Finding aid for the Kasmin Limited records, 1960-1992 (bulk 1963-1972) 2001.M.1
Kelly Nipper and Karen Meyer-Roux
Special Collections
2006
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections
Title: Kasmin Limited records
Creator:
Kasmin Limited
Identifier/Call Number: 2001.M.1
Physical Description:
64.21 Linear Feet
(143 Boxes, 3 Flat File Folders)
Date (inclusive): 1960-1992 (bulk 1963-1972)
Abstract: The records of Kasmin Limited document the Kasmin Gallery at 118 New Bond Street in London that John Kasmin directed from
1963 to 1972 in partnership with Sheridan Dufferin. Among the artists represented by the gallery, and in the records, are
Anthony Caro, Helen Frankenthaler, David Hockney, John Latham, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Jules Olitski, Larry Poons, Richard
Smith and Frank Stella. The records consist of correspondence, financial records, scrapbooks, visitor books, catalogs, invitations,
ephemera, and photographs of the artworks handled by John Kasmin.
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Language of Material: English
Scope and Content of Collection
The records of Kasmin Limited provide a comprehensive survey of the operations of the Kasmin Gallery at 118 New Bond Street
in London that John Kasmin directed from 1963 to 1972 in partnership with Sheridan Dufferin. There is also documentation on
John Kasmin's activities as an art dealer in the early 1960s and after 1972.
The records of Kasmin Limited are comprised of correspondence with artists, other galleries, collectors and critics; financial
records, including stock books and contracts with artists; scrapbooks of press clippings; visitor books; catalogues, invitations
and ephemera; photographs of exhibitions and artists' works, with a large section documenting the work of David Hockney, and
a short unreleased documentary film on the gallery. Among the artists represented are: Edward Avedisian, Walter Darby Bannard,
Stephen Buckley, Anthony Caro, Bernard Cohen, Robin Denny, David Evison, Helen Frankenthaler, David Hockney, John Latham,
Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Jules Olitski, Larry Poons, Richard Smith, Frank Stella, annd William Tucker.
Arrangement note
Arranged in nine series: Series I. Correspondence, 1960-1987 (bulk 1963-1972); Series II. Visitor books, 1963-1966; Series
III. Diaries and travel notebook, 1962-1977; Series IV. Scrapbooks, 1961-1984; Series V. Gallery invitations and mailing lists,
1963-1977; Series VI. Financial records, 1960-1992; Series VII. Printed matter, 1960-1978; Series VIII. Photographs, 1960-1981;
Series IX. Architectural documentation, 1963-1973.
Biographical/Historical Note
John Kasmin opened a gallery at 118 New Bond Street in London on April 17th, 1963, with an inaugural show dedicated to the
paintings of Kenneth Noland, an artist that he described at the time as his favorite painter, albeit a difficult one. The
show marked Kasmin's eagerness to change London's taste in art and to promote abstract art.
Born into a Jewish family in Whitechapel in 1934 under the name John Kaye, John Kasmin, who would later be known as Kasmin
or "Kas," attended Magdalen College School in Oxford. He then traveled to New Zealand. Upon returning to England in 1956,
he took on jobs at several art galleries, including Gallery One and Kaplan Gallery. In 1958, he met Jane Nicholson, niece
of the painter Ben Nicholson, who would become his wife and the mother of his two sons, Aaron and Paul. In 1960, he accepted
a position to manage the New London Gallery for the well-established Marlborough Fine Art. It had been founded by Harry Fischer
and Frank Lloyd who had innovative financial arrangements with artists and who placed emphasis on the need for proper documentation
for artworks entering the stock of the gallery, such as reference numbers, labels on verso of the works, and photographic
documentation. This placed Marlborough Fine Art at an advantage in respect to other galleries dealing with contemporary artists
that had a more informal workflow. At the Kasmin Gallery, Kasmin would pursue these practices and benefit from the significant
financial backing of the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, a Guinness heir and an art collector who was a client of Marlborough
Fine Art.
The partnership between Kasmin and Dufferin began in the fall of 1961, when Dufferin offered Kasmin a regular income to pursue
his interest in representing artists that Marlborough Fine Art was not willing to represent, such as David Hockney and John
Latham. Kasmin and Dufferin spent nearly two years looking for suitable premises and eventually chose the architectural firm
of Ahrends, Burton and Koralek to transform the space of an old art gallery on New Bond Street. Stylish, crisp and bold, the
Kasmin Gallery at New Bond Street was designed and built especially to show stark, clean and large artworks. This was meant
as a departure from the exhibition space at Marlborough Fine Art with its velvet draperies, armchairs and easels. Accessible
through a long corridor, the Kasmin Gallery space remained quiet, removed from the bustling activities on New Bond Street.
