Paul Jenkins papers
name: label: Creator
content: Jenkins, Paul, 1923-2012
label: Names
content: Art Students League (New York, N.Y.)
label: Names
content: Martha Jackson Gallery
label: Names
content: Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.)
label: Names
content: New York University
label: Names
content: Baber, Alice
label: Names
content: Bluhm, Norman, 1921-1999
label: Names
content: De Kooning, Willem, 1904-1997
label: Names
content: Dusanne, Zoe, -1977
label: Names
content: Erma, Thomas, 1939-1964
label: Names
content: Gilot, Francoise, 1921-
label: Names
content: Guggenheim, Peggy, 1898-1979
label: Names
content: Jenkins, Esther Ebenhoe
label: Names
content: Krasner, Lee, 1908-1984
label: Names
content: Prantl, Karl
label: Names
content: Prince, Frank
place: label: Place
content: China -- Description and Travel
topic: label: Occupation
content: Dramatists -- France -- Paris
label: Occupation
content: Dramatists -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Abstract expressionism
label: Topic
content: Artists' studios -- Photographs
label: Topic
content: Medals -- Design
label: Topic
content: Painters -- France -- Paris
label: Topic
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The papers were donated 2007-2009 and in 2012 by Paul and Suzanne Jenkins.
creator: label: Creator
content: Jenkins, Paul, 1923-2012
setName: label: See more items in
content: Paul Jenkins papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of abstract expressionist painter and playwright Paul Jenkins measure 11.1 linear feet and date from circa 1915 to 2010. Jenkins's career in New York and Paris is documented through biographical material, family papers, correspondence, writings, personal business records, printed material, photographs of Jenkins in his studio and at various events, and original artwork by Jenkins and others.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Paul Jenkins (1923-2012) was an abstract expressionist painter and playwright in New York, New York, and Paris, France. Jenkins was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1923, and moved to Youngstown, Ohio as a teenager. After serving in the U.S. Maritime Service and the U.S. Naval Air Corps, Jenkins studied playwriting with George McCalmon at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University). In 1948, he moved to New York City, where he studied with Yasuo Kuniyoshi at the Art Students League of New York.

Over the course of his career, Jenkins experimented with multiple techniques, including oil on primed canvas, flowing paints, acrylics, watercolor, and mixed media collages. After traveling extensively and meeting many artists, Jenkins ultimately became associated with the Abstract Expressionists. His work gained the attention of other members of the art world and he held solo exhibitions at venues such as the Zoe Dusanne Gallery in Seattle and the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York. Jenkins' paintings were purchased by both museums and private collectors, including  the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and Peggy Guggenheim.

In addition to his painting, Jenkins continued to explore other creative endeavors. He experimented with sculpture, producing works for events and permanent displays, including the Sculptors' Symposium at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum and the Sculpture Garden of the Hofstra Museum. His plays, such as Strike the Puma, were published and performed off Broadway in New York City. Jenkins's art served as the backdrop for multiple stage productions, and in 1978, his paintings were featured in the Academy Award nominated movie An Unmarried Woman. Jenkins also collaborated on a number of book projects, including Anatomy of a Cloud, a collection of autobiographical collages and texts.

Throughout his adult life, Jenkins split most of his time between New York and Paris. He continued to create and exhibit new works until his death in New York in 2012.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 11.1 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1915-2010
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.jenkpaul2
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Travel diaries
label: Type
content: Manuscripts
label: Type
content: Sketches
label: Type
content: Watercolors
label: Type
content: Prints
label: Type
content: Collages
label: Type
content: Visitors' books
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Scrapbooks
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 7 series:

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1915-1997 (Box 1; 9 folders)

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1930-2010 (Box 1-9, 13; 9 linear feet)

Series 3: Writings, circa 1950-2003 (Box 9-10; 0.5 linear feet)

Series 4: Personal Business Records, circa 1944-1990 (Box 10; 0.3 linear feet)

Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1952-2010 (Box 10-11; 0.6 linear feet)

Aeries 6: Artwork, circa 1935-2007 (Box 11-12, OV 14; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 7: Photography, circa 1940-1998 (Box 12; 0.4 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed and described in a finding aid by Rebecca McCormick in 2017.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Travel diaries
label: Genre/Form
content: Manuscripts
label: Genre/Form
content: Sketches
label: Genre/Form
content: Watercolors
label: Genre/Form
content: Prints
label: Genre/Form
content: Collages
label: Genre/Form
content: Visitors' books
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Scrapbooks
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of abstract expressionist painter and playwright Paul Jenkins measure 11.1 linear feet and date from circa 1915 to 2010. Jenkins's career in New York and Paris is documented through biographical material, family papers, correspondence, writings, personal business records, printed material, photographs of Jenkins in his studio and at various events, and original artwork by Jenkins and others.

Biographical material and family papers consist of awards and certificates, calendars, marriage, divorce, and estate papers, and military service records. Also included are family papers and a scrapbook belonging to Jenkins's aunt, Louise Jenkins.

Correspondence, which makes up the bulk of the collection, is with family, friends, and fellow artists, including Alice Baber, Norman Bluhm, Willem de Kooning, and Lee Krasner Pollock, as well as art organizations, schools, museums, galleries, and gallery owners, such as the Art Students League of New York, New York University, Museum of Modern Art, Martha Jackson Gallery, Zoe Dusanne, and Peggy Guggenheim.

Writings includes scattered writings by Paul Jenkins, two of his travel diaries, and the guest book for an exhibition in Tokyo. Also found are a copy of Lili Krahmer Verame's China travel diary and the writings and research materials of others. 

Personal business records consist of financial records, lease documents, price lists, travel documents, and papers regarding Jenkins's rental property. Also included are a file on the New York University medal designed by Jenkins and a file concerning a Karl Prantl statue.

Printed material consists of event programs, newsletters, bulletins, member reports, press releases, art exhibition announcements and catalogs, concert and theater announcements and programs, news and magazine clippings, and obituaries and memorial announcements.

Artwork contains miscellaneous sketches and collages by Paul Jenkins. Additional artworks include sketches, watercolors, and prints by other artists, as well as 8 oversize mixed media sketches by Frank Prince of Jenkins's Meditation Mandala Sundial sculptures.

Photographs of Paul Jenkins depict him in his studio, with family and friends, and at events. Photographs of family and friends include Esther Ebenhoe Jenkins, Alice Baber Jenkins, Norman Bluhm, Thomas Erma, Françoise Gilot, Matsumi "Mike," Carole, and Bunshi Paul Kanemitsu, and Frank Prince.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Also found at the Archives of American Art are an interview of Paul Jenkins, August 1969, conducted by Albert Elsen, and an oral history interview, 1968, conducted by Colette Roberts.