Finding aid for the James E. B. Breslin research archive on Mark Rothko,
1900-1994 (bulk 1940-1990)
Laurel McPhee and Andra Darlington.
Descriptive Summary
Title: James E. B. Breslin research archive on Mark Rothko
Date (inclusive): 1900-1994 (bulk 1940-1990)
Number: 2003.M.23
Creator/Collector:
Breslin, James E.
B., 1935-
Physical Description:
18.7 Linear Feet
(32 boxes, 1 flat file folder)
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: Archive assembled by James Breslin,
professor at the University of California, Berkeley, as he researched and wrote Mark Rothko:
a biography. The Russian-born American painter's life and work are the central subjects of
the collection, situated in broad historical and artistic contexts with particular emphasis
on Abstract Expressionism and the New York art world from the 1920s through the 1960s.
Materials include interview recordings and transcripts, correspondence, financial and legal
documents, photographs, clippings, assorted printed materials, and extensive
notes.
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
James E. B. Breslin was born December 12, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. He received a B.A.
from Brooklyn College in 1957 and an M.A. in English from the University of North Carolina
in 1959. In 1964 Breslin earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, and in the same
year joined the English faculty at the University of California, Berkeley.
Breslin's scholarly interests lay in avant-garde American poetry and art of the twentieth
century, particularly in relation to Modernism. In 1970 he published his first book,
William Carlos Williams: an American artist, followed in 1984 by his study
of post-World War II poetry entitled
From modern to contemporary. His third
major book,
Mark Rothko: a biography, published in 1993 after nearly eight
years of research, was praised by Hilton Kramer in the
New York times book
review
as "a biographical classic" and "the best life of an American painter that
has yet been written," December 26, 1993.
Following the publication of his Rothko biography, Breslin was appointed chair of the Art
Practice Department at UC Berkeley. He was completing an introduction to a catalog of Squeak
Carnwath paintings with his second wife, Ramsay Bell Breslin, and researching a biography of
jazz great John Coltrane when he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1996.
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers, with the exception of unreformatted audiotapes and
the Theodoros Stamos file, Box 32, which will remain sealed until 2076.
Publication Rights
Preferred citation
James E. B. Breslin Research Archive on Mark Rothko, The Getty Research Institute, Los
Angeles, Accession no. 2003.M.23
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2003m23
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Ramsay Bell Breslin, James Breslin's widow, in 2003.
Processing History
Ramsay Bell Breslin numbered the folders and wrote an extensive inventory in preparation
for the Getty Research Institute's acquisition of the archive. Laurel McPhee began
processing and arranging the collection and writing the finding aid in November-December
2003 and Andra Darlington completed the work in December 2005-April 2006. James Breslin's
original order was maintained in the alphabetical arrangement of files on individuals and
institutions, and in the topical arrangement of other files; new topics were assigned and
documents interfiled as necessary. Original file folders were retained only if Breslin had
written notes on them.
Scope and Content of Collection
Assembled by James Breslin as he researched and wrote
Mark Rothko: a
biography
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993), the collection addresses
the same subjects as the book, but in greater depth and detail. With files relating to
Rothko's early childhood in Dvinsk, Russia, his family's emigration to Portland, Oregon, his
education, his troubled personal life, the development of his career, his artistic process,
and his suicide, the collection comprises a rich compilation of materials on the life and
work of a key figure in twentieth-century painting. Like Breslin's book, the collection
situates Rothko and his work within broad historical and artistic contexts, emphasizing
abstract expressionism and the New York art world from the 1920s through the 1960s. Among
the individuals featured prominently in the collection are artists Robert Motherwell,
Barnett Newman, Clyfford Still, Adolph Gottlieb, Milton Avery, and Max Weber, and critics
Dore Ashton and Katharine Kuh.
Included in the collection are audio recordings and many transcripts of Breslin's
interviews with approximately 100 of Rothko's surviving family, friends, fellow artists,
collectors, dealers, curators, and critics, including ten audiotapes of interviews with
Motherwell. Much of the collection was photocopied from the personal papers of Rothko's
friends, family and associates, and archives at museums, galleries and historical societies.
Photocopied materials include correspondence with Mark Rothko, pages from his notebooks,
vital, legal, financial, and medical records, documents regarding the commission,
exhibition, and sale of artwork, and assorted documents related to the lawsuit brought by
his daughter against Marlborough Galleries and the executors of Rothko's estate following
his death. Photographic materials include slides, prints, negatives, and transparencies,
predominantly reproductions of Rothko's paintings, but also personal photographs reproduced
from other collections, photographs of the landscapes and landmarks of Rothko's childhood,
and exterior views of his studios in New York City. Also included are critical and art
historical articles and theses, Breslin's original correspondence and extensive handwritten
notes documenting his research process, and materials related to the publication of his
book. The dates provided for photocopied materials and other reproductions correspond to the
original documents. Undated items produced by Breslin, including his notes, are dated within
the years of his research, circa 1983 to 1992.
Arrangement note
The archive is arranged in six series: ; ; ; ; ; .Series I. Research files on individuals, 1913-1994
Series II. Research files on
institutions and organizations, 1922-1992
Series III. Topical research files, 1903-1991
Series IV. Photographs and
reproductions, 1900-1994
Series V. Book publication files, 1989-1993
Series VI. Audio recordings
of interviews, 1985-1990
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Weber, Max,
1881-1961
Rothko, Mark, 1903-1970
Still, Clyfford, 1904-1980
Motherwell, Robert
Newman, Barnett, 1905-1970
Gottlieb, Adolph, 1903-1974
Kuh, Katharine
Avery, Milton, 1885-1965
Ashton, Dore
Subjects - Topics
Art, Modern -- 20th century
Artists -- Interviews
Abstract expressionism -- United States
New York school of art
Subjects - Places
Daugavpils (Latvia) -- History -- 20th century
Portland (Or.) -- History -- 20th century
New York (N.Y.) -- Intellectual life -- 20th century
Genres and Forms of Material
Correspondence
Interviews
Audiocassettes
Color transparencies
Slides (photographs)
Photographic prints
Photographs, Original
Contributors
Rothko, Mark,
1903-1970
Motherwell, Robert
Breslin, James E.
B., 1935-
Series I.
Research files on individuals,
1913-1994
Physical Description:
11
box(es)
Scope and Content Note
Research files on individuals who were subjects or sources for James Breslin's
research. Materials include transcripts of 69 of Breslin's interviews, photocopied and
original correspondence, printed materials, clippings, photographs, and extensive notes.
Following initial lists of names and contact information, files are arranged
alphabetically with unidentified individuals at the end.
box 1, 22
Contact information,
circa 1983-1992
box 1, folder 1
Lists
Physical Description: 80 items
Scope and Content Note
Lists of names with contact information.
box 22
Index cards
Physical Description:
1 index
card file
Scope and Content Note
A black plastic index card file containing 52 index cards and a business card with
names and contact information.
box 1, folder 2
Interview list,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
18
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
A list of 159 people Breslin interviewed or intended to interview and several pages
of related notes.
box 1, folder 3
Abish, Cecile,
1988
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Cecile Abish on May 20, 1988, followed by
handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 4
Abramowitz, Minna,
1987
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten notes from Breslin's telephone interview with Minna Abramowitz on July 3,
1987.
box 1, folder 5
Adelson, Howard,
1988
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten notes from Breslin's interview with Howard Adelson on October 11,
1988.
box 1, folder 6
Admiral, Virginia,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Mark Rothko to Virginia Admiral regarding the exhibition
Americans in Venice.
box 1, folder 7
Ahearn, Jonathan,
1986
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Three-part transcript of Breslin's interview with Jonathan Ahearn on November 3,
1986, followed by handwritten notes and Breslin's original file folder with notes on
front and back. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 8
Alford, Emily and Newell,
1988
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Emily and Newell Alford on May 16, 1988. See
Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 9
Correspondence with Mark Rothko,
1943-circa 1946
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of four letters from Mark Rothko to his sister, née Sonia
Rothkowitz.
box 1, folder 10
Interview,
1975
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Two photocopied transcripts of Ruth Cloudman's interview with Rothko's sister,
Sonia Allen, on April 17, 1975, followed by 7 leaves of handwritten notes. Includes
original file folder with notes on front.
box 23*, folder 1
Oversize article,
1970
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article about Sonia Allen's memories of her childhood with Mark
Rothko.
box 1, folder 11
Anfam, David,
1979-1990
Physical Description:
11
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence between James Breslin and David Anfam (1989-1990),
photocopied letters between Anfam and Robert Neuhaus (1979), a photocopied article by
Anfam, "Mark Rothko at the Tate Gallery,"
Art International (1987),
Breslin's handwritten notes, and the original file folder with notes on front.
box 1, folder 12
Antonioni, Michelangelo,
1962
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Michelangelo Antonioni to Mark Rothko, in Italian with
English translation.
box 1, folder 13
Ashton, Dore,
1956-1986
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Dore Ashton on February 25, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes, a photocopied letter from Ashton to Mark Rothko (1957),
two photocopied journal entries (1964, 1969), and photocopied articles by Ashton about
Rothko (1956-1957, 1977). See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 14
Breslin's notes and writings,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes on Milton Avery and his scrapbook, a
photocopied page of excerpted statements by Avery about his work, two photocopied
drafts of chapter four of Breslin's book on Rothko, "Starting out in the
Depression," and his original file folder with notes on front.
box 1, folder 15
Printed material,
1952-1982
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles about Avery, including two copies of Mark Rothko's
commemorative essay on Avery, delivered as a memorial address at the New York
Society for Ethical Culture and published in
Milton Avery Paintings and
Drawings, 1939-1964
(1966), and a handwritten draft of the essay.
box 1, folder 16
Avery, Sally,
1977-1987
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a letter from Sally Avery to Breslin (1987), two photocopied letters from
Avery to Clair Zamoiski (1977-1978), James Breslin's handwritten notes on his
interview with Avery on January 19, 1986, and his notes on interviews with Avery by
Adelyn Dohme Breeskin (1969), Karl Fortell (1976), and Tom Wolf (1982).
box 1, folder 17
Bachman, Gerd,
1965
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Letter from Gerd Bachman to Mark Rothko.
box 1, folder 18
Bartos, Armond,
1988
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Armond Bartos on May 17, 1988, followed by one
leaf of handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 19
Baumbach, Harold,
1987
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Harold Baumbach on June 28, 1987, followed by
handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 20
Baumgarten, Robert L., Mrs.,
1967
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Mrs Robert L. Baumgarten to Rothko. See also Series III B.
Mark Rothko collectors.
box 1, folder 21
Baziotes, Ethel,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Ethel Baziotes on February 17, 1986, followed
by one leaf of handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 1, folder 22
Baziotes, William,
1944-1945
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from Robert Motherwell to William Baziotes.
box 1, folder 23
Belsey, Joseph,
1987
Physical Description:
5
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on his interview with Joseph Belsey on December 17, 1987.
See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 24
Ben-Zion,
1986
Physical Description:
5
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on his interview with Ben-Zion on January 6, 1986, and on
"The Ten." See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 25
Benhaim, Hermine,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from the Hermine Benhaim Papers, specifically on a Henry
Putzel essay.
box 1, folder 26
Benjamin, Gershon,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 1, folder 27
Berman, Henry,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Henry Berman on February 14, 1986, followed by
handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 1, folder 28
Blinken, Donald,
1962-1986
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Donald Blinken on January 28, 1986, two
photocopied articles (1962, 1982), and notes on Blinken. See Series VI for an audio
recording of the interview. See also Series III B. Mark Rothko collectors.
box 1, folder 29
Blot, Jacques,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Jacques Blot to Mark Rothko (date illegible).
box 1, folder 30
Bluhm, Norman,
circa 1987
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Letter from Norman Bluhm to James Breslin.
box 2, folder 1
Bodin, Paul,
1987
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Typed and handwritten notes from Breslin's telephone interview with Paul Bodin on
July 2, 1987. See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's interview with Bodin
on January 28, 1986.
box 2, folder 2
Bogat, Regina,
1986-1992
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Two letters (1990, 1992) to James Breslin from Regina Bogat, widow of Alfred Jensen
(also known by her married name, Regina Bogat Jensen), accompanied by photocopied
reminiscences by Al Jensen of his conversations with Mark Rothko. Also includes
Breslin's notes from his interview with Bogat on February 5, 1986. See Series VI for a
recording of the interview.
box 2, folder 3
Bolotowsky, Ilya,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Paul Cummings's interview with Ilya Bolotowsky on
March 24, 1968.
box 2, folder 4
Bourgeois, Louise,
1986
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Louise Bourgeois on January 5, 1986, followed
by five leaves of handwritten notes and the original file folder with notes on
front.
box 2, folder 5
Bowker, Albert,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Albert Bowker.
box 2, folder 6
Brach, Paul,
1986
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's very brief notes from his telephone conversation with Paul Brach on January
17, 1986.
box 2, folder 7
Braddon, Bernard,
1986
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's typewritten notes from his interview with Bernard Braddon on January 23,
1986. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 2, folder 8
Braddon, Bernard, and Sidney Schectman,
1938, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied transcript of a 1938 radio interview with Bernard Braddon and Sidney
Schectman, directors of Mercury Galleries, New York, and Breslin's handwritten notes
on Avis Berman's interview with Braddon and Schectman on October 9, 1981. See also
Series II: Mercury Galleries.
box 2, folder 9
Breslin, Paul,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on the Paul Breslin papers.
box 2, folder 10
Briggs, Ernest,
1956-1962, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes four photocopied letters from Clyfford Still to Ernest Briggs regarding
exhibitions, reviews, and sales of Briggs's work (1956-1962), and Breslin's
handwritten notes regarding Barbara Schikler's interviews with Earnest Briggs in July
and October, 1982.
box 2, folder 11
Brooks, James,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's very brief notes on Dorothy Seckler's 1965 interview with James Brooks.
box 2, folder 12
Brown, Milton,
1987
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's July 1, 1987 interview with Milton Brown, followed by one
leaf of handwritten notes and the original file folder with notes on front. See Series
VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 2, folder 13
Lewis Browne collection,
1921-1928, 1989
Physical Description:
13
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes six photocopied letters from Lewis Browne to his parents (1921-1928), two
letters from the Lilly Library, Indiana University, regarding the Lewis Browne
collection (1986-1989), photocopied articles related to Browne's
Graphic
Bible
and his legal dispute with Rothko following the book's publication
(1928), one leaf of Breslin's handwritten notes, and the original file folder with
notes on front and back.
box 23*, folder 2
Oversize articles,
1929
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles about Browne's legal dispute with Rothko.
box 2, folder 14
Browne, Silvia,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Silvia Browne on September 20, 1986, followed
by one leaf of handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 2, folder 15
Bultman, Jeanne [Joan],
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Jeanne Bultman on January 13, 1986. The
interviewee is identified as Jeanne on the transcript, but as Joan Bultman in
Breslin's book, p. 682. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 2, 23*
Calcagno, Lawrence,
1956, circa 1983-1992
box 2, folder 16
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 23*, folder 3
Oversize letter from Mark Rothko,
1956
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Mark Rothko to Lawrence Calcagno.
box 2, folder 17
Calden, Morris,
1982-1986
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes from interviews with Morris Calden on February
14 and 28, 1986, photocopied notes from Morris Calden's meeting with Bonnie Clearwater
and Barbara Shikler on June 30, 1982, and Breslin's original file folder with notes on
the front. See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's Feb 14, 1986,
interview.
box 2, folder 18
Carone, Nicholas,
1987-1988
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a typewritten transcript of Breslin's interview with Nicholas Carone on May
16, 1988, followed by one leaf of handwritten notes and a letter from Carone to
Breslin (1987). See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 2, folder 19
Carson, Edith,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes, including notes on Walter Hopps's interview with Edith
Carson on October 19, 1972, and a photocopied article by William Cobb, "From utopian
isolation to radical activism,"
Arkansas historical quarterly, special
issue on Commonwealth College, 1925-1935.