Large skylights provided a diffused light on white walls in a space that could accommodate the large abstract paintings of
six square feet or more. Represented were the British painters, Bernard Cohen, David Hockney, John Latham, Richard Smith,
and sculptor Anthony Caro, and American painters, Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Jules Olitski, and Frank
Stella. It is at the Kasmin Gallery in 1963 that David Hockney—the only figurative artist among those supported by Kasmin—had
his first one-man show. Kasmin would remain Hockney's primary dealer for many years. The gallery became a proponent of American
Color Field abstract painters. It dealt in post-1908 pictures in general and in some antiquities and Indian miniatures, but
the exhibition space was solely for contemporary art.
During the 1960s, the Kasmin Gallery on New Bond Street became a notable site for contemporary art, along with other exhibition
spaces, such as the ICA and the Robert Fraser Gallery. Described as the "most beautiful room in London," the Kasmin Gallery
succeeded in shaping a taste for contemporary art, with its narrow focus on a small group of artists—an essential component
of John Kasmin's ambition as the long list of letters of rejected artists suggests—and its succession of striking exhibitions,
which were primarily one-man shows.
In 1972, John Kasmin and Dufferin parted ways, marking the closing of the gallery space on New Bond Street with a festive
celebration at the Savoy. Dufferin pursued other interests, while Kasmin continued on as an art dealer, transferring the business
to a non-exhibiting premise on Clifford Street.
References: Tickner, Lisa, "The Kasmin Gallery,"
Oxford Art Journal, 30, 2, 2007, 233-268;
Letter by John Kasmin, 1963 August 16, Box 5, folder 1;
Kasmin's Sixties, Paul Kasmin Gallery, 2001.
Processing History
Opened for research with a preliminary online inventory by Kelly Nipper, 2002; in 2018, Karen Meyer-Roux completed the cataloging,
and processing, and wrote the descriptive notes.
Acquisition Information
Acquired in 2001.
Preferred Citation
Kasmin Limited records, 1960-1992 (bulk 1963-1972), The Getty Research Institute, Accession no. 2001.M.1.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2001m1
Publication Rights
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Related Material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Art dealers -- England -- London
Art -- Collectors and collecting
Ephemera
Stock books
Photographic prints
Art galleries, Commercial -- England -- London
Art, Modern -- 20th century
Art, Modern -- Collectors and collecting
Caro, Anthony, 1924-2013
Stella, Frank
Smith, Richard, 1931-2016
Olitski, Jules, 1922-2007
Poons, Larry
Louis, Morris, 1912-1962
Noland, Kenneth, 1924-2010
Kasmin, John, 1934-
Latham, John, 1921-2006
Kasmin Limited
Frankenthaler, Helen, 1928-2011
Hockney, David
Correspondence, Series I.
1961-1987
Physical Description:
10.84 Linear Feet
(26 Boxes)
Language of Material:
English.
Scope and Contents
The correspondence serves as the primary documentation of the relationships that John Kasmin, the central figure in these
letters, fostered with artists, collectors and critics, and in turn, sheds light on how Kasmin Limited operated. The letters
reveal John Kasmin's bohemian, impetuous and sometimes irreverent attitude, as well as his detailed attention to the practical
aspects of running the firm, and his focus on a small group of artists. The innovative financial arrangements between the
firm and the artists it representted are well documented in the correspondence.
The correspondence files maintained by Kasmin Limited are informal, characterized by overlapping chronological periods, large
gaps of letters in alphabetical sequences, and inconsistencies in the filings. With very few exceptions, the files—which are
compact, representing only 26 boxes—have been left physically untouched and in situ with adjacent material according to the
original order.
The documents contain numerous expected filing notations, such as "File DH" for a letter to be filed in a David Hockney folder
and there are indications that the gallery wanted to separate the core of the correspondence, which contains artist files
or correspondence related to artists, from other correspondence files, one group more loosely related to dealers and collectors,
and one consisting of operational files, often labeled as "miscellaneous" or "general." Correspondence with a specific dealer
or related to an artist may appear in all three categories.
Arrangement
Series I is arranged into three further subseries: Series I.A. Artist correspondence; Series I.B. Correspondence with collectors,
dealers, museums; Series I.C. General business correspondence.
Artist correspondence, Series I.A.
1961-1987
Physical Description:
4.17 Linear Feet
(10 Boxes)
Arrangement
Subseries I.A. Artist correspondence is arranged into three subseries: I.A.1. Artists, except Hockney; I.A.2. David Hockney
correspondence files; I.A.3. Artist contracts.
