The Roko Gallery records are arranged into eight series: Series 1: Correspondence, 1936, 1952-circa late 1970s (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet) Series 2: Business and Financial Records, circa 1956-1980 (Box 1; 0.8 linear feet) Series 3: Artist Files, circa 1948-1979 (Box 2-5; 3.5 linear feet) Series 4: Subject Files, undated (Box 5; 1 folder) Series 5: Exhibition and Event Files, circa 1956-1978 (Box 5; 0.3 linear feet) Series 6: Scrapbook, circa 1947-1966 (Box 5-6; 0.5 linear feet) Series 7: Printed Material, 1929-1982 (Box 6; 0.4 linear feet) Series 8: Photographic Material, 1946-circa 1970s (Box 6; 0.3 linear feet)
Access Note / Rights:
Use of originals requires an appointment.
Summary:
The Roko Gallery records measure six linear feet and date from 1929-1982, with the bulk of the records dating from 1970-1978. Founded by Michael Leon Freilich in 1946, the records of this New York contemporary art gallery consist primarily of artists files. Also found are scattered correspondence, business and financial records, a subject file, exhibition files, seven scrapbooks, printed material, and photographs of Frielich, friends, and of artwork.
Citation:
Roko Gallery records, 1929-1982, bulk 1970-1978. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Use Note:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Biography Note:
Michael Leon Freilich (1912-1975) established the Roko Gallery in 1946 at 51 Greenwich Avenue where it remained until the mid-1950s. Over its 32 year history, the gallery featured the paintings and sculptures of young, new artists, most living in New York City, through solo exhibitions, group shows, and sales. The gallery then made a series of moves, first to 925 Madison Avenue, then to 867 Madison Avenue, and finally back to Greenwich Village at 90 East 10st Street in 1970. In 1974, Michael Freilich became ill and the daily gallery operations were taken over by artist Lloyd LoĢzes Goff. Freilich passed away in February 1975; Cynthia Bernardi and Manu Sassoonian bought the gallery and became co-directors in the spring of 1975. The gallery closed in 1978, leaving open an annex on 816 Broadway.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
The Roko Gallery records were donated to the Archives of American Art in 1975-1988 by Ann Freilich, sister of Michael Freilich, and Cynthia Bernardi, former director of the gallery.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001