The Walter Pach papers are arranged as ten series. Series 1: Biographical Material, 1884-circa 1950s (Box 1, 9; 9 folders) Series 2: Correspondence, 1883-1980 (Box 1-3, FC 23; 2.1 linear feet) Series 3: Writings, 1899-circa 1950s (Box 3-5; 2.5 linear feet) Series 4: Diaries and Journals, 1903-circa 1950s (Box 5; 5 folders) Series 5: Business Records, circa 1913-circa 1960s (Box 5-6; 0.3 linear feet) Series 6: Printed Material, circa 1900-1977 (Box 6-7, 9; 1.3 linear feet) Series 7: Scrapbooks, circa 1890-circa 1940s (Box 7, 9; 0.4 linear feet) Series 8: Artwork, circa 1860-circa 1950s (Box 7, 10; 0.4 linear feet) Series 9: Photographs, 1857-1959 (Box 7-8, 10; 1.4 linear feet) Series 10: Selections from Walter Pach's Library, 1880-1963 (Box 11-22; 12 linear feet)
Access Note / Rights:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
Summary:
The papers of New York artist, critic, historian, writer, art consultant and curator Walter Pach, measure 20.7 linear feet and date from 1857-1980. The collection documents Pach's promotion of modernism through his role in the landmark 1913 Armory Show, his relationships with artists and art-world figures and his extensive writings on art. Records include biographical material, correspondence with family, friends and colleagues including noted artists, handwritten and edited versions of manuscripts by Pach, diaries and journals, business records, printed material, scrapbooks, sketchbooks and artwork by Pach and others, and photographs of Pach and his family, friends, and colleagues. The collection also includes 12 linear feet of selections from Walter Pach's library.
Citation:
Walter Pach papers, 1857-1980. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
The bulk of the collection was digitized in 2014 and is available on the Archives of American Art's website. Material which has not been scanned includes duplicates, blank pages of bound volumes, some business records and sensitive personal financial and medical records, negatives, and Series 10: Selections from Walter Pach's Library.
Funding:
Funding for the initial digitization of the microfilm of this collection was provided by the Gladys K. Delmas Foundation. Funding for the processing of the addition to the Walter Pach papers and digitization of the fully re-processed collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
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.
Related Materials:
Papers of Walter Pach, 1885-1956, are also located at the Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives. When the Archives of American Art acquired the Walter Pach Papers, some portion of his library was also received. The bulk of the library was transferred to the Smithsonian's American Art/Portrait Gallery Library where the items could be properly cataloged, cared for, and used.
Biography Note:
New York artist, critic, writer, art consultant, and curator, Walter Pach (1883-1958) was an influential promoter of modern art and was instrumental in organizing the landmark Armory Show in 1913.
Language Note:
The records are in English, French and Spanish.
Provenance:
The Walter Pach papers were acquired in several installments. After Pach's death his widow, Nikifora Pach, sold Pach's papers to Salander-O'Reilly Galleries. They were purchased by the Archives of American Art in 1988 with a grant from the Brown Foundation, Inc. Eight family photographs, donated by Raymond Pach, son of Walter Pach, were received in 1990. In 2012 Francis M. Naumann donated an additional 5.7 linear feet of material to the Archives of American Art.
Digitization Note:
This site provides access to the papers of Walter Pach in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2015, and total 15,315 images.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001