box 2, folder 20
Carson, George,
1986
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on his interview with George Carson on June 2, 1986, and
correspondence between Carson and Breslin. See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 2, folder 21
Castelli, Leo,
1980
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article about Leo Castelli by Calvin Tomkins, "A good eye and a good
ear,"
New Yorker, May 26, 1980.
box 2, folder 22
Cavallon, Georgio,
1987
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Georgio Cavallon on January 24, 1987, followed
by one leaf of handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 2, folder 23
Climo, George and Shirley,
1986
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Shirley and George Climo on October 15, 1986,
and two letters from the Climos to Breslin. See Series VI for an audio recording of
the interview.
box 2, folder 24
Corbett, Edward,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on correspondence in the Edward Corbett papers.
box 2, folder 25
Crowe, Tom,
1967
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Tom Crowe to Mark Rothko requesting the artist's
signature.
box 2, folder 26
Culeshman, N., Mrs.,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes regarding Mrs. N. Culeshman, possibly Rothko's first
cousin.
box 2, folder 27
Dach, Irene,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Irene Dach.
box 2, folder 28
Dehner, Dorothy,
1986-1987
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Dorothy Dehner on January 18, 1986,
a letter granting Breslin access to the Dorothy Dehner collections at the Archives of
American Art (1987), and three leaves of handwritten notes on Dehner's conversation
with Garnett McCoy and Rosalind Krauss in December 1966. See Series VI for an audio
recording of the Breslin interview.
box 2, folder 29
De Kooning, Elaine,
1957-1976
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied transcript of an interview with Elaine de Kooning on March 28,
1976, five leaves of Breslin's handwritten notes on Phyllis Tuchman's interview with
De Kooning on August 27, 1981, a photocopied article by De Kooning, "Two Americans in
action: Franz Kline, Mark Rothko,"
ARTnews Annual, XXVII, 1959, and a
photocopied letter to the editor by Rothko,
ARTnews, v. 56, no. 8,
December 1957.
box 2, folder 30
De Kooning, Willem,
1972-1990
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Two photocopied articles about Willem de Kooning (1979, circa 1990) and an interview
with Harold Rosenberg,
ARTnews, September 1972.
box 2, folder 31
Deming, Vita,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Two-part transcript of Breslin's interview with Vita Deming on February 3, 1986. See
Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 2, folder 32
Dienes, Ben,
1987
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Ben Dienes on January 9, 1987, followed by one
leaf of handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 2, folder 33
Dillenberger, Jane,
1968
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Jane Dillenberger to Mark Rothko.
box 2, folder 34
Director, Aaron and Harry,
1985
Physical Description:
5
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Harry and Aaron Director on July
2, 1985. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 2, folder 35
Dirk, Nathaniel,
1936, 1989
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two copies of the exhibition checklist for Nathaniel Dirk's watercolor
exhibition at the Rockport Art Association in Rockport, MA, 1989, and a photocopy of
Dirk's biography in
Who's who in American art (1936-1937).
box 2, folder 36
Dorshy, Morris,
1987
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his telephone conversation with Morris Dorshy on
January 24, 1987.
box 2, folder 37
Dzubas, Friedel,
1965
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of an interview with Friedel Dzubas by Max Kozloff, published in
Artforum, September 1965.
box 3, folder 1
Eisenstein, Judith,
1985-1986
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two leaves of handwritten notes from James Breslin's telephone interview
with Judith Eisenstein on January 29, 1986, and photocopied transcripts of
Eisenstein's meeting with Minna Brownstone on January 14, 1985.
box 3, folder 2
Emery, Vica,
1988
Physical Description:
3
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Vica Emery on October 12,
1988.
box 3, folder 3
Ernst, Jimmy,
1978, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Paul Cummings' interview with Jimmy Ernst on September
30, 1974, and a photocopied letter from Clair Zamoiski to Ernst (1978).
box 3, folder 4
Evergood, Philip,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on the Philip Evergood papers.
box 3, folder 5
Eversole, Finley,
1963
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Finley Eversole to Mark Rothko.
box 3, 23*
Feldman, Morton,
1972-1973
box 3, folder 6
Articles
1973
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles relating to Morton Feldman (1973), and one leaf of Breslin's
handwritten notes.
box 23*, folder 4
Oversize article
1972
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article relating to Morton Feldman (1972).
box 3, folder 7-8
Ferber, Herbert,
1952-1987
box 3, folder 7
Interviews,
1987
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Herbert Ferber on January 27, 1987, and
handwritten notes on interviews with Ferber by Irving Sandler (1968) and Phyllis
Tuchman (1981). See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's interview.
box 3, folder 8
Correspondence and articles,
1952-1984
Physical Description:
18
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of Herbert Ferber correspondence, including eleven letters from Mark
Rothko (1952-1968) and one from Robert Motherwell (1968), two articles by or about
Ferber (1984), and Breslin's original file folder with notes on front and back. See
also Lee Seldes file for transcribed correspondence between Ferber and Rothko.
box 3, folder 9
Folger, William S.,
1947
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from William S. Folger to Mark Rothko inquiring about a watercolor
exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Art.
box 23*, folder 5
Frankenthaler, Helen,
1989
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Oversize article by Deborah Solomon, "Artful survivor: Helen Frankenthaler stays
loyal to abstract expressionism,"
New York times magazine, May 14,
1989.
box 3, folder 10
Fuerstein, Saul,
1983
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied notes from Barbara Shikler's interview with Saul Fuerstein on November 2,
1983.
box 3, folder 11
Gage, Arthur,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Arthur Gage in November 1986, and
three leaves of genealogical information about the Weinstein family. See Series VI for
a recording of the interview.
box 3, folder 12
Genauer, Emily,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on the Emily Genauer papers.
box 3, folder 13
Gewirtz, Marilyn,
1989
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his telephone conversation with Marilyn Gewirtz on
April 13, 1989.
box 3, folder 14
Gitertz, Morris,
1978
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of a letter from Morris Gitertz to Diane Waldman regarding Gitertz's Yale
connections to Mark Rothko, Lewis Browne, Aaron Director, and the
Saturday
evening pest
(1978).
box 3, folder 15
Glimcher, Arnold B.,
1969-1986
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Arnold Glimcher on January 29, 1986, and
photocopied letters from Glimcher to Mark Rothko (1969) and Breslin (1986). See also
Series II: Pace Gallery. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 3, folder 16
Goldberg, Michael,
1987
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Michael Goldberg on January 27,
1987.
box 3, folder 17
Goldman, Emma,
1913-1915, 1985
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a letter from Candace Falk to James Breslin (1985) about the Emma Goldman
papers at the University of California, Berkeley, and photocopied materials regarding
Goldman's talks in Portland in 1913 and 1915, some of which Mark Rothko attended.
box 3, folder 18
Goldreyer, Daniel,
1986
Physical Description:
9
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Daniel Goldreyer on February 19,
1986.
box 3, folder 19
Goodrich, Lloyd,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Lloyd Goodrich on January 14, 1986. See also
Series II: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. See Series VI for an audio
recording of the interview.
box 3, folder 20
Gordon, Max,
1971-1985
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Max Gordon on August 9, 1985, and
a photocopied article, "Night clubs,"
New Yorker, October 1971.
box 3, folder 21
Gorky, Arshile,
1980
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied transcript of a conversation between Arshile Gorky and Mark Rothko, from
Karlen Moordian,
The many worlds of Arshile Gorky (Chicago: Gilgamesh
Press Ltd., 1980).
box 3, folder 22-23
Gottlieb, Adolph,
1948-1980
box 3, folder 22
Interviews and papers,
1962-1963, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied partial transcription of an interview with Adolph Gottlieb
by Martin Friedman (1962), notes on interviews with Gottlieb by Irving Sandler
(1962), Dorothy Seckler (1967), and Dore Ashton (1972), a photocopied interview by
David Sylvester,
Living arts magazine, June 1963, and Breslin's
handwritten notes on the Gottlieb papers.
box 3, folder 23
Printed materials,
1948-1980
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles by and about Adolph Gottlieb (1954-1980) and the text of a
talk given by Gottlieb (1948).
box 3, folder 24
Gottlieb, Esther,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Phyllis Tuchman's interview with Esther Gottlieb
(1981) and regarding a conversation with Esther Gottlieb and Sanford Hirsh (1987).
box 3, folder 25
Gottlieb, Harry,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on the Harry Gottlieb papers.
box 3, folder 26
Goreff, Carl and Leo,
1978-1990
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Two photocopied letters to Diane Waldman regarding Mark Rothko (1978) and Breslin's
handwritten notes from his telephone interview with Carl Goreff on January 12,
1990.
box 3, folder 27
Graham, John,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes regarding John Graham.
box 3, folder 28
Green, Wilder,
1988
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Wilder Green on May 17, 1988,
followed by handwritten and photocopied notes on an uncited interview with Green. See
Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's interview.
box 3, folder 29
Greenberg, Clement,
1955, 1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Clement Greenberg on February 3, 1986, and a
photocopied article by Greenberg, "American-type painting,"
Partisan review, 1955. See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 3, folder 30
Grokest, Albert,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Dr. Albert Grokest on January 24, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 3, folder 31
Guston, Philip,
1978-1979
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied lecture (1978) and "Notes to Musa in Woodstock," 1979, by Philip
Guston.
box 3, folder 32
Haftmann, Werner,
1971, undated
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied recollections of Mark Rothko by Werner Haftmann and a published essay,
"Ontmoeting met Mark Rothko" (1971).
box 3, folder 33
Hare, David,
circa 1940, 1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of Peggy Guggenheim's interview with David Hare (circa 1940), and a
transcript of Breslin's interview with Hare on January 9, 1986. See Series VI for an
audio recording of Breslin's interview.
box 3, 20
Hays, Hoffman R. and Juliette,
1977-1987, undated
box 3, folder 34
Letter and interviews,
1977-1987
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied letter from Hoffman R. Hays to Clair Zamoiski with a list of
Mark Rothko paintings in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Hays (1977), five
leaves of Breslin's notes on Dore Ashton's interview with Juliette Hays on July 2,
1982, a list of interview questions (1987), and a transcript of Breslin's interview
with Juliette Hays on January 28, 1987. See Series VI for a recording of Breslin's
interview.
box 20, folder 1
Color photographs,
undated
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Six Polaroid photographs of four Mark Rothko paintings in the Hays collection.
box 3, folder 35
Hayter, Stanley William,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Article by Martica Sawin, "Stanley William Hayter at 84,"
Arts
magazine
, January 1986.
box 3, folder 36
Held, Al,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Paul Cumming's interviews with Al Held in 1975 and
1976.
box 3, folder 37-38
Heller, Ben,
1960-1987
Scope and Content Note
See also Series III B. Mark Rothko collectors.
box 3, folder 37
Interviews and articles,
1960-1987
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two copies of a transcript of Breslin's interview with Ben Heller on
January 27, 1987, Breslin's handwritten notes on Paul Cummings' interview with
Heller (1973), and two photocopied articles about Heller as a collector (1960-1961).
See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's interview.
box 3, folder 38
Letter to Gustav Harrow,
1974
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Ben Heller to Gustav Harrow, Assistant Attorney General,
New York, N.Y., regarding Heller's relationship to Mark Rothko and his art (1974);
includes a price list of Rothko paintings acquired by Heller from 1955 to 1969.
box 3, folder 39
Hill, Clinton,
circa 1955, 1986
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Clinton Hill on January 28, 1986,
followed by one leaf of handwritten notes and a photocopied invitation from the
Zabriskie Gallery (circa 1955). See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 3, folder 40
Hios, Theo,
1986
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Theo Hios on February 7,
1986.
box 3, folder 41
Hirschfeld, Al,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Al Hirschfeld on January 4, 1986, followed by
handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 3, folder 42
Hopkins, Budd,
1986, undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Budd Hopkins on January 22, 1986, a
photocopied article by Budd Hopkins, "Budd Hopkins on Budd Hopkins,"
Art in
America
, and a copy of his curriculum vitae. See Series VI for an audio
recording of the interview.
box 4, folder 1
Israel, Murray,
1988
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Murray Israel on May 20, 1988, followed by one
leaf of handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 4, folder 2
Irey, William,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on William Irey's recollections of Mark Rothko as a
teacher (1983).
box 4, folder 3
James, Martin,
1988
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Martin James on May 16, 1988, followed by one
leaf of handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 4, folder 4
Janis, Sidney,
1960-1973, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes regarding Avis Berman's interview with Sidney
Janis on October 15, 1981, and three photocopied articles related to Sidney Janis
(1960-1973).
box 4, folder 5
Jensen, Alfred,
1953-circa 1956, circa
1983-1992
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Two photocopied fragments of Alfred Jensen's typed journal (1953-circa 1956),
followed by handwritten notes and a brief photocopied essay, "Cedar Street Bar." See
also Bogat, Regina.
box 4, folder 6
Johns, Jasper,
1993-1994
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Letters to James Breslin from Jasper Johns (1994) and Sarah Taggart (1993) declining
an invitation to work with Breslin on a biography of Johns.
box 4, folder 7
Johnson, Buffie,
1978-1986
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two copies of a transcript of Breslin's interview with Buffie Johnson on
January 20, 1986, Breslin's handwritten notes on interviews with Johnson by Barbara
Schikler (1982) and Paul Cummings (1977), and a photocopied letter from Johnson to
Clair Zamoiski (1978). See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's
interview.
box 4, folder 8
Johnson, Phillip,
1987
Physical Description:
3
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from a telephone conversation with Phillip Johnson on
July 6, 1987.
box 4, folder 9
Kainen, Jacob,
1971, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes on Avis Berman's interview with Jacob Kainen on
August 10, 1982, and on the Jacob Kainen papers, as well as a photocopied article
(1971).
box 4, folder 10
Kaminstein, Barbara,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Barbara Kaminstein.
box 4, folder 11
Kashdin, Gladys,
1965, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes on Gladys Kashdin's interview with Adolph
Gottlieb on April 28, 1965, followed by handwritten notes and photocopies of Kashdin's
notes from her interview with Mark Rothko on May 4, 1965.
box 4, 23*
Kaufman, Louis and Annette,
1951-1986
box 4, folder 12
Interview notes and articles,
1975-1986
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Louis and Annette Kaufman on
November 3, 1986, his notes from the Louis Kaufman papers and on Ruth Cloudman's
interview with Louis Kaufman on February 15, 1985. Also includes photocopied
articles (1975-1986). See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's
interview.
box 23*, folder 6
Oversize article,
1951
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied excerpt about the New York City Opera's production of "The dybbuk and
the devil to pay" (1951).
box 4, folder 13
Kingsley, April,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on April Kingsley.
box 4, folder 14
Klein, Milton and Lilian,
1987
Physical Description:
6
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Milton and Lilian Klein on April
9, 1987. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 4, folder 15
Konzal, Joseph,
1983
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied transcript of Barbara Shikler's telephone conversation with Joseph Konzal
on October 24, 1983.
box 4, folder 16
Kootz, Samuel,
1942, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's notes on Dorothy Seckler's interview with Samuel Kootz, April 13, 1964, and
photocopied announcements for an exhibition of paintings selected by Kootz, held at
Macy Galleries, New York, 1942.
box 4, folder 17
Kufeld, Jack,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Avis Berman's interview with Jack Kufeld on October 5,
1981, and more notes on Kufeld from 1986.
box 4, folder 18-20
Kuh, Katherine,
1954-1986
Scope and Content Note
See also Series II. Art Institute of Chicago.
box 4, folder 18
Correspondence with Mark Rothko,
1954-1955
Physical Description:
44
items
Scope and Content Note
Two photocopies each of 18 letters between Katharine Kuh and Mark Rothko
(1954-1955), and four letters between Petronel Lukens and Rothko (1954), most
regarding an exhibition of Rothko's work at the Art Institute of Chicago, 1954.
box 4, folder 19
Interviews,
1986-1987
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Katharine Kuh on February 14,
1986, a photocopy of a published interview with Kuh by Avis Berman (1987), and
Breslin's handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's
interview.
