Merryll Saylan papers
name: label: Creator
content: Saylan, Merryll B., 1936-
label: Names
content: Mississippi, Connie, 1941
label: Names
content: Scarpino, Betty
label: Names
content: Stocksdale, Kay Sekimachi
label: Names
content: Working, Susan
topic: label: Occupation
content: Woodworkers -- California
label: Occupation
content: Educators -- California
label: Occupation
content: Turners -- California
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Women educators
label: Topic
content: American studio craft movement
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated in 2008 by Merryll Saylan.
creator: label: Creator
content: Saylan, Merryll B., 1936-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Merryll Saylan papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of woodworker, turner, and educator Merryll Saylan measure 4.7 linear feet and date from 1975 to 2008. The collection documents Saylan's career through biographical materials; personal and professional correspondence including with artists Connie Mississippi, Betty Scarpino, Kay Sekimachi, and Susan Working; writings including notebooks with diary entries and sketches for projects; gallery files including inventory and sales records; files documenting a variety of Saylan's professional activities; and printed materials recording Saylan's career.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Merryll Saylan (1936-) is a woodworker, turner, and educator based in California. She helped to pioneer the popularization of the woodturning field and the application of color in wood art.

Saylan was born in the Bronx, New York City, in 1936 but settled in California after moving there in her youth. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA in 1973 and a Master of Arts degree from California State University Northridge in 1979. 

Saylan began turning wood in the 1970s, becoming one of few women in the field. Her use of modern lines and textures was inspired by the simplicity of Japanese design. Saylan was an active member of the Wood Turning Center, American Association of Woodturners, and Collectors of Wood Art. She was artist-in-resident at the Grizedale Sculpture Park, Cumbria, England, from 1990 to 1991, and visiting artist at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center. She was also a visiting artist and taught at the California College of the Arts, San Francisco. 

Saylan's works are in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Detroit Institute of Arts, Renwick Gallery, and the Mint Museum of Craft and Design which houses one of her most well-known works, Jelly Donut.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 4.7 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1975-2008
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.saylmerr
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Drawings
label: Type
content: Sound recordings
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as six series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1980-2005 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1985-2008 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 3: Writings, 1987-2007 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Series 4: Gallery Files, 1984-2008 (0.4 linear feet; Box 2)

Series 5: Professional Files, 1975-2008 (2.7 linear feet; Boxes 2-4, OVs 5-6, RD 7)

Series 6: Printed Materials, 1980-2008 (0.5 linear feet; Box 4, RD 7)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2022.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Drawings
label: Genre/Form
content: Sound recordings
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of woodworker, turner, and educator Merryll Saylan measure 4.7 linear feet and date from 1975 to 2008. The collection documents Saylan's career through biographical material including certificates, appointment books, curriculum vitae, and photocopies of diplomas and student records; correspondence with collectors, woodworking organizations and publications, family, friends, and artists Connie Mississippi, Betty Scarpino, Kay Sekimachi, and Susan Working; writings consisting of drafts, typescripts, and notes for articles and lectures, and including 18 notebooks containing diary entries and sketches for projects; gallery files that include inventory and sales records, printed materials, and correspondence documenting Saylan's activities with numerous galleries; files documenting a variety of Saylan's professional activities including memberships, teaching, workshops and private classes, auctions, financial records, grants and artist residencies, and drawings for projects; and printed materials such as clippings, exhibition announcements, press releases, and miscellaneous items.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Also found in the Archives of American Art is an interview of Merryll Saylan conducted on May 20-June 5, 2006 by Glenn Adamson for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.