Hilda Pertha papers
name: label: Creator
content: Pertha, Hilda, 1911-2011
label: Names
content: Federal Art Project
label: Names
content: Nesjar, Carl, 1920-2015
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- California -- Mendocino
label: Occupation
content: Authors -- California -- Mendocino
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Scrapbooks
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The Hilda Pertha papers were donated in 2013 by Mila Ahern, Hilda Pertha's daughter, and in 2019 and 2022 by Connie Korbel-Mickey, Pertha's biographer.
creator: label: Creator
content: Pertha, Hilda, 1911-2011
setName: label: See more items in
content: Hilda Pertha papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of painter and author Hilda Pertha measure 10.5 linear feet and date from 1938 to 2018. The collection comprises biographical materials, correspondence, journals, writings, professional and project files, personal business records, printed materials, artwork, and photographic materials that document Pertha's early textile design work, and her subsequent painting, and writing career in Mendocino and Europe.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Hilda Pertha (1911-2011) was an author and painter in Mendocino, California and Europe, who worked primarily in oil. 

Born in Pensauken, New Jersey, Pertha studied at the Philadelphia College of Art, the Barnes Foundation, and Settlement Music School. In the 1950s she worked as a textile designer in New York City and Europe while trying to grow her painting career. Pertha spent time in Norway where she felt a strong connection to the land and people. She befriended Norwegian artists like Carl Nesjar with whom she kept in touch throughout her life. Pertha exhibited in Norway, as well as other parts of Europe. In Mendocino, she was active at Mendocino Art Center as an exhibitor and teacher after being invited to teach by founder William (Bill) Zacha. She also wrote over 200 articles for the magazine West Art. Pertha died in 2011 in Mendocino.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 10.5 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1938-2018
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.perthild
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Sound recordings
label: Type
content: Diaries
label: Type
content: Interviews
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 10 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1944-2010 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1948-2018 (1.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-3)

Series 3: Journals, 1982-2002 (0.2 linear feet; Box 12)       

Series 4: Writings and Writing Projects, 1938-2018 (3.0 linear feet; Boxes 3-5)

Series 5: Professional Files, 1950s-2002 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 5-6)

Series 6: Project Files, circa 1940s-2000s (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 6-7)

Series 7: Personal Business Records, 1955-2010 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 7-8)

Series 8: Printed Materials, 1940-2011 (0.6 linear feet; Boxes 8-9, 11)

Series 9: Artwork, 1940s-circa 2010 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 9-11)

Series 10: Photographic Materials, 1950s-2011 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 10-11)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2023.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Sound recordings
label: Genre/Form
content: Diaries
label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of painter and author Hilda Pertha measure 10.5 linear feet and date from 1938 to 2018. The collection comprises biographical materials, correspondence, journals, writings, professional and project files, personal business records, printed materials, artwork, and photographic materials that document Pertha's early textile design work, and her subsequent painting, and writing career in Mendocino and Europe.


Biographical materials consist of appointment books, resumes and chronologies, a transcript of an interview of Pertha conducted by Joan Marler, and a recording of family at Christmas. Correspondence is with family, galleries, buyers and collectors, and others including Carl Nesjar, Mirl Simmons, and Justin Stone. The collection also contains 6 journals, writings that include 74 notebooks with notes on museums in Europe, artworks by Pertha, and other topics, as well as manuscripts of articles for the magazine West Art, and drafts for a book about painting. 

Pertha's professional files include sound recordings relating to symposiums and workshops, scrapbooks, and guestbooks. Project files include material regarding Pertha's work on the Federal Art Project, and photographs and sketches for floral themed paintings. Pertha's business records include gallery files, consignment and sales records, and artwork and price lists. Printed materials relate to Pertha's career, her exhibitions, and writings for art magazines. Artwork consists of nature sketches and drawings, ink and abstract sketches, and designs for textiles. Photographic materials include photographic prints, negatives, slides, and transparencies of Pertha, friends, exhibitions, Norway, and artwork along with digital images of Pertha's artwork that were cataloged by Connie Korbel-Mickey.