Finding Aid for the East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files, 

1971–1982

Summary Information

Repository National Gallery of Art Archives

Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20565 

archives@nga.gov

Title East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files 

Identifier NGA.011.C 

Creator National Gallery of Art Planning Office

Date 1971–1982

Extent 4 cubic feet (8 boxes); approximately 120 digital files

Abstract This series documents the activities of the Planning Office for the planning, 

selection, and installation of commissioned works of art and other specially 

selected works of art for the East Building. 

Historical Note

The Planning Office was established in 1969 to manage the planning and coordination of the East 

Building designed by I.M. Pei & Partners. The office served as the primary liaison between the

National Gallery and the architect, contractors, artists, review agencies, and other associated 

individuals and entities. It also oversaw the partial renovations of the West Building in relation to 

the construction of the East Building and later building projects;the space planning and 

programming for the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (CASVA); and activities 

relating to exhibitions and other public programs forthe new building. David W. Scott directed 

the office from 1969 until his retirement in 1984. The Planning Office later became the Office of 

Planning and Construction after Scott’s tenure.

Scope and Content

The series contains the records of the Planning Office from 1971 to 1981, documenting the 

planning, selection, and installation of commissioned works of art and other specially selected 

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works of art for the East Building designed by architect I.M. Pei. David W. Scott, planning

consultant forthe East Building and head of the Planning Office, coordinated the selection 

process.

The records include correspondence with artists, donors, architects, and contractors;

photographs; material samples; architectural drawings and sketches; specifications,technical

notes; and related documentary materials. Of special interest are original sketches and letters

from artists, such as Alexander Calder, Joan Miro, and Anthony Caro. 

Materials (except for material samples) have been digitized and PDFs are available to 

researchers. Oversize architectural drawings have been physically separated. 

Arrangement 

Materials are arranged alphabetically by artist. 

Administrative Information 

Conditions Governing Access This collection is open for research by appointment under 

the conditions of the National Gallery of Art Archives 

Access Policy. For all inquiries or to schedule an 

appointment, please contact archives@nga.gov.

Preferred Citation National Gallery of Art Archives. Building Planning and 

Construction Records - Planning Office - East Building 

Commissioned Works of Art Files. 

Rights Status In copyright

Rights Holder National Gallery of Art

Language English

Processing Information Arranged and described by archives staff in 1996.

Related Archival Materials National Gallery of Art Archives.

Director’s Office Records - J. Carter Brown Subject 

Files. 

General Events Images. 

Oral History Interviews.

Updated October 2023 National Gallery of Art Archives 2 of 11
Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissions Files, 1971–1982

Box 1

67311 Arp, Jean - Oriforme sculpture - correspondence, 1973-1974

Arp, Jean - Oriforme sculpture - correspondence, 1975–1979

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67312

Arp, Jean - Oriforme sculpture - object labels, sample of steel, and exhibition (Geldzhler)

catalogue, undated

Includes material sample.

67314

67315 Arp, Jean - Oriforme sculpture - photographs and slides

Arp, Jean - Oriforme sculpture - plans and drawings

Oversize architectural drawing stored separately.

67313

67300 Arp, Jean - tapestry - correspondence, 1973

67301 Arp, Jean - tapestry - correspondence, January–June 1974

Arp, Jean - tapestry - correspondence, July–December 1974

Includes material samples.

135269

67302 Arp, Jean - tapestry - correspondence, 1975-1976

67303 Arp, Jean - tapestry - correspondence, 1976–1980

67305 Arp, Jean - tapestry - layout for sample (Bolduc) and drawings for the tapestry

67304 Arp, Jean - tapestry - newspaper clippings and articles, 1967–1971

67308 Arp, Jean - tapestry - photographs, 1974–1976

Arp, Jean - tapestry - photographs of Aubette installation in Strasbourg, 1926–1928 (includes

artist Theo van Doesburg)

67307

Arp, Jean - tapestry - samples of yarn (folder 1 of 2)

Material samples only. Not digitized.

67309

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Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissions Files, 1971–1982

Arp, Jean - tapestry - samples of yarn (folder 2 of 2)

Material samples only. Not digitized.

67310

Box 2

67316 Bertoia, Harry - sculpture - correspondence, January–August 1979

67317 Bertoia, Harry - sculpture - photographs of sculpture lent to NGA

67408 Calder, Alexander - Obus Stabile - correspondence and photographs, 1972–1978

67409 Calder, Alexander - Obus Stabile - drawings and diagrams

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, 1971-1972

Includes one original signed handwritten letter from Alexander Calder.

