
Physical Description:
171
items
box 63, folder 4-5
1984
Physical Description:
110
items
box 63, folder 6
1985
Physical Description:
29
items
box 63, folder 7
1986
Physical Description:
11
items
box 114
Other photographic formats
Physical Description:
7
items
box 114
Negatives,
undated
Physical Description:
457
items
box 114-117
Slides and transparencies,
1975-1984,
undated
Physical Description:
1056
items
box 64-66, 102*, 118-119
Silver collection,
1981-1987
Physical Description:
1335
items
Scope and Content Note
In the late 1980s Wagstaff started collecting silver with a particular interest in
19th century works.
box 64, 102*, 118
Photographs,
undated
Physical Description:
310
items
box 64, folder 1
Black-and-white photographs
box 118, folder 1-3
Other photographic formats
Scope and Content Note
Contains color slides, color and black-and-white negatives and two albums of
color photographs.
box 64-66, 118-119
Correspondence and dealer papers,
1981-1986
Physical Description:
0
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains listings, invoices, photographic materials, correspondence and research
from various dealers and auction houses.
box 64, 118
Applegate, Judith,
1986
Physical Description:
15
items
box 64, folder 2
Papers
Physical Description:
12
items
box 118, folder 4
Polaroids
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a letter that relates to color photographs.
box 64, 118
Argentum,
1985-1986
Physical Description:
14
items
box 64, folder 3
Papers
Physical Description:
11
items
box 118, folder 5
Color photographs
Physical Description:
3
items
box 64, folder 4
Butterfield's
1984-1986
Physical Description:
4
items
box 64, folder 5
Christie's,
1984-1986
Physical Description:
25
items
box 64, folder 6-10
Duffy, William Core,
1981-1986
Physical Description:
358
items
box 65, 119
Fancy That,
1985
Physical Description:
7
items
box 65, folder 1
Papers
Physical Description:
4
items
box 119, folder 1
Color photograph and polaroids
Physical Description:
3
items
box 65, 119
Hanks, David A.,
1986
Physical Description:
8
items
box 65, folder 2
Papers
Physical Description:
7
items
box 119, folder 2
Color slides
Physical Description:
1
items
box 65, folder 3
Kurland, Catherine,
1985-1986
Physical Description:
9
items
box 65, 119
Marsh-Ackerman,
1985-1986
Physical Description:
50
items
box 65, folder 4
Papers
Physical Description:
39
items
box 119, folder 3
Polaroids
Physical Description:
11
items
box 65, 119
Mascolo, Susan D.,
1986
Physical Description:
77
items
box 65, folder 5
Papers
Physical Description:
6
items
box 119, folder 4
Polaroids
Physical Description:
71
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes letters and annotated notes that relates to photographs.
box 65, folder 6
North Hill Antiques,
undated
Physical Description:
14
items
box 65, folder 7
Petzal, Henry,
1985-1986
Physical Description:
3
items
box 65, folder 8
Sotheby's,
1985
Physical Description:
15
items
box 65, 119
Tiffany & Co.,
1986
Physical Description:
8
items
box 65, folder 9
Papers
Physical Description:
3
items
box 119, folder 5
Color photographs
Physical Description:
5
items
box 65, 119
Wilson, Edward G.,
1986
Physical Description:
47
items
box 65, folder 10
Papers
Physical Description:
30
items
box 119, folder 6
Color photographs
Physical Description:
17
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes letters that relates to color photographs. Versos of photographs are
annotated.
box 65, folder 11
Assorted correspondence,
1984-1986
Physical Description:
39
items
box 65-66
Assorted receipts and invoices,
1984-1986
Physical Description:
262
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes receipts for books, rare books and silver collection purchases.
box 66, folder 5
New York Historical Society exhibition papers,
1986-1987
Physical Description:
6
items
box 66, folder 6-7
Silver book papers,
1986
Physical Description:
25
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains mostly photocopies of invoices for photography equipment and related items
needed for photographing the silver collection. Also includes draft of introduction.
