Frank O'Hara Papers
in The Museum of Modern Art Archives
The Museum of Modern Art
Museum Archives
11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019-5497
moma.org/learn/resources/archives
© 2002 The Museum of Modern Art. All rights reserved.
The Museum of Modern Art, Publisher
Finding aid updated 09/23/91 and revised 04/05/96
Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services,
February 2000, converted to EAD 2002 by Jonathan Lill, July, 2006.Description is in
English.
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Creator: |
The Museum of Modern Art |
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Title: |
Frank O'Hara Papers in the Museum of Modern Art Archives |
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Dates: |
1956-1966 |
O'Hara (1926-1966) was an art critic, poet, playwright and a member of the staff of the Museum of Modern Art 1951-1953, 1955-1966.
In 1953 he resigned from the Museum to devote himself to writing. From 1955 until 1966 he organized circulating exhibitions
of the Museum and in 1960 was appointed Assistant Curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture Exhibitions. In 1956
he took a leave of absence from the Museum to accept a one-semester fellowship at the Poet's Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
He died when struck by a car on Fire Island on July 25, 1966.
O'Hara was responsible for selecting the United States representations at the IV Sao Paulo Bienal and the IV International
Art Exhibition of Japan in 1957 and Documenta II in Kassel, Germany in 1959. He organized a Jackson Pollock retrospective
that toured Europe in 1958. That same year, for the United States representation at the XXIX Biennale in Venice he chose works
by Seymour Lipton and Mark Tobey, winner of the International Jury's Award. He also organized the Robert Motherwell and Reuben
Nakian exhibitions that became part of the United States Representation at the VI Sao Paulo Bienal in 1961.
In 1960 O'Hara directed
The New Spanish Painting and Sculpture which was shown at the Museum before travelling to nine cities in the United States and Canada. At the time of his death two
exhibitions of sculpture by David Smith and an exhibition of paintings by the Surrealists Rene Magritte and Yves Tanguy were
circulating nationally.
O'Hara served in the navy, attended Harvard University (A.B. 1950) and the University of Michigan (M.A. 1951) where he received
the Avery Hopwood Award for Poetry. He was considered an important poet and the author of published volumes:
A City Winter and Other Poems (1952),
Meditations in an Emergency (1956),
Second Avenue (1960),
Odes (1960) and
Lunch Poems (1964). He served as an editorial associate of
Art News and his art critiques appeared in
Folder and
Evergreen Review. He is the author of
Jackson Pollock (New York: Braziler; 1959) and
New Spanish Painting and Sculpture (New York: Museum of Modern Art; 1960). He also wrote one act plays, five of which have been performed.
27 filing units in four 5" document boxes. Includes schedules, correspondence for and checklists of exhibitions on which Frank
O'Hara worked, and Museum activities in which he was interested: project proposals and cost estimates; information re: lenders
and contributors; proposed schedules for exhibitions; articles and clippings with reference to O'Hara; museum administrative
matters; staff meeting minutes and notices; exhibition catalogs; and a book and photographs.
Items date from ca. 1956 through 1968. Correspondents include Michael Barjansky, Robert Bollt, Bernard Brodsky, Wilson Burdett,
Walter Burns, Jean Cassou, Enrico Crispolti, Rene d'Harnoncourt, Arthur Drexler, Jean Dubuffet, James C. Dunn, Robert Giron,
Jane Gollin, Peggy Guggenheim, Ben Heller, Felrath Hines, Joseph Hirshhorn, Werner Hofmann, Sam Hunter, Elaine Johnson, Dietrich
Mahlow, Porter McCray, Patrick B. McGinnis, Dr. O. Meyer, Dorothy C. Miller, Grace L. McCann Morley, George Montgomery, Stefan
Munsing, Renee S. Neu, Roy R. Neuberger, Isamu Noguchi, Richard Palmer, Virginia Pearson, Lee Krasner Pollock, Arturo Profili,
Waldo Rasmussen, Gerhart Rindauer, Bryan Robertson, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Robert Rosenblum, Arnold Rudlinger, Godfrey Sanitini,
Meyer Schapiro, Mrs. Gable Senior, Tom Slick, David Smith, Gordon M. Smith, Francisco Matarasso Sobrino, G. R. Swenson, Vittorio
Viale, Monroe Wheeler, E. de Wilde, William Wright.