Scope and Contents
Subseries I.A. Artist correspondence documents the relationships that John Kasmin maintained with the artists he actively
supported. Exhibition planning, prices and working methods, installation instructions, financial arrangements, and artists'
relationships with other dealers are discussed.
Artists, except Hockney, Series I.A.1.
1962-1987
Physical Description:
2.502 Linear Feet
(6 Boxes)
Language of Material:
English.
Arrangement
Kasmin Limited arranged these correspondence files according to the following rough chronological periods that partially overlap:
1961-1964 (Box 14); 1963-1967 (Box 7); 1963-1970 (Box 1-2); 1964-1970 (Box 9); 1969-1977 (Box 11); 1972-1985 (Box 10). Within
each period, the firm arranged the files by alphabetical order of artist names, often with the use of alphabetical tabs. The
files are physically as filed by Kasmin Gallery staff, but they are described in this inventory by order of artist names.
The files under the tabs H were empty and the correspondence files for David Hockney, larger than for other artists in the
archive, appearedwere filed separately. The dates listed are approximate.
Scope and Contents
This subseries consists of correspondence about or with artists and includes letters received or sent by artists to other
dealers or collectors. Business matters discussed include exhibition planning, prices and working methods, and instructions
for the installation or alteration of works. Artists particularly well represented in this series include Edward Avedisian;
Gillian Ayres; Darby Walter Bannard; Stephen Buckley; Anthony Caro; Bernard Cohen; Robin Denny; Paul Feeley; Helen Frankenthaler;
John Latham; Morris Louis; Kenneth Noland; Jules Olitski; Richard Smith; and Frank Stella.
Avedisian, Edward,
1964-1969
Language of Material:
English.
Ayres, Gillian,
1966-1973
Language of Material:
English.
Bannard, Walter Darby,
1964-1970
Language of Material:
English.
box 10, folder 1-8
Buckley, Stephen,
1972-1985
Scope and Contents
Includes description by Buckley of his working methods.
Bury, Pol,
1966-1969
Language of Material:
English.
Caro, Anthony,
1963-1987
Language of Material:
English.
Scope and Contents
Business matters discussed include instructions for the installation, construction, painting and varnishing of sculptures,
and advice concerning alterations of works. The files comprise two poems written by Anthony Caro on the occasion of the closing
of the gallery at New Bond Street and in honor of the 40th birthday of John Kasmin. There is correspondence with other galleries,
including The Tate, Whitechapel, Émmerich, Fogg, related correspondence with Clement Greenberg, and letters from Caro's secretary
and lawyers. The files include price lists, records of financial arrangements, and invoices.
box 10, folder 13-19
Barford sculptures,
1970-1987
Cohen, Bernard,
1963-1968
Language of Material:
English.
Davis, Ronald,
1967-1973
Language of Material:
English.
Denny, Robin,
1963-1973
Language of Material:
English.
Feeley, Paul,
1964-1968
Language of Material:
English.
Frankenthaler, Helen,
1963-1973
Language of Material:
English.
box 11, folder 8
Goodnough, Robert,
1970-1974
box 11, folder 9
Hatcher, Brower,
1971-1972
box 2, folder 1
Indian miniatures,
1967-1968
Latham, John,
1962-1968
Language of Material:
English.
Louis, Morris,
1963-1968
Language of Material:
English.
box 14, folder 7
Newman, Barnett,
1963-1965
Noland, Kenneth,
1963-1972
Language of Material:
English.
Olitski, Jules,
1963-1977
Language of Material:
English.
Poons, Larry,
1967-1974
Language of Material:
English.
Price, Kenneth,
1967-1972
Language of Material:
English.
Smith, Richard,
1963-1977
Language of Material:
English.
Stella, Frank,
1963-1977
Language of Material:
English.
box 7, folder 7-8
Tippett, Bruce,
1963-1966
Tucker, William,
1963-1972
Language of Material:
English.
box 2, box 25
Miscellaneous
Scope and Contents
Box 2, folder 18; Box 25. Includes correspondence related to Clifford Still.
David Hockney, Series I.A.2.
1961-1977
Physical Description:
1.668 Linear Feet
(4 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The correspondence files with and about David Hockney relate to publications, exhibitions, collectors, and sales. Paul Hockney,
the brother and accountant of David Hockney, discusses with the Kasmin Gallery the sale of drawings, paintings, etchings,
lithographs, and books. There is correspondence concerning the publication of "Hockney by Hockney" (Thames and Hudson, 1976),
including letters from Henry Geldzahler who wrote the introduction, and the publication of "72 Drawings by David Hockney"
(Jonathan Cape, 1971). Files related to exhibitions include the presentation of Hockney's work at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs
in Paris in 1974. There is a typescript related to a trip to India undertaken by Hockney and Kasmin, as well as a typescript
by Christopher Isherwood from 1969 on drawings by
David Hockney.