Book is possibly related to New York Historical Society exhibition.
box 66, 102*
Clippings and ephemera,
1984-1985
Physical Description:
70
items
box 66, folder 9
Assorted papers,
1985
Physical Description:
46
items
box 66, folder 10
Publications,
1983
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains catalogs from the Michael Ward Gallery and the Frank S. Schwarz & Son
collection.
box 67-68
Postcard collection,
1962-1977
Physical Description:
446
items
Scope and Content Note
The bulk of the postcards are comprised of travel images or cultural world sites and
are adhered to album pages. Other postcards are mostly without correspondence and are
novelty or touristically themed. Includes some greeting cards.
box 69-70, 103*-104*, 113*, 119
Contemporary photograph collection,
1941-1985
Physical Description:
230
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs by Wagstaff and various artists that are not identified as part
of Wagstaff's collection or as family photographs or as snapshots. Also includes
photographs of some artists' works.
box 103*, folder 1
Arnold, Bill,
1978-1979
Physical Description:
9
items
box 69, folder 1
Adam, Hans Christian,
1984
Physical Description:
3
items
box 69, folder 2
Barnhart, Raymond,
1977
Physical Description:
1
items
box 103*, folder 2
Baroni, Stefano,
undated
Physical Description:
12
items
box 69, folder 3
Gaess, Jacquie,
undated
Physical Description:
4
items
box 103*, folder 3
Radino, Francesco,
1968
Physical Description:
1
item
box 113*, folder 1
Ross, Charlie,
1970
Physical Description:
1
items
box 69, folder 4
Shannon, Tom,
undated
Physical Description:
2
items
box 113*, folder 2
Story, Petra Davis,
undated
Physical Description:
8
items
box 69, folder 5-7
Wagstaff, Samuel,
undated
Physical Description:
32
items
Scope and Content Note
Some photographs are presumed to be by Wagstaff, but may actually be by another
photographer. Includes photographs of Wagstaff's Fifth Avenue Apartment. See also
Series III for papers related to Wagstaff's apartment.
box 69-70, 104*
Assorted photographs,
1941-1985
Physical Description:
141
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes work by Barbara Alper, Rivas Anduro[?], Richard Baron, Bryn Cambell,
Charles Fergus Colquhoun, Barbara Crane, Harris Fogel, Carole Gallagher, Stan
Gilub[?], David Rasmus, M. Romer, Tony Smith, Elisabeth Sunday, Reinhart Wolf, Gary
Woods, Richard [Wright?], Tom Zetterstein/Tom Zetterstrom, MOMA copy prints.
box 113*, 119
Assorted color photographs,
undated
Physical Description:
33
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes work by Valerio Tazzetti, Giancarlo Tovo.
box 71-72, 105*-108*, 119
Original art collection,
1952-1985,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Also contained in roll 1-5 and flatfiles 1**-8**, 11**-17**.
Non-photographic works. Some of the works are represented in photographic
formats.
box 71, 105*, 119
Basen, Dan,
1962-1963
Physical Description:
11
items
box 119, folder 8
Color slide
Scope and Content Note
Slide is possibly of an installation or exhibition opening.
box 71, folder 2
De Menocal, Richard,
1952,
undated
Physical Description:
33
items
box 71, folder 3
Ettinger, David,
1985
Physical Description:
5
items
box 71, folder 4
Melcarth, Edward,
undated
Physical Description:
18
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes clipping from
Harper's Magazine.
flatfile 13**-16**
Morris, Robert,
1969
Physical Description:
12
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains three copies of didactic poster and nine "artist proof" lithographs for
Morris Earth Projects.
box 71, folder 5
Nevelson, Mike,
1961
Physical Description:
1
items
box 71, 105*
Newton, Gordon,
1969-1971,
undated
Physical Description:
97
items
Scope and Content Note
Also contained in roll 1-5 and flatfiles 2**-4**.