In arranging these Papers, original order (an alphabetical arrangement by exhibition) was maintained.
Location and Access
The Papers may be seen by appointment of The Museum of Modern Art Archives, 11 West 53rd Street, New York, New York, 10019,
(212) 708-9436. Access to the papers by qualified researchers is unrestricted, with the exception of certain material in Series
III.
Copyright © 1996 The Museum of Modern Art, New York
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This collection is indexed under the following headings in DADABASE, the library catalog of The Museum of Modern Art. Researchers
desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
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Persons: |
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O'Hara, Frank. |
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Subjects: |
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Abstract expressionism. |
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Arts -- Exhibitions, Traveling. |
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Kline, Franz, 1910-1962 -- Archives. |
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Motherwell, Robert -- Archives. |
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Nakian, Reuben, 1897- -- Archives. |
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New American painting. |
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O'Hara, Frank -- Archives. |
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Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956 -- Archives. |
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Smith, David, 1906-1965 -- Archives. |
O'Hara material can be found in the papers of the International Council Exhibitions [ICE] and those of Dorothy C. Miller,
both in the Museum Archives.
Published citations should take the following form:
Long version: Frank O'Hara, [series.folder]. The Museum of Modern Art Archives, New York.
Short version: O'Hara, [series.folder]. MoMA Archives, NY.
Papers were organized by Elizabeth Tweedy [Streibert], Frank O'Hara's secretary at time of his death on July 25, 1966 [see
file folder #20]. At that time, O'Hara was Assistant Curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture Exhibitions.
| Folder Description
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| Folder |
Title |
Date |
| 1. |
IV Bienal Do Museu de Arte Moderne, Sao Paulo, Brazil ICE-#32-57; Sept.-Dec. 1957; exh. divided into 2 sections: a) 34 ptgs. & 29 drawgs. by Pollock; b) 23 ptgs. & 15 sculptures
by 8 artists. Works selected by FO'H. See also ICE Papers.
Incl.: project proposals and cost estimates for U.S. representation.
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1957 |
| 2. |
XXIX Biennale di Venezia ICE F-#37-58; June-Oct. 1958; exh. included 46 ptgs. & 26 sculptures by 4 artists. Lipton & Tobey works selected by FO'H.
Rothko & D. Smith works selected by S. Hunter.
See also ICE Papers.
Incl.: project proposals, cost estimates, and preliminary selection lists for U.S. representation; correspondence; lists of
lenders; form letter and loan agreement form.
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1958 |
| 3. |
Cezanne to Miro ICE F-#111-67; 1968; 53 ptgs. by 43 artists, selected by M. Wheeler. Travelled to Buenos Aires, Santiago, Caracas. See also
ICE Papers.
Incl.: material re: contributors to exh.
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| 4. |
Documenta II Exhibition, Kassel, Germany ICE F-#40-59; July-Oct. 1959; exh. included 144 works by 44 American artists, with J. Pollock retrospective. Selected by FO'H
& P. A. McCray. See also ICE Papers.
Incl.: correspondence; preliminary lists of potential artists and works for U.S. representation; Pollock possibilities; draft
of letter to possible lenders and lists of potential lenders.
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| 5. |
International Circulating Exhibition & Circulating Exhibition Department Material Incl. correspondence of circulating exhibitions and international circulating exhibitions; memoranda re: meetings on proposed
national circulating exhibitions; schedule of exhibitions leaving & returning to MoMA from Oct. 1956-Aug. 1957; periodical
bulletins of
Exhibitions Circulated by the International Program, Jan. 1957-April 1958; exhibition notes; proposed schedules for Venice, Biennale, & Pollock exhibitions; info. re: exh. of
the International Program.
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1956-1958 |
| 6. |
Franz Kline ICE F-#75-62; 1963-64; 67 ptgs., dwgs., collages, & gouaches, selected by O'Hara; travelled to Amsterdam, Turin, Brussels,
Basel, Vienna, London, & Paris. See also ICE Papers.
