Jirayr Zorthian papers
name: label: Creator
content: Zorthian, Jirayr
topic: label: Occupation
content: Muralists -- California -- Los Angeles
label: Occupation
content: Sculptors -- California -- Los Angeles
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Donated 1994 and 1995 by Jirayr Zorthian.
creator: label: Creator
content: Zorthian, Jirayr
setName: label: See more items in
content: Jirayr Zorthian papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of Jirayr Zorthian measure 2.0 linear feet and date from circa 1937 to 2004. The papers document Zorthian's career as a muralist through correspondence with family and friends; an interview, resumes, certificates, writings, and other professional activity material; clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, pamphlets on the Zorthian Day Ranch for Children, and other printed material; and photographs of Zorthian, his friends and family, and some of his artwork.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Mural painter, painter, sculptor; Los Angeles, Calif.; b. 1911; d. 2004.
label: Biographical / Historical
content: Jirayr Zorthian (1911-2004) was a sculptor and mural painter in Los Angeles, California. Born to an Armenian family in the Ottoman Empire, he immigrated to the United States with his family following World War I. Zorthian earned a Masters of Fine Arts from Yale University and went on to study art in Italy during the 1930s. Among some of Zorthian's works are eleven murals for the Tennessee State Capitol, a mural for the United States Post Office in St. Johnsville, New York titled "Early St. Johnsville Pioneers," and "Phantasmagoria of Military Intelligence Training." In the 1960s Zorthian also established a summer camp for children on his ranch, Zorthian Day Ranch for Children.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1937-2004
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.zortjira
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Video recordings
label: Type
content: Drawings
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into four series.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1959-2001 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 2: Professional Activity Files, 1970-2004 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 3: Printed Material, 1959-2001 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Series 4: Photographic Material, circa 1937-1992 (0.9 linear feet; Box 2)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Ricky Gomez in 2021.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Video recordings
label: Genre/Form
content: Drawings
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of Jirayr Zorthian measure 2.0 linear feet and date from circa 1937 to 2004. The papers document Zorthian's career as a muralist through correspondence with family and friends; an interview, resumes, certificates, writings, and other professional activity material; clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, pamphlets on the Zorthian Day Ranch for Children, and other printed material; and photographs of Zorthian, his friends and family, and some of his artwork.

Correspondence includes letters from family and friends. There are also a small number of letters from colleagues and art institutions in regards to exhibitions. Professional material includes sketches by Zorthian, an interview with Zorthian, writings and observations by Zorthian and others, and financial materials. Also included is "Creative and a Little Bit Crazy," a video recording on the life of Zorthian, and material related to additions made to the Zorthian Day Ranch for Children. Printed material consists of prints of some of Zorthian's artwork, newspaper clippings on Zorthian and the Zorthian Day Ranch for Children, exhibition announcements and catalogs. Photographic material consists of photographs of Zorthian along with friends and family at the Zorthian Day Ranch for Children, photographs of the ranch, and photographs of some of Zorthian's murals.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Jirayr Zorthian conducted by Paul Karlstrom, January 28-July 9, 1997.