box 4, folder 20
Printed materials,
1954-1971
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied articles (1954, 1971) and an exhibition statement by Katharine
Kuh.
box 4, folder 21
Kunitz, Stanley,
1986, undated
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Kunitz on February 7, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes, a poem by Stanley Kunitz called "The testing tree," and
Breslin's handwritten notes on interviews with Kunitz by Cynthia J. McCabe (undated)
and Avis Berman (1983). See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's
interview.
box 4, folder 22
Lambert, Phyllis,
1987
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his telephone conversation with Phyllis Lambert on
May 15, 1987, and an exchange of letters between them (1987).
box 4, folder 23
Langbaum, Robert,
1987
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Letter from Robert Langbaum to James Breslin (1987).
box 4, folder 24
Leontief, Wassily,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript from Breslin's interview with Wassily Leontief on February 13, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 4, folder 25
Leopold, Richard William,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Mark Rothko to Richard Leopold.
box 4, folder 26
Levi, Julian,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes about the Julian Levi papers.
box 4, 23*
Levine, Anne Marie,
1980-1986
box 4, folder 27
Interview and poems,
1981-1986
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten notes from Breslin's interview with Anne Marie Levine on January 17,
1986, and photocopied poems by Levine (1981-1985).
box 23*, folder 7
Oversize poem,
1980
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied poem by Anne Marie Levine, "Euphorbia" (1980).
box 4, folder 28
Levine, Morton H.,
1973, undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Morton H. Levine to District Director of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service (1973), Breslin's handwritten notes regarding Levine's slide inventory
of Mark Rothko paintings, and a photocopied one-page essay about Rothko by Levine
(undated).
box 4, folder 29
Lidov, Arthur,
1988
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript from Breslin's interview with Arthur Lidov on May 15, 1988, followed by
handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 4, folder 30-31
1941-1987, undated
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied letter from Mark Rothko to Joseph Liss (1941), two copies of
a letter from Liss to Clair Zamoiski (1977), a letter from Liss to Breslin (1987),
Breslin's handwritten notes regarding Dore Ashton's interview with Liss on August
10, 1982, photocopies of a published interview by Liss with Willem de Kooning
regarding Mark Rothko,
ARTnews, January 1979, and a synopsis of
Liss's incomplete book about De Kooning (circa 1987).
box 23*, folder 8
Oversize articles,
1976-1982
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Multiple photocopies of articles by Joseph Liss published in the
East
Hampton star
, "A portrait by Rothko," September 2, 1976, and "Abstraction
at Louse Point," February 25, 1982.
box 4, 23*
Lloyd, Frank,
1963-1988
Scope and Content Note
See also Series II: Marlborough Galleries.
box 4, folder 32
1988, undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
A photocopied biography of Lloyd issued by Marlborough Gallery (undated), Breslin's
brief handwritten notes on his telephone conversation with Frank Lloyd on October
13, 1988, and on Katharine Kuh's article, "The fine art of dealing,"
Saturday
review
, v. 46, December 1963.
box 4, folder 33-34
Articles,
1963-1975
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of articles about Frank Lloyd and New York art dealers in general,
Marlborough Galleries, and the trial that followed Mark Rothko's death
(1963-1975).
box 23*, folder 9
Oversize articles,
1973-1977
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles about Frank Lloyd, Marlborough Galleries, and the trial that
followed Mark Rothko's death (1973-1977).
box 5, folder 1
Lukashok, Martin,
1986
Physical Description:
4
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on his interview with Martin Lukashok on January 20,
1986. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 5, folder 2
Maimin, Gesel,
1991
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Two letters from Maimin Gesel to James Breslin regarding the town of Dvinsk.
box 5, folder 3
Malamud, Bernard,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Bernard Malamud on February 19, 1986, followed
by one page of handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 5, folder 4
Margolis, David,
1986-1989
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with David Margolis on April 28, 1989,
handwritten interview questions, a catalog for a 1986 David Margolis exhibition at the
Hudson Gallery, New York, and handwritten general notes. See Series VI for a recording
of the interview.
box 5, folder 5
Martin, Fred,
1985
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Fred Martin on July 3, 1985, followed by one
page of handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 5, folder 6
McKee, David,
1988
Physical Description:
4
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on David McKee.
box 5, folder 7
McKinney, Donald,
1988, undated
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes transcripts of Breslin's interview with Donald McKinney on May 19, 1988,
followed by handwritten notes, and a photocopied fragment of an essay by McKinney. See
Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 5, folder 8
Mead, Allen W.,
1986-1988
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Dr. Allen W. Mead on February 17, 1986, and a
letter from Dr. Mead to Breslin (1988). See Series VI for a recording of the
interview.
box 5, folder 9
Meals, Moselle,
1961
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Moselle Meals to Mark Rothko.
box 5, folder 10
Miller, Dorothy Canning,
1976-1978, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Avis Berman's interview with Dorothy Miller on May 4,
1981, a photocopied letter from Miller to Clair Zamoiski (1978), and two photocopies
of an article by John Gruen, "Dorothy Miller in the company of modern art,"
ARTnews November 1976.
box 5, folder 11
Miller, Ruth,
1967-1988
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Ruth Miller on October 11, 1988,
followed by handwritten notes, and two photocopied letters from Mark Rothko to Miller
(1967, 1969). See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 5, folder 12
Misson, Alain,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Alain Misson to Mark Rothko.
box 5, folder 13
Moran, Ruth H.,
1990-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Letter from Ruth H. Moran to James Breslin (1990), business card enclosed, and
Breslin's handwritten notes from a telephone interview with Moran on April 15,
1992.
box 5, folder 14
Morrow, Barbara Price and Robert,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes, probably from an interview with Barbara Price Morrow and
Robert Morrow. Original file folder included with a quotation written on the front,
"paintings are skins that are shed and hung on a wall."
box 5, 23*
Motherwell, Robert,
1944-1991,
box 5, folder 15
Interviews,
1962-1987
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two lengthy transcripts of Breslin's interviews with Robert Motherwell on
June 30 and July 4, 1987, followed by extensive handwritten notes, photocopies of
published interviews with Motherwell by David Sylvester (1962), Max Kozloff (1965),
Barbaralee Diamonstein (1977), and Terence Maloon (1978), as well as handwritten
notes on Paul Cummings's interview with Motherwell (1971). See Series VI for a
recording of the Breslin interviews.
box 5, folder 16
Correspondence with Mark Rothko,
1946-1958
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of six handwritten letters from Mark Rothko to Robert and Helen
Motherwell. Includes original file folder with notes on front.
box 5, folder 17
Correspondence,
1986-1990
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes letters between Robert Motherwell and James Breslin (1986-1990), as well
as a photocopied letter from Motherwell to David Hopkins (1987) and one to
Motherwell from Robert T. Buck of the Brooklyn Museum (1987). Includes original file
folder with notes on front and back.
box 5, folder 18-19
Writings by Robert Motherwell,
1944-1970
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied essays by Robert Motherwell, including three called "On Rothko"
(1967-1970).
box 5, 23*
Writings about Robert Motherwell,
1950-1991, undated
Scope and Content Note
Assorted photocopied articles and clippings related to Robert Motherwell, including
an essay by James Breslin, "Robert Motherwell: 'From WASPism to modernism.'"
box 5, folder 20-21
Articles,
1950-1991, undated
box 23*, folder 10
Oversize articles,
1985-1991
Physical Description:
2
items
box 5, folder 22
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
10
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Robert Motherwell, including notes on his
interviews.
box 5, 20
Photograph,
1952
Scope and Content Note
Black and white photograph (8 x 10 in.) by Lee Sievan of Robert Motherwell and Mark
Rothko, taken at an art conference in Woodstock, NY, 1952, followed by a half leaf
of handwritten notes. The negative has been moved to Box 20.
box 5, folder 23
Photograph and notes,
Physical Description:
2
items
box 20, folder 2
Negative,
Physical Description:
1
item
box 5, folder 24
Nachumi, Annette,
1989
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Annette Nachumi on May 2, 1989. See Series VI
for an audio recording of the interview.
box 5, folder 25
Naimark, Max,
1977, circa 1983-1992, undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied letter from Max Naimark to Clair Zamoiski (1977), an
incomplete account of Mark Rothko's high school experience as recalled by Naimark, and
Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 5, folder 26
Namath, Hans,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on photographs by Hans Namath of Mark Rothko in his 69th
Street studio.
box 5, folder 27
Nevelson, Louise,
1984
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
One leaf of Breslin's handwritten notes and a photocopied page from Natalie S. Bober,
"Breaking the tradition: the story of Louise Nevelson,"
Athenaeum,
1984.
box 5, folder 28
Newhouse, S. I., Jr.,
1968
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from S. I. Newhouse, Jr., to Mark Rothko.
box 5, folder 29
Newman, Annalee,
1987-1989
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence between James Breslin and Annalee Newman (1987-1989) and
Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 6, folder 1-4
Newman, Barnett,
1943-1980
box 6, folder 1
Correspondence,
1945-1950
Physical Description:
16
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies and transcribed correspondence in the Newman papers between the Rothkos
and the Newmans.
box 6, folder 2
Interviews,
1972-1980
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied transcripts of David Sylvester's interview with Barnett Newman (1972)
and Pat Gilmour's interview with Alan Bowness, Director of the Tate Gallery
(1980).
box 6, folder 3
Writings,
1943-1979
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of published writings by Barnett Newman (1943-1979).
box 6, folder 4
Printed materials and notes,
1978-1979
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied printed material regarding Barnett Newman (1978-1979), including a
summary of the Newman vs. Reinhardt case, followed by Breslin's handwritten
notes.
box 6, folder 5
Newman, Sonia,
1986
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Sonia Newman on May 8, 1986. See
Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 6, folder 6
Northrup, Richard and Barbara,
1986-1987
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
A letter from Barbara B. Northrup to James Breslin (1987) and a transcript and notes
from Breslin's interview with Richard and Barbara Northrup and Shirley and George
Climo on October 15, 1986. Includes original file folder with notes on front. See
Series VI for an audio recording of the interviews.
box 6, folder 7
O'Gorman, Ned,
1986
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
A transcript of Breslin's interview with Ned O'Gorman on February 27, 1986, followed
by two leaves of handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 6, folder 8
Okun, George and Blanche,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with George Okun, Blanche Okun, and
Sophie Tracy on February 11, 1986, and one handwritten page of interview questions.
See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 6, folder 9
Panicalli, Carla,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Carla Panicalli on February 13, 1986, followed
by handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 6, folder 10
Panza di Biumo, Giuseppe,
1960-1970
Physical Description:
38
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of Giuseppe Panza di Biumo's correspondence, primarily with Mark Rothko
(1960-1969), including letters and printed materials regarding his purchase of Rothko
paintings and murals. Also includes a photocopied article by Tommaso Trini, "At home
with art: the villa of Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo," 1970.
box 6, folder 11
Parker, Ray,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Ray Parker on January 25, 1986. See Series VI
for an audio recording of the interview.
box 6, folder 12
Parsons, Betty,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes on Gerald Silk's interview with Betty Parsons on
June 11, 1981, and on letters to Parsons in the Lee Seldes files. See also Series II:
Betty Parsons Gallery.
box 6, folder 13
Pusey, Nathan,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Nathan Pasey on February 24,
1986.
box 6, folder 14
Phillips, Gerald,
1986
Physical Description:
4
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten notes from Breslin's interview with Gerald Phillips on January 27, 1986.
See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 6, folder 15
Poe, Barbara,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Barbara Poe on November 7, 1987, followed by a
page of handwritten notes. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 6, folder 16-17
Pomeroy, Ralph,
1971-1986
Scope and Content Note
Includes handwritten notes from Breslin's interview with Ralph Pomeroy on February
24, 1986, and photocopied transcripts of interviews by Donald McKinney with Pomeroy,
Rita Reinhardt, Theodoros Stamos, John de Menil, and Simone Swan (1971), and of a
conversation "Regarding Rothko" between Ralph Pomeroy, Donald McKinney, Clinton
Wilder, and Bernard Reis (1971).
box 6, folder 18
Porter, David,
circa 1983-1992, undated
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied documents from the David Porter papers and Breslin's handwritten
notes.
box 6, folder 19
Pottish, Morris,
1987
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes transcripts of Breslin's interviews with Morris Pottish on June 29 and 30,
1987, followed by handwritten notes, and a letter from Breslin to Pottish. See Series
VI for an audio recording of the June 29 interview.
box 6, folder 20
Prensky, Frieda,
1985-1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten notes from Breslin's interview with Frieda Prensky on February 2, 1986,
and a photocopied letter from Barbara Shikler to Bonnie [Clearwater?] (1985). See
Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 6, 23*
Putnam, Wallace,
1974, undated
box 6, folder 21
Interview
circa 1983-1992, undated
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Avis Berman's interview with Wallace Putnam on July
13, 1982, and photocopied pages from
Manhattan manners.
box 23*, folder 11
Oversize article
1974
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article by Wallace Putnam, "Mark Rothko told me,"
Arts
magazine
, April 1974.
box 6, folder 22
Putzel, Howard,
1945, undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles about Howard Putzel and the 67 Gallery, New York, including a
New York times letter to the editor by Mark Rothko, July 8, 1945.
box 6, folder 23
Rabin, Kenneth,
1985-1986
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Letters from Kenneth Rabin to James Breslin (1985-1986) and lengthy handwritten notes
from Breslin's interview with Rabin on August 12, 1985. See Series VI for an audio
recording of the interview.
box 6, folder 24
Rabin, Milton,
1985-1991
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Milton Rabin on June 21, 1985,
and a letter from Rabin to Breslin (1991).
box 6, folder 25
Postcards and articles,
1954-1991
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied postcards from Ad Reinhardt to Mark Rothko (1965-1966) and photocopied
and clipped articles by or about Reinhardt (1954-1991).
box 23*, folder 12
Oversize cartoon,
1946
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied cartoon by Ad Reinhardt, "How to look at modern art,"
PM, June 1946.
box 6, folder 26
Reinhardt, Rita,
1953-1993
Physical Description:
10
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's assorted typewritten and handwritten notes regarding Rita
Reinhardt (1993), a certified copy of Ad Reinhardt and Rita Solomon's marriage license
(1953), and a photocopied letter from Donald McKinney to Rita Reinhardt (1969). For
Rita Reinhardt's deposition for the trial that followed Mark Rothko's death, see
Series III B. Legal files.
box 6, folder 27
Correspondence,
1951-1974
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters to and from Bernard Reis (1951-1974), mostly regarding his art
collection.
box 6, folder 28
Interviews and autobiographical statements,
1971, circa 1983-1992,
undated
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of an interview with Bernard Reis by Donald McKinney (1971),
Breslin's notes on Paul Cummings's interview with Reis (1976), and two
autobiographical statements by Reis (undated). See Series VI for an audio recording
of Cummings's interview from the Archives of American Art.
box 6, folder 29
Legal and financial documents,
1958-1974
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied documents regarding the trial that followed Mark Rothko's
death and Bernard Reis's transactions with Marlborough Galleries. See Series III B.
