Records of the Richmond Artists Association (SC-09)
Scope and Contents
The collection’s inclusive dates are 1955-2005, with the bulk of the material dating from 1955-1994. The collection is comprised of exhibition catalogs, correspondence, membership lists, president and officer files, meeting minutes, committee files, newsletters, and other ephemeral material.
Dates
- 1955-2005
Creator
- Richmond Artists Association (Organization)
- Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.
Historical Note
Looking for ways to display their artworks and introduce Richmond to contemporary fine art, a group of full time art instructors and other professional artists from the Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Arts) started the area’s very first art organization. The Richmond Artists Association began in 1955 with artist/lawyer, Westwood Winfree, as its first president and Theresa Pollock as one of its founding members. The Richmond Artists Association has been a leader in encouraging and showcasing all types of art throughout the community. In the fall of 2005, members of the Richmond Artists Association and the Metropolitan Artists Association met and decided to join together to form the Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association.
Source: Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association
Extent
5 Linear Feet (4 boxes; 161 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection documents the history of the Richmond Artists Association (RAA), from its founding in 1955 by artist Westwood Winfree, to 2005 when the group joined with another Richmond art organization to form the Metropolitan Richmond Artists Association. The material highlights RAA’s growth and achievements over five decades, including early annual exhibitions at the Carillon and Miller and Rhoads, as well as numerous other exhibitions. Meeting minutes, officer files, and membership materials detail RAA’s administration over the years, while the newsletters provide an overview of all RAA activities. Several files highlight the RAA’s relationship with other arts organizations, especially the Federated Arts Council of Richmond.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into two series, and items are arranged chronologically within each series. Items with no date are placed at the end of a series.
- Series 1
- General Files, 1955-2005, undated
- Series 2
- Newsletters, 1971-2002
Custodial History
The collection was donated by Irene Jessee Perry, past President of Richmond Artists Association in August 2005. The blue notebook belonging to Sara D. (Mrs. Israel) November was donated by Neil November in November 2011.
Related Materials - VMFA Library
- Subject File: Organizations and Foundations: Virginia: Private: Richmond Artists Association
Related Materials - Library of Virginia
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director’s Correspondence, 1936-1976 (Coll. No. 33863)
Processing Information
The collection was arranged chronologically and newsletters that were scattered throughout the collection were brought together in one series. When provided, original folder titles were kept.
- Art, American -- Virginia -- 20th century Subject Source: Local sources
- Artists -- Virginia Subject Source: Local sources
- Arts Council of Richmond
- Federated Arts Council of Richmond
- Richmond (Va.) Subject Source: Unspecified ingested source
- Title
- Finding Aids to Special Collections in the VMFA Archives | Records of the Richmond Artists Association
- Subtitle
- Special Collection 09 (SC-09)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Courtney Yevich Tkacz, VMFA Archivist
- Date
- 2009
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Archives Repository
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library
200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond VA 23220-4007 United States
804-340-1495
library@vmfa.museum