box 105*
Oversize drawings
Scope and Content Note
Also contained in roll 1-5 and flatfiles 2**-4**
box 105*, folder 3
Ortman, George,
undated
Physical Description:
3
items
box 72, 119
Shannon, Tom,
1969
Physical Description:
13
items
box 105*, folder 4
Shirley, Jay,
1970
Physical Description:
2
items
box 71, folder 9
Skelton, G.B.,
1971-1979
Physical Description:
9
items
box 71, folder 10
Suvert, Phil,
undated
Physical Description:
9
items
box 105*, folder 5
Tweady, Carol,
1968
Physical Description:
1
items
flatfile 1**
Wagstaff, Samuel,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
box 71, folder 11
Drawings
Physical Description:
5
items
box 108*, folder 1
Oversize drawing
Physical Description:
1
items
box 119
Postcard artist,
1970-1971
Physical Description:
24
items
box 119, folder 8
Postcard with color slide
box 71, 105*-108*, 11**, 12**
Unknown,
undated
Physical Description:
56
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes oversize portrait of Robert Mapplethorpe by unknown artist.
box 73-74, 108*-110*
Assorted collections,
1885-1986
Physical Description:
304
items
box 73, folder 1-3
Flowers,
1936-1986
Physical Description:
129
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes
Reflections From the Third Day.
box 73, 108*-110*
Prints,
1885-1957,
undated
Physical Description:
162
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes engravings by Salvator Rosa.
box 108*-110*
Large prints
Scope and Content Note
Includes images of Battle of Buena Vista; General William H. Harrison; Lord
Byron; chromolithographs of mechanical trajectories; introduction; Polly's
Lamentation; The British Sea; The Irish Sea; reproduction of E. Delacroix
sketches; reproduction of Delacroix: "Jane Shore"; reproduction of Delacroix: "Un
Naufrage"; map of Guinea, map of New York; Barnard genealogy; Mill's colossal
equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson; farm yard, flowers. Also includes prints by
Raphael Krichner, Berghem Pinxit and Dancker Danckerts.
box 73, folder 14
Postage,
1940-1975
Physical Description:
18
items
box 73, folder 15
Currency,
1944-1957
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains a Canadian penny and two French Franc notes.
box 73-74
Various,
1972,
undated
Physical Description:
23
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains: buttons and buckles, wine cork, picture hanging hardware, antique album
cover, various paper items such as labels.
box 76-77, 120, 123 17**
Correspondence and administrative documentation,
1962-1986,
undated
Physical Description:
46
items
Scope and Content Note
Comprised of correspondence regarding loan agreements, papers regarding transactions
of pieces of art from Wagstaff's personal collections, requests for reproduction
rights for works from the collection and correspondence between Wagstaff and various
artists. Agnes Martin, Michael Heizer, Alan Saret, Tony Smith and H.C. Westermann make
up the bulk of the subject matter.
Arrangement
Correspondence was organized by Wagstaff chronologically, alphabetically by artist or
institution, and by subject. There is redundancy between the arrangements.
box 75, folder 1
Courbet, Gustave,
1969-1982
Physical Description:
19
items
box 75, folder 2
Detroit Institute of Arts,
1972-1984
Physical Description:
20
items
box 75, 120, 123, 17**
Heizer, Michael,
1969-1986
Michael Heizer film reels: undated
Physical Description:
338
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence with the artist. Includes black-and-white photographs, film
reels, and some original art. Also includes two copies of
Actual
Size
.
box 75, folder 3-3a
Papers and black-and-white photographs
Physical Description:
37
items
box 120
Color photographs and slides
Physical Description:
298
items
flatfile 17**
Oversize poster
Physical Description:
1
items
Scope and Content Note
Artist proof inscribed to Sam.
box 123, item F1-F2
[Tracks across lake bed project],
undated
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
2 film reels; 16mm
box 123, item F3
Untitled film,
undated
Physical Description:
1
items
Scope and Content Note
1 film reel; 16mm
box 75, folder 4
Martin, Agnes,
1969-1977
Physical Description:
91
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes letters from Martin.
box 75, 120
Nadar,
1976-1984
Physical Description:
42
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes catalog of Städtische Kunsthalle, Düsseldorf exhibition.