Legal files for more documents pertaining to the trial.
box 6, folder 30
Articles and notes,
1931-1951, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Two photocopied articles, one by Bernard Reis (1931) and one about him (1951), and
Breslin's handwritten notes on the Bernard Reis papers.
box 7, folder 1
Reis, Rebecca,
1964-1986
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcription of Breslin's interview with Rebecca Reis on November 8,
1986, Breslin's lengthy notes on William McNaught's interview with her on March 24,
1980, and two photocopied articles on Reis's cookbook,
The unharried
hostess
(1964). See Series VI for an audio recording of Breslin's
interview.
box 7, folder 2
Reiter, Phil and Dorothy,
1986
Physical Description:
9
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Dorothy and Phil Reiter on June
25, 1986.
box 7, folder 3
Rice, Dan and Jackie,
1983-1986, undated
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Jackie and Dan Rice on February 21,
1986, a photocopy of Arnold Glimcher's published interview with Dan Rice, "The
1958-1959 murals: second series," and photocopied notes from an interview with Rice in
November 1983. See Series VI for a recording of Breslin's interview.
box 7, folder 4
Root, E.W.,
1953
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article, "One man's collection,"
Art digest, March
1953.
box 7, folder 5
Rosen, Jim,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Jim Rosen with brief references to Leonard Bocour and
John Kruchenick.
box 7, folder 6
Rosenberg, Harold,
1952-1977
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article by Harold Rosenberg, "The American action painters,"
ARTnews, December 1952, and a transcript of a 1977 interview with
Rosenberg regarding Mark Rothko.
box 7, folder 7
Rostin, Norman,
1987
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Norman Rostin on January 24,
1987.
box 7, folder 8
Roth, Albert,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
5
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Albert Roth.
box 7, 20
Roth, Julian,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes handwritten notes from Breslin's interview with Julian and Dorothy Roth on
September 11, 1986, and a letter from Julian Roth to Breslin (undated), and an
accompanying Polaroid photograph of a Rothko watercolor owned by Roth. See Series VI
for a recording of the interview.
box 7, folder 9
Papers,
Physical Description:
5
items
box 20, folder 3
Photograph,
Physical Description:
1
item
box 7, folder 10
Roth, Moise,
1985-1987
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Moishe Roth on June 27, 1985, and
a letter from Milt and Joy Rabin to James Breslin recounting a conversation with Roth
(1987). See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 7, folder 11
Roth, Richard,
1986
Physical Description:
5
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Richard Roth on November 7, 1986.
See Series IV for photographs from the Richard Roth collection; Series VI for an audio
recording of the interview.
box 7, folder 12
Rothko, Christopher,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Christopher Rothko on February 6, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 7, folder 13
Interviews,
1986-1987
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcripts and notes from Breslin's interviews with Kate Rothko in 1986 and 1987.
See Series VI for recordings of the interviews.
box 7, folder 14
Article and notes,
1977-1985
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopy of an article by Paul Gardner, "The ordeal of Kate Rothko: the
war isn't over in Marlborough country,"
New York, February 1977, and
Breslin's handwritten notes regarding Ilya Prizel and Kate Rothko. See Series III B.
Legal files for documents pertaining to the trial that followed Mark Rothko's
death.
box 7, folder 15-17
Rothko, Mary Alice (Mell),
1939-1970
box 7, folder 15
Papers,
1945-1970
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two photocopied pages from Mary Alice Beistle's high school yearbook, two
photocopies of Beistle's certificate of marriage to Mark Rothko (1945), photocopied
documents regarding their separation (1969), and three photocopied letters
(1970).
box 7, folder 16
Just Puggy,
1937
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of Aldarilla S. Beistle's book
Just Puggy (New York:
David McKay Company, 1939), illustrated by Mary Alice Beistle.
box 7, folder 17
Open daily,
1942
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of Aldarilla S. Beistle's book
Open daily (New York:
David McKay Company, 1942), illustrated by Mary Alice Beistle.
box 7, folder 18
Rothkowitz, Kate,
1944-1948
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a letter from Mark Rothko to his mother, Kate Rothkowitz (1944), and a copy
of her obituary in the
Oregonian, October 13, 1948.
box 7, folder 19
Rubin, William,
1986
Physical Description:
8
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on William Rubin.
box 7, folder 20
Ruddick, Bruce and Dorothy,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Bruce and Dorothy Ruddick.
box 7, folder 21
Russell, George C., Mrs.,
1961
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Mrs. George C. Russell to Mark Rothko (1961).
box 7, folder 22
Correspondence,
1932-1937, undated
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from Edith Sachar to Mark Rothko.
box 7, folder 23
Papers,
1932-1942
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopy of Edith Sachar and Mark Rothko's marriage certificate (1932),
notes on Edith and Mark Rothko's marriage, and a copy of an advertisement for Edith
Sachar's jewelery (1942).
box 7, folder 24
Divorce,
1944
Physical Description:
10
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied legal documents pertaining to Edith Sachar Rothkowitz's divorce from
Mark Rothko.
box 7, folder 25
Sachar, Howard,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Howard Sachar in November 1986.
See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 7, folder 26
Sachar, William,
1987
Physical Description:
10
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with William Sachar on March 4, 1987.
See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 7, folder 27
Schanker, Louis,
1977, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript and Breslin's handwritten notes on Harlan Phillip's interview with Louis
Schanker on December 17, 1977, as well as Breslin's notes from the Louis Schanker
papers.
box 7, folder 28
Scharf, William and Sally,
1986, undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with William and Sally Scharf on January 8, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes, and a photocopied transcript of an undated interview
with Sally Scharf. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 7, folder 29
Schiller, Fredrich von,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
One photocopied page of an essay regarding Fredrich von Schiller and art
criticism.
box 7, folder 30
Schoenfeld, Betty,
1990-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
A letter from Betty Schoenfeld to James Breslin (1990) and Breslin's handwritten
notes from his telephone interview with her on April 16, 1992.
box 7, folder 31
Schrag, Carl,
1986
Physical Description:
11
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Carl Schrag on January 20,
1986.
box 7, folder 32
Schueler, Jon,
1952, 1986
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
A two-part transcript of Breslin's interview with Jon Schueler on January 31, 1986,
and a photocopied letter from Schueler to Clyfford Still (1952). See Series VI for an
audio recording of the interview.
box 7, folder 33
Schwabacher, Ethel,
1954-1960
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied pages from Ethel Schwabacher's notebook (1954-1956) and two photocopied
drafts of an essay on Mark Rothko (1960).
box 8, folder 1-2
Scull, Robert C. and Ethel,
1960-1987
Physical Description:
12
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied articles regarding Robert and Ethel Scull and their art
collection, the auction of part of their art collection in 1973, and their divorce and
subsequent lawsuit, followed by Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 8, folder 3-4
Seitz, William,
1952-1953, undated
box 8, folder 3
Interview and correspondence,
1952-1953
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied transcript of William Seitz's interview with Mark Rothko on
January 22, 1952, an inventory of the William Seitz papers at the Archives of
American Art, and photocopied letters between Seitz and Rothko (1953).
box 8, folder 4
William Seitz papers,
undated
Physical Description:
92
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied materials from the William Seitz papers at the Archives of American
Art, primarily Seitz's extensive notes on Mark Rothko.
box 8, folder 5-6
Seldes, Lee,
1974-1978, undated
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied materials by and about Lee Seldes: articles (1974-1978), an
excerpt from Seldes's book
The legacy of Mark Rothko (1978), a fragment
of a typescript draft about Mark Rothko, and notebook pages from the Lee Seldes files
with transcribed correspondence between Mark Rothko and Herbert Ferber (1952-1959),
among others.
box 8, folder 7
Selz, Peter,
1961-1986
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Peter Selz on September 11, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes, a photocopied article by Selz, "Mark Rothko,"
Museum of Modern Art, 1961, photocopied text of an exhibition
catalog,
Mark Rothko: a retrospective exhibition (London, 1961), and a
photocopied letter from Selz to Rothko (illegible date). See Series VI for an audio
recording of the interview.
box 8, folder 8
Seuphor, Michel,
undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Three photocopied drafts of a letter from Mark Rothko to Michel Seuphor.
box 8, folder 9
Sievan, Maurice and Lily,
1974-1986
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes invitations to Maurice Sievan exhibitions (1983, 1986), a signed exhibition
catalog from a Sievan retrospective (1974), Breslin's handwritten notes on Irving
Sandler's interview with Sievan in 1963, and a transcript of Breslin's interview with
Lily Sievan on February 3, 1986. See Series VI for a recording of Breslin's
interview.
box 8, folder 10
Shapiro, David,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 8, folder 11
Sills, Thomas,
1986
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Thomas Sills on January 30,
1986.
box 8, folder 12
Siskind, Aaron,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
9
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from Barbara Shickler's interviews with Aaron Siskind in
1982.
box 8, folder 13
Smith, David,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from the David Smith papers, including a transcription of
a letter from Mark Rothko to Smith (circa 1960).
box 8, folder 14
Smith, Jane,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Jane Smith on January 7, 1986, followed by
handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 8, folder 15
Smith, Tony,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Paul Cummings's interview with Tony Smith on August
22, 1978.
box 8, folder 16
Soffer, Sasson,
1989
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Sasson Soffer on May 1, 1989.
box 8, folder 17
Solman, Joseph,
1977-1986, undated
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a transcript of Breslin's interview with Joseph Solman on January 15, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes, a photocopied letter from Solman to Clair Zamoiski
(1977), a photocopied essay by Solmon, "The Easel Division of the WPA Federal Arts
Project," Breslin's handwritten notes on Avis Berman's interview with Joseph Solman on
1981 May 6, 1981, and a catalog from the exhibition
Joseph Solman: Work of the
Thirties
, 1983. See Series VI for a recording of Breslin's interview.
box 8, folder 18
Soloman, Gus,
1985-1987
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Justice Gus Soloman at the
Federal Courthouse, Portland, on June 24, 1985, and a letter from Mary Jo Peters,
Secretary to Judge Soloman, to James Breslin regarding Gordon Soule (1987).
box 8, folder 19
Soyer, Rebecca,
1987
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Rebecca Soyer on January 22, 1987, followed by
handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 8, folder 20
Spalding, Joy,
1946-1989, undated
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Joy Spalding on June 26, 1985,
two letters from Spalding to Breslin regarding the Rothko family's time in Portland,
Oregon (1987, 1989), and photocopied excerpts from correspondence between Spalding and
Mark Rothko (1946-1968).
box 8, folder 21
Correspondence,
1946-1966
Physical Description:
11
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of six letters and a telegram from Mark Rothko to Clay Spohn
(1946-1958) and four letters from Clyfford Still to Spohn (1948-1966).
box 8, folder 22
Papers,
1967-1973, circa 1983-1992,
undated
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes on Paul Cummings's interview with Clay Spohn
on January 9, 1976, followed by handwritten notes, photocopied questions that Spohn
intended to ask Mark Rothko, and photocopies of two lengthy letters from Spohn to
Mary Fuller McChesney (1967, 1973).
box 8, 32
Stamos, Theodoros,
1983-1990, undated
box 8, folder 23
Article and notes,
1983, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes on interviews with Theodoros Stamos by John
Jones and Brace Hooton (1965), Karl Fortnell (1967), and Irving Sandler (1968), and
a copied article, "TV film on Rothko case protested,"
New York times,
April 30, 1983
box 32, folder 1
Interview,
1990
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
SEALED: Transcript of Breslin's interview with Theodoros Stamos on February 10,
1990, and his list of interview questions. Includes original file folder with notes
on front. See Series VI for an audio recording of the interview (also sealed until
2076).
Access Information
This box will remain sealed until 2076.
box 8, folder 24
Steindecker, Oliver,
1986
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Oliver Steindecker on February 20, 1986,
followed by handwritten notes, as well as notes on interviews with Steindecker in 1983
and 1985. See Series VI for a recording of Breslin's interview.
box 8, folder 25
Sterne, Hedda,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his interview with Hedda Sterne on January 22, 1986,
and on Phyllis Tuchman's interview with Sterne in 1981.
box 9, folder 1-4
Still, Clyfford,
1941-1986
box 9, folder 1
Correspondence,
1941-1957
Physical Description:
17
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from Clyfford Still to Mark Rothko (1948-1950), Sidney [Janis]
(1955), Alfonso [Ossario?] (1953-1957), and to and from Robert Neuhaus
(1941-1945).
box 9, folder 2-3
Articles,
1976-1986
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles regarding Clyfford Still, abstract expressionism, and Mark
Rothko (1976-1986).
box 9, folder 4
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Assorted notes and letters from Breslin's research on Clyfford Still.
box 9, folder 5
Sugarman, George,
1986
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his telephone conversation with George Sugarman on
January 26, 1986.
box 9, folder 6
Sykes, Claire and Gerald,
1986-1988, undated
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Three letters from Claire Sykes to James Breslin (1986-1988), and a photocopied
portion of a manuscript by Gerald Sykes with a character based on Mark Rothko.
box 9, folder 7
Tampkin, Alex and Sloan,
1987
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from his telephone interview with Alex and Sloan Tampkin
on July 5, 1987.
box 9, folder 8
Thomas, Yvonne,
1990
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Yvonne Thomas on February 11, 1990. See Series
VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 9, 23*
Till, Elizabeth,
1970-1985
box 9, folder 9
Interview and article,
1978-1985
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article by Elizabeth Till, "Mark Rothko at the Guggenheim,"
Northwest magazine, December 1978, and Breslin's handwritten notes
from his interview with Elizabeth Till on 1985 June 19, 1985. Includes the original
file folder with notes on front. See Series VI for an audio recording of the
interview.
box 23*, folder 13
Oversize article,
1970
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article by Elizabeth Till, "A study in retrospect,"
Northwest
magazine
, March 1970.
box 9, folder 10
Todd, David,
1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with David Todd on January 9, 1986, followed by
handwritten notes. See Series VI for a recording of the interview.
box 9, folder 11
Tomlin, Bradley Walker,
1949, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Two photocopied letters from Bradley Walker Tomlin to Barnett Neuman (1949) and
Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 9, folder 12
Toninelli, Romeo,
1961
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Romeo Toninelli to Mark Rothko.
box 9, folder 13
Tracy, Sophie,
1969-1986
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes original and photocopied letters from Sophie Tracy to James Breslin (1986),
photocopies of Tracy's correspondence with Mark Rothko (1969) and Babs Kaminstein
(1970), a photocopied essay by Tracy, "Hommage á Mark Rothko" (1976), and seven pages
of a draft of Breslin's book.
box 9, folder 14
Trief, Celina,
1988
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Celina Trief on October 12, 1988. See Series
VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 9, folder 15
Trivigno, Pat,
1990
Physical Description:
5
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten notes from Breslin's interview with Pat Trivigno on November 10,
1990.
box 9, folder 16
Tworkov, Jack,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
3
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Gerald Silk's interview with Jack Tworkov on March 3,
1975.
box 9, folder 17
Van den Berghe,
1962
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Mr. Van den Berghe to Mark Rothko.
box 9, folder 18
Van Os, H. W.,
1970-1990
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Letter from H.W. van Os to James Breslin (1990) and a photocopied essay by van Os
about Mark Rothko, "In memoriam,"
Museumjournal, 1970.
box 9, folder 19
Vicente, Esteban,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Phyllis Tuchman's interview with Esteban Vicente on
April 6, 1982.
box 9, folder 20
Wade, Jane,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Jane Wade.
box 9, folder 21
Ward, Lynn,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes from the Lynn Ward papers.
box 9, 23*
Warhol, Andy,
1993
Scope and Content Note
Articles about Andy Warhol, the art market, and lawsuits involving the Warhol
estate.
box 9, folder 22
Articles
Physical Description:
3
items
box 23*, folder 14
Oversize article
Physical Description:
1
item
box 9, folder 23-24
Weber, Max,
circa 1920-1983
box 9, folder 23
Interview and notes,
circa 1920, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes on Carol S. Gruber's 1958 interview with Max
Weber, two photocopies of "Max Weber's criticizms [sic]" for his students in the
class of 1920-1921, and Breslin's original file folder with notes on front.
box 9, folder 24
Articles,
1925-1983
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles and fragments relating to Max Weber.
box 9, folder 25
Weinstein, Edward and Sydney,
1921, 1978-1986
Physical Description:
15
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes Breslin's handwritten notes on Barbara Shikler's interview with Edward
Weinstein on June 14, 1983, on Breslin's telephone interview with Sydney Weinstein on
May 6, 1986, and on the Weinstein surname, as well as a photocopied letter from Ed
Weinstein to Clair Zamoiski (1978) and photocopied pages from the New Haven directory
(1921).
box 9, folder 26
Whitney, Simon N.,
1978
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Simon N. Whitney to Clair Zamoiski.
box 9, folder 27
Wilke, Ulfert,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
39 leaves of Breslin's original and photocopied notes from the Ulfert Wilke papers
and the original file folder with notes on front.
box 9, folder 28
Wilkes, Paul,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on Paul Wilkes.
box 9, folder 29
Wolfe, Robert Jay,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
Breslin's handwritten notes on the Robert Jay Wolfe papers.
box 9, folder 30
Wright, Frederick,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten transcript of a 1953 letter among the John Bauer papers from Mark Rothko
to Frederick Wright.
box 9, folder 31
Yamin, Alice,
1965-1966
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters to Alice Yamin from Mark Rothko (1965) and Barnett Newman (1966),
and one leaf of Breslin's handwritten notes on Yamin.
box 9, folder 32
Younter, Ira,
1982
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Ira Younter to [William] McNaught (1982).
box 9, folder 33-34
Zecil [?],
1924, undated
Physical Description:
24
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from Zecil [?] to Mark Rothko (1924, undated) and photocopied
poems (undated).
box 9, folder 35
Zogbaum, Betsy,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Transcript of Breslin's interview with Betsy Zogbaum on January 15, 1986. See Series
VI for an audio recording of the interview.
box 9, folder 36
Individuals: Unidentified,
1961-1984
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied correspondence: a letter to the Rothkos signed "Helen" (1961),
an unsigned letter to "Sylvester," three letter fragments (undated), and two telegrams
to Rothko (1962), as well as a letter to James Breslin (1984).