Arrangement
Series I.A.2 is arranged into two groupings: General; Topical files.
box 24, folder 1
Typescript for travel notebook
box 23, folder 3-5
Overseas and U.K. exhibitions
Artist contracts, Series I.A.3.
1962-1975
Physical Description:
0.209 Linear Feet
(3 Folders)
Scope and Contents
The contracts detail the financial obligations of the Kasmin Gallery and artists, including payment schedules.
Arrangement
The folders labeled "Artist contracts" were filed as a distinct group of materials, separate from the other correspondence
files or from the financial records in Series VI. The folders appeared by alphabetical order of artist names, with a file
for Dufferin included. Letters regarding financial arrangements with artists also appear in Series I.A.1. For the contract
between John Kasmin and Kasmin Limited, see Box 25, Folder 1.
Correspondence with collectors, dealers, and museums, Series I.B.
1963-1970s
Physical Description:
5.004 Linear Feet
(12 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The correspondence files consist of letters to and from dealers, museums and galleries, including Harry Abrams; Arthur Cohen;
Robert B. Mayer; Lawrence and William Rubin; as well as the Arts Council of Great Britain; the British Council; Marlborough;
Tate; and Tooth; Waddington; Ziegler; Zwirner Waddington.
Arrangement
Series I.B. was arranged by rough chronological periods with some topical files.
box 5, folder 7-8
Supplicant artists to Kasmin Gallery,
1966
box 5, folder 9-15
American friends and collectors,
1963-1966
box 5, folder 9
Rubin, William,
1964-1965
box 5, folder 11
Mayer, Robert B.,
1964-1966
box 5, folder 12
Abrams, Harry N.,
1964-1965
box 5, folder 13-15
all others,
1963-1965
Scope and Contents
The file labeled "all others" lists the following: John Bronaugh, Suzie Crile, Alice Denney, Tom Doyle, Donald Factor, Harold
D. Field, Bob Fusillo, Lord Gowrie, Joseph Hirshhorn, Bunny McPeck, Frank H. Porter, Watson Powell, Ractor, Robert A. Rowan,
Rusillo.
box 17, folder 1
British dealers to December 1964
box 17, folder 2-8
Foreign dealers: US, Australia, and Europe
box 17, folder 2
Switzerland and Australia
box 17, folder 9-16
Pictures on loan to museums and galleries
box 17, folder 17
Photo reproduction requests
box 17, folder 18
Artist inquiries and rejections
box 15, folder 8
Abbot Hall Art Gallery
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 8
Galerie Ad Libitum, Anvers
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 9
Charles Alan esq. (Landau-Alan Gallery, New York)
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 12
American Art Gallery, Denmark, Copenhagen
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 8
The Arcade Gallery, London
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 12
Galerie Arditti
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 10
Galleria dell'Ariete
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 11
The Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 12
Ars Studio, Denmark
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 12
Art Exhibitions Bureau, London
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 7
Arts Council of Great Britain
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 12
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Language of Material:
English.
box 15, folder 12
Associated American Artists
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 1
Baden Baden Staatliche Kunsthalle
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 1
Basel Kunsthalle
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 1
Bear Lane Gallery Limited
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 1
Bedford. The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 2
Bern Kunsthalle
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 2
Galerie Claude Bernard, Paris
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 2
Galerie Beyeler, Basel
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 2
Galerie Bischofsberger, Zürich
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 3
G. Blair Laing
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 3
Bolton Museum and Art Gallery
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 3
Galerie Bonnier, Paris
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 3
Bradford City Art Gallery and Museum
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 1
British Council
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 4
C
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 4
Leo Castelli
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 4
Cavallino
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 4
Cleveland Museum of Art
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 4
Clune (Fr. McDonald)
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 5
D
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 5
Darmstadt Art Gallery
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 5
Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 5
Düsseldorf
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 6
E
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 6
Elkon
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 6
Everett Ellin
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 6
Ellsworth and Goldie
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 6
André Emmerich
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 6
Galerie Europe
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 6
Exeter University
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 7
F
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 8
G
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 9
H
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 10
I-J
Language of Material:
English.
box 16, folder 11
K
Language of Material:
English.
box 24, folder 3-4
Rubin, Lawrence
Language of Material:
English.