Incl.: correspondence from Nov. 1962-May 1965; info. re: exh.
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| 7. |
Miscellaneous Circulating Exhibitions Incl.
41 Aquarellistes Americains d'Aujourdhui; New Trends in Expressionism, International exhibition of Bruges, May-Sept. 1958;
Brussels Universal and International Exhibition, 1958; American Collage; Noguchi Sculpture show, Paris, 1958;
Latin American Architecture, Version II, exhibition preparations;
American Paintings for Russia; 20th Century Italian Art from American collections;
Paris Biennale I; American Painters, Rome-New York Foundation; Japanese Painting and Sculpture; 4th International Art exhibition, Japan;
U.S. Representation, Third International Contemporary Art Exhibition, India, 1957; U.S. Representation, XI Triennale di Milano,
1957; Industrial Design Exh. for India, estimated costs.
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1958, 1964 |
| 8. |
Clippings and Notes Incl. articles re: actor James Dean, one with reference to O'Hara; clippings re: Jean Cocteau; various notes and lists.
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1956, 1957 |
| 9. |
Museum Administrative Matters Incl. memos re: museum procedure, meeting announcements, events schedules, and staff benefits.
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1956, 1957, 1965 |
| 10. |
Modern Sculpture USA # ICE F-96-63; 1963-1966; exh. opened at Rodin Museum, Paris; 71 works by 32 sculptors, selected by RD'H & FO'H. Travelled
to France & Germany. See also ICE Papers. Incl.: thank-you letters to lenders of art works; lenders lists; material concerning
damaged art work; material regarding the return and dispersal of the art loans to the exh.
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| 11. |
Staff Meeting Notices & Minutes Incl. minutes re: meetings of forthcoming publications (Feb.-April 1966), Program Coordination Committee (June 1965-June 1966),
and Staff Program Committee (Dec. 1964-March 1965).
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1964-1966 |
| 12. |
Robert Motherwell # ICE F-95-63; travelled 1965-66; MoMA Exh. # 776; 1965; 103 ptgs., collages, & dwgs. selected by FO'H. Travelled to Amsterdam,
London, Brussels, Essen, & Turin. See also Ice Papers.
Incl.: floor plan for exh. pieces at MoMA, Nov. 1964 show; correspondence concerning exh.; different editions of statement
re: Motherwell by FO'H for exh. catalog (1965); intro. to exh. catalog; excerpts from Motherwell's writings.
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| 13. |
Reuben Nakian: Small Bronzes, Terra-Cottas & Drawings C/E # 66-14; 1966-68; 11 bookings; See also C/E file.
Includes: biographical info. re: Nakian; exh. check-list; correspondence concerning Nakian exh.; form thank-you letter and
list of lenders to Nakian exh.; FO'H's notes on Nakian exh. and David Smith exh. at Kroller Muller Museum; two published articles
re: Nakian.]
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| 14.a. |
The New American Painting Exhibition
ICE F #36-57; travelled 1958-1959; MoMA Exh. # 645; May-Sept. 1959; 81 paintings by 17 artists, selected by DCM. FO'H assisted.
Exh. travelled to 8 countries. See also DCM Papers; ICE Papers.]
Correspondence
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Sept. 1957-Jan. 1958 |
| 14.b. |
The New American Painting Exhibition
Correspondence
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Feb. 1958-Dec. 1958 |
| 14.c. |
The New American Painting Exhibition
Catalog
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| 15. |
The New American Painting Exhibition Incl. exhibition details; form letter to possible lenders; list of possible lenders; artists' statements; form letter to find
lenders; 1st draft of catalog intro. by FO'H; forward of Basel catalog by Arnold Rudlinger; exh. check-list; initial project
proposals, descriptions and cost estimates; loan agreement forms.
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| 16. |
The New American Painting & Jackson Pollock: joint 'ICE' show 1958-1959; Incl. status report for Europe exh., April 1958; correspondence concerning exh. in Paris.