Series II.
Research files on institutions and organizations,
1922-1992
Physical Description:
3
box(es)
Scope and Content Note
Files on institutions and organizations such as museums, galleries, universities,
foundations, and historical societies that were subjects or sources for James Breslin's
research. Materials include photocopied and original correspondence, exhibition
publications, contracts, records of art sales and loans, clippings, and extensive notes.
Files are arranged alphabetically.
box 10, folder 1
American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York,
1968-1977
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Hortense Zera to Clair Zamoiski (1977) with enclosures
regarding the Institute's 1968 Ceremonial and a photocopied article, "Institute of
Arts presents awards,"
New York times, May 29, 1968.
box 10, folder 2
American Artists' Congress,
1952-1986
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied printed materials (1952-1986) and James Breslin's handwritten notes
related to the American Artists' Congress, including an essay by Max Weber, "The
artist, his audience, and outlook," in
Artists against war and fascism: papers
of the first American Artists' Congress
(1986).
box 10, folder 3
American Federation of Arts, New York,
1967
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied correspondence between Mark Rothko and Roy Meyer, Director of the
American Federation of Arts, documenting his 1967 gift of
Painting no. 6, Two
Openings in Black over Wine
, 1958.
box 10, folder 4
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington,
D.C.,
1985-1990
Physical Description:
25
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes signed permission forms, some photocopied, from 19 individuals allowing
James Breslin access to restricted materials at the Archives of American Art.
box 10, folder 5
Art Gallery of Toronto,
1962
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from Ella McLaren to Mark Rothko regarding the Art Gallery of
Toronto's acquisition of
No. 1, White and Red.
box 10, folder 6
Art Institute of Chicago,
1958
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter (1958) from Katharine Kuh to Mark Rothko regarding the loan and
exhibition of an early Rothko painting. See also Katharine Kuh's files in Series
I.
box 10, 23*
Art of this Century (Gallery), New York,
1942-1987
box 10, folder 7
1942-circa 1946, undated
Physical Description:
12
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a checklist from an exhibition of Mark Rothko paintings at Art of This
Century (circa 1946), a photocopied draft of "A note about the artist" for a Rothko
exhibition catalog, a photocopied chronology of exhibitions at the gallery, as well
as photocopied articles and reviews (1942-1945, undated).
box 23*, folder 15
Oversize articles,
1942-1947, 1987
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Clipped and copied articles and reviews (1942-1947).
box 10, folder 8
Art Students League of New York,
1924, 1967-1986
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a letter from Lawrence Campbell to James Breslin (1986), photocopied records
from a class Mark Rothko took in 1924-1925, photocopied excerpts about the school, and
Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 10, folder 9
Artists' Union of New York,
1971-1978
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied article (1978) and copied fragments of Gerald Monroe's
dissertation (1971) about the Artists' Union of New York, as well as James Breslin's
handwritten notes.
box 10, folder 10-14
Betty Parsons Gallery, New York,
1947-1979, circa 1983-1992
box 10, folder 10
Correspondence with Mark Rothko,
1947-1954
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied letters and a telegram from Mark Rothko to Betty Parsons
(1947-1954).
box 10, folder 11
Financial records,
1949-1952
Physical Description:
11
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied inventories and price lists for Rothko works, as well as
records of sales and loans and copies of checks (1949-1952).
box 10, folder 12
Printed material,
1947-1979
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a checklist from a 1947 Mark Rothko exhibition and photocopied reviews and
articles.
box 10, folder 13-14
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 10, folder 15
Biennale de Venezia,
1958, undated
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Exhibition catalog for the United States Pavilion at the XXIX Biennale, Venezia, in
1958, and a photocopied list of Mark Rothko works included in the Biennale from 1938
to 1970.
box 10, folder 16
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA,
1965
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article announcing Brandeis University's 1965 Creative Arts Award
winners, including Mark Rothko, and a photocopied letter to Rothko.
box 10, folder 17
Brooklyn College,
1951-1954
Physical Description:
12
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied correspondence with Mark Rothko regarding his appointment in
1951 to the faculty of the Department of Design, Brooklyn College, and his termination
in 1954, referred to in James Breslin's notes as his "tenure drama." Also includes
descriptions of classes taught by Rothko, photocopied from the course catalog, and
Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 10, folder 18
Brooklyn Jewish Center Academy,
1934-1987, undated
Physical Description:
11
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied excerpts about the academy transcribed from Mark Rothko's folios
and sketchbooks, assorted photocopied materials relating to the school (1934-1987), a
list of students who attended in the 1930s and 1940s, and James Breslin's handwritten
notes.
box 10, folder 19
Celanese Corporation of America, Newark, NJ,
1957
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from the Celanese Corporation of America to Mark Rothko.
box 10, folder 20
Cleveland Museum of Art,
1962-1966
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied loan receipt and letter from Edward B. Henning to Mark Rothko regarding
his intention to acquire a painting for the museum (1962-1966).
box 10, folder 21
Columbia University, New York,
1968
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters inviting Mark Rothko to speak at Columbia University as part of
the "Focus on the Contemporary" lecture series.
box 10, folder 22
Congress of Racial Equality, New York,
1961
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter acknowledging Mark Rothko's contribution of $2,000.
box 10, folder 23
Congregation Shaare Zedek, New York,
1947, 1987
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Letter from Rabbi Joseph Beirach to James Breslin indicating his shul's lack of
information about Mark Rothko (1987), followed by a photocopied directory page (1947)
and handwritten notes.
box 10, folder 24
Contemporary Arts Association and Museum, Houston, TX,
1957
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied correspondence between Mark Rothko and Dr. Jermayne MacAgy of the
Contemporary Arts Museum regarding the shipment of several Rothko paintings, and
damage to one of them.
box 10, folder 25
Contemporary Arts Gallery, New York,
1933-1939
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a brief photocopied review of Mark Rothko's work exhibited at the
Contemporary Arts Gallery (1933), a checklist for a Maurice Sievan exhibition in 1939,
and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 10, folder 26
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Hermann Williams of the Corcoran Gallery of Art to Mark
Rothko.
box 10, folder 27
Educational Alliance Art School, New York,
1989
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Letter from Mike Rubin to James Breslin regarding Breslin's request for information
about Mark Rothko's early art education.
box 10, 23*
Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, New York City,
1939-circa 1976
box 10, folder 28-29
Papers,
1939-circa 1976
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied press releases, exhibition statements, letters, and meeting minutes
from the Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors (1939-1954), including a letter
from Adolph Gottleib and Mark Rothko to Edward Alden Jewell after the critic
confessed "befuddlement" in response to the third annual exhibition of the
Federation (1939), and letters to Alfred Barr and James Soby regarding the Museum of
Modern Art's policies toward American art (1944). Also includes a catalog from the
35th annual exhibition of the Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors
(1976-1978) and photocopies of assorted articles and other printed materials
(1939-1943).
box 23*, folder 16
Oversize articles,
1940-1942
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles relating to the Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors
(1940-1942).
box 10, folder 30-31
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
61
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 10, folder 32
Finch College Museum of Art, New York,
1970
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Mrs. John Varian to Mary Alice Rothko requesting permission
to exhibit photographs of Mark Rothko at work.
box 11, folder 1
Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA,
1963-1967
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from John Coolidge regarding Rothko paintings and the Harvard
murals.
box 11, folder 2
Ford Foundation, New York,
1958
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from W. McNeil Lowry requesting nominations for the Ford
Foundation's Program in Humanities and the Arts.
box 11, folder 3
Fratelli Fabbri Editori, Milan,
1970
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters to Mary Alice Rothko requesting permission to reproduce a work by
Mark Rothko.
box 11, folder 4
Galerie de France, Paris,
1960
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Myriam Prevot to Mark Rothko requesting an exhibition of his
work.
box 11, folder 5
Galerie Lawrence, Paris,
1962
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from Lawrence Rubin to Mark Rothko regarding an exhibition.
box 11, folder 6
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome,
circa 1962
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Palma Bucarelli to Mark Rothko regarding the installation of
a Rothko exhibition.
box 11, folder 7
Gimpel Fils, London,
1962
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Charles Gimpel to Mark Rothko.
box 11, folder 8
Greater Atlanta Arts Council,
1967
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Joseph S. Perrin inviting Mark Rothko to participate in an
Arts Congress.
box 11, folder 9
Harpers Magazine, New York,
1970
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter to Mell Rothko regarding a forthcoming article about Mark
Rothko.
box 11, folder 10
Hawthorne Memorial Gallery, Provincetown, MA,
1950
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied exhibition checklist for a special group exhibition organized by Clement
Greenberg at the Hawthorne Memorial Gallery, 1950.
box 23*, folder 17
Houston Museum of Fine Arts,
1979
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied review of the Mark Rothko retrospective exhibition at the Houston Museum
of Fine Arts in 1979.
box 11, folder 11
International Exhibition and Sale of Contemporary Art for Human Rights and
Racial Equality, London,
1962
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from L. John Collins inviting Mark Rothko to participate in the
exhibition.
box 11, folder 12
International Jewish Migration Agency,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Letter from Eva Gamm to James Breslin regarding his request for information on the
Rothkowitz family.
box 11, folder 13
Internationales Kunstzentrum, Erlenbach am Main,
1962
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from Heiner Ruths to Mark Rothko.
box 11, folder 14
Kunsthalle Basel,
1964
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from A. Rüdlinger to Mark Rothko regarding an exhibition.
box 11, folder 15
Life Magazine, New York,
1958
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied fragment of a letter to Mark Rothko regarding a "major essay" intended to
present the "Big Five of contemporary American art," including Rothko.
box 11, folder 16
Mark Rothko Foundation,
1969, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two photocopies of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Mark Rothko
Foundation and James and Ramsay Breslin's handwritten inventory and notes on the
paintings in the Mark Rothko Foundation collection.
box 11, folder 17-19
Marlborough Galleries,
1963-1974
Scope and Content Note
The originals of many of the photocopied documents were created for the trial
following Mark Rothko's death. See also Series I files for Frank Lloyd and Bernard
Reis, and Series III B. Legal files.
box 11, folder 17
Organization,
1970-1974
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied organizational chart and a breakdown of staff per
gallery.
box 11, folder 18
Mark Rothko agreements,
1963-1970
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes copies of contracts, payment schedules and correspondence.
box 11, folder 19
Mark Rothko exhibitions and sales,
1966-1971
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied list of Mark Rothko exhibitions organized by Marlborough
Galleries and copied lists of works sold, as well as photocopied correspondence.
box 11, folder 20
McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York,
1961
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Bernard S. Myers, Editor in Chief, to Mark Rothko.
box 11, folder 21
Mercury Galleries, New York,
1938-1939
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Original and photocopied exhibition checklists (1938-1939) and photocopied
announcements and reviews for an exhibition of "The Ten" at Mercury Gallery, circa
1938. See also Series I files for Bernard Braddon and Sidney Schectmann.
box 11, folder 22-23
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York,
1942-1990
box 11, folder 22
1942, 1986-1990
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two copies of an article by A. Hyatt Mayor, "The artists for victory," the
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Bulletin, November 1942, and information
regarding the museum's Assyrian winged bull sculptures, including three black and
white photographs (8 x 10 in.).
box 11, folder 23
The "Irascibles,"
1950-1952, 1988
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied articles about the 18 "irascible" painters who protested the
exhibition
American Painting Today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
in 1950, a photocopied draft of a letter from some of the same artists, including
Mark Rothko, protesting a watercolor exhibition in 1952, and a catalog for the
exhibition
The Irascibles held at the CDS Gallery, New York,
1988.
box 11, 23*
Montross Gallery, New York,
1933-1937
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied reviews of exhibitions including Mark Rothko's work at the Montross
Gallery.
box 11, folder 24
Review,
1933
Physical Description:
1
item
box 23*, folder 18
Oversize review,
1937
Physical Description:
1
item
box 11, folder 25
Mortimer Brandt Gallery, New York,
1946
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied review of a Mark Rothko exhibition at the Mortimer Brandt Gallery in 1946
and one page of James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 11, folder 26
Municipal Art Committee, New York,
circa 1935, 1972
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied exhibition announcement (circa 1935) and "A memoir of the New York City
Municipal Art Galleries, 1936-1939" by Marchal E. Landgren in
The New Deal art
projects
(1972).
box 11, folder 27
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris,
1962
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from François Mathey to Mark Rothko.
box 11, folder 28
Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts,
1962
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Dr. Werner Hofmann to Mark Rothko about a possible loan.
box 11, folder 29
Museum of Art, Portland, OR,
1933, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Color picture postcards of Portland, photocopied museum
Bulletin
articles about an exhibition of Mark Rothko work (1933), and James Breslin's
handwritten notes.
box 11, folder 30-32
Museum of Modern Art, New York,
1938-1978
box 11, folder 30
Rothko files,
1962-1974
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied list of exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in which
Mark Rothko's work was included (1974) and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 11, folder 31-32
Printed material,
1938-1978
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles and an essay, including several related to the Mark Rothko
retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, 1961, and James Breslin's
handwritten notes.
box 11, folder 33
National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Clifton, NJ,
1970
Physical Description:
1
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from William Horton asking Mary Alice Rothko regarding Mark
Rothko's entry in the biographical encyclopedia.
box 11, folder 34
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.,
1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes James Breslin's handwritten notes on the Mark Rothko Foundation warehouse
collection and the National Gallery of Art, a faxed request from Breslin to Charles
Ritchie to view a list of items (1992), and catalog copy for the painting
Orange and Tan, 1954 (circa 1983).
box 11, folder 35
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO,
1964
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from Ralph T. Coe to Mark Rothko regarding the acquisition of a
Rothko painting by the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art.
box 11, folder 36
New School of Design, New York,
1924
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of a directory entry for the New School of Design.
box 11, folder 37
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
1950s, 1986-1987
Physical Description:
18
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes pamphlets for the New York State Park System, Lake George in particular, and
four black and white reproductions (8 x 10 in.) of 1950s photographs of Hearthstone
State Park .
box 11, folder 38
Oregon Historical Society, Portland,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
3
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 11, folder 39
Pace Gallery, New York,
1979-1990
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied reviews of Mark Rothko exhibitions at Pace Gallery in 1979 and 1990, and
James Breslin's handwritten and typed notes, mostly on the 1990 exhibition. See also
Series I. Glimcher, Arnold B.
box 12, folder 1
Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York,
1964
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of three drafts of a letter from Mark Rothko to Mr. Hogan at Parke-Bernet
Galleries.
