Ernest Briggs papers
name: label: Creator
content: Briggs, Ernest, 1923-
label: Names
content: Arnold, Anne, 1926-
label: Names
content: Crehan, Hubert
label: Names
content: Greenberg, Clement, 1909-1994
label: Names
content: McChesney, Mary Fuller
label: Names
content: Miller, Dorothy Canning, 1904-2003
label: Names
content: Still, Clyfford, 1904-1980
topic: label: Topic
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Abstract expressionism
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Ernest Briggs donated papers in 1980 with the bulk of the collection donated in 2015 by the Anne Arnold Estate, via Robert Brooks and Janice Kasper, executors.
creator: label: Creator
content: Briggs, Ernest, 1923-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Ernest Briggs papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of painter Ernest Briggs measure 2.4 linear feet and date from circa 1900-2013, bulk 1940-1983. The collection documents the life and career of this second generation abstract expressionist through biographical material; correspondence with artists and critics; writings and five diaries that chronicle the changing art world from 1950s-1970s; personal business records; printed material; and a significant amount of photographic material documenting the artist and his work.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Ernest Briggs (1923-1984) was a second generation abstract expressionist painter working in New York City and Maine. He was born in San Diego, California and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After returning home, Briggs studied at the California College of Fine Art in San Francisco from 1947-1951 under Clyfford Still, Ad Reinhardt, David Park, and Mark Rothko. He moved to New York in 1953 and began exhibiting at the Stable Gallery. In 1956 Briggs was included in the Museum of Modern Art's exhibition, 12 Americans curated by Dorothy Miller. Briggs taught at Pratt Institute from 1961-1984. He was married to the sculptor Anne Arnold.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2.4 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1900-2013
label: Date
content: bulk 1940-1984
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.brigerne
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Diaries
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as seven series

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1942-1984 (1 folder; Box 1)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1950s-2001 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 3: Writings, 1960-19854 (5 folders; Box 1)

Series 4: Diaries, 1976-1984 (0.3 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 5: Personal Business Records, 19460s-2000s (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 6: Printed Material, 1949-2013 (0.6 linear feet; Box 1-2, OV 4)

Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1900-1990, bulk 1940-1984 (0.8 linear feet; Box 2-3, OV 5)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Hilary Price in 2016.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Diaries
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of painter Ernest Briggs measure 2.4 linear feet and date from circa 1900-2013, bulk 1940-1983. The collection documents the life and career of this second generation abstract expressionist through biographical material; correspondence with artists and critics; writings and five diaries that chronicle the changing art world from 1950s-1970s; personal business records; printed material; and a significant amount of photographic material documenting the artist and his work. Papers dating from after Briggs's death were created and kept by Anne Arnold.

Notable correspondents include Hubert Crehan, Mary McChesney, Dorothy Miller, Clyfford Still, and Howard Wise. One outgoing letter to Clement Greenberg offers Briggs's criticism of Art and Culture.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Ernest Briggs conducted by Barbara Shikler in 1982 and the papers of sculptor, Anne Arnold, Briggs' wife.