Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Papers of Michael and Dorothy Blankfort, 1961-1995. BLA.001.001
BLA.001.001  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Arrangement note
  • Biographical/Historical note
  • Scope and Contents note
  • Conditions Governing Use note
  • Preferred Citation note
  • Processing Information note
  • Conditions Governing Access note
  • Bibliography

  • Title: Papers of Michael and Dorothy Blankfort
    Identifier/Call Number: BLA.001.001
    Contributing Institution: Los Angeles County Museum of Art Balch Art Research Library
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 5.0 Linear feet , 12 boxes
    Date (inclusive): 1961-1995
    creator: Blankfort, Dorothy

    Arrangement note

    This collection is arranged alphabetically. Items that were originally filed in the "Misc." folder have been interfiled; these are denoted by an asterisk (*) in the folder list.

    Biographical/Historical note

    Michael and Dorothy Blankfort began collecting art in the late 1950s. The couple focused on contemporary art in Los Angeles, New York, and Europe. They were both involved with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in various capacities. In 1961, they were founding members of LACMA's Modern and Contemporary Art Council (MCAC); Dorothy chaired MCAC from 1974-1976 as well as participating in and chairing the Acquisitions, Education and Membership committees; and Michael served on the Board of Trustees from 1971-1982. Upon their deaths, the couple left a generous bequest to LACMA.
    Michael Blankfort (1907-1982) worked as a college professor, psychologist, and writer. He wrote 13 novels, several short stories, plays, and screenplays. In 1950, he was nominated for an Oscar for the film "Broken Arrow"; his name, however, was used as a front for the blacklisted screenwriter, Albert Maltz. From 1967-1969 he served as President of the Writers Guild of America West. From 1969-1971 he served as a governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Dorothy Stile Blankfort (1910-1998) worked as a literary agent.

    Scope and Contents note

    The 12 boxes (5 linear feet) that comprise this collection contain correspondence, clippings, greeting cards, checks, receipts, photographs, transparencies, and other realia in connection with the art collection of Michael and Dorothy Blankfort. The files concern items in their personal collection; gifts and loans to galleries and museums; correspondence from friends; clippings of newspaper and magazine articles, both about the artists in their collection as well as art history; and correspondence to institutions. The items range in date mostly from 1961-1995.

    Conditions Governing Use note

    Contact the Balch Research Library at 323-856-6118 or library@lacma.org for information on publishing or reproducing materials included in these records. Permission will be granted by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as the owner of the physical materials, and does not imply permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the copyright holder.

    Preferred Citation note

    [Description of item], Papers of Michael and Dorothy Blankfort, 1961-1995, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Balch Art Research Library, BLA.001.001.

    Processing Information note

    Processed by Mali Griffen and Heather Cleary; processing completed in September 2001; input into Archivists' Toolkit by Joel Parham, March 2011.

    Conditions Governing Access note

    Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment only through the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Balch Art Research Library. Telephone 323-857-6118 or email library@lacma.org.

    Bibliography

    The Michael and Dorothy Blankfort Collection, Maurice Tuchman and Anne Carnegie Edgerton, with an introduction by Michael Blankfort. Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1982.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Blankfort, Michael, 1907-1982 -- Correspondence
    Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Modern and Contemporary Art Council.
    Art donors
    Art, Modern--20th century
    Art--Collectors and collecting
    Clippings (information artifacts)
    Correspondence
    Ephemera
    Financial records
    Photographs