Bernard and Phyllis Fischer papers
name: label: Creator
content: Fischer, Bernard, 1900-1986
label: Creator
content: Fischer, Phyllis Potter
label: Names
content: United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Recreation and Education
topic: label: Occupation
content: Designers -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Art teachers -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Handicraft
label: Topic
content: Enamel and enameling
label: Topic
content: Decorative arts
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Donated 1986 by Norma Kerlin, the Fischers' niece.
creator: label: Creator
content: Fischer, Bernard, 1900-1986
label: Creator
content: Fischer, Phyllis Potter
setName: label: See more items in
content: Bernard and Phyllis Fischer papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Bernard and Phyllis Fischer papers measure 3.4 linear feet and date from circa 1905-1983 with bulk dates from 1928-1977. The papers document the Fischers' careers as art teachers and craft business administrators through biographical material, correspondence, writings and personal business files. Also found are printed material, photographs and an extensive amount of artwork.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Bernard and Phyllis Fischer were a New York City based artist couple who operated a crafts business specializing in enamels and exhibited their work in galleries and at crafts exhibitions. Bernard Fischer (1900-1986) was a painter, sculptor, designer, puppetteer, art teacher. Bernard taught Industrial Arts in the New York City schools for over 20 years, along with courses at museums and crafts organizations in the city. Phyllis, born 1899, was a decorator, designer, and painter. She also worked as a Works Progress Administration craft teacher and project supervisor in New York City as a part of a WPA recreation project initative.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.4 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1905-1983
label: Date
content: bulk 1928-1977
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.fiscbern
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Drawings
label: Type
content: Sketchbooks
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as seven series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1918-1983 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 1, 4)

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1928-1972 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 1)

Series 3: Writings, circa 1914-1977 (0.5 Linear feet: Box 1)

Series 4: Personal Business, 1928-1961 (0.6 Linear feet: Box 2)

Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1939-1960 (7 Folders: Box 2)

Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1905-1977 (0.8 Linear feet: Box 2-3)

Series 7: Artwork, circa 1915-1979 (0.8 Linear feet: Box 3-5)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sabine Lipten in 2023.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Drawings
label: Genre/Form
content: Sketchbooks
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Bernard and Phyllis Fischer papers measure 3.4 linear feet and date from circa 1905-1983 with bulk dates from 1928-1977. The papers document the Fischers' careers as art teachers and craft business administrators through biographical material, correspondence, writings and personal business files. Also found are printed material, photographs and an extensive amount of artwork. Biographical material consists of resumes for both Fishers and a copy of their marriage certificate along with certificates corresponding to the Fishers respectively, such as Bernard Fischer's baptismal certificate and Phyllis college diplomas. Also found is an essay documenting Bernard Fischer's family history. Correspondence is foremost professional in nature with a marginal number of personal letters and holiday greeting cards from friends. Professional correspondence relates to job opportunities, Phyllis Fischer's WPA work, project manufacturing costs and supplies, project designs and price quotes. 

The writings series contains fourteen of Phyllis Fischer's diaries which span nearly sixty years, along with the notes on multiple subjects such as art projects and techniques, planning advertising and manufacturing of their enamel works, and resume drafts. The personal business series documents the Fischers' careers through financial material along with Phyllis Fischer's Works Progress Administration records, professional organization memberships and Bernard Fischer's teaching records. Printed material includes advertisements for the Fisher's commercial work and exhibition announcements along with pamphlets and event flyers related to unionizing and socialist organizations the Fishers were interested in. Photographic material contains many photographs of the Fishers spanning most of their lives along with a substantial number of photographs of the Fishers' sculptural and functional artwork. Also found are a small number of photographs of the Fishers' paintings. The artwork series includes thirteen sketchbooks, approximately two hundred loose drawings plus an additional 16 drawings done on hard plastic sheets. Also found are watercolors, prints and paper cutouts.