Contemporary American Department
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Jacques Seligmann & Co
setName: label: See more items in
content: Jacques Seligmann & Co. records
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 10 Linear Feet (Boxes 358-381)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1932-1978
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.jacqself, Series 8
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement note
content: This series is organized into five subseries. This bulk of this series has been scanned with the exception of some printed material, some photographs of artwork and a Letterpress of Bills which has not been scanned due to its condition.

8.1: Alphabetical Files, 1932-1978, undated

8.2: Address Book and Records Notebooks, 1955-1970, undated

8.3: Exhibition of Religious Art, 1944-1964, undated

8.4: Loans, 1948-1972, undated

8.5: Financial Records, 1934-1974
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: This series documents the activities of the Contemporary American Department, a division of Jacques Seligmann & Co. that was established in 1935 to represent young and upcoming American artists. Under the direction of Theresa D. Parker, the department initiated a contemporary American art exhibition program, exposing out-of-town artists to audiences in New York and circulating their work nationwide through loans to other galleries and art institutions.

The department was suspended during World War II but, in the years that followed, resumed its activities with a series of exhibitions featuring work primarily by young artists, many of whom had recently completed military service. Artists sponsored by the department were selected from recommendations made by colleges and art centers and included Kahlil Gibran, Arthur Kraft, Rico Lebrun, and Cleve Gray. Parker continued to operate the department until the late 1970s, when it was closed due to the deteriorating health of Germain Seligman.