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1912-1956, |
| 17. |
The New Spanish Painting and Sculpture C/E #59-3; Oct. 1960-Jan. 1962; MoMA Exh. #668; July 20-Sept. 28 1960; 50 ptgs. & sculptures by 16 artists, selected by FO'H.
Exh. organized under the Int.'I Program of exhs. of foreign material shown in the U.S.
Incl.: correspondence; selection lists of works; notebook;
The Paintings by Tharrats in the World's Press.]
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| 18. |
Frank O'Hara: biographical information; obituary articles,
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1966 |
| 19. |
Frank O'Hara: Correspondence chronologically arranged; provenance and organization of O'Hara Papers discussed.
Incl. personal correspondence.
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July 1957-Dec. 1965 |
| 20. |
Frank O'Hara: O'Hara's trip to Europe Incl. itinerary and correspondence; notes re. Yugoslavia trip.
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Fall 1963 |
| 21. |
Jackson Pollock [Note ICE F-#35-57; 1958-1959; 31 ptgs. & 20 dwgs. & watercolors selected by FO'H. Based on retrospective for IV Bienal, Sao
Paulo, 1957. Exh. travelled to Rome, Basel, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris Berlin, & London. See also ICE Papers.
Incl.: material re: Pollock exh. in Europe; correspondence.
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1912-1956 |
| 22. |
Recent Landscapes by 8 Americans Exh. #ICE F-100-65; C/E 64-1; 1964-1966; 14 bookings. See also C/E file.
Incl.: correspondence; list of artists' addresses; checklist of paintings; letters to potential lenders; letters for extension
of loan periods; thank-you letters to lenders; two photographs re: Sopoletto exh.; material regarding the framing & purchasing
of frames of works; preparation schedule for exh.; info. re: negatives; publicity release.
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| 23. |
David Smith: European Exhibition ICE F-#82-63; 1966-1967; 48 sculptures selected by FO'H. Exh. travelled to Netherlands, London, Basel, and Germany. See also
ICE Papers.
Incl.: correspondence; preliminary list of works; checklist of exh. pieces; lenders list; shipment list; checklist with frame
sizes; checklist re: packing and unpacking directions; box lists for Kroller-Muller; biography-chronology; catalog preface,
2 stages (Rasmussen); catalog intro. (O'Hara); exh. opening remarks by Wm. Tyler (Netherlands); letters/photos from potential
lenders; loan agreements. See also, #29.
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| 24. |
David Smith
Correspondence re: Smith exhs. and proposal for book on Smith
[Note: Incl. transcript of Nov. 1964 channel 13 show; poem by D. Smith; 2 articles re: Smith; exh. catalogs.
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1964, 1965 |
| 25. |
U.S. Government Art Projects: Some Distinguished Alumni Exh. #C/E 61-24; circulated Feb. 1963-Feb. 1964; 57 works by 28 artists, selected by DCM. FO'H assisted.
Incl.: exh. schedule for WPA Alumni show; loan requests; preliminary checklists of exh. pieces; material re: framing & repairing
of certain pieces.
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| 26. |
Berkson, Bill & Le Seur, Joe, ed.
Homage to Frank O'Hara. Bolinas, CA: Big Sky; 1978. Gift to Archives by Waldo Rasmussen
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Sept. 1978 |
| 27. |
L'Artiste dans son atelier
this mat., Incl. photographs, added later.
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1962-1963 |
| 28. |
Alexander Smith, Bibliography from Rose Kolmetz, International Program, to Museum Archives: 10/90. See also, #29.
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1978. |
| 29. |
Additions: Papers received
September 19, 1991 Gift of Maureen O'Hara (sister of Frank).
• 2 handwritten sheets (photocopy) of speech delivered at opening of
David Smith exhibition (see #23).
• Selected bibliography of O'Hara writings (see also, #28).
• List of participants and poetry selections at an O'Hara memorial poetry reading
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Summer 1966. |
| 30. |
“Teens Quiz A Critic: `What's With Modern Art?' ” Ingenue. (Dunellen, NJ) p. 65.
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December, 1964 |
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| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1.-8. |
| 2 |
9.-14.c. |
| 3 |
15.-22. |
| 4 |
23.-30. |
