Constance Perkins papers
name: label: Creator
content: Perkins, Constance M., 1913-1991
label: Names
content: Neutra, Richard Joseph, 1892-1970
topic: label: Occupation
content: Art historians -- California -- Los Angeles
label: Occupation
content: Educators -- California -- Los Angeles
label: Topic
content: Architecture, Domestic -- California
label: Topic
content: Women art historians
label: Topic
content: Women educators
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated in 1992 and 1996 through a bequest of Constance Perkins' estate, via Thornton H. Hamlin, executor.
creator: label: Creator
content: Perkins, Constance M., 1913-1991
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Constance Perkins (1913-1991) was an educator, an art historian, and an art critic in Los Angeles, California. Perkins was a long-time professor of art history at Occidental College (1947-1983).

Born in Denver, Colorado, Perkins earned her B.A. at the University of Denver in 1935 and her M.A. at Mills College, Oakland in 1937. Her teaching career began as an instructor of art at the University of Denver (1937-1942). In 1947 she accepted the position of professor of art history at Occidental College, retiring Emerita in 1983. Perkins contributed art columns to the Los Angeles Times (1963-1965), Artforum (1962-1964), and Art Week (1977-1980). Among her professional activities was assembling collections from throughout the world for the State Department. In 1953 she commissioned Richard Neutra to design and build a small home for her in the hills of the Pasadena Arroyo.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5.5 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1900-1991
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.perkcons
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Biographical material, correspondence, building plans, diaries, appointment calendars, travel journals, photograph albums, loose photographs, rolls of film, and financial records relating to the construction of Perkins' home designed by Richard Neutra in 1955, Perkins' career as an educator, and her work as a Red Cross nurse in Europe and Australia during WW II.

ADDITION: Art and architecture magazines (1957-1985) containing articles on homes designed by Richard Neutra, including Perkins'; b&w photographs of Perkins' home for various journal and newspaper articles; and seven color photographs of original color drawings by Neutra of Perkins' home.