box 75, folder 4a
Papers and black-and-white photographs
Physical Description:
41
items
box 120
Polaroid
Physical Description:
1
items
box 75, folder 5
Quigley, Edward,
1976-1983
Physical Description:
65
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes letters from Quigley.
box 75, folder 6
Saret, Alan,
1971-1978
Physical Description:
31
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes
Materials & Methods: A New View, Katonah Gallery
exhibition catalog.
box 120
Seeley, George,
undated
Physical Description:
1
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color slide.
box 75, folder 6a
Shannon, Tom,
1984
Physical Description:
11
items
box 75, 120
Smith, Tony,
1968-1986
Physical Description:
18
items
box 75, folder 7
Papers
Physical Description:
22
items
box 120
Black-and-white negative
Physical Description:
1
items
box 75, 120
Vuillard, Edouard,
1970-1972
Physical Description:
13
items
box 75, folder 8
Papers and black-and-white photographs
Physical Description:
9
items
box 120
Color transparencies
Physical Description:
4
items
box 75, 120
Warhol, Andy,
1970-1986
Physical Description:
33
items
box 75, folder 9
Papers
Physical Description:
28
items
box 120
Color transparencies.
undated
Physical Description:
4
items
box 75, folder 10
Westermann, H. C.,
1969-1981
Physical Description:
35
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes an issue of
Waves.
box 75, folder 11
Wadsworth Atheneum,
1970-1980
box 76, 120
1962-1969
Physical Description:
39
items
box 76, folder 1
Papers and black-and-white photographs
box 120
Papers and color photographs
Physical Description:
4
items
box 76, folder 2
1970-1975
Physical Description:
33
items
box 76, folder 3
1976-1979
Physical Description:
55
items
box 76, folder 4
1980-1981
Physical Description:
28
items
box 76, folder 5
1982
Physical Description:
42
items
box 76, folder 6
1983
Physical Description:
46
items
box 76, folder 7
1984
Physical Description:
16
items
box 76, 120
1985
Physical Description:
18
items
box 76, folder 8
Papers
Physical Description:
16
items
box 120
Polaroids
Physical Description:
2
items
box 76, folder 9
1986
Physical Description:
4
items
box 77, folder 1
African art,
1964-1982
Physical Description:
116
items
box 77, folder 2
Native American art,
1966-1983
Physical Description:
68
items
box 77, folder 3-4
Reproduction rights,
1978-1986
Physical Description:
125
items
box 77, folder 5-6
Sales receipts and checks,
1962-1986
Physical Description:
142
items
box 77, folder 7
Photographs,
undated
Physical Description:
35
items
box 77, 120
Assorted documentation,
1974-1982
Physical Description:
21
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes papers probably by Wagstaff for publication or lecture regarding his
collection and collecting.
box 77, folder 8
Papers
Physical Description:
21
items
box 120
Color transparency
Physical Description:
1
items
box 77, folder 9-10
Conservation papers,
1974-1986
Physical Description:
46
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains receipts for collection care items as well as various papers, publications
and catalogs regarding archival practice.
Series III.
Personal papers,
1796-1986
Physical Description:
4.7 Linear
Feet
(9 boxes)
Scope and Content Note
This series contains family photographs including pictures of Sam Wagstaff at various
ages, Judy Wagstaff (Sam's sister), Olga Piorkowska (Sam's mother), Samuel Wagstaff Sr.
(Sam's father) and Donald Newhall (Sam's stepfather). Also included are photographs of
other identified and unidentified family members. Series III contains financial
documents including estate papers, tax papers and property ownership papers. Wagstaff's
personal papers such as medical papers, astrological papers and identification documents
are also included.
