Ida Kohlmeyer papers
name: label: Creator
content: Kohlmeyer, Ida, 1912-1997
label: Names
content: Newcomb College. Art Dept
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
label: Occupation
content: Sculptors -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
label: Occupation
content: Educators -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Women painters
label: Topic
content: Women sculptors
label: Topic
content: Women educators
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated in 1998 by Jane K. Lowentritt, Kohlmeyer's daughter and former studio manager, except for material on reels 5280-5281 which Lowentritt lent for microfilming.
creator: label: Creator
content: Kohlmeyer, Ida, 1912-1997
setName: label: See more items in
content: Ida Kohlmeyer papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of sculptor, painter, and educator Ida Kohlmeyer date from circa 1890 to circa 1990s and measure 13.7 linear feet. The papers document Kohlmeyer's many exhibitions and commissioned works, and her teaching career. Found are biographical material, correspondence, writings and notes, personal business records, professional files, printed material, and photographs.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Ida Kohlmeyer (1912-1997) was a painter, sculptor, and educator active in Louisiana. She was known for her brightly colored abstract expressionist paintings and sculpture.

Born Ida Rittenberg, to Polish immigrants, Ida spent her childhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was educated at Newcomb College, Tulane University, where she initially studied English, and returned in her mid-30s to study art. Inspired by the Abstract Expressionist movement, Kohlmeyer went on to study with Hans Hofmann and became acquainted with Mark Rothko and other notable New York City artists. She exhibited her works around Louisiana and elsewhere in the United States. A large retrospective of Kohlmeyer's work was held at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina in the mid-1980s.

Ida married Hugh Kohlmeyer and they had two daughters. She died in 1997 in Metairie, Louisiana.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 13.7 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1890-circa 1990s
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.kohlida
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 7 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1927-circa 1990s (1.2 linear feet; Box 1, 14)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1950s-1990s (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Series 3: Writings and Notes, circa 1940-1987 (0.9 linear feet; Boxes 2-3)

Series 4: Personal Business Records, 1946-circa 1990s (0.6 linear feet; Box 3)

Series 5: Professional Files, 1956-1995 (4.0 linear feet; Boxes 4-7)

Series 6: Printed Material, 1932-1990s (5.3 linear feet; Boxes 8-12, 15-16)

Series 7: Photographs, circa 1890-1997 (1.2 linear feet; Boxes 12-13)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2021.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Material lent for microfilming is available on 35mm microfilm reels 5280-5281 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of sculptor, painter, and educator Ida Kohlmeyer date from circa 1890 to circa 1990s and measure 13.7 linear feet. The papers document Kohlmeyer's many exhibitions and commissioned works, and her teaching career. Found are biographical material, correspondence, writings and notes, personal business records, professional files, printed material, and photographs.

Biographical materials include the items taken from Kohlmeyer's memorial wall in her studio which consist of mementos, printed material and photographs. Writings and notes are by Kohlmeyer on art as well as lectures and talks. Writings on Kohlmeyer  by others include writings by Jan Butterfield, Whitney Engeran, and Ellen Tibbets. There is also a copy of Hugh Kohlmeyer's memoirs.

Professional files contain letters, printed material, photographs, financial records, and other scattered items relating to Kohlmeyer's career as a painter, sculptor, and educator. Files may be found for specific exhibitions, galleries, and commissions, and may also document Kohlmeyer's professional relationships with art consultants and others. 

Photographs depict Ida Kohlmeyer, her family, friends, artworks, and personal art collection. Also found are photos documenting the original placement of items on the memorial wall.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: The Archives of American Art also holds an oral history interview of Ida Kohlmeyer conducted 1989 May 17-20, by Avis Berman.
separatedmaterial: label: Separated Materials
content: The Archives of American Art also holds material lent for microfilming on reels 5280-5281. Included are miscellaneous scattered letters from Hans Hofmann, Mark Rothko, and James Johnson Sweeney, 1956-1959 and undated; letters from Lynda Benglis, 1976-1983; draft writings and lectures by Kohlmeyer, undated; and an extensive card catalog of works of art by Kohlmeyer which includes information on the title, dimensions, media, date, name and address of the owner, and sale price. Many cards have thumbnail sketches. The catalog is arranged alphabetically by title. There is also one miscellaneous card file. Loaned materials were returned to the donor and are not described in the collection container inventory.