Scope and Contents
The files date from 1964 to 1968.
box 18, folder 6
Elkon
Scope and Contents
Documents date from 1963 to 1967.
box 18, folder 8
G
Scope and Contents
Documents under G date from 1963 to 1967.
box 19, folder 9
Wasserman-Wurttembergischer
box 6, folder 1
Bear Lane Gallery Limited - Galerie Bischofsberger, Zürich
box 6, folder 6
Dallas Theater Center - Darmstadt Kunstverein
box 4, folder 1
Akademie der Künste, Berlin
box 4, folder 6
Krakow, Barbara (Harcus Krakow Gallery)
box 4, folder 7
Landau, Felix (Felix Landau Gallery)
box 4, folder 8
Marlborough-Gerson Gallery Inc. (Thomas H. Gibson)
box 4, folder 8
Mayer, Françoise (Galerie Françoise Mayer, Bruxelles)
box 4, folder 9
Mostra Mercato d'arte contemporanea
box 4, folder 10
Nordness, Lee (Lee Nordness Galleries Inc., New York)
box 4, folder 11
Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc.
box 4, folder 11
Philadelphia. The University of Pennsylvania. The Institute of Contemporary Art
box 4, folder 13
Sonnabend, Ileana (Galerie Ileana Sonnabend)
box 4, folder 13
Sydney (The University of Sydney)
box 4, folder 15
The Western Australian Art Gallery
box 4, folder 15
Wilder Gallery, Los Angeles
box 4, folder 16
Zwirner, Renée (Galerie Renée Zwirner)
box 4, folder 16
Zwirner, Rudolf (Galerie Rudolf Zwirner)
box 12, folder 4
Mirvish (David Mirvish Gallery, Toronto)
box 12, folder 5-6
Commercial art dealers,
1970s
box 13, folder 9-11
European and US museums and galleries
General business correspondence, Series I.C.
1968-1974
Physical Description:
1.668 Linear Feet
(4 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The files in Series I.C. contain letters more specifically related to the daily operation of the gallery, and were often labeled
by Kasmin Gallery staff as "General correspondence" or "Miscellaneous."
Arrangement
The files were arranged by rough chronological order and by alphabetical order for each period. Further general business correspondence,
such as correspondence related to insurance, appears in Series I.B.
box 3
1968
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence with Aeromet Limited, Christie, Manson & Woods, Conran Design Group, Vidal Sassoon Limited, Thames
and Hudson Limited, transportation services (Rogers; Santini).
Visitor books, Series II.
1963-1966
Physical Description:
0.417 Linear Feet
(1 Box)
Scope and Contents
The visitor books, of which the archive contains four volumes, document visits to the gallery from 1963 to February 1966.
It appears that Kasmin Limited did not maintain or preserve visitor books for the years 1967-1972.
Included among the visitors are, apart from the artists exhibited at the gallery: Mario Amaya, Mark Amory, Michael Ayrton,
Gene Baro, Adrian Berg, Peter Blake, Derek Boshier, John Byrne (Jesus, Cambridge), José Luis Castillejo, Ossie Clark, Xavier
Corbero, Emily Custard, Alberto de Lacerda, Pauline Fordham, Robert Fraser, Terry Frost, Reg Gadney, Henry Geldzahler, Duncan
Grant, Clement Greenberg, Peggy Guggenheim, Otto Hahn, Desmond Harmsworth, Nicky Haslam, Patrick Heron, Laura and Kenneth
Hockney, Jeremy Irons, Allen Jones, Ida Kar, Andrew Lanyon, Philip Laski, Edward Lucie-Smith, Norbert Lynton, Mo McDermott,
Sheena McKay, Tony Mackintosh, David Medalla, George Melly, E.L.T. Mesens, Gustav Metzger, Edwin Morgan, Robert Motherwell,
Henry Moore, Rollo Myers, Winifred Nicholson, David Niven, Roland Penrose, Patrick Procktor, Francis Pym, John Richardson,
Bridget Riley, Paul Roche, Colin St. John Wilson, Adrian Stokes, William Scott, David Sylvester, Keith Vaughan, Michael Wishart.
Arrangement
The arrangement is by chronological order.
Diaries and travel notebook, Series III.
1962-1985
Physical Description:
2.29 Linear Feet
(6 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The diaries are agendas that list on a daily basis the things to do or appointments related to the operation of the gallery.
In this series are also included John Kasmin's notebook regarding his trip to India with David Hockney and a 1966 documentary
on the gallery.
Arrangement
Arrangement is by type of material.
box 101, folder 1
Travel notebook,
1977, 1985
Travel notebook
Scope and Contents
Included are photographs of the trip, Box 101, Folder 2.
box 135, item V1
[Kasmin],
1966
[Kasmin] (digital version available on-site only)
Scrapbooks, Series IV.
1961-1984
Physical Description:
6.59 Linear Feet
(12 Boxes)
Language of Material:
English.
Scope and Contents
The scrapbooks, the bulk of which are dedicated to specific artists represented by Kasmin Limited, cover the entire period
of activity of the gallery.
