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The institutional archives of The Art Institute of Chicago were generated
by the institution's collecting, exhibiting and teaching activities. The
open-ended character of the archival series determined the organization
of the institutional archives, which mirrors the current organizational
structure of the corporation. Four different records groups are identified:
- Museum Records
- School Records
- Affiliated Organizations
- Personal Papers
Records Group 1: Museum Records
Curatorial records:
Contains primarily exhibition records and office files of curatorial
departments. Exhibition files are organized according to the originating
department, and include research files, loan correspondence, installation
and fundraising documentation, catalogue preparation files, press coverage
and follow-up material. Of particular interest are files from the Annual
Exhibition of American Painting and Sculpture, 1888+ ; the Annual
Exhibition of the Artists of Chicago and Vicinity, 1897+ ; and the
Annual Exhibition of Applied Arts, 1902-1923.
Series:
- African and Amerindian Art. (1957+)
- American Arts (before 1900). (1975+)
- Architecture (1981+)
- Asian Art (1922+)
- European Decorative Arts & Sculpture and Classical Arts. (1914+)
- Harding Collection of Arms and Armor
- Thorne Miniature Rooms
- European Painting (before 1900). (1926+)
- Photography. (1956+)
- Prints & Drawings. (1910+)
- Textiles. (1961)
- Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture. (1953+)
- Katharine Kuh Papers. (1953-1957)
- A. James Speyer Papers. (1961-1986)
- Artists Biographical Data Sheets. (1948-1965)
Office of the Director:
Office files of the directors, containing correspondence with artists,
collectors, dealers, scholars, other museums, trustees, staff, etc. Until
1958 the director served as chief curator as well as top administrator.
During several periods in the institution's history, the directorial responsibilities
were divided.
Sreies:
- French, W. M. R. (1885-1914) (microfilm
access only)
- Carpenter, Newton (1914-1916)
- Eggers, George (1918-1921)
- Harshe, Robert (1921-1938)
- Rich, Daniel Catton (1938-1958)
- McNab, Allen (1956-1965)
- Maxon, John (1958-1965)
- Cunningham, Charles(1965-1972)
- Chalmers, E. Laurence (1972-1986)
- Wood, James N. (1980-2004)
- Cuno, James (2004-current)
Libraries and Archives:
Records of the Ryerson Library (1901-1957), the Burnham Library of
Architecture (1912-1957), and the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries (1957+).
The two libraries were merged administratively in 1957, but were not integrated
physically until 1967. The records consist primarily of annual reports
of the librarians, documentation on major library acquisitions, special
projects such as oral histories and microfilming of architectural drawings,
and the building history of the libraries.
Museum Education:
First established as the Department of Museum Instruction in 1913,
the name changed in 1934 to the Department of Museum Education. Prior to
1913, museum guides were available, and on occasion this service was referred
to as the Museum Guidance Department, never officially established, and
with no permanent staff member assigned to this: senior museum staff members
and volunteers performed this service.
- Gallery of Art Interpretation, 1926-1954
- Garfield Park Art Gallery, 1935-1937
- Junior Museum, 1963+
Museum Registration:
Records of transactions involving museum collections: Accessions, deaccessions,
loans, insurance information, shipping arrangements, condition reports,
etc. The majority of the records consists of shipping orders and receipts
of object. Access restrictions apply.
Interesting for researchers is the Collection Records
series: files arranged by donor or collection name, including correspondence,
lists, appraisals, biographical data, etc.
Public Affairs:
Press releases, news clippings, audio-visual press coverage and other
publicity about Art Institute exhibitions and events.
Series:
- Press releases
- Press coverage (microfilm access only)
- Audio-Visual material
- Office files
Corporate Records (Office of the Secretary):
Essential archival records of the corporation, documenting the founding
of museum and school, changes in its corporate structure and policies,
and history of gifts, estates and bequests to the institution.
Series:
- Records of gifts, bequests and estates (access restricted)
- Charter and by-laws
- Minutes of the Board of Trustees and its committees, 1879-1991
- Annual reports, 1880-1997
Historic photographs:
Photographs of exhibition installations, buildings occupied by the
museum and school, special events, school classes, artists and administrators.
Records Group 2: School Records
- Dean's Office
- Former faculty files, 1880-1987
- SAIC Student Publications
- Circular of Instruction, 1879+
- Alumni Associations
- Ox-bow Summer School
Note: The Archives Department is not the repository for student records.
All inquiries regarding confirmation of enrollment, courses taken, credits
received, as well as requests for transcripts must be directed to the Department
of Registration Records of The School of the Art Institute, 37 South Wabash
Avenue, Chicago, IL 60606-3107, Tel.(312)899-5117.
Records Group 3: Affiliated Organizations
Series:
- Society of Decorative Art, 1877-1894
- Antiquarians of the Art Institute, 1894-1908
- Antiquarian Society, 1908+
- Architecture Society, 1983+
- Friends of American Art, 1910-1945
- Friends of the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, 1984+
- Society for Contemporary American Art, 1940-1967
- Society for Contemporary Art, 1967+
- Woman's Board, 1952+
- Art Rental and Sales Gallery, 1954-1980
- Goodman Theatre:
The Goodman Theatre and the Goodman School
of Drama was part of the School of the Art Institute from its founding
in 1925 until 1978, when the school became a part of DePaul University;
it was called the DePaul/Goodman School of Drama until 1985, when the name
was changed to The Theatre School, DePaul University.
The Goodman records in the Art Institute archives consist of printed matter
from between 1925 and 1948, primarily programs of performances, including
those of the Children's Theatre and Goodman School of Drama students, and
miscellaneous related items such as sample tickets and broadsides; calendars;
publicity, and subscription information.
Records Group 4: Personal PapersThese records are from outside sources. They relate in some way to the
history of The Art Institute of Chicago, to individuals closely associated
with the institution, or the collections.
Similar materials with no AIC association have been transferred to the
Ryerson and Burnham Archives of the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries.
- Bartlett, Frederick Clay (1873-1953)(artist, teacher, donor, trustee)
- Blake, Margaret Day (donor, trustee, founder of Woman's Board)
- Chassaing, Edgar and Olga (artists, teachers)
- Gardner, Helen (1878-1946)(teacher)
- Halstead, Whitney (1926-1978)(teacher, biographer of Joseph Yoakum, 1886-1972)
- Harding, George (1868-1939)(collector, founder of Harding Museum)
- Schniewind, Carl (1900-1957) (curator)
- Taft, Lorado (1860-1936)(artist, teacher)
- Tyler, Alice Kellogg (1866-1900)(teacher)
- Ufer, Walter (1876-1936)(artist)
- Wade, Caroline (1857-1943)(artist, teacher)
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