George Fedoroff papers
name: label: Creator
content: Fedoroff, George
topic: label: Topic
content: Indian art -- North America
label: Topic
content: Artisans
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: George Fedoroff donated his papers to the Archives of American Art in 1980 and 1981.
creator: label: Creator
content: Fedoroff, George
setName: label: See more items in
content: George Fedoroff papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of craftsman and administrator George Fedoroff measure 2.0 linear feet and date from 1939-1980. Found are biographical materials, correspondence, writings and notes, professional files, printed materials, and photographs. Many of the documents concern Fedoroff's work with the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: George Fedoroff (1907-2001) was a Russian-American craftsmen and arts administrator who worked with the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs in Alaska.

Born to an upper-middle class family in Gatchina, Russia in 1907, George Fedoroff enjoyed a comfortable childhood. In 1917, he and his family fled Russia during the revolution through Siberia to China. He settled in Paris where he studied the decorative arts at L'Ecole des Arts Appliques a L'Industre. He left for the United States in 1928 without the financial support of his wealthy relatives and worked as a stage designer for the University Players in Falmouth, Massachusetts. 

After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Fedoroff became a naturalized citizen and worked for the Department of the Interior as an arts administrator for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He served in Sitka, Alaska and started an arts and crafts school at the Mt. Edgecumbe School. Additionally, he served on the Indian Arts and Crafts Board of Alaska. Later in life Fedoroff concentrated on his own craft and sculpted.

George Fedoroff married Margaret Beard with whom he had two children. He retired to the east coast where he died in 2001.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1939-1980
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.fedogeor
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 6 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1939-1980 (Box 1; 4 folders)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1945-1979 (Box 1; 0.8 linear feet)

Series 3: Writings and Notes, 1946-1973 (Box 1; 6 folders)

Series 4: Professional Files, 1947-1976 (Box 1-2; 0.1 linear feet)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1944-1977 (Box 2; 0.5 linear feet)

Series 6: Photographs, circa 1940-circa 1960 (0.2 linear feet; Box 2)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2019.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 3958-3959, 1813 at the 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 papers of craftsman and administrator George Fedoroff measure 2.0 linear feet and date from 1939-1980. Found are biographical materials, correspondence, writings and notes, professional files, printed materials, and photographs. Many of the documents concern Fedoroff's work with the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Biographical materials include an autobiographical sketch detailing Fedoroff's childhood, escape from Russia during the revolution, and settlement in the United States. Correspondence is with family, friends, the United States government, institutions, museums, and galleries. Earlier correspondence concerns Fedoroff's work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs under the U.S. Department of the Interior while later correspondence details his own work as a craftsman and the exhibition and sale of his works. Writings are by Fedoroff and others including Katherine Kuh, Jean Chretien, and George Elliot. Professional files are scattered and include a list of courses, conference and meeting materials, and reports. Photographs are of Fedoroff, others, Alaska Native craftsmen, and of works of art.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with George Fedoroff conducted by Robert F. Brown, 1980 July 8-1981 January 21.