Dan S. Lutz papers
name: label: Creator
content: Lutz, Dan, 1906-1978
label: Names
content: Dalzell Hatfield Galleries
topic: label: Occupation
content: Educators -- California -- Los Angeles
label: Occupation
content: Painters -- California, Southern
label: Topic
content: Painting, American
label: Topic
content: Expressionism (Art)
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The donor, Dorothy Lutz Fleurat, is Lutz's widow.
creator: label: Creator
content: Lutz, Dan, 1906-1978
setName: label: See more items in
content: Dan S. Lutz papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of painter and educator Dan S. Lutz date from circa 1930-1982, and measure 5.2 linear feet. They document his work and influence in the Southern California art world, as well as his travels to Mexico, Ireland, and New Zealand. Found within the collection is biographical material, including award certificates and a resume; correspondence between Lutz and fellow artists, art gallery representatives, friends, and family; printed material comprised of exhibition catalogs from around the country, catalogs and monographs with reproductions of Lutz's work, and clippings of newspaper articles about Lutz. There is also photographic material including portraits of Lutz and his studio, as well as snapshots of colleagues, friends, and family, and artwork consisting of sketchbooks and loose sketches in ink, pencil, and pastel from Lutz's travels in Mexico, Montana, Ireland, and New Zealand.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Painter and educator Dan S. Lutz (1906-1978) was born and grew up in Decatur Illinois, but spent most of his adult life living and working in Southern California. He was a prominent figure in the Los Angeles art scene during the mid-20th century. He worked in both oil and watercolor, focusing on landscapes, with some forays into abstract expressionism.  

Lutz briefly attended Millikin University  in Decatur before transferring to the Art Institute of Chicago. He was awarded the James Nelson Raymond Traveling Fellowship in 1931 and spent the following year traveling in Europe before returning to the United States, marrying Dorothy Lutz, and settling in Southern California. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California in 1934. 

Lutz spent the remainder of his career in Southern California, and his paintings were exhibited in many galleries and museums around the country, including some solo shows. He also taught art classes at the Sumner School of Painting in Saugatuck Michigan, the University of Georgia, the University of Southern California, and the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles. Lutz served as Vice President of the California Water Color Society  for two years, and traveled extensively to Mexico, New Zealand, Ireland, and elsewhere, making sketches during his travels.  

Lutz suffered from a stroke in the late 1970s, forcing him to retire. He died in 1978 in Santa Barbara, California.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5.2 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1930-1982
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.lutzdan
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Sketchbooks
label: Type
content: Scrapbooks
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 5 series. 

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1930-1972 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)  

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1930-1980 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1)  

Series 3: Printed Material, circa 1932-1982 (2.6 linear feet; Box 1-3, 6-7; Volume 8)  

Series 4: Photographic Material, circa 1930-1979 (0.2 linear feet; Box 3)  

Series 5: Artwork, circa 1930-1970 (1.7 linear feet; Box 4-5, 7)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Caroline Anderson-Gray in 2025
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Sketchbooks
label: Genre/Form
content: Scrapbooks
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of painter and educator Dan S. Lutz date from circa 1930-1982, and measure 5.2 linear feet.  

Biographical material includes awards from Millikin University, the Golden Gate International Exposition, and the U.S. Navy, a resume and bibliography, and a exhibit statement and annual report from the Dalzell Hatfield Gallery.  Correspondence includes letters between Lutz and fellow artists including Phil Dike, his gallery representatives Dalzell and Ruth Hatfield, and various representatives from other galleries and museums, as well as friends and family.   

Printed Material includes exhibition catalogs and art monographs with reproductions of Lutz's paintings, as well as newspaper and magazine clippings of articles about Lutz's work. Photographic material includes portraits of Lutz and his studio, as well as snapshots of colleagues, friends, and family. Artwork consists of sketchbooks and loose sketches in ink, pencil, and pastel, from Lutz's travels in Mexico, Montana, Ireland, and New Zealand.