box 12, folder 2
Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.,
1968-1985
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied letter from Marjorie Phillips to Mark Rothko (1968), two
photocopied articles about the Phillips Collection (1970, 1985), a brochure for a 1983
exhibition of highlights from the Phillips Collection at Garfinckel's, Washington,
D.C., and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 12, folder 3
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn,
1958
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two photocopies of a lecture given by Mark Rothko at the Pratt Institute in
1958, photocopied notes taken during the lecture [by Dore Ashton?], articles about the
lecture, and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 12, folder 4
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence,
1955
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied invitation to three exhibitions, including
Paintings by Mark
Rothko
.
box 12, folder 5
San Francisco Art Institute,
1947-1977
Physical Description: Approximately 10 items
Scope and Content Note
Information regarding Mark Rothko's connection with the San Francisco Art Institute,
then the California School of Fine Art, including photocopied pages from a course
catalog listing classes taught by Rothko (1947-1949), and a photocopied letter from
Roy Scott to Clair Zamoiski (1977).
box 12, folder 6
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
1962-1986
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a letter to James Breslin (1986) and a photocopied letter to Mark Rothko
from George D. Culler, Director of the San Francisco Museum of Art, regarding the
museum's exchange of an early Rothko painting for a more recent one (1962).
box 12, folder 7
Santa Barbara Museum of Art,
1984
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Kelly Cretti to Bonnie Clearwater.
box 12, folder 8
Sidney Janis Gallery, New York,
1955-1962
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles regarding exhibitions of Mark Rothko works at the Sidney Janis
Gallery in 1955 and 1958, a photocopied letter from Ella McLaren at the Art Gallery of
Toronto requesting rights information about a Rothko work (1962), and handwritten
notes.
box 12, folder 9-10
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York,
1954-1990
box 12, folder 9
Correspondence
1954-circa 1966
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied correspondence with Mark Rothko and a photocopied loan
receipt.
box 12, folder 10
1978-1990, undated
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied reviews of the Mark Rothko retrospective at the Guggenheim
Museum in 1978-1979, letters from Elizabeth Childs to James Breslin (1989-1990), one
accompanied by a black and white photograph of an untitled Rothko painting, circa
1941, owned by the museum (8 x 10 in.), and handwritten notes.
box 12, folder 11
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam,
1961-1962
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter fragment to Mark Rothko from the Stedelijk Museum (1961) and a
photocopied letter to Rothko from Dutch artists W. Couzijn and G. Lataster requesting
a donation to the museum (1962).
box 12, folder 12
Subjects of the Artist school, New York,
1977-1989
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article about the Subjects of the Artist school by Barbara Cavaliere,
"Against a newer Laocoon,"
Arts, 1977, and a letter from James Breslin
to Cavaliere (1989).
box 12, 23*
Tate Gallery, London,
1966-1987
box 12, folder 13
Correspondence,
1966-1970
Physical Description:
25
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied correspondence, most between Mark Rothko and Norman Reid
regarding Rothko's gift to the Tate Gallery (1966-1970), as well as some
correspondence with Bernard Reis (1966-1967).
box 12, folder 14
Printed material,
1967-1987
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied pages from the
Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's
collection
(1981), photocopied articles relating to Mark Rothko's gift to
the Tate Gallery (1967-1987), including a personal account by Norman Reid (1970),
and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 23*, folder 19
Oversize review,
1987
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Review by Tim Hilton of an exhibition of Mark Rothko works at the Tate Gallery.
box 12, folder 15
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA,
1977
Physical Description:
2
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Pat Trivigno to Clair Zamoiski regarding Mark Rothko's time
at Tulane University as a Visiting Artist in 1957.
box 12, folder 16
U.S. Department of Justice,
1988-1989
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence regarding James Breslin's Freedom of Information Act requests.
box 12, folder 17
U.S. Department of State,
probably 1962
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied invitation from Secretary of State Dean Rusk to Mark Rothko to attend a
reception in honor of the French Minister of Cultural Affairs.
box 12, folder 18
University of California, Berkeley,
1967
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied press release announcing Mark Rothko's appointment as Regents'
Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley.
box 12, folder 19
University of Colorado, Boulder,
1977
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Linda Abbott to Clair Zamoiski regarding several weeks Mark
Rothko spent at the university in 1955.
box 12, folder 20
Urasenke Chanoyu Center, New York,
1991
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Informational pamphlets published by the Urasenke Chanoyu Center, located in the
carriage house on East 69th Street that once served as Mark Rothko's studio.
box 12, folder 21
Viking Press, New York,
1967
Physical Description:
1
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter to Mark Rothko requesting permission to reproduce an image.
box 12, folder 22
The White House, Washington, D.C.,
1965-1977
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied letter from Betty C. Monkman to Clair Zamoiski regarding the
1965 White House Festival of the Arts (1977), a photocopied press release for the
festival, and a review from the
Washington post, June 13, 1965.
box 12, folder 23
Whitechapel Art Gallery, London,
1961
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied correspondence and printed materials related to an exhibition of
Mark Rothko paintings at Whitechapel Art Gallery (1961) including a photocopy of
Rothko's installation instructions and transcribed reviews.
box 12, folder 24
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York,
1952-1987
Physical Description:
14
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a catalog for an exhibition of highlights from the Whitney Museum's
permanent collection (1986), photocopied correspondence including several drafts of a
letter from Mark Rothko to Lloyd Goodrich (1952), an essay by Joseph Liss entitled
"Portrait by Rothko," and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 12, folder 25
Who's Who in America, Chicago,
1946
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter to Mark Rothko.
box 12, folder 26
Woodstock Artists Association,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied fragment of a letter to Mark Rothko.
box 12, 20
Works Progress Administration,
1937-1989
box 12, folder 27
Correspondence, documents, and notes,
1937-1989
Physical Description:
16
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied documents from the General Services Administration, including
a letter to Mark Rothko (1937), photocopied printed materials from the National
Archives, correspondence between James Breslin and the National Archives
(1986-1989), Breslin's notes on an interview with Ira Smolin in 1989, and other
extensive handwritten notes.
box 12, folder 28
Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Public Buildings
Service,
1958
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Printed inventory from the National Archives includes information concerning
federal art activities.
box 12, folder 29
Articles and reproductions,
1985-1988
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied articles (1985) and photocopied reproductions of paintings
Mark Rothko executed for the Works Progress Administration.
box 12, folder 30
Photographs,
1989
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Three black and white photographs (8 x 10 in.) of artworks submitted for the Social
Security Competition, accompanied by photographic service orders. Corresponding
negatives have been removed to Box 20.
box 20, folder 4
Negatives,
1989
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Three black and white negatives (8 x 10 in.) of artworks submitted for the Social
Security Competition.
box 12, 23*
Yale University, New Haven, CT,
1922-1986
box 12, folder 31
Correspondence
1961-1986
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied correspondence (1961-1986), including a letter to Lee Seldes with Mark
Rothko's grades (1975), and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 12, folder 32
Printed materials and notes,
1922-1923, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied printed material, including pages from the
Catalogue of Yale
College
, 1922-1923, and articles from the
Saturday evening
pest
, 1923, as well as James Breslin's extensive handwritten notes on Yale
and Mark Rothko.
box 23*, folder 20
Oversize article
1969
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Copy of an article about the Yale graduation ceremony during which Mark Rothko
received an honorary degree (1969).
box 12, folder 33
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, New York,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes on the YIVO archives.
Series III.
Topical research files,
1903-1991
Physical Description:
7.2 Linear
Feet
7 boxes, 1 flat file
folder
Scope and Content Note
Topical research files include notes, clippings, printed materials, and some
correspondence organized into two subseries: A. Broad topics; B. Topics related to Mark
Rothko. Both subseries are arranged alphabetically by topic, with James Breslin's
miscellaneous notes and notebooks at the end of subseries B.
Series III A.
Broad topics,
1925-1991
Physical Description:
1
box(es)
Scope and Content Note
Contains notes, clippings, and printed materials related to 21 broad topics, arranged
alphabetically.
box 13, folder 1-3
Abstract expressionism,
1956-1984
Scope and Content Note
Notes, photocopied articles and other printed material concerning abstract
expressionism, the New York School, and color field painting, including a portion of
Francis M. Celentano's 1957 MA thesis, "The origins and development of abstract
expressionism in the U.S.," New York University, and Selden Rodman's published
interview with Mark Rothko (1957).
box 13, 24*
Art market,
1940-1978
Scope and Content Note
Notes and photocopied articles related to the art market in the 1940s, 1950s and
1960s.
box 13, folder 4
Art market in the 1940s,
1940-1978
Physical Description:
8
items
box 13, folder 5
Art market in the 1950s,
1950
Physical Description:
1
item
box 13, folder 6
Art market in the 1960s,
1966-1967
Physical Description:
3
items
box 24*, folder 1
Oversize articles,
1942-1956
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes oversize photocopied articles about the art market in the 1940s and
1950s.
box 13, folder 7
Artists and the marketplace,
1985-1988
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied essays by Barbara Rosenblum (1985), Daniel Burn (1987), and Roger
Lipsey (1988).
box 13, 24*
Biographical writing,
circa 1983-1992
box 13, folder 8
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes James Breslin's handwritten notes and a photocopied draft of an essay by
Breslin on the process of writing literary biography in general and Rothko's
biography in particular.
box 24*, folder 2
Oversize article,
1987
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Article by Justin Kaplan about biographical writing.
box 13, folder 9
Children's art,
circa 1941, circa 1983-1992,
undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied notes and an outline by Mark Rothko on children's art and "traditional
art" (circa 1941), a photocopied essay by Rothko on children and creativity, and
James Breslin's handwritten notes on Wilhelm Viola's book,
Child art and
Franz Cizek
(1936).
box 13, folder 10
Collectors and collecting,
1971-1988
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles and an essay fragment about art collectors and collecting in
the United States. See also Series III B. Mark Rothko collectors.
box 13, folder 11
Creativity,
1967, undated
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied draft of an essay by Mark Rothko on the creative impulse (undated) and
a photocopied essay by William G. Niederland, "Clinical aspects of creativity," from
American imago (1967).
box 13, folder 12
Cubism,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
1
leaf
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes on Mark Rothko's views of cubism.
box 13, folder 13
Death,
1944-1976
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles and excerpts on death, the death of a parent, and suicide,
including two essays on Syliva Plath's suicide and one on Leo Tolstoy's death. See
also Series III B: Mark Rothko's death.
box 13, folder 14-16
Depression,
1974
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied book: Nathan S. Kline,
From sad to glad: Kline on
depression
(New York: Putnam, 1974).
box 13, folder 17
East Hampton, N.Y.,
1976
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied pages from
Artists and East Hampton and James Breslin's
handwritten notes.
box 13, 24*
Genealogical research,
1983-1986
Scope and Content Note
Information about conducting genealogical research.
box 13, folder 18
Pamphlets and notes,
1983-1986
Physical Description:
6
items
box 24*, folder 3
Oversize article
1984
Physical Description:
1
item
box 13, folder 19
Jewish artists,
1925-1986
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Clippings and photocopied articles and essays on the subject of Jewish artists in
general.
box 13, folder 20
Michelangelo's Biblioteca Laurenziana, Florence,
1934-1974
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles and an essay.
box 14, folder 1
Nietzsche and art,
circa 1983-1992, undated
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied draft of an essay by Mark Rothko about
The birth of
tragedy
by Friedrich Nietzsche, an excerpt from
The birth of
tragedy
, and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 14, folder 2
Pop art,
1962-1963
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles.
box 14, folder 3
Romanticism,
1955
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article by Lorenz Eitner, "The open window and the storm-tossed boat,"
Art bulletin, 1955.
box 14, folder 4
Surrealism,
1946-1968
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
One page of James Breslin's handwritten notes, a photocopied article about Dada and
surrealism (1968), and photocopied pages from an article profiling surrealists in
the Museum of Modern Art
Bulletin, 1946.
box 14, folder 5-9
Travel,
1988-1991, circa 1983-1992
box 14, folder 5
Papers,
1988-1991
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a packet of color picture postcards of the Daugava River, James
Breslin's correspondence regarding travel arrangements to Latvia.
box 31
Audio recordings,
1988-1991
Physical Description:
2 sound
cassettes
Scope and Content Note
C124-125: audio recordings of Breslin reading his notes from his trip to
Daugavpils, Latvia.
Use copies available.
box 14, folder 6
London,
1988
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes lists of names and a car rental brochure.
box 14, folder 7
Los Angeles,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Lists of names and contact information.
box 14, folder 8
New York,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a guide to New York City research resources and James Breslin's
handwritten notes.
box 14, folder 9
Miscellaneous,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
5
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Notes and lists of names in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Portland, New Haven, and
Washington, D.C.
Series III B.
Topics related to Mark Rothko,
1903-1991
Physical Description: 7 boxes, 1 flat file
folder
Scope and Content Note
Contains notes, clippings, and printed materials on topics related to Mark Rothko.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
box 14, 22
Addresses,
circa 1983-1992
box 14, folder 10
Addresses,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
15
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied notecards with Mark Rothko's addresses between 1924 and 1970.
box 22
Addresses,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
46
items
Scope and Content Note
46 notecards with Mark Rothko's addresses between 1924 and 1970, filed in a white
plastic index card file.
box 22
Art exhibitions,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
80
items
Scope and Content Note
80 index cards, each with the title, date and location of one or two Mark Rothko
exhibitions, filed in a white plastic index card file.
box 14, folder 11-27
Art historical scholarship and criticism: articles and essays,
1947-1991
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles and essays about Mark Rothko and his work, arranged
alphabetically by author with five brief pieces photocopied from
Tiger's
eye
at the end.
box 14, folder 11
Butor, Michel,
1962
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"The mosques of New York, or, the art of Mark Rothko," in
New-world
writings
(New York, 1962).
box 14, folder 12
Byrnes, James,
1974
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"Remembering Mark," in
Mark Rothko: ten major works (Newport
Beach, 1974).
box 14, folder 13
Causey, Andrew,
1972
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"Rothko through his paintings,"
Studio international (April
1972).
box 14, folder 14
Cernuschi, Claude,
1986
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"Mark Rothko's mature paintings"
Arts magazine (May 1986).
box 14, folder 15
Clearwater, Bonnie,
1985
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"How Rothko looked at Rothko"
Art news, 84 (November 1985).
box 14, folder 16
Crehan, Hubert,
1954
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"Rothko's wall of light" (1954)
box 14, folder 17
Dunlop, Ian,
1979
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"Edvard Munch, Barnett Newman, and Mark Rothko: the search for the sublime,"
Arts magazine (February 1979).
box 14, folder 18
Edwards, Roy,
1971-1978
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Two copies of "Working with Rothko,"
New American review, 12
(1971), and an essay draft, "Mark Rothko" (1978).
box 14, folder 19
Hess, Thomas B.,
1970
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"Rothko: a Venetian souvenir,"
Art news (November 1970).
box 14, folder 20
Kohlmeyer, Ida,
1982
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"About Rothko,"
Arts quarterly (December 1982).
box 14, folder 21
Kozloff, Max,
1965-1970
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
"The problem of color-light in Rothko,"
Artforum (September 1965)
and "Mark Rothko (1903-1970)" (circa 1970).
box 14, folder 22
Kutner, Janet,
1975
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"Brice Marden, David Novros, Mark Rothko: the urge to communicate through
non-imagistic painting,"
Arts magazine (September 1975).
box 14, folder 23
O'Doherty, Brian,
1970-1988
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
"Rothko,"
Art international (October 20, 1970), and an essay on
Mark Rothko from
American masters (1988).
box 14, folder 24
Polcari, Stephen,
1979-1991
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
"The intellectual roots of abstract expressionism: Mark Rothko,"
Arts
magazine
(September 1979) and "Mark Rothko: 'In my beginning is my
end,'" in
Abstract expressionism and the modern experience
(Cambridge, 1991).
box 14, folder 25
Schjeldahl, Peter,
1979
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
"Rothko and belief,"
Art in America (March/April 1979).
