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Frank O'Hara Papers
in The Museum of Modern Art Archives

The Museum of Modern Art Archives
11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019-5497
https://www.moma.org/research/archives/

© 2002

The Museum of Modern Art Archives

Finding aid updated 09/23/91 and revised 04/05/96


Overview of the Collection
	Creator:	O'Hara, Frank, 1926-1966
	Title:	Frank O'Hara Papers
	Bulk Dates:	1956-1966
	Quantity:	1.75 linear feet 4 5" manuscript boxes.

Biographical Note

O'Hara (1926-1966) was an art critic, poet, playwright and a member of the staff of The Museum of Modern Art from 1951-1953 and 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 São 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 São 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 René Magritte and Yves Tanguy were circulating nationally.

O'Hara served in the navy. He 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.

Scope and Content Note

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, René 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, Renée 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.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The records are open for research and contain no restricted materials.

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Frank O'Hara Papers are the physical property of The Museum of Modern Art. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Rights to work produced during the normal course of Museum business resides with The Museum of Modern Art. For further information, and to obtain permission to publish or reproduce, contact the Museum Archivist.


Index Terms
	This collection is indexed under the following headings in 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.
	Persons and Organizations:
		Abstract expressionism
		Arts -- Exhibitions, Traveling
		Kline, Franz, 1910-1962 -- Archives
		Motherwell, Robert -- Archives
		Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) -- Employees -- Archives
		Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) -- Exhibitions -- History -- Archives
		Nakian, Reuben, 1897-1986 -- Archives
		New American painting
		O'Hara, Frank, 1926-1966
		O'Hara, Frank, 1926-1966 -- Archives
		Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956 -- Archives
		Smith, David, 1906-1965 -- Archives
		Traveling exhibitions -- History -- Sources
	Subjects:
		Abstract expressionism
		Arts -- Exhibitions, Traveling
		Kline, Franz, 1910-1962 -- Archives
		Motherwell, Robert -- Archives
		Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) -- Employees -- Archives
		Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) -- Exhibitions -- History -- Archives
		Nakian, Reuben, 1897-1986 -- Archives
		New American painting
		O'Hara, Frank, 1926-1966 -- Archives
		Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956 -- Archives
		Smith, David, 1906-1965 -- Archives
		Traveling exhibitions -- History -- Sources

Related Collections

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.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Long version: Frank O'Hara Papers, [folder]. The Museum of Modern Art Archives, New York.

Short version: FOH, [folder]. MoMA Archives, NY.

Provenance

The 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.

