David Zeldis papers
name: label: Creator
content: Zeldis, David, 1952-
topic: label: Occupation
content: Self-taught artists -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Outsider art
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Donated in 2023 by Yona Zeldis McDonough, David's sister, on behalf of David.
creator: label: Creator
content: Zeldis, David, 1952-
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: David Zeldis (1952- ) is a self-taught, outsider artist based in New York, N.Y.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.6 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1960-2020
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.zelddavi
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of "outsider" artist and writer David Zeldis papers measure 0.6 linear feet and date from circa 1960-2020. The papers document the career of Zeldis through biographical materials, writings, correspondence and personal business records, press clippings, printed materials, and photographic materials, including prints, slides, transparencies, and digital photographs. 

Biographical materials include resumes and biographies, as well as documentation of Zeldis's longstanding struggles with mental health, considered by the artist and most critics to be integral to his work. Writings include drafts of Zeldis's poetry and fiction writing, as well as rare print publications. Correspondence and personal business records document sales and consignments with galleries, relationships with publishers, and institutional exhibitions. Photographic material primarily documents Zeldis's works, along with with a few portraits.