Arrangement
Arranged into two subseries: IV.A. General; IV.B. Artists.
General, Series IV.A.
1960-1981
Physical Description:
3.25 Linear Feet
(4 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the scrapbooks were labeled under the names of artists supported by Kasmin Limited. Three untitled scrapbooks
and loose clippings cover the activities of the gallery more generally and have notes indicating the periods covered in them,
whether early or late.
Arrangement
The arrangement is by rough chronological order.
box 32
Scrapbook,
1968-1972
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 32
Scrapbook,
1966-1978
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 32
Scrapbook,
1978-1981
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 33, box 34
Loose press cuttings,
1960-1972
box 143*, folder 2-5
Newspapers,
1960-1970s
Scope and Contents
Included are issues from
The Sunday Review and
The Times Literary Supplement (TLS).
Artists, Series IV.B.
1961-1985
Physical Description:
3.34 Linear Feet
(8 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The files for specific artists comprise loose press cuttings or clippings and scrapbooks labeled under the artist name. There
are numerous scrapbooks dedicated to artists supported by Kasmin Limited, such as Ron Davis, Robyn Denny, David Evison, Helen
Frankenthaler, Robert Goodnough, and Jules Olitski. The files for Anthony Caro and Richard Smith contain several scrapbooks,
while the file for David Hockney contains scrapbooks dedicated to specific years.
The scrapbooks have the following approximate dates: Bannard, Walter Darby (1964-1972); Caro, Anthony (1961-1978); Cohen,
Bernard (1963-1973); Davis, Ron (1965-1972); Denny, Robyn (1964-1971); Evison, Davis (1970); Frankenthaler, Helen (1964-1985);
Goodnough, Robert (1970); Hill, Anthony (1966-1969); Hockney, David (1962-1977); Hodgkin, Howard (1972-1981); Indian miniatures
(1968-1970); Louis, Morris (1963-1972); Noland, Kenneth (1963-1972); Olitski, Jules (1963-1977); Poons, Larry (1964-1971);
Price, Kenneth (1964-1970); Scott, Tim (1973-1979); Smith, Richard (1962-1984); Stella, Frank (1964-1985); Tucker, William
(1965-1975).
Gallery invitations and mailing lists, Series V.
1963-1977
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear Feet
(3 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
Series V comprises the mailing lists maintained by Kasmin Limited as well as a nearly-complete full sequence of the invitation
cards to the openings of the exhibitions held at the gallery at 118 New Bond Street in London from the opening show dedicated
to the paintings of Kenneth Noland in April 1963 through 1972.
box 112
Mailing List: Great Britain, US, International
box 113
Mailing List: Europe--Specials, Dealers, Press, Institutions
Financial records, Series VI.
1961-1992
Physical Description:
12.5 Linear Feet
(30 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The financial records consist of a set of stock books from the first purchases in 1961 through the closing of the gallery,
with ledgers documenting the activities of John Kasmin as an art dealer after 1972. There are also invoices, receipts, and
bank statements.
Arrangement
Arranged into two subseries: Series VI.A. Stockbooks; Series VI.B. Other financial records.
Stock books, Series VI.A.
1961-1978
Physical Description:
8.75 Linear Feet
(21 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The stock books consist of a main set, numbered 1 to 12, and two dedicated each to an artist, Bernard Cohen and Richard Smith.
In addition, there are binders that document the activities of John Kasmin as an art dealer after 1972.
Arrangement
The arrangement is by chronological and topical order.
box 43
Stock book 1: 100-629,
1961 October-1964 October
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 44
Stock book 2: 630-1068,
1964 October-1966 January
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 45
Stock book 3: 1072-1153
1966 January-1966 February
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 46
Stock book 4: 1154-1753
1966 March-1967 March
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 47
Stock book 5: 1754-2324,
1967 June-1968 June
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 48
Stock book 6: 2325-2770,
1968-1969
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 49
Stock book 7: 2778-3882A
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 50
Stock book 8: 3883-4343
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 51
Stock book 9: 100-2065,
Physical Description:
1 volume
Scope and Contents
Transferred stock.
box 52
Stock book 10: 2074-2770
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 53
Stock book 11: 2771-3347
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 54
Stock book 12: 3348-3882
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 55
Binder A: 148-2560,
circa 1979-1992
box 56
Binder B: 2561-4075,
circa 1979-1992
box 57
Binder C: 4076-4992,
circa 1979-1992
box 58
Binder D: 4993-5589,
circa 1979-1992
box 59
Binder E: 5590-6190,
circa 1979-1992
box 60
Binder F: 6191-6553,
circa 1979-1992
box 61
Stock book X: 4344-5169,
March 1979
Scope and Contents
"Rewritten March 1979"--on cover.
box 62
Stock book Y: 5170-5651,
March 1979
box 102, folder 1
Stock book: Bernard Cohen, C1-C99, C01-C0254,
circa 1962-1967
Physical Description:
1 volume
box 102, folder 2
Stock book: Richard Smith: S1-S111,
circa 1963-1967
Physical Description:
1 volume
Other financial records, Series VI.B.