box 14, folder 26
Vallier, Dora,
1963
Physical Description:
1
item
box 14, folder 27
Tiger's eye,
1947-1948
Physical Description:
5
items
box 14, folder 28-30
Art historical scholarship: theses,
1971-1974, undated
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied theses written about Mark Rothko and his work.
box 14, folder 28
Baumgarten, Earlene,
1971
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Thesis (MA): "Mark Rothko: the fullness of his 'empty canvases'" (1971).
box 14, folder 29
Porter, Robert Fulton,
1974
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Thesis (Ph.D.): "A critique of criticism: the mature paintings of Mark Rothko"
(1974).
box 14, folder 30
Unidentified "chronology thesis,"
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
96 photocopied leaves of a thesis by an unidentified author, referred to in James
Breslin's notes as the "chron thesis."
box 14, folder 31-33
Art themes,
1945-1982, circa 1983-1992
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles and James Breslin's notes on specific themes in Mark Rothko's
artwork.
box 14, folder 31
Crucifixion,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
box 14, folder 32
Gender,
1982, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
5
items
box 14, folder 33
Myths,
1945, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
box 15-16, 24*
Artworks,
1946-1990, undated
Scope and Content Note
Mostly photocopied printed material on specific artworks and groups of works, as
well as notes, reproductions, and clippings. Arranged in chonological order by
artwork.
box 15, folder 1
Drawings, circa 1939,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes on two drawings.
box 15, folder 2
The Omen of the Eagle, 1942,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 15, folder 3
Slow Swirl at the Edge of the Sea, 1944,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
7
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 15, folder 4
Watercolors, 1946,
1946-1987
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
A letter (1987) to James Breslin from Deborah Wyth, archivist at the Brooklyn
Museum, regarding the painting
Vessels of Magic, and photocopied
printed material regarding both
Vessels of Magic and
Sacrifice.
box 15, 24*
Mark Rothko's art in 1949,
1949-1983
box 15, folder 5
Notes and article,
1949
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes and a photocopied article by Douglas MacAgy
(1949).
box 24*, folder 4
Oversize article,
1983
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Article by Thomas Albright, "The critical year for Rothko,"
Review, March 13, 1983.
box 15, folder 6
Painting no. 10, 1950,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
6
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 15, 24*
Seagram murals, 1958-1959,
1958-1990
box 15, folder 7
Correspondence,
1958-1990
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied letter from Sidney Janis to Phyllis Lambert at the House
of Seagram confirming Mark Rothko's agreement with Seagram to execute
approximately 500 to 600 square feet of paintings (1958) and a copy of the
purchase order, as well as letters regarding the murals to James Breslin from
the Museum of Modern Art (1990) and the Tate Gallery (1990), with a floor plan
of the Four Seasons restaurant among the enclosures.
box 15, folder 8-9
Articles,
1958-1989
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles about the Seagram Building, the Four Seasons restaurant,
the architecture of Philip Johnson, Mark Rothko's withdrawal from his agreement
with Seagram, and the subsequent acquisition by the Tate Gallery of several
paintings originally commissioned for the Four Seasons.
box 24*, folder 5
Oversize articles,
1954-1959
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied articles about the Seagram Building and the Four Seasons
restaurant.
box 15, folder 10
Four Seasons,
1984-1989
Physical Description:
17
items
Scope and Content Note
Publicity material for the Four Seasons restaurant, including photocopied
articles, reviews, and a booklet commemorating "one hundred seasons."
box 15, folder 11
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
30
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten and typed notes.
box 15, folder 12-13
Painting no. 207, 1961,
1965-1988
box 15, folder 12
1965-1987
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Mark Rothko to Mell Rothko (1965) regarding
Painting no. 207 (Red Over Dark Blue on Dark Gray) and a draft
of an essay by James Breslin with comments by Jenny Franchot (1987).
box 15, folder 13
Student papers,
1988
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied essays by Breslin's undergraduate students, primarily on the topic
of
Painting no. 207.
box 15, 24*
Harvard murals, 1962,
1962-1990
box 15, folder 14
Correspondence and notes,
1962-1990
Physical Description:
12
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from the Fogg Museum archives (1962-1977), including one
from Mark Rothko to Nathan Pusey, president of Harvard University (1962),
letters from the Fogg Museum to James Breslin (1989-1990), Breslin's extensive
handwritten notes, and photocopied notes from the Fogg registrar (1979?).
box 15, folder 15
Printed material,
1965-1988, undated
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Reviews and articles regarding an exhibition of the Harvard murals at the
Arthur M. Sackler Museum in 1988, and two photocopied essays, one by Dore Ashton
(1965) and one by Dana Cranmer (undated).
box 24*, folder 6
Oversize article,
1985
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Article by Eileen Garred, "Selection of Mark Rothko works given to Fogg,"
Harvard University gazette, April 26, 1985.
box 15, 24*
Rothko Chapel, Houston, 1964-1967,
1965-1991, circa 1983-1992
box 15, folder 16
Contracts and letters,
1965-1971
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied letters between Bernard Reis and the Menil Foundation
(1971), and one from Dominique de Menil to Rothko (1964), as well as photocopied
contracts between Mark Rothko and the University of St. Thomas (1965) and the
Institute of Religion (1969).
box 15, folder 17-18
Articles,
1971-1989
Scope and Content Note
Assorted clipped and photocopied articles on the de Menil family and the
artwork in the Rothko Chapel.
box 24*, folder 7
Oversize articles,
1984-1986
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
One clipped and one copied article about Dominique de Menil, her collection and
her family.
box 15, folder 19
Publicity,
1971-circa 1991
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Statements, brochures, and flyers relating to the Rothko Chapel.
box 15, folder 20-21
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
12
items
Scope and Content Note
Approximately 90 leaves of James Breslin's notes and two original file
folders.
box 16, 24*
Black paintings, 1969-1970,
1971-1985, circa 1983-1992
box 16, folder 1
Article,
1971, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied article (1971) and James Breslin's notes.
box 24*, folder 8
Oversize article,
1985
Physical Description:
1
item
box 16, folder 2
Paintings, 1930s-1970,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
61
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's notes on various paintings by Mark Rothko.
box 16, 24*
Works of art on paper, 1930s-1970,
1985
Scope and Content Note
Articles about exhibitions of Mark Rothko's works of art on paper at the National
Gallery of Art, 1984, the Guggenheim Museum, 1985, and the San Francisco Museum of
Art, 1986, as well as James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 16, folder 3
Article and notes,
1985
Physical Description:
2
items
box 24*, folder 9
Oversize articles,
1984-1986
Physical Description:
3
items
box 16, 24*
Childhood and early education,
1903-1991
Scope and Content Note
Includes notes and printed materials related to Mark Rothko's childhood and early
education in Dvinsk, Russia (now Daugavpils, Latvia), and Portland, Oregon.
box 16, 24*
Russia and Latvia,
1944-1970, circa 1983-1992
box 16, folder 4
Printed materials,
1903-1971
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied printed materials, including an article and excerpts from books,
among them a chapter from
The Jews in Latvia (1971).
box 16, folder 5-6
Dvinsk: the rise and decline of a town,
1944
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two photocopies of a book by Yudel Flior, translated from the Yiddish
by Bernard Sachs.
box 24*, folder 10
Oversize Latvian newspapers,
1990-1991
Physical Description:
3
items
box 16, folder 7
Michashek, Russia,
undated
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
A photocopied poem about a town near Dvinsk.
oversize 1**
Maps,
undated
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Oversize photocopied maps of Latvia, some annotated by James Breslin.
box 16, folder 8
Education in Russia,
1976, circa 1983-1992,
undated
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopied article, notes, and two photocopied chapters from Zvi
Halevy,
Jewish schools under czarism and communism (1976).
box 16, folder 9
Notebooks,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Two notebooks and photocopied pages from a train schedule:
"Poland/U.S.S.R."
box 16, folder 10
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
26
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 16, 24*
Portland, Oregon,
1944-1970
box 16, folder 11
Printed material,
1913-1980
Physical Description:
11
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied articles and pages from Portland city directories
(1912-1944).
box 24*, folder 11
Oversize Portland newspaper,
1976
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Scribe: a record of Jewish life, May 1976.
box 16, folder 12-13
Notes,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
11
items
Scope and Content Note
Approximately 67 leaves of James Breslin's notes and an original file folder
with notes on front.
box 16, folder 14
Portland Public School District, Failing School,
1914
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Copy of a census form for Mark Rothko and a class roster with his name on
it.
box 16, folder 15
Portland Public School District, Shattuck School,
1913-1917
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes copies of census and registration forms (1915-1917), class rosters,
annual reports on Portland public schools (1913-1917), and James Breslin's
notes.
box 16, 24*
Portland Public School District, Lincoln High School,
1917-1921
Scope and Content Note
Includes copies of Mark Rothko's student record with the grades cut out, class
rosters, student registration forms, annual reports on Portland public schools,
pages from the
Cardinal, a Lincoln High School publication with
contributions by Mark Rothko, an article about the admission of three students
to Yale University, Rothko among them, and James Breslin's handwritten
notes.
box 16, folder 16
Records,
1917-1921
Physical Description:
7
items
box 24*, folder 11
Oversize materials,
1917-1921
Physical Description:
4
items
box 17, folder 1
Citizenship,
1924-1938, 1987
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopies of naturalization and citizenship documents for Mark
Rothko.
box 17, folder 2
Mark Rothko collectors,
1957-1968
Physical Description:
19
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letters from the following collectors to Mark Rothko: Ben Heller,
Felice Massie, Carlin Burden, Mrs. Robert L. Baumgarten, Charles Carpenter,
Barbara Guest, Becky and Julius W. Allen, Morton Kligerman, Donald Blinken, and
Edgar F. Berman.
box 17, 24*
Death,
1970
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Articles about Mark Rothko published soon after his suicide.
box 17, folder 3
1970, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes an essay draft by James Breslin, "Mark Rothko, Suicide and the
Problems of Biography" (undated).
box 24*, folder 12
Oversize articles,
1970
Physical Description:
2
items
box 17, folder 4-8
Financial files,
1959-1972
box 17, folder 4-5
Financial statements,
1961-1967
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth for Mark
and Mell Rothko, and James Breslin's handwritten notes and calculations
regarding Mark Rothko's financial state in the 1960s.
box 17, folder 6
Sales,
1959-1972
Physical Description:
26
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of assorted invoices and lists of Mark Rothko works sold and James
Breslin's handwritten notes relating to sales of Rothko's work. Purchasing and
selling parties include: Franz Meyer, Ben Heller, Lawrence Rubin, Marlborough
Galleries, Sidney Janis Gallery, Mrs. Harry L. Bradley, New London Gallery, Mrs.
M. Lane, Alistair MacAlpine, William S. Rubin, Whitney Museum, and Beyeler
Gallery.
box 17, folder 7
Taxes,
1963-1968
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied state and federal tax returns for Mark and Mary Alice Rothko (1963,
1965-1966, 1968).
box 17, folder 8
Social security,
1968
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied letter from Bernard Reis to Charles S. Ferber at the Social
Security Administration, New York, NY.
box 17, folder 9-11
Health,
1968-1969, circa 1983-1992
box 17, folder 9
Medical bills,
1968-1969
Physical Description:
10
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of Mark Rothko's medical bills, primarily from Dr. Albert W.
Grokoest (Grokest in James Breslin's book), but also including emergency room
bills.
box 17, folder 10
Heart condition,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
5
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes concerning Mark Rothko's heart condition.
box 17, folder 11
Psychological state,
circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
33
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's handwritten notes on Mark Rothko's psychological state,
including notes on the subject of shame.
box 24*, folder 13
Immigration,
1912-1913, circa 1983-1992
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Copies of ship manifests of "alien passengers" for United States immigration and
one page of James Breslin's notes.
box 17, folder 12
Last will and testament,
1968
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of Mark Rothko's will.
box 17, folder 13
Mark Rothko estate collection inventory,
circa 1983-1992, undated
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopied inventories of the artworks owned by the Mark Rothko
estate at the time of Rothko's death and James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 17, 24*
Trial of Mark Rothko estate executors and Frank Lloyd,
1970-1978
Scope and Content Note
Notes, documents, and articles relating to the trial following Mark Rothko's
death: Kate Rothko versus the executors of the Mark Rothko estate (Bernard Reis,
Theodoros Stamos, and Morton Levine) and Frank Lloyd, owner of Marlborough
Galleries, New York. See also the individuals' files in Series I and the
Marlborough Galleries and Rothko Foundation files in Series II.
box 17, folder 14-15
Documents,
1970-1978
Physical Description:
9
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes photocopies of Rita Reinhardt's deposition and excerpts from the
affidavits of Kate Rothko and Gustave Harrow.
box 24*, folder 14
Oversize letter from Stanley Kunitz,
1978
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of Stanley Kunitz's letter to the editor published in the
New York times, June 25, 1978.
box 17, folder 16-19
Mark Rothko's notes and writing fragments,
1954-circa 1990, undated
box 17, folder 16
Teaching notebook [?],
1954
Physical Description:
14
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of Mark Rothko's notebook with a list of names and grades and what
appear to be lecture notes.
box 17, folder 17
Scribble book,
undated
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes a photocopy of Mark Rothko's "scribble book" (34 leaves) and two typed
transcriptions (24 leaves), as well as James Breslin's handwritten notes.
box 17, folder 18
Hebrew notebook,
undated
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Two photocopies of Mark Rothko's Hebrew notebook (28 and 31 leaves) and a typed
English translation (8 leaves).
box 17, folder 19
Notes and writing fragments,
undated
Physical Description:
24
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
16 leaves of photocopied handwritten notes by Mark Rothko and eight leaves of
typed writing fragments and drafts, some with titles: "What and how I can say,"
"Private and public," "Space I" and "Space II."
box 18, folder 1-6
James Breslin's notebooks and general notes,
circa 1983-1992
box 18, folder 1
Notebooks,
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Two notebooks filled with James Breslin's notes about Mark Rothko and his
artwork.
box 18, folder 2
Notebooks,
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Two mostly blank notebooks, one with 18 pages of James Breslin's notes about
Mark Rothko and his artwork, the other with 12 pages of notes.
box 18, folder 3
Notebook,
Physical Description:
1
item
Scope and Content Note
A mostly blank notebook with seven pages of James Breslin's notes about Mark
Rothko and his artwork.
box 18, folder 4-6
General notes,
Physical Description:
94
Leaves
Scope and Content Note
James Breslin's general notes relating to Mark Rothko and his artwork.
box 22
Miscellaneous notes,
Physical Description:
1 index
card file
Scope and Content Note
A blue plastic index card file containing cards with James Breslin's
miscellaneous notes. The first 62 cards are written on; more than 100 are
blank.
Series IV.
