Patricia Jordan papers
name: label: Creator
content: Jordan, Patricia M., 1937-1989
label: Names
content: Anger, Kenneth
label: Names
content: Beattie, Paul, 1924-1988
label: Names
content: Berman, Wallace, 1926-1976
label: Names
content: Brakhage, Stan
label: Names
content: Cornell, Joseph
label: Names
content: Duncan, Robert Edward, 1919-
label: Names
content: Herms, George, 1935-
label: Names
content: Jess, 1923-
label: Names
content: Jordan, Larry, 1934-
label: Names
content: Snyder, Gary, 1930-
topic: label: Occupation
content: Photographers -- California -- San Francisco
label: Topic
content: Beat generation
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Women photographers
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Patricia Jordan donated her papers to the Archives of American Art in 1988.
creator: label: Creator
content: Jordan, Patricia M., 1937-1989
setName: label: See more items in
content: Patricia Jordan papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of San Francisco based Beat photographer Patricia Jordan measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1870, 1949-1984.  The papers include correspondence, much of it illustrated and with Beat artists and poets, writings, exhibition files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Patricia Jordan (1937-1988) was a photographer and integral part of the Beat circle in San Francisco during the late 1950s and 1960s. Through her photography, she captured intimate portraits of the artists and poets in San Francisco at that time. Patricia Jordan, née Topalian, married Larry Jordan, assemblagist and avant-garde filmmaker, in the late 1950s. They lived in San Francisco, Larkspur, and finally settled in San Anselmo, California. Patricia and Larry Jordan had one daughter, Lorna, born in 1960.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2.4 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1870
label: Date
content: 1949-1984
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.jordpatr
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Illustrated letters
label: Type
content: Mail art
label: Type
content: Photographs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 6 series

Series 1: Correspondence, circa 1950-1977 (1.1 linear feet; Box 1, OV 4)

Series 2: Writings, circa 1959-1970s (0.1 linear foot; Box 2)

Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1962-1978 (0.1 linear foot; Box 2)

Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1920-1984 (0.2 linear feet; Box 2)

Series 5: Photographs, circa 1870-1970s (0.7 linear feet; Box 2-3)

Series 6: Artwork, 1949-circa 1970s (0.2 linear feet; Box 2-3)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Hilary Price in 2015.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Illustrated letters
label: Genre/Form
content: Mail art
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of San Francisco based Beat photographer Patricia Jordan measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1870, 1949-1984.  The papers include correspondence, much of it illustrated and with Beat artists and poets, writings, exhibition files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork.

About one-half of the collection consists of correspondence; many items of which could be considered works of art or mail art.  There are letters, illustrated letters, photographs, collages, postcards, greeting and holiday cards, and exhibition invitations.  Letters are addressed to Patricia Jordan, her husband Larry, and/or daughter Lorna  and are from family and friends, including many Beat artists and poets such as Kenneth Anger, Steve Arnold, Paul Beattie, Wallace Berman, Stan Brakhage,  Jess Collins, Joseph Cornell (with whom Larry Jordan studied in 1965), Robert Duncan, George Herms, and Gary Snyder.  Family letters are from Patricia's parents, sisters, daughter, and husband Larry.

The papers contain a large number of photographs and are primarily portraits taken by Patricia Jordan of friends and family including her husband Larry, daughter Lorna, Geroge Herms, and Wallace Berman. Many of the subjects are not identified. Some photographs are candid snapshots, while others are prints and test prints of images featured in the 1975 exhibition, "A Kind of Beatness," at Focus Gallery in San Francisco.

The remainder of the collection is comprised of scattered writings, exhibition files, printed material, and artwork.