1961-1992
Physical Description:
3.75 Linear Feet
(9 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The financial records also include invoices, receipts, and bank statements that cover the entire period of activity of Kasmin
Limited from 1961 and beyond the closing of the gallery at New Bond Street in 1972.
Arrangement
Arranged into two groupings: Sales records; Purchase records.
Sales records,
1961-1992
Scope and Contents
The sales records consist of invoices, receipts and bank statements. These are are arranged by rough chronological periods
that partially overlap and for within each period by alphabetical order of clients. The dates given are approximate.
Purchase records,
1961-1978
Scope and Contents
The purchase records consist of bank statements, invoices and receipts from artists, collectors and banks regarding purchases
of artworks made by Kasmin Limited. The records are organized by rough chonological periods that partially overlap. Within
each period, the files are arranged by alphabetical order of vendors. The dates given are approximate.
Printed matter, Series VII.
1960-1978
Physical Description:
7.08 Linear Feet
(17 Boxes, 1 Flat file folder)
Arrangement
Series VII. Printed matter is arranged in four groupings:
Artists, except Hockney; David Hockney; Miscellaneous; Posters. Note: The numbering of Box 63-79 was changed in 2017, with
the physical content of the boxes reflected in the arrangement by artist. Included are loose documents and some correspondence
with the catalogs.
Scope and Contents
This group of materials consists of exhibition catalogs, invitations, prospectuses, brochures, posters, announcements and
other ephemera related to artists handled by Knoedler Limited. The exhibition catalogs and ephemera document exhibitions
held by Kasmin Limited and by other galleries, providing world-wide surveys. Each artist file typically includes printed material
related to one-man shows and to group shows, with numerous annotated items.
David Hockney
Scope and Contents
Kasmin Limited had primarily organized the printed matter by artist. Regarding the printed materials related to David Hockney,
Kasmin Limited had attempted to distinguish exhibitions held in England from those held outside of England.
box 69, box 70
One-man shows
Scope and Contents
The files provide a survey of exhibitions dedicated to David Hockney from 1962 to 1977.
Group shows
Scope and Contents
The files provide an extensive survey of group shows in which the work of David Hockney was featured during the years 1961-1978.
box 79, box 143*
Miscellaneous
Scope and Contents
Includes catalog publications for group shows and other printed matter, for which the filing was not indicated clearly in
the annotations by Kasmin Limited staff. Featured is the boxed edition of the exhibition catalogue Vormen Van de Kleur / New
Shapes of Color (1966) (bx.143*,f.1), in which the work of Josef Albers, Robert Denny, Ellsworth Kelly, Barnett Newman,
Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Richard Smith, and Frank Stella was featured.
flatfile 1**
Posters
Scope and Contents
The posters document exhibitions dedicated to the work of the following artists: Buckley, Stephen; Caro, Anthony; Frankenthaler,
Helen; Noland, Kenneth; Olitski, Jules; Smith, Richard.
Photographs, Series VIII.
1961-1977
Physical Description:
21.27 Linear Feet
(51 Boxes)
Arrangement
Series VIII. Photographs is arranged into three subseries: Series VIII.A. Exhibitions; VIII.B. Portraits; VIII.C. Artists.
The rehousing in 2017 in archival folders of photographs in Box 114-134 has resulted in some shift of content to Box 114-142.
Scope and Contents
The main portion of this series consists of artist files documenting the artists represented by Kasmin Limited, with extensive
documentation on the work of David Hockney. Separate files of photographs of a more informal nature document exhibitions held
at 118 New Bond Street and associates of Kasmin Limited.
Photographers include: A. C. Cooper Ltd., Nicholas Elder, John Goldblatt, Wallace Heaton Ltd, J. S. Lewinski F.R.P.S., Roland
Scherman, Julian Wasser and Cuming Wright Watson Associates Ltd.
Exhibitions, Series VIII.A.