Arrangement
Organized by photographs and papers. Photographs are arranged by individual or family
name with unidentified photographs at the end. Papers are arranged between
correspondence and document types.
box 78-80, 121
Family photographs,
1881-1985
Physical Description:
181
items
box 78, 111*, 121
Samuel Wagstaff,
circa
1921-1981
Physical Description:
70
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of Sam Wagstaff possibly at Yale and possibly with naval
command.
box 78, folder 1-5
Black-and-white photographs
box 121, folder 1
Other photographic formats
box 78, folder 6
Judy Wagstaff,
1936,
undated
Physical Description:
4
items
box 78, folder 7-9
Piorkowska family,
1933,
undated
Physical Description:
10
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Emil Piorkowska and Olga
Piorkowska.
box 78, folder 10-18
Other Wagstaff family,
1881-1916,
undated
Physical Description:
56
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wagstaff, Samuel Wagstaff Sr., Mary
Wagstaff and Henry Gribble.
box 79, 121
Donald Newhall family,
1917-1959
Physical Description:
81
items
Scope and Content Note
Newhall was an artist and Wagstaff's step father.
box 79, folder 1-5
Black-and-white photographs
box 121, folder 2
Other photographic formats
box 79, folder 6-7
Unidentified and assorted photographs
1906-1985,
undated
Physical Description:
101
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs probably of unidentified family members.
box 79-84
Family papers,
1796-1986
Physical Description:
381
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes original art and sketchbook by Donald V. Newhall. Also includes family
correspondence, genealogical records and estate papers.
box 79, folder 8
Donald Newhall papers
1927-1958
Physical Description:
11
items
box 79, folder 9-10
Original art by Donald Newhall,
undated
Physical Description:
58
items
box 80, folder 1
Olga Newhall correspondence,
1970-1972
Physical Description:
11
items
box 80, folder 2-2b
Sam Wagstaff personal documents,
1954-1976
Physical Description:
86
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes social security card and copy of Wagstaff birth certificate, medical
papers and astrological papers.
box 80, folder 3-7
Family financial and estate documents,
1965-1979
Physical Description:
337
items
box 81
Wagstaff property documents,
1973-1986
Physical Description:
393
items
box 82-83
Wagstaff financial documents,
1952-1985
Physical Description:
675
items
box 82
Tax documents and other financial papers
1952-1984
Physical Description:
232
items
box 83
Papers related to Getty sale,
1973-1985
Physical Description:
443
items
Scope and Content Note
Documents related to the J. Paul Getty Museum's acquisition of the Wagstaff
photography collection are SEALED until 2019.
Assorted family papers,
1796-1961,
undated
Physical Description:
54
items
box 84, folder 1
1796-1834
Physical Description:
7
items
box 84, folder 2
1842-1897
Physical Description:
15
items
box 84, folder 3
1909-1961
Physical Description:
14
items
box 84, folder 4
Undated
Physical Description:
18
items
Series IV.
Correspondence,
1909-1986
Physical Description:
2.9 Linear
Feet
(9 boxes)
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence includes all letters that were not identified by Wagstaff as being part
of another series. The bulk of series IV correspondence spans the time after Wagstaff
stopped working as a professional curator and instead had moved back to New York to
focus on collecting photography. Letters received are often from admirers, staff from
cultural institutions, friends and artists.
Arrangement
Correspondence was organized by Wagstaff chronologically, alphabetically by artist or
institution, and by subject. There is redundancy between the arrangements.