67318

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, 1973

Includes one original signed handwritten letter from Alexander Calder.

67319

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, January–June 1974

Includes three original signed handwritten letters from Alexander Calder.

67320

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, July–December 1974

Includes one original signed handwritten letter and two hand-drawn sketches from Alexander Calder.

67321

67322 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, January–June 1975

67323 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, July–December 1975

67324 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, 1976

67325 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, 1977

67326 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, 1978-1979

67327 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence, 1980

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Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files, 1971–1982

Box 3

67329 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - first design and parts list, 30 April 1975

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - Kalliroscope Corporation - assembly and raising

procedures for Calder mobile at NGA, circa 1977

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67331

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - literature and exhibition catalog on Calder and his works

of art

67332

67328 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - Paul Matisse's design for Calder's mobile

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs (black and white prints) - Calder, J. Carter

Brown and I.M. Pei in Calder's studio, Saché, France

67338

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs (negatives) - Calder, J. Carter Brown and

I.M. Pei in Calder's studio, Saché, France

135281

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs (color prints) - Calder, J. Carter Brown and

I.M. Pei in Calder's studio, Saché, France

135282

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs - Calder, J. Carter Brown, Paul Matisse with

maquette for NGA Calder mobile

67339

67340 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs - fabrication of NGA Calder mobile

67336 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs - maquette for NGA mobile

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs - NGA East Building model with miniature of

Calder mobile

67337

67341 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs - other works by the artist

67333 Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - script for mobile conception and fabrication

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - photographs of sketch made by Calder at Saché, France,

3 July 1974

Original sketch is located in (Folder ID 67321) Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - correspondence,

July–December 1974 .

67334

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Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files, 1971–1982

Calder, Alexander - Untitled mobile - studies, statistics, diagrams, and drawings

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67335

Caro, Anthony - National Gallery Ledge Piece - correspondence, 1977–1979

Includes one typed and signed letter from Anthony Caro.

67342

67344 Chagall, Marc - curtains and mosaic - correspondence, 1971–1976

67343 Chagall, Marc - curtains and mosaic - installation plan

67345 Chillida, Eduardo - possible sculpture - correspondence, 1972-1973

67346 Crovello, William - possible sculpture - correspondence, 1971–1974

67347 Crovello, William - possible sculpture - photographs

Davis, Gene - remodeling NGA east lobby for bicentennial - Satan's Flag - mock-ups and

photographs, 1974

67348

67349 de Kooning, Willem - Curtain - correspondence, 1972-1973

Box 4

67350 Demuth, Charles - correspondence, 1974-1975

Dubuffet, Jean - drawings of maquette

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67351

67352 Dubuffet, Jean - photographs

67353 Ernst, Max - memorandum, 31 October 1979

67354 Fangor, Wojciech - correspondence, 7 August 1974

67355 Gabo, Naum - correspondence, 1973–1977

General - East Building, 1977 (folder 1 of 2)

Includes material sample.

135270

Updated October 2023 National Gallery of Art Archives 6 of 11
Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files, 1971–1982

General - East Building, 1977 (folder 2 of 2)

Includes material samples.

67433

135271 General - East Building, 1978 (folder 1 of 2)

General - East Building, 1978 (folder 2 of 2)

Oversize architectural drawing stored separately.

67434

General - East Building - art, sculpture, paintings, and tapestry, 1971-1972

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

135272

General - East Building - art, sculpture, paintings, and tapestry, 1973–1975

Includes material samples.

67431

135273 General - East Building - art, sculpture, paintings, and tapestry, 1976-1977

Box 5

67432 General - East Building - art, sculpture, paintings, and tapestry, 1978–1981

67435 General - West Building, 1972–1976

67356 Gonzalez, Julio - memorandum, 7 August 1974

67357 Greene-Mercier, Marie Zoe - correspondence, 1972–1974

Indiana, Robert - correspondence, 1974

Includes one greeting card with envelope and handwritten signed message from Robert Indiana.

67358

Katzen, Lila - Antecedent - correspondence, 1975–1980

Includes 13 original and photocopies of typed and signed letters from Lila Katzen.

