Betty Esman papers
name: label: Creator
content: Esman, Betty, 1904-1996
label: Names
content: Johnson, Ray, 1927-1995
label: Names
content: Lipchitz, Jacques, 1891-1973
label: Names
content: Tamayo, Rufino, 1899-1991
topic: label: Occupation
content: Art patrons -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Collectors -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Art -- Collectors and collecting
label: Topic
content: Mail art
label: Topic
content: Jewish artists
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Women painters
label: Topic
content: Scrapbooks
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Betty Esman donated her papers to the Archives of American Art in several installments between 1986 to 1994.
creator: label: Creator
content: Esman, Betty, 1904-1996
setName: label: See more items in
content: Betty Esman papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The scattered papers of painter and collector Betty Esman measure 0.9 linear feet and date from 1936 to 1979. Found are artworks, artist files, biographical material, correspondence, photographs of Esman and others, printed material, and a mixed media scrapbook. Of note are files on Ray Johnson which include mail art addressed to and collected by Esman.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Betty Esman (1904-1996) was a painter, collector, and art patron in New York City, New York. Esman studied at the Syracuse University College of Fine Arts and the Art Students League. In the 1950s, Esman taught painting at Ball State College. She maintained personal and professional relationships with artists Ray Johnson, Rufino Tamayo, Jacques Lipchitz and others.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.9 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1936-1979
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.esmabett
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Portions of the Betty Esman papers were microfilmed in 1994 with funding provided by the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund. The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2022 with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reel 4861 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The scattered papers of painter and art collector Betty Esman measure 0.9 linear feet and date from 1936 to 1979. Found are artworks, artist files, biographical material, correspondence, photographs of Esman and others, printed material, and a mixed media scrapbook. Of note are files on Ray Johnson which include mail art addressed to and collected by Esman.