1963-1975
Physical Description:
0.834 Linear Feet
(2 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The photographs are installation shots of exhibitions organized at the Kasmin Gallery, including the opening show
Kenneth Noland: Paintings 1959-1962, held in 1963. Candid shots include those showing Kasmin's children at the reception desk during another exhibition dedicated
to works by Kenneth Noland in 1968. There are several views of exhibitions held at other galleries, such as two exhibitions
of David Hockney's works at the gallery of André Emmerich in New York. Installation shots of the 1968 exhibition
David Hockney: A Splash, a Lawn, Two Rooms, Two Stains, Some Neat Cushions And a Table ... Painted, show John Kasmin with his son, along with David Hockney and Hockney's parents. Further installation shots appear under files
of specific artists in Series VIII.C. Artists.
box 80, box 81
Kenneth Noland: Paintings 1959-62,
1963
box 80
Morris Louis: Paintings 1960-1962,
1963
box 81
Bernard Cohen: Recent Paintings,
1963
box 80
Friedel Dzubas: Paintings,
1964
box 80
Albert Stadler: Recent Paintings,
1964
box 80
Jules Olitski: New Paintings,
1964
box 80
Helen Frankenthaler,
1964
box 80
Frank Stella: Recent Paintings,
1964
box 80
Paul Feeley: Recent Paintings,
1964
box 80
Bernard Cohen: Drawings 1961-4,
1964
box 80, box 81
Edward Avedisian: Recent Paintings,
1965
box 80, box 81
David Hockney: Pictures with Frames and Still Life Pictures,
1965
box 80
Pol Bury: Moving Sculptures and Cinetizations,
1967
box 80
Fred Bazler, Roland Brener, Jennifer Durrant, Tom Edmonds, Noel Forster, Roelof Louw, Peter Schlesinger,
[ca. 1967]
box 80
David Hockney: A Splash, a Lawn, Two Rooms, Two Stains, Some Neat Cushions And a Table ... Painted,
1968
box 80
Kenneth Noland: Paintings, Spring 1968,
1968
box 80
Jules Olitski: Recent Paintings,
1968
box 80
Frank Stella: New Paintings,
1968
box 81
"Artists from the Kasmin Gallery," Arts Council Gallery, Belfast,
1969
box 81
Anthony Caro, Arts Council, Hayward Gallery,
1969
box 80
Richard Smith: New Paintings,
1969
box 81
David Hockney, André Emmerich, New York,
1969
box 81
Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, David Hockney,
ca. 1970
box 81
Larry Poons: New Paintings,
1971?
box 81
David Hockney: Print Exhibition, André Emmerich, New York,
1973
box 81
Basel Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland,
1975
Portraits, Series VIII.B.
1963-1973
Physical Description:
0.04 Linear Feet
(2 Folders)
Scope and Contents
Among the files of photographs of exhibitions were interspersed portraits, including those of John Kasmin and David Hockney.
In addition, several folders were focused on portraits of artists, collectors and associates, such as Clement Greenberg and
Betty Freeman.
box 81, folder 7
Dufferin, Sheridan (Sheridan, Marquess of Dufferin and Ava)
Artists, Series VIII.C.
1961-1977
Physical Description:
20.433 Linear Feet
(49 Boxes)
Scope and Contents
The main portion of the photographs in the records of Kasmin Limited consists of artist files documenting the work supported
and exhibited by Kasmin Limited, with
extensive documentation on the work of David Hockney.
Arrangement
Series VIII.C. Artists is arranged into two groupings: Artists, except Hockney; David Hockney. The files related to David
Hockney were further subdivided by medium (i.e. paintings, drawings, prints) and by chronological order within each medium.
box 85
Documentation of 1961 sales
box 83, box 86, box 90, box 91
box 84, box 86, box 95, box 97
box 120, box 121, box 122
General
Scope and Contents
Transparencies of drawings for the years 1961-1977.
box 142
Miscellaneous
Scope and Contents
Comprises slides of paintings.
Architectural documentation, Series IX.
1963-1973
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
(2 folders, 2 Flat File Folders)
Scope and Contents
The series comprisesd of photographs of the interior of 118 New Bond Street taken in 1963 and of plans dating from the later
years of activity of Kasmin Limited that document work that the British architect and designer John Prizeman (1930-1992) and
the British architectural practice Ahrends, Burton and Koralek performed for Kasmin Limited.
Arrangement
The arrangement is by chronological order.
box 81, folder 10
Architectural photographs of 118 New Bond Street,
1963
Architectural plans,
1970-1973
box 143*, folder 6
John Prizeman,
9th January 1970
Scope and Contents
Alterations to Kasmin Gallery, 118 Bond Street: Top Offices, General Drawings
flatfile 2**, flatfile 3**
Ahrends, Burton and Koralek,
1973, undated
Scope and Contents
Ahrends, Burton and Koralek (now ABK Architects) was founded in 1961 by Peter Ahrends (1933-), Richard Burton (1933-2017),
and Paul Koralek (1933-) after they won first prize in a competition to produce a design for the Berkeley Library at Trinity
College, Dublin in 1960. ABK was initially established in London in 1961.