Edward Melcarth papers
name: label: Creator
content: Melcarth, Edward, 1914-1973
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Sound recordings
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The Edward Melcarth papers were donated in mulitple installments between 1971 and 2007: in 1971 by Edward Melcarth; in 1977 and 1978 by a friend, Robert Morgan; in 2000 by a friend, Albert La Tucha; and in 2007 by Richard Taddei, Melcarth's former student.
creator: label: Creator
content: Melcarth, Edward, 1914-1973
setName: label: See more items in
content: Edward Melcarth papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Edward Melcarth papers measure 6.0 linear feet and date from circa 1900 to 2003. The papers document his career as a painter through resumes, address books, estate papers, and other biographical material; correspondence with family, colleagues, and art institutions; manuscripts, essays, lectures, and other writings; speeches, writing excerpts, and other sound recordings; clippings, exhibition announcements, exhibition catalogs, and other printed material; paint sketches, sketches, sketchbooks, and other artwork; and photographs and slides of Melcarth, his family, artwork, friends, and models for pieces.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Edward Melcarth (1914-1973) was a painter in New York, New York, primarily known for his portraits of working-class men. Melcarth was born Edward Epstein in Louisville, Kentucky in 1914, and he moved to New York City during his youth. He studied in London, Paris, and at Harvard. He taught at Parsons School of Design, Columbia University, University of Washington (Seattle), University of Louisville and the Educational Alliance Art School. Melcarth died in 1973.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 6 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1900-2003
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.melcedwa
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Sketchbooks
label: Type
content: Drawings
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into seven series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1902-1980 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1911-1974 (0.9 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Series 3: Writings, 1934-1967 (0.9 linear feet; Box 2)

Series 4: Sound Recordings, 1967-1970 (0.2 linear feet; Box 3, 8)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1941-2005 (0.5 linear feet; Box 3, OV 9)

Series 6: Artwork, 1946-1957 (0.5 linear feet; Box 3, 8)

Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1900-1973 (2.8 linear feet; Boxes 3-8)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Ricky Gomez in 2020.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Sketchbooks
label: Genre/Form
content: Drawings
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Edward Melcarth papers measure 6.0 linear feet and date from circa 1900 to 2003. The papers document his career as a painter through resumes, address books, estate papers, and other biographical material; correspondence with family, colleagues, and art institutions; manuscripts, essays, lectures, and other writings; speeches, writing excerpts, and other sound recordings; clippings, exhibition announcements, exhibition catalogs, and other printed material; paint sketches, sketches, sketchbooks, and other artwork; and photographs and slides of Melcarth, his family, artwork, friends, and models for pieces.

Biographical material includes address books, an autograph book, estate papers, passports, resumes, Melcarth's baby book, and scrapbook related to Melcarth's family.

Correspondence includes personal letters between his parents, and letters to his mother regarding his acquaintences Peggy and Hazel Guggenheim, and Norman Parkinson. Other correspondents include Gore Vidal and Gael Greene, New York magazine food critic, and artist Richard Taddei. Also included are letters from artists Lief Anderson, Peter Carello, Pablo Pristeno, Ernst Teves, from playwright William Inge, from actors George Maharis, Ronald Staba and Joseph Newlin, Henry Allen Moe, R. Kirk Askew, agent John Schafner, and Charles B. Moses. 

Writings include manuscripts of Melcarth's short stories, novels, and plays; essays and lectures on various topics related to modern art; and other literary works such as poems and song lyrics. 

Sound recordings consist of interviews and speeches by Melcarth on five sound tape reels and two cassettes. Printed material consists of clippings, exhibition catalogs and announcements, and newsletters. Works of art consist of sketches and sketchbooks.

Photographic material consists of photos of Melcarth, Melcarth's family, friends, various unidentified people, his paintings and sculptures, and works of art by fellow artists. There are also photos of various scenes in New York City, Coney Island, and Venice, Italy. Also included are slides, negatives, and transparencies of Melcarth's works.