Alice Baber papers
name: label: Creator
content: Baber, Alice
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Printmakers -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Women painters
label: Topic
content: Women printmakers
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Donated 1979-1985 by Alice Baber and Norbert Nelson.
creator: label: Creator
content: Baber, Alice
setName: label: See more items in
content: Alice Baber papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of painter Alice Baber (1928-1982) dates from 1924 to 1983 and measures 3.5 linear feet. The bulk of the papers concern the exhibition of Baber's works and her teaching career at the New School. Found are biographical materials, correspondence, personal business records, writings and notes, printed material, and photographs. Six video and two sound recordings contain discussions, interviews, and lectures by Baber and other women artists.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Alice Baber (1928-1982) was a painter and printmaker in New York City, New York. Born in Charleston, Illinois, she studied at Lindenwood College, Indiana University, and spent time in Paris, France. Baber's first solo exhibition was held at March Gallery in 1958 and she developed her signature painting style in watercolor and oil. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she exhibited internationally and curated significant feminist exhibitions. She was married to fellow abstract painter Paul Jenkins.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.5 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1924-1983
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.babealic
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Interviews
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 6 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1951-1981 (0.7 linear feet; Box 1, 4)

Series 2: Correspondence, 19588-1983 (0.8 linear feet; Box 1-2)

Series 3: Personal Business Records, 1924-1982 (0.3 linear feet; Box 2)

Series 4: Writings and Notes, 1934-1983 (0.4 linear feet; Box 2)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1957-1983 (0.7 linear feet; Box 2-3)

Series 6: Photographs, circa 1930s-1977 (0.6 linear feet; Box 3)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Portions of the papers were arranged and microfilmed upon receipt. The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2025 with received support from the Judith Godwin Arts Foundation
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 4030 through 4032 available at Archives of American Art offices. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of painter Alice Baber (1928-1982) dates from 1924 to 1983 and measures 3.5 linear feet. The bulk of the papers concern the exhibition of Baber's works and her teaching career at the New School. Found are biographical materials, correspondence, personal business records, writings and notes, printed material, and photographs. Six video and two sound recordings contain discussions, interviews, and lectures by Baber and other women artists.

Biographical materials include six video recordings of lectures by women artists for a course taught by Baber at the New School: Isabel Bishop, Minna Citron, Sari Diemes, Alice Neel, Lil Picard, and Charmion von Weigand. A sound recording and transcripts contain an interview conducted by Karl Fortess of Alice Baber. Correspondence is with family, friends, institutions, and galleries. Of note are letters between Baber and the Arts in Embassies program through the United States Department of State. Writings and notes include writings on art and Paul Jenkins by Baber, five dismantled notebooks, and one sound recording from a television program entitled Women: The Artist featuring Barbara Braathen and Alice Baber. Photographs are of Baber, friends, family, other artists, and works of art.