box 85-86, 111*, 121
Chronological,
1961-1986
Physical Description:
797
items
box 85, folder 1
1961-1976
Physical Description:
60
items
box 85, folder 2-3
1977
Physical Description:
82
items
box 85, 121
1978
Physical Description:
80
items
box 85, folder 4-5
Papers and black-and-white photographs
box 85, 121
1979
Physical Description:
50
items
box 85, 121
1980
Physical Description:
70
items
box 85, 121
1981
Physical Description:
65
items
box 85, folder 9
Papers and black-and-white photographs
box 86, folder 1
1982
Physical Description:
67
items
box 86, folder 2
1983
Physical Description:
94
items
box 86, 121
1984
Physical Description:
75
items
box 86, folder 4
1985
Physical Description:
64
items
box 86, folder 5
1986
Physical Description:
38
items
box 86, folder 6-7
undated
Physical Description:
52
items
box 87, folder 1-5
Photography,
1971-1975
Physical Description:
260
items
box 87, folder 6
Lectures,
1974-1980
Physical Description:
35
items
box 87, 121
Native American Art,
1969-1983
Physical Description:
84
items
box 87, folder 7
Papers and black-and-white photographs
box 88, folder 1-3
Europe,
1974-1984
Physical Description:
201
items
box 88, 121
Correspondence with assorted individuals,
1975-1985
Physical Description:
92
items
box 88, folder 4
Goldschmidt, Lucien,
1976-1984
Physical Description:
4
items
box 88, 121
Hutchinson,
1964-1968
Physical Description:
7
items
box 88, folder 5
Papers and black-and-white photographs
box 88, folder 6
Incandela, Gerald,
1976-1977
Physical Description:
21
items
box 88, folder 7
Jammes, André,
1975-1985
Physical Description:
60
items
box 88-89, 121
Correspondence with photographers,
1975-1984
Physical Description:
360
items
box 88, folder 8
Arnold, Bill,
1978-1980
Physical Description:
9
items
box 88, folder 9
Asbury, Dana,
1979
Physical Description:
2
items
box 88, folder 10
Avedon, Richard,
1978
Physical Description:
1
items
box 88, folder 11
Bankhead, Judy,
1979
Physical Description:
3
items
box 88, folder 12
Barron, Susan,
1979
Physical Description:
2
items
box 88, folder 13
Block, Helen,
1979-1980
Physical Description:
2
items
box 88, folder 14
Brooks, Ellen,
1976-1979
Physical Description:
17
items
box 88, folder 15
Buck, Ken,
1980
Physical Description:
2
items
box 88, folder 16
Buckland, David,
1979
Physical Description:
4
items
box 88, folder 17
Condron, Brian,
1979
Physical Description:
1
items
box 88, folder 18
Cooper, Ron,
1978
Physical Description:
2
items
box 88, folder 19
Cubillas, Raul,
1978
Physical Description:
2
items
box 88, folder 20
Dayton, Susan,
1979
Physical Description:
13
items
box 88, folder 21
Dingus, Rick,
1979-1982
Physical Description:
19
items
box 88, folder 22
Dotter, Earl,
1979
Physical Description:
2
items
box 89, folder 1
Edgerton, Harold,
1977
Physical Description:
2
items
box 89, folder 2
Enos, Chris,
undated
Physical Description:
1
items
box 89, folder 3
Feiler, Jo Alison,
1979
Physical Description:
6
items
box 89, 121
Frazer, Jim,
1979-1981
Physical Description:
6
items
box 89, folder 5
Friedlander, Ira,
1976
Physical Description:
3
items
box 89, folder 6
Fulton, Hamish,
1979
Physical Description:
2
items
box 89, folder 7
Gates, Jeff,
1979-1980
Physical Description:
3
items
box 89, folder 8
Gomes, Alair,
1979-1980
Physical Description:
60
items
box 89, folder 9
Grooteclaes, Hubert,
1982
Physical Description:
1
items
box 89, folder 10
Gruen, John,
1983
Physical Description:
1
items
box 89, folder 11
Gurner, Fred,
1979
Physical Description:
3
items
box 89, folder 12
Josephson, Ken,
1978-1979
Physical Description:
3
items
box 89, folder 13
Lartigue, Jac,
1977-1978
Physical Description:
3
items
box 89, folder 14
Liebling, Jerome,
1979-1981
Physical Description:
3
items
box 89, 121
McBride, Will,
1981-1984
Physical Description:
40
items
box 89, folder 16
Miller, John R.,
1982
Physical Description:
2
items
box 89, folder 17
Moser, Lida,
1978
Physical Description:
12
items
box 89, folder 18
Munroe, Robert,
1980
Physical Description:
1
items
box 89, folder 19
Riboud, Marc,
1980
Physical Description:
1
items
box 89, folder 20
Schoenfeld, Diana,
1980
Physical Description:
1
items
box 89, folder 21
Seidner, David M.,
1980
Physical Description:
3
items
box 89, folder 22
Shiraoka, Jun,
1977-1980
Physical Description:
3
items
box 89, folder 23
Sinsabaugh, Art,
1977-1979
Physical Description:
35
items
box 89, folder 24
Svendesn, Karina,
1980
Physical Description:
6
items
box 89, folder 25
Thompson, Bill,
1980
Physical Description:
1
items
box 89, folder 26
Vogt, Christian,
1978-1979
Physical Description:
2
items
box 89, folder 27
Yoder, Janica,
1977-1978
Physical Description:
7
items
box 89, folder 28
Young, Barbara,
1976-1977
Physical Description:
5
items
box 89, folder 29
Zetterstrom, Tom,
1978-1981
Physical Description:
22
items
box 89, folder 30
Zimmerman, Tom,
1981
Physical Description:
1
items
box 89, folder 31
Assorted,
1975-1980
Physical Description:
40
items
box 90-91, 111*, 121
Institution files,
1962-1986
Physical Description:
210
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence, papers and ephemera from institutions where Wagstaff worked,
served on a board or provided curatorial services. Also includes papers from
institutions that Wagstaff culled out in the original organization of his documents.