Container List

Folder Description
Folder	Title	Date
1.	IV Bienal Do Museu de Arte Moderne, São Paulo, Brazil ICE-#32-57; Sept.-Dec. 1957; exh. divided into 2 sections: a) 34 ptgs. and 29 drawgs. by Pollock; b) 23 ptgs. and 15 sculptures by 8 artists. Works selected by FO'H. See also ICE Papers. Incl.: project proposals and cost estimates for U.S. representation. View PDF of folder 1.	1957
2.	XXIX Biennale di Venezia ICE F-#37-58; June-Oct. 1958; exh. included 46 ptgs. and 26 sculptures by 4 artists. Lipton and Tobey works selected by FO'H. Rothko and 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. View PDF of folder 2.	1958
3.	Cézanne to Miró 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.
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 and 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.
5.	International Circulating Exhibition and 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 and 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, and Pollock exhibitions; info. re: exh. of the International Program.	1956-1958
6.	*Franz Kline* ICE F-#75-62; 1963-64; 67 ptgs., dwgs., collages, and gouaches, selected by O'Hara; travelled to Amsterdam, Turin, Brussels, Basel, Vienna, London, and Paris. See also ICE Papers. Incl.: correspondence from Nov. 1962-May 1965; info. re: exh.
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. View PDF of folder 7.	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.	1956, 1957
9.	Museum Administrative Matters Incl. memos re: Museum procedure, meeting announcements, events schedules, and staff benefits.	1956, 1957, 1965
10.	*Modern Sculpture: U.S.A.* # ICE F-96-63; 1963-1966; exh. opened at Rodin Museum, Paris; 71 works by 32 sculptors, selected by RD'H and FO'H. Travelled to France and 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.
11.	Staff Meeting Notices and 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).	1964-1966
12.	*Robert Motherwell* # ICE F-95-63; travelled 1965-66; MoMA Exh. # 776; 1965; 103 ptgs., collages, and dwgs. selected by FO'H. Travelled to Amsterdam, London, Brussels, Essen, and 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. View PDF of folder 12.
13.	*Reuben Nakian: Small Bronzes, Terra-Cottas and Drawings* C/E # 66-14; 1966-68; 11 bookings; See also C/E file. Includes: biographical info. re: Nakian; exh. checklist; 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.]
14.a.	*The New American Painting* 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	Sept. 1957-Jan. 1958
14.b.	*The New American Painting* Correspondence Restricted material removed: Condition information.	Feb. 1958-Dec. 1958
14.c.	*The New American Painting* Catalog View PDF of folder 14.c.
15.	*The New American Painting* 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. checklist; initial project proposals, descriptions and cost estimates; loan agreement forms. View PDF of folder 15.
16.	The New American Painting and Jackson Pollock 1912-1956: joint 'ICE' show Incl. status report for Europe exh., April 1958; correspondence concerning exh. in Paris.	1958-1959
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. and 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 View PDF of folder 17.
18.	Frank O'Hara: biographical information; obituary articles, View PDF of folder 18.	1966
19.	Frank O'Hara: Correspondence chronologically arranged; provenance and organization of O'Hara Papers discussed. Incl. personal correspondence. View PDF of folder 19.	July 1957-Dec. 1965
20.	Frank O'Hara: O'Hara's trip to Europe Incl. itinerary and correspondence; notes re. Yugoslavia trip.	Fall 1963
21.	*Jackson Pollock, 1912-1956* [Note ICE F-#35-57; 1958-1959; 31 ptgs. and 20 dwgs. and watercolors selected by FO'H. Based on retrospective for IV Bienal, São Paulo, 1957. Exh. travelled to Rome, Basel, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, and London. See also ICE Papers. Incl.: material re: Pollock exh. in Europe; correspondence.	1912-1956
22.	*Recent Landscapes by Eight 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 and purchasing of frames of works; preparation schedule for exh.; info. re: negatives; publicity release. Restricted material removed: Condition information.
23.	David Smith: European Exhibition ICE F-#82-63; 1966-1967; 48 sculptures selected by FO'H. Exh. travelled to The 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, folder 29.
24.	*David Smith* Correspondence re: Smith exhs. and proposal for book on Smith Incl. transcript of Nov. 1964 channel 13 show; poem by D. Smith; 2 articles re: Smith; exh. catalogs.	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 and repairing of certain pieces.
26.	*Berkson, Bill and Le Seur, Joe, ed. Homage to Frank O'Hara.* Bolinas, CA: Big Sky; 1978.** Gift to Archives by Waldo Rasmussen	Sept. 1978
27.	L'Artiste dans son atelie; This material incl. photographs, added later.	1962-1963
28.	Alexander Smith, Bibliography From Rose Kolmetz, International Program, to Museum Archives: 10/90. See also, folder 29.	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 also, folder 23). • Selected bibliography of O'Hara writings (see also, folder 28). • List of participants and poetry selections at an O'Hara memorial poetry reading.	Summer 1966
30.	"Teens Quiz A Critic: `What's With Modern Art?' " Ingenue. (Dunellen, NJ) p. 65.	Dec. 1964

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Box and Folder List

Box Folder

1 1.-8.

2 9.-14.c.

3 15.-22.

4 23.-30.