The collection is arranged in nine series. Series 1: Biographical Material, 1930-2008 (Boxes 1-2, OV 12, RD 17, ER01-ER03; 1.7 linear feet) Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1948-2014 (Boxes 2-3; 1 linear foot) Series 3: Writings, circa 1952-2005 (Box 3, OV 12, ER04; 0.3 linear feet) Series 4: Professional Records, 1968-circa 2007, 2014 (Box 3, OV 12; 0.4 linear feet) Series 5: Financial Records, 1963-circa 2014 (Boxes 3-5; 1.4 linear feet) Series 6: Printed Material: 1916-1936, 1951-2007 (Boxes 5-7, OV 13-14, ER05-ER07; 2.8 linear feet) Series 7: Photographic Material: 1926, circa 1943-2007 (Boxes 7-9, OV 15, ER08-ER12; 2 linear feet) Series 8: Artwork, circa 1947-circa 2007 (Boxes 9-10, OV 16; 0.6 linear feet) Series 9: Artifacts, circa 2007-circa 2009 (Box 11; 1 linear foot)
Access Note / Rights:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings and born-digital records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Summary:
The papers of artist Roy De Forest measure 11.2 linear feet and 111.86 gigabytes and date from 1916 to 2015, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1948 to 2007. The collection documents De Forest's painting career and involvement in the funk art movement through biographical material, correspondence, writings, professional records, printed material, photographic material, artwork, digital audio and video recordings, and artifacts.
Citation:
Roy De Forest papers, 1916-2015, bulk 1948-2007. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
The bulk of this collection was digitized in 2019 and is available on the Archives of American Art website. Materials which have not been digitized include an interview recording on videocassette, a 35mm filmstrip, estate papers. In some cases, exhibition catalogs and other publications have had their covers, title pages, and relevant pages digitized. Access copies of born-digital records are not online and are available at the Archives of American Art offices.
Funding:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck. Funding for the digitization of this collection was provided by Gloria Marchant.
Related Materials:
Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Roy De Forest conducted by Lynn Robert Matteson, April 7-June 30, 2004.
Biography Note:
Roy De Forest (1930-2007) was a painter, sculptor, and educator in Port Costa, California. A notable figure in the funk art movement, he coined the term "nut art" to describe art that embraced humor and created a fantasy world.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
The Roy De Forest papers were donated in several installments from 1974 to 2019. Some materials were loaned for microfilming in 1974 and subsequently donated in 1977 and 1979 by Roy De Forest. Additional materials were donated in 2009, 2016 and 2019 by Gloria Marchant, Roy De Forest's widow.
Digitization Note:
The Roy De Forest papers were digitized in 2019, and total 8,903 images.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Topic:
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- California Search this
