Cara Croninger papers
name: label: Creator
content: Croninger, Cara, 1939-2019
topic: label: Occupation
content: Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Jewelers -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Women sculptors
label: Topic
content: Women artists
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Donated in 2023 by Saudia Young, Cara Croninger's daughter.
creator: label: Creator
content: Croninger, Cara, 1939-2019
setName: label: See more items in
content: Cara Croninger papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Cara Croninger papers, 1939-2020, bulk 1980-2016, measure 3.1 linear feet and document the life and work of sculptor and jewelry designer Cara Croninger. Files include biographical material, correspondence, personal business records, printed material, photographic material, and unidentified born digital and audiovisual material.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Cara Croninger (1939-2019) was a self-taught sculptor and jewelry designer active in New York, New York known for her work in resin and acrylic. She was one of the original artists of Robert Lee Morris's Artwear Gallery in Soho, and her work appeared on innumerable fashion magazine covers, including "Vogue." Her work is in the permanent collections of several museums, including the Museum of Art and Design in New York City and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.1 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1939-2020
label: Date
content: bulk 1980-2016
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.croncara
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Interviews
label: Type
content: Video recordings
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: This collection is arranged as 6 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1939-2020 (0.3 linear feet; Box 1, OV 5)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1981-2018 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 3: Personal Business Records, 1980-2019 (1.1 linear feet; Boxes 1-2, OV 6)

Series 4: Printed Material, 1973-2009 (0.7 linear feet; Boxes 2-3, OV 6)

Series 5: Photographic Material, 1977-circa 2020 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 3-4, OV 7)

Series 6: Unidentified Born Digital and Audiovisual Material, circa 1980-2016 (0.3 linear feet; Box 4)
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: Video recordings
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Cara Croninger papers, 1939-2020, bulk 1980-2016, measure 3.1 linear feet and document the life and work of sculptor and jewelry designer Cara Croninger. Files include biographical material, correspondence, personal business records, printed material, photographic material, and unidentified born digital and audiovisual material.

Biographical material includes scattered certificates, date books, an interview transcript about Cara Croninger, and various notes and sketches; and correspondence is with friends, family, and business colleagues. Personal business records document Croninger's work through licensing agreements and business contracts, sales and invoices, loans and consignments for exhibitions and editorial projects, inventory and stock files, price lists, and pattern and design sketches. Printed material includes press releases, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and extensive clippings primarily showcasing ads and magazine covers with models wearing Croninger's works. Photographic material includes portrait and childhood photographs of Cara Croninger, as well as installation photographs and photographs of artwork. The collection also includes unidentified born digital and audiovisual material.