Irwin Rubin papers
name: label: Creator
content: Rubin, Irwin, 1930-2006
label: Names
content: Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
label: Names
content: Albers, Josef
topic: label: Occupation
content: Artists -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Educators -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Art -- Collectors and collecting
label: Topic
content: Collage
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Donated in 2023 by Christina Rubin, Irwin Rubin's widow.
creator: label: Creator
content: Rubin, Irwin, 1930-2006
setName: label: See more items in
content: Irwin Rubin papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of artist and educator Irwin Rubin measure 1.7 linear feet and date from 1921 to 2022, bulk circa 1950s-circa 1990s. The collection documents Rubin's work as a professional artist and educator through biographical material, correspondence, professional and business files, printed material, sketchbooks and artwork by others, photographic material, and digital files from the Irwin Rubin Archive.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Irwin Rubin (1930-2006) was an artist, educator, and collector in New York. A student of Josef Albers at Yale, Rubin taught drawing and color theory from 1967-2001 at The Cooper Union. Rubin was represented by Bertha Schaefer Gallery and the Stable Gallery in New York, and Galerie Iris Clert in Paris.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.7 Linear Feet
label: Extent
content: 9.32 Gigabytes
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1921-2022
label: Date
content: bulk circa 1950s-circa 1990s
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.rubiirwi
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Gigabytes
label: Type
content: Interviews
label: Type
content: Sketchbooks
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: This collection is arranged as 7 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1948-2004, 2022 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1, Box 3)

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1950s-1998 (4 folders; Box 1)

Series 3: Professional and Business Files, 1960-circa 2001 (0.3 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 4: Printed Material, 1956-1995 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 5: Sketchbooks and Artwork by Others, 1953-1958, circa 1980s-circa 1990s (0.3 linear feet; Box 1 & 3)

Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1930s-2001, 2019 (0.6 linear feet; Boxes 1-3)

Series 7: The Irwin Rubin Archive Digital Documentation, 2019-2022 (1 folder; Box 2)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Anna Rimel in 2025.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
label: Genre/Form
content: Sketchbooks
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of artist and educator Irwin Rubin measure 1.7 linear feet and date from 1921 to 2022, bulk circa 1950s-circa 1990s.  The collection documents Rubin's work as a professional artist and educator through biographical material, correspondence, professional and business files, printed material, sketchbooks and artwork by others, photographic material, and digital files from the Irwin Rubin Archive.

Biographical material and correspondence documents Rubin's personal and professional relationships and education activities through resumes, diplomas, interview transcript, and letters and greeting cards, including from Josef Albers. Professional and business files document Rubin's work as an educator and artist through Cooper Union teaching materials, Yale University MFA thesis, inventory and sales ledger, and scattered invoices. Printed material includes collected Josef Albers printed material, catalogs and clippings related to color theory and Irwin Rubin's exhibitions, and periodicals. Also found in the collection are two sketchbooks by Rubin, collected pointillism-style paintings, and collages and relief collages by Cooper Union art students. Photographic material includes portrait photographs of Irwin Rubin; snapshots and photographs of the artist, events, studio, family, and friends; and slides and photographs of artwork by Rubin and students. The Irwin Rubin Archive documentation includes digital files collected by Rubin's former student, Carmelle Safdie, between 2019 and 2022.