Kate Lang papers
name: label: Creator
content: Lang, Kate, 1910-1996
place: label: Place
content: Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- Washington (D.C.)
label: Topic
content: Flea markets -- Washington (D.C.)
label: Topic
content: Painting, American -- Economic aspects
label: Topic
content: Self-taught artists -- Washington (D.C.)
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Women painters
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The papers were donated in 2001 and 2009 by Richard Lang, the son of Kate Lang.
creator: label: Creator
content: Lang, Kate, 1910-1996
setName: label: See more items in
content: Kate Lang papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of self-taught artist Kate Lang consist of a biographical sketch; letters, cards, and instructions from a patron for paintings; notes and other writings; lists of sales and other financial records; newspaper articles about Lang; exhibition announcements; printed source material for paintings; and photographs and snapshots of Lang as a young girl as well as color photographs and snapshots of her artwork. The collection measures 1.1 linear feet and dates from 1921 to 1996.
bioghist: label: Biographical Note
content: Kate Lang, born Kathryn Louise Barbour in 1910 in Mobile, Alabama, started painting at age 80. A self-taught artist, she sold her paintings at local flea markets (Washington, D.C.'s Eastern Market on Saturdays and Georgetown Market on Sundays) until her death in 1996. Lang excelled at celebrity and pet portraits painted in the style of contemporary folk art. She held exhibitions at Connection Gallery in Washington, D.C. and George Washington University's Dimrock Gallery in 1992 and at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1995.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.1 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1921-1996
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.langkate
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Photographs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as six series:

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1992 (Box 1; 1 folder)

Series 2: Letters, 1992-1996, undated (Box 1; 3 folders)

Series 3: Writings, 1992-1994, undated (Box 1; 6 folders)

Series 4: Financial Records, 1990-1996, undated (Box 1; 2 folders)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1991-1996, undated (Box 1, OV 2; 5 folders)

Series 6: Photographs, 1921-circa 1990s (Box 1, OV 2; 0.6 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The papers were processed in July 2004 by Jetta Samulski. The finding aid was updated to include the 2009 addition in July 2015 by Kimberley Henze.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs
scopecontent: label: Scope and Content Note
content: The Kate Lang papers measure 1.1 linear feet and date from 1921 to 1996. The collection documents the artistic career and creative process of Arlington, Virginia-based self-taught painter Kate Lang. The collection contains a brief biographical account, scattered professional and personal correspondence, writings and notes with sketches by Kate Lang, financial records, clippings, exhibition announcements, and numerous photographs and snapshots of Kate Lang, her artwork, friends and family. The collection compliments the Archives' material on self-taught artists and provides some useful evidence of an alternative market for painting.