Photographs and reproductions,
1900-1994
Physical Description:
3
box(es)
Scope and Content Note
Reproductions of Rothko's artwork in photographs, slides, transparencies, negatives,
picture postcards, and photocopies, and personal photographs and negatives of Mark
Rothko, his family and friends. Most are reproduced from originals in other
repositories, which are often noted on the image verso. See Series VI for signed
permission forms granting James Breslin publication rights to many of the images.
box 21
Slides,
undated
Physical Description:
257
slides
Scope and Content Note
A binder with 257 slides, mostly color. Approximately 215 slides are of Mark Rothko's
work from circa 1929 to 1970; the rest are of Rothko and associates, and of works by
other artists, including Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso, and Jasper Johns.
box 19-20
Photographs used in
Mark Rothko: a biography,
1903-1991, undated
box 19, folder 1
Black and white figures 1-5,
1903, undated
Physical Description:
6
items
box 19, folder 2
Black and white figures 7-8, 17-20,
1928-1930s, 1991, undated
Physical Description:
6
items
box 19, folder 3
Black and white figures 21-26,
1930s, undated
Physical Description:
6
items
box 19, folder 4
Black and white figures 38, 42, 50-52,
1950s, 1969, undated
Physical Description:
5
items
box 20, folder 5
Color photographs,
1936, 1991, undated
Physical Description:
6
items
Scope and Content Note
Figures 6, 9, 44, and seven copies of plate 1.
box 20, folder 6
Negative for figure 23,
undated
Physical Description:
1
item
box 19-20
Personal photographs,
1900-1958, undated
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of Mark Rothko, his family and friends, as well as locations that relate
to his life.
box 19-20
Photographs from the George Carson collection,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of several artworks in the George Carson collection in
addition to personal photographs.
box 19, folder 5
Black and white photographs,
undated
Physical Description:
14
items
box 20, folder 7
Color photographs,
undated
Physical Description:
7
items
box 19, folder 6
Photographs from the Richard Roth collection,
1923
Physical Description:
3
items
box 19, folder 7
Photographs of Mark Rothko and Maurice Sievan,
1958
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Black and white photographs (8 x 10 in.) by Lee Sievan.
box 19, folder 8
Photographs from the Oregon Historical Society,
circa 1900-1941
Physical Description:
13
items
Scope and Content Note
Black and white photographs of Portland, Oregon.
box 19, folder 9
Miscellaneous photographs,
undated
Physical Description:
5
items
box 20, folder 8-11
Miscellaneous negatives,
undated
Physical Description:
24
items
box 19, folder 10
Photocopies from the Bernard Reis papers,
undated
Physical Description:
12
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of photographs of Mark Rothko, Bernard Reis, Rebecca Reis, Robert
Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, and Theodoros Stamos.
box 19, folder 11-20
Reproductions of artworks,
1980-1994, undated
box 19, folder 11-16
Reproductions from the National Gallery, Washington, D.C.,
undated
box 19, folder 11-15
Black and white photographs,
undated
Physical Description:
29
items
Scope and Content Note
Black and white photographs (8 x 10 in.) of Mark Rothko artworks, including
drawings, watercolors, and oil paintings.
box 19, folder 16
Photocopies,
undated
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied sketches by Mark Rothko.
box 20, folder 12
Color transparency of the Rothko room at the Tate Gallery,
undated
Physical Description:
2
items
box 20, folder 13
Color transparency of White and Greens in Blue, 1957,
undated
Physical Description:
2
items
box 20, folder 14
Photographs of an unidentified painting, 1958,
1994
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Four color photographs of a painting owned by Barry M. Ragone, who attributes it to
Mark Rothko, 1958, in a letter to James Breslin (1994).
box 19, folder 17
Reproductions of subway paintings,
undated
Physical Description:
2
items
Scope and Content Note
Reproductions, probably clipped from a book, of two of Mark Rothko's subway
paintings, circa 1938.
box 19, folder 18
Picture postcard reproductions,
1980-1986
Physical Description:
7
items
Scope and Content Note
Color picture postcards of paintings executed by Mark Rothko between 1953 and
1968.
box 19, folder 19
Photocopied reproductions,
undated
Physical Description:
8
items
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied reproductions of Mark Rothko paintings from the 1930s and 1940s.
box 19, folder 20
Slide catalogs,
1988
Physical Description:
15
items
Scope and Content Note
Slide catalogs from various art institutions.
Series V.
Book publication files,
1989-1993
Physical Description:
8
folder(s)
Scope and Content Note
Contains documents related to the publication of Breslin's book by the University of
Chicago Press.
box 18, folder 7-9
University of Chicago Press,
1989-1993
box 18, folder 7
Correspondence,
1989-1993
Physical Description:
12
items
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence between James Breslin and senior editor Karen Wilson, her assistant,
Candace Rossin, and others at the University of Chicago Press.
box 18, folder 8
Editorial notes,
1992
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes two critiques of drafts of James Breslin's book and photocopied pages of a
draft with handwritten corrections.
box 18, folder 9
Publicity,
1993
Physical Description:
3
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes James Breslin's completed "marketing questionnaire" and two drafts of his
publicity statement.
box 18, folder 10
Permissions for quotations,
1992-1993
Physical Description:
5
items
Scope and Content Note
Signed permission forms allowing James Breslin to use quotations from Katharine
Kuh, Dore Ashton, Ralph Pomeroy, and Arnold Glimcher.
box 18, folder 11-12
Permissions for image reproductions,
1989-1993
Physical Description:
22
items
Scope and Content Note
Permission forms allowing James Breslin to publish reproductions from numerous
sources, invoices for the cost of reproduction, and a letter from James Breslin to
Candace Rossin with an itemized list and accompanying photocopies of the
illustrations for which he was having difficulty obtaining prints and
permissions.
box 18, folder 13
Permissions from Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko,
1993
Physical Description:
4
items
Scope and Content Note
Includes copies of agreements between the University of Chicago Press and Mark
Rothko's children granting permission for reproduction of photographs from their
collection in James Breslin's book, and the reproduction fee invoice.
box 18, folder 14
Figures,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Photocopies of the following figures for James Breslin's book: 1-7, 11-12, 17-52.
Series VI.
Audio recordings of interviews,
1985-1990
Physical Description:
7
box(es)
Scope and Content Note
Audio recordings of James Breslin's interviews with approximately 105 of Rothko's
surviving family, friends, fellow artists, collectors, dealers, curators, and critics.
Arranged alphabetically.
Originally recorded on 119 audio cassettes, including eighteen cassettes of interviews
with Robert Motherwell (1987-1988). For transcriptions of 69 Breslin interviews, and
notes on many more, see Series I: Research files on individuals.
Access Information
Access to audio cassettes is restricted; reformatted copies may be made available for
use by qualified researchers.
box 25
C1:
May 20, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
C2-4:
Nov 3, 1986
Scope and Content Note
3 sound cassettes.
box 25
Alford, Emily and Newell,
1988
box 25
C5:
May 17, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 25
Ashton, Dore,
1986
Ashton, Dore (digitized version available on-site only): 1986
box 25
C6:
Feb 25, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
C7:
Jun 28, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
C8:
Feb 17, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
C9:
Dec 17, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
C10:
1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 25
Berman, Henry [Howard],
1986
Berman, Henry [Howard] (digitized version available on-site only)
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, one side of each. The interviewee is identified as Henry
Berman on both cassette labels, but he is referred to as Howard Berman in James
Breslin's book, p. 682.
box 25
C11:
Feb 14, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 25
C12:
Feb 14, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
Morris Calden is also recorded on side A.
box 25
Blinken, Donald,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, side B of each.
box 25
C13:
Jan 28, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
Paul Bodin is also recorded on side B.
box 25
C14:
Jan 29, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
Arnold Glimcher is also recorded on side B.
box 25
C13:
Jan 28, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
Donald Blinken is also recorded on side B.
box 25
C15-16:
Feb 5, 1986
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 25
C17:
Jan 1, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
C18:
Jan 23, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 25
C19:
Jul 1, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26
C20:
Jul 1, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
C20 is missing. See cassette C123 for audio recordings of unidentified
interviewees.
box 26
Browne, Sylvia,
circa 1985-1990
box 26
C21-22:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 26
Bultman, Joan (Jeanne),
1986
Scope and Content Note
The interviewee is identified as Jeanne Bultman on the cassette label and as Joan
Bultman on the case and in James Breslin's book, p. 682.
box 26
C23:
Jan 13, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 26
Calden, Morris,
1986
Calden, Morris (digitized version available on-site only)
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, Side B of C12 and both sides of C24.
box 26
C12:
Feb 14, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
Henry Berman is also recorded on side A.
box 26
C24:
Feb 14, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
Katharine Kuh is also recorded on side B.
box 26
C25:
May 16, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26
C26-27:
Jun 2, 1986
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 26
C28:
Jul 4, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
Rebecca Sayer is also recorded on Side A.
box 26
C71:
Jan 24, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 26
Climo, Shirley and George,
circa 1985-1990
box 26
C29:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26
C30:
Jan 18, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 26
Deming, Vita,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, side B of each.
box 26
C31:
Feb 3, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 26
C32:
Feb 3, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
Lily Sievan is also recorded on side B.
box 26
C33:
Jan 19, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26
C34:
Jul 2, 1985
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26
C35:
Jan 27, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26
C36:
Nov 8, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
C14:
Jan 29, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
Donald Blinken is also recorded on side B.
box 26
C23:
Nov 14, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 26
Green, Wilder,
1988
Green, Wilder (digitized version available on-site only): 1988
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, side A of each.
box 26
C37-38:
May 17, 1988
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes. Side A.
box 26
C32:
Feb 3, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 27
Grokest, Albert,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, both sides of one and side B of the other.
box 27
C39:
Jan 24, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 27
C40:
Jan 24, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 27
C41:
Jan 9, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 27
C42:
Jan 28, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 27
C43:
Jan 21, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
C13:
Jan 28, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
Paul Bodin is also recorded on side A.
box 25
C14:
Jan 4, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 25
C18:
Jan 22, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 27
C44:
May 5, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 27
C45:
May 16, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 27
C46:
Jan 20, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 27
Kaufman, Louis and Annette,
1986
box 27
C47-48:
Nov 3, 1986
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 27
Klein, Milton and Lilian,
1987
box 27
C49:
Apr 9, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26-27
Kuh, Katharine,
1986
Kuh, Katharine (digitized version available on-site only): 1986 February 14
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, side B of one and both sides of the other.
box 26
C24:
Feb 14, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 27
C50:
Feb 14, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 27
C51:
Feb 7, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 25
Leontief, Wassily,
1986
Leontief, Wassily (digital version available on-site only)
box 25
C11:
Feb 13, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 31
C120-121:
May 14-15, 1988
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 25
C10:
Jan 20, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 27
C52:
Feb 19, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 27
Margolis, David,
1989
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, both sides of one and side A of the other.
box 27
C53:
Apr 28, 1989
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 27
C54:
Apr 28, 1989
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 27
C55:
Jul 3, 1985
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26-27
McKinney, Donald,
1988
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on four cassettes, one side each.
box 26
C37-38:
May 19, 1988
C37-38
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes. Side B.
box 27
C56-57:
May 19, 1988
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes. Side A.
box 27
C52:
Feb 17, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 28
Miller, Berthe,
circa 1985-1990
box 28
C70:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
Robert Motherwell is also recorded on Side A.
box 28
C58:
Oct 11, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 28
Motherwell, Robert,
1987-1988
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on eighteen cassettes, of which eight are duplicate recordings.
box 28
C59-60:
Jun 30, 1987
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
Recorded on two cassettes, C59 and C61; C60 and C62 are copies of C59 and C61,
respectively, and were not digitized. Morris Pottish is also recorded on C59 side
A.
box 28
C61-62:
Jun 30, 1987
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
Recorded on two cassettes, C59 and C61; C60 and C62 are copies of C59 and C61,
respectively, and were not digitized.
box 28
C63-69:
Jul 4, 1987
Scope and Content Note
7 sound cassettes.
The following pairs of cassettes are duplicate recordings: C63 and C64, C66 and
C67, C68 and C69.
box 28
C70:
Jul 4, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
Side A duplicates most of C65A. Berthe Miller is also recorded on Side A.
box 28
C71:
Jul 4, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
The second half of Side A partially duplicates C65A. Rebecca Sayer and Georgio
Cavallon are also recorded on Side A.
box 28
C72-74:
May 14, 1988
Scope and Content Note
3 sound cassettes.
C72 and C73 have duplicate recordings.
box 28
C75:
May 14, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
Both sides are mostly blank, with approximately ten minutes recorded on Side A.
box 28
C76:
May 14, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
Rebecca Reis is also recorded on most of Side B.
box 29
C77:
May 2, 1989
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
Use copy available.
box 29
Newman, Sonia,
circa 1985-1990
box 29
C78:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 29
Northrup, Richard and Barbara,
circa 1985-1990
box 29
C79:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 29
C80-81:
Feb 27, 1986
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 29
Okun, George,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Interviewed with Sophie Tracy and recorded on two cassettes, side B of one and both
sides of the other.
box 29
C82:
Feb 11, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 29
C83:
Feb 11, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 29
C84:
Feb 13, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
Use copy available.
box 29
Parker, Ray,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on three cassettes.
box 29
C85-86:
Jan 25, 1986
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 29
C87:
Jan 25, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 29
C87:
Jan 27, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 29
C88:
Nov 7, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 29
C89:
Jan 29, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 28
Pottish, Morris,
Pottish, Morris (digitized version available on-site only)
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, side A of each.
box 28
C59-60:
Jun 29, 1986
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes. Side A.
Recorded on Side A of C59; C60 is a copy of C59 and was not digitized. Robert
Motherwell is also recorded on side A of both cassettes.
box 29
C82:
Feb 6, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 29
Rabin, Kenneth,
circa 1985-1990
box 29
C90-91:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 29
Rabin, Milton and Joy,
1985
box 29
C92:
Jun 21, 1985
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 29
Reis, Bernard,
circa 1985-1990
box 29
C93-94:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
Label: "Bernard Reis – archives." The original interview must have been conducted
prior to Reis's death in 1978.
box 28-30
Reis, Rebecca,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on three cassettes.
box 28
C76:
Nov 8, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
Robert Motherwell is also recorded on Side B for approximately two minutes.
box 29
C95:
Nov 8, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 30
C96:
Nov 8, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 30
Rice, Jackie and Dan,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on three cassettes.
box 30
C97:
Feb 21, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 30
C98-99:
Feb 21, 1986
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 30
Roth, Julian and Dorothy,
1986
box 30
C100:
Sep 16, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 30
C101:
Jun 27, 1985
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 30
Roth, Richard and Johnny,
1986
box 30
C102:
Nov 7, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 30
Rothko, Christopher,
1986
Rothko, Christopher (digitized version available on-site only): 1986
box 30
C103:
Feb 6, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 30
Rothko, Kate,
1986-1987
Rothko, Kate (digitized version available on-site only): 1986-1987
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on four cassettes.
box 30
C104-106:
Feb 25, 1986
Scope and Content Note
3 sound cassettes.
box 30
C107:
Mar 31, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 30
Sachar, Howard,
circa 1985-1990
box 30
C108-109:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 30
Sachar, Willie,
circa 1985-1990
box 30
C110-111:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
2 sound cassettes.
box 30
Sayer, Rebecca,
circa 1985-1990
box 30
C112:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
Georgio Cavallon is also recorded on Side A.
box 30
Scharf, William and Sally,
1987
box 30
C112:
Jul 1, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 29-30
Schueler, Jon,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Recorded on two cassettes, one side of each.
box 29
C89:
Jan 31, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
box 30
C113:
Jan 31, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 30
C114:
Sep 11, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26
C32:
Feb 3, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side B.
Vita Deming is also recorded on side B.
box 30
C113:
Jan 15, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
Jon Schueler is also recorded on side B.
box 26
C28:
Jan 22, 1987
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
Georgio Cavallon is also recorded on side A.
box 31
C122:
Feb 10, 1990
Scope and Content Note
SEALED: 1 sound cassette.
This tape will remail sealed until 2076.
box 30
Steindecker, Oliver,
1986
box 30
C97:
Feb 20, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 31
C115:
Feb 11, 1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 31
Till, Elizabeth,
circa 1985-1990
box 31
C116:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 27
C41:
Jan 9, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 29
Tracy, Sophie,
1986
Scope and Content Note
Interviewed with George Okun.
box 29
C83:
Feb 11, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 31
C117:
Oct 12, 1988
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
box 26
C30:
Jan 15, 1986
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette. Side A.
box 31
TAV 728A,
circa 1985-1990
box 31
C118:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
The following names were crossed out on the cassette labels and replaced with "TAV
728A": side A. Elizabeth Zogbaum; side B. Martin James.
box 31
TAV 728A,
circa 1985-1990
box 31
C118:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
The following names were crossed out on the cassette labels and replaced with "TAV
728A": side A. Elizabeth Zogbaum; side B. Martin James.
box 31
Unidentified,
circa 1985-1990
box 31
C123:
circa 1985-1990
Scope and Content Note
1 sound cassette.
The name "Morris Calden" is crossed out on the cassette label. "K. Kuh" is written
on the label, but the three voices recorded on the tape are male, not Katharine
Kuh's. Perhaps one is Milton Brown, in which case this cassette may be the missing
number C20.
