Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne papers
name: label: Creator
content: Bengelsdorf, Rosalind, 1916-1979
label: Names
content: American Abstract Artists
label: Names
content: Browne, Byron, 1907-1961
label: Names
content: O'Connor, Francis V.
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Art critics -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Educators -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Women painters
label: Topic
content: Women art critics
label: Topic
content: Women educators
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated in 1978 and 1979 by Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne and her son, Stephen B. Browne.
creator: label: Creator
content: Bengelsdorf, Rosalind, 1916-1979
setName: label: See more items in
content: Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of painter and critic Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne measure 3.2 linear feet and date from the 1910s to 1980. The papers document Browne's career through biographical materials including sketches and photographs, correspondence with friends, artists, and institutions, writings, professional files, and printed material.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne (1916-1979) was an abstract painter, critic, educator, and writer active in New York City, New York. 

Born in New York City in 1916, Rosalind Bengelsdorf studied at the Art Students' League as a teenager. She continued her study of art under her mentor Hans Hofmann, developing her artistic beliefs and style of abstract painting. In 1936, she became a founding member of the American Abstract Artists of New York City. That same year, she joined the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Arts Project and completed murals at the Central Nurses Home on Welfare Island under Burgoyne Diller.

In 1940, Bengelsdorf married fellow artist Byron Browne, and the couple decided that she would end her art career to focus on teaching and writing. Browne subsequently worked as an art critic for Pictures on Exhibit, The New York Star, and Woman's Day and taught at the New School for Social Research until the late-1970s. After her husband's death in 1961, she returned to painting. 

Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne died in Manhattan in 1979.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.2 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1910s-1980
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.bengrosa
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Sound recordings
label: Type
content: Interviews
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 5 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1910s-1980 (Box 1; 0.4 linear feet)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1929-1979 (Box 1, 0.6 linear feet)

Series 3: Writings and Notes, 1934-1978 (Box 2; 0.3 linear feet)

Series 4: Professional Files, 1930-1978 (Boxes 2-3; 1.7 linear feet)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1930-1979 (Box 4; 0.2 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection received a preliminary level of arrangement after donation and was partially microfilmed onto 35mm microfilm reels 2013-2016. A scrapbook of clippings was dismantled. In 2021, the collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Material microfilmed on 35mm microfilm reels 2013-2016 is available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Sound recordings
label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of painter and critic Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne measure 3.2 linear feet and date from the 1910s to 1980. The papers document Browne's career through biographical materials including sketches and photographs, correspondence with friends, artists, and institutions, writings, professional files, and printed material. 

Biographical material includes a transcript of an interview with Susan C. Larsen. Correspondence includes letters from Ethel Baziotes, Romare Bearden, Sid Gotcliffe, and Philip Evergood. Writings include sound recordings of a monologue by Browne concerning her husband Byron Browne and Sam Kootz. Professional files may include correspondence, printed material, writings, and agreements relating to Browne's various roles as a critic, an artist, and an educator. Of note are files on the American Abstract Artists organization and the WPA Federal Art Project.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: The Archives of American Art also holds an interview of Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne conducted 1968 January 29, by Irving Sandler. Also found are the papers of Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne's husband: the Byron Browne papers, 1930-1963.