Harry Bowden papers
name: label: Creator
content: Bowden, Harry, 1907-1965
label: Names
content: American Abstract Artists
label: Names
content: Campbell, Charles, 1905-
label: Names
content: Cunningham, Imogen, 1883-1976
label: Names
content: De Kooning, Willem, 1904-1997
label: Names
content: Hofmann, Hans, 1880-1966
label: Names
content: Schevill, James Erwin, 1920-
label: Names
content: Smith, Hassel, 1915-2007
label: Names
content: Weston, Edward, 1886-1958
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Photographers -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Painters -- California -- San Francisco
label: Occupation
content: Photographers -- California -- San Francisco
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Lois Bowden, Harry Bowden's widow, donated the greater part of this collection to the Archives of American Art via Charles Campbell of the Charles Campbell Gallery, San Francisco, Calif. Mr. Campbell subsequently donated 28 additional photographs.
creator: label: Creator
content: Bowden, Harry, 1907-1965
setName: label: See more items in
content: Harry Bowden papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of painter and photographer Harry Bowden measure 3 linear feet and date from 1900 to 1972, with the bulk of the material from 1920-1972. The collection documents his career through biograhical material, correspondence, writings, personal business records, printed material, photographic material, and artwork.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Harry Bowden (1907-1965) was a painter and photographer working in New York City and San Francisco. Born in Los Angeles, as a developing artist Bowden trained at the National Academy of Design, the Art Students League in New York, and the Chouinard School of Art in Los Angeles. After attending a summer painting course with Hans Hofmann, Bowden became serious about a future making art and relocated to New York City where he continued to work with Hofmann, with periods working as a petty officer on a merchant ship as well as a shipfitter. Following World War II he became known as a founding member of the American Abstract Artists, with notable exhibitions at Egan Gallery, the Reinhardt Gallery, the New School for Social Research. He also became associated with the Artists' Gallery. Notably Bowden developed a  photography practice heavily influenced by Edward Weston.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1900-1972
label: Date
content: bulk 1920-1972
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.bowdharr
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 7 series

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1930-1965 (0.1 Linear Feet: Box 1)

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1920-1970 (0.6 Linear Feet: Box 1)

Series 3: Writings, circa 1930-1969 (0.1 Linear Feet: Box 1)

Series 4: Personal Business Records, circa 1930-1969 (0.1 Linear Feet: Box 1)

Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1920-1972 (0.6 Linear Feet: Boxes 1-2; OV 3-6)

Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1900-1969 (0.9 Linear Feet: Box 2; OV 7)

Series 7: Artwork, circa 1930-1969 (0.6 Linear Feet: Box 2; OV 8-12)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: This collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sam Neat in 2025.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 1880-1882, 1885 at the Archives of American Art offices. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of painter and photographer Harry Bowden measure 3 linear feet and date from 1900 to 1972, with the bulk of the material from 1920-1972. The collection documents his career through biograhical material, correspondence, writings, personal business records, printed material, photographic material, and artwork.  

Biographical material contains material relating to Bowden's time serving in the military, identification cards and birth certificate, as well as an award he won for his photography, resumes, and personal memorabilia. Correspondence contains general letters, both personal and professional. The writings series consists of an artist statement, various notebooks, publication mock-ups, a poem, and notes. Personal Business Records contain price lists and receipts from various museums and galleries as well as various tax documents and jury duty notices. The printed material series includes "A Letter" publications, books produces by Bern Porter, various advertising designs, exhibition announcements brochures, and catalogs, newspaper and journal clippings, and press releases. Photographic material consists of photographs of Harry Bowden by himself and with others, various family photographs, photograohs of artists taken by Bowden including Imogen Cunningham and Willem de Kooning, and photographs of his own artwork. The artwork series includes photographs from Bowdens series titled Places and Things, a sketchbook with is mostly empty, paintings on paper and canvas, and various sketches and drawings.