67359

67360 Kline, Franz - correspondence, 1979

67361 Laurens, Henri - correspondence, 1974

67405 Léger, Fernand - Vitrail correspondence, 1974

67362 Lehmbruck, Wilhelm - correspondence, 1978

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Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files, 1971–1982

67363 Liberman, Alexander - Adam - correspondence, 1977-1978

67364 Liberman, Alexander - Adam - photographs

67365 Maillol, Aristide - correspondence, 15 December 1972

67366 Matisse, Pierre - correspondence, 1972–1976

Matisse, Pierre - maquette pieces

Not digitized.

135274

Matisse, Pierre - photographs and maquette pieces

Includes material samples.

67367

67368 Miro, Joan - Femme - correspondence, 1972-1973

67369 Miro, Joan - Femme - correspondence, 1974-1975

Box 6

67370 Miro, Joan - Femme - correspondence, 1976

67371 Miro, Joan - Femme - correspondence, January–June 1977

135275 Miro, Joan - Femme - correspondence, July–December 1977

67372 Miro, Joan - Femme - correspondence, 1978

Miro, Joan - Femme - correspondence and publications, 1977–1979

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67377

67373 Miro, Joan - Femme - correspondence and related documents, 1979–1981

Miro, Joan - Femme - maquette and hanging statistics relating to measurements and

placement on wall

67376

67374 Miro, Joan - Femme - photographs (black and white)

67375 Miro, Joan - Femme - photographs (color)

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Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files, 1971–1982

Box 7

Miro, Joan - Femme - photographs and samples of yarn

Includes material samples.

67380

Miro, Joan - Femme - sample work (original work on paper by artist)

Not digitized.

67381

67382 Miro, Joan - Femme - sample work (reproduction of work by artist on board)

67378 Miro, Joan - Femme - weaving sequence

Miro, Joan - Femme - wool samples

Includes material samples.

67379

67384 Moore, Henry - Spindle Piece - correspondence, 1972–1974

Moore, Henry - Spindle Piece - correspondence, 1975

Includes two original typed and signed letters from Henry Moore.

135276

Moore, Henry - Spindle Piece - correspondence and drawings, 1976

Includes two original typed and signed letters from Henry Moore.

67385

67386 Moore, Henry - Spindle Piece - examples of artist's signature

Moore, Henry - Spindle Piece - photographs, articles, and site plans, 1975-1976

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67383

Moore, Henry - Two Edge Knife Piece - correspondence, 1972–1974

The sculpture was accessioned as 1978.43.1 Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece.

67421

Moore, Henry - Two Edge Knife Piece - correspondence, 1975-1976

The sculpture was accessioned as 1978.43.1 Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece. Includes one original typed

and signed letter from Henry Moore.

135277

Moore, Henry - Two Edge Knife Piece - correspondence, January–June 1977

The sculpture was accessioned as 1978.43.1 Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece.

67388

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Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files, 1971–1982

Box 8

Moore, Henry - Two Edge Knife Piece - correspondence, July–December 1977

The sculpture was accessioned as 1978.43.1 Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece. Oversize architectural

drawing stored separately.

135278

Moore, Henry - Two Edge Knife Piece - correspondence, 1978–1981

The sculpture was accessioned as 1978.43.1 Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece.

67389

Moore, Henry - Two Edge Knife Piece - correspondence, photographs, and drawings of site

and maquette, 1974–1982

The sculpture was accessioned as 1978.43.1 Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece. Includes material sample.

Oversize architectural drawing stored separately.

67387

67390 Motherwell, Robert - Reconciliation Elegy - correspondence, 1976–1979

67391 Nesbitt, Lowell - correspondence, 1975

Nevelson, Louise - correspondence, 1978

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67392

67393 Noguchi, Isamu - Great Rock of Inner Seeking - correspondence, 1975–1978

67394 Noguchi, Isamu - Great Rock of Inner Seeking - photographs

67395 Olitski, Jules - handwritten notes about artwork, 1976–1979

67396 Perry, Charles - correspondence, 1972

67397 Pevsner, Antoine - correspondence, 1972

67398 Picasso, Pablo - correspondence, 1972–1975

Rosati, James - Untitled - correspondence, 1977–1979

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67399

67400 Shahn, Ben - correspondence, 1974-1975

Smith, David - Voltri - correspondence, 1971–1978

Oversize architectural drawings stored separately.

67401

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Building Planning and Construction Records

Planning Office

East Building Commissioned Works of Art Files, 1971–1982

67402 Smith, David - Voltri - photographs and correspondence, January 1974

67403 Ulbricht, John - correspondence, 1975

67404 Vasarely, Victor - correspondence, 1974

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