Often correspondence with these institutions can also be found in the chronological
and subject based correspondence files.
box 90, folder 1
Amon Carter Museum,
1981-1982
Physical Description:
42
items
box 90, folder 2-3
Detroit Institute of Arts,
1965-1981
Physical Description:
10
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two copies of
An Exhibition of Italian Panels & Manuscripts
From the Thirteenth & Fourteenth Centuries in Honor of Richard
Offner
.
box 90, 121
Detroit Focus Gallery,
1985-1986
Physical Description:
60
items
box 90, folder 5
G. Ray Hawkins Gallery,
1976-1978
Physical Description:
14
items
box 90, folder 6
Galerie Texbraun,
1978-1985
Physical Description:
3
items
box 90, folder 7
International Center for Photography,
1979-1986
Physical Description:
18
items
box 91, folder 1
Lunn Gallery,
1981
Physical Description:
3
items
box 91, folder 2
National Portrait Gallery,
1976-1983
Physical Description:
4
items
box 91, folder 3
New York University, Grey art Gallery,
1981-1986
Physical Description:
20
items
box 91, folder 4
University of New Mexico, Coke Collection,
1973-1977
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two copies of
Photographs from the Coke Collection.
box 91, 111*
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art,
1962-1983
Physical Description:
20
items
box 111*, folder 2
Oversize photograph
Scope and Content Note
Photograph contains text overlay for John Cage and Merce Cunningham performance
promotional materials.
box 91, folder 6
Witkin Gallery,
1977-1983
Physical Description:
16
items
box 91, folder 7
Address cards,
undated
Physical Description:
26
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains index cards with contact information possibly comprising a rolodex. Referred
to by Wagstaff as "show addresses."
box 91, 121
Assorted correspondence,
1909-1979
Physical Description:
63
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes items from folder titled by Wagstaff as "dead letters" as well as
correspondence not addressed to Wagstaff.
Series V.
Projects,
1914-1986
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear
Feet
(8 boxes)
Scope and Content Note
Contains photographs and documents regarding specific exhibitions Wagstaff participated
in, publications that Wagstaff produced, and artist research. This series includes
documentation regarding the founding of Wagstaff's publishing Company, Gray Press, and
its only published product,
A Book of Photographs.
Arrangement
The series is arranged by exhibitions, publications and artist research. Artist
research is organized alphabetically by artist name.
box 92-94, 121
Exhibitions,
1914-1986
Physical Description:
699
items
box 92, folder 1-2
Venezia '79-La Fotografia,
1978-1980
Physical Description:
97
items
Scope and Content Note
Wagstaff's contribution to the exhibition was organized by the International Center
of Photography. Includes one copy of
Photo.
box 92, folder 3-4
Colleció Sam Wagstaff,
1980-1983
Physical Description:
53
items
Scope and Content Note
Wagstaff exhibited his collections at the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid and Fundació
Joan Miró, Barcelona.
box 92, folder 5-6
Trésors de la collection Sam Wagstaff,
1982-1983
Physical Description:
59
items
Scope and Content Note
Exhibition was held at the Petit Palais as part of the Mois de la Photo organizing
initiative.
box 93, folder 1-5
Photographic Reproduction Processes,
1914-1983
Physical Description:
106
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes letters from 1914 describing photomechanical processes. Also includes copy
of
The Beginnings of Halftone. Exhibition was held at Grolier
Club.
box 93, folder 6
That's Sculpture? Photographs from the Collection of Samuel Wagstaff,
Jr.,
1981-1984
Physical Description:
137
items
Scope and Content Note
Exhibition was held at Brown University.
box 121
Hanging Out,
1984
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains color slides. Exhibition was held at Bell Gallery.
box 94, folder 1-2
Wagstaff II exhibition,
1980-1986
Physical Description:
181
items
Scope and Content Note
A traveling exhibition of Wagstaff collection photographs that was to be shown at
International Center for Photography, Corcoran and other institutions.
box 94, folder 3
Erotica exhibition,
1981-1984
Physical Description:
35
items
Scope and Content Note
Exhibition was to be held at NYU Grey Gallery and Texas Gallery, Houston. Also
referred to by Wagstaff as "sex show." Includes Mancini Gallery exhibition
catalog.
box 94, folder 4-5
Indian exhibition,
1967-1980
Physical Description:
23
items
Scope and Content Note
Exhibition was probably never realized.
box 95-96, 111*, 121
Publications,
1977-1986
Physical Description:
690
items
box 95
A Book of Photographs,
1977-1982
Physical Description:
406
items
Scope and Content Note
Contains release forms for publication. Also includes contracts, financial
accounting papers and documents related to book production and ordering.
box 96, 111*, 121
Cat collection,
1978-1986
Physical Description:
288
items
Scope and Content Note
Research for and responses to 1986
Artforum article.
box 96, folder 1-9
Papers and black-and-white photographs
box 121
Other photographic formats
box 97, 121
Artist Research,
1982-1985,
undated
box 97, 121
Ettinger, David,
1985
Physical Description:
27
items
box 97, folder 2-3
Gallé, Emile,
1982-1983
Physical Description:
90
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two copies of Sotheby auction catalog.
box 97, folder 4
Gauguin, Paul,
undated
Physical Description:
94
items
Series VI.
Ephemera and assorted papers,
1941-1986
Physical Description:
7.4 Linear
Feet
(5 boxes, 4 flatfiles)
Scope and Content Note
Series VI contains clippings, ephemera and assorted documents. Ephemera consists of
posters and exhibition announcements. Clippings include articles on Wagstaff.
Arrangement
Arranged by clippings, ephemera, papers, photographs and publications.
box 98, 112*
Clippings,
1946-1983,
undated
Physical Description:
67
items
box 98, 112*, 9**
Ephemera,
1967-1986
Physical Description:
46
items
box 112*, folder 2-4
Oversize ephemera
Scope and Content Note
Includes Yvonne Rainer poster and several copies of Robert Morris announcement.
flatfile 9**
Oversize posters
Scope and Content Note
Contains Robert Morris, Nadar and Donald Judd exhibition posters. Also includes
poster for Derek Jarman's film Sebastian, signed by Guy Ford.
box 98, folder 8-11
Assorted papers,
1975,
undated
Physical Description:
100
items
box 98, 122
Assorted photographic materials,
1968-1984,
undated
Physical Description:
71
items
box 99
Assorted publications,
1941-1986
Physical Description:
90
items
Series VII.
Film reels,
undated
Physical Description:
1.8 Linear
Feet
(2 boxes)
Scope and Content Note
Series VII contains developed and undeveloped films. See also Series I for three film
reels included in Michael Heizer correspondence. Audio visual materials are unavailable
until reformatting is complete.
Arrangement
Developed films are followed by undeveloped films.
box 124, item F4
[Potatoes on a Studio Floor],
undated
Physical Description:
1
items
Scope and Content Note
1 film reel; 16 mm.
box 124-125, item F5-F11
Unidentified films,
undated
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
7 film reels; 16 mm.
box 125, item F12-F15
Undeveloped film,
undated
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
4 film reels; 16 mm.
