Collections : [Virginia Museum of Fine Arts]

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

VMFA Archives
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library
200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Primary Collecting Areas:
VMFA institutional records, Donor papers, Virginia Artists Archives, Oral histories, Artist subject files, Analog, and digital audiovisual collections
Description:

The Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library provides access to a wealth of rare and unique primary source materials for scholars, researchers, and the public.

The Archives consists of a diverse and growing collection of permanent materials, covering museum history from its beginnings in the 1930s until today. The Archives includes institutional records from over 25 museum departments, thousands of artist and subject files, as well as donated collections related to the museum and the history of art in Virginia. The Archives also recently launched the Virginia Artists Archives, a collecting initiative that aims to create a rich, diverse, and unprecedented collection of Virginia artists’ papers to increase awareness about the contributions of Virginia artists, both past and present.

POC: Roxanne Winfield
Phone: (804) 340-1497
Phone: (804) 340-1495
Start Over Repository Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Date range 1966 Creator Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Annual Reports (PB-02), 1935/2018 7.5 Linear Feet 239 items

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The collection is part of the Publications Archive, and is comprised of archival copies of all Annual Reports published by the museum since 1936. Issued by the Director's Office, these reports cover every aspect of the museum's activities over the course of a given year, including acquisitions, exhibitions, programs, staffing, donations, etc. The collection also contains archival copies of the Honor Roll of Contributors, which is published by the museum at irregular intervals.
  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

"Arts in Virginia" (PB-04), 1960/1993 23.25 Linear Feet 409 items

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The collection is part of the Publications Archive, and is comprised of archival copies of all "Arts in Virginia" issues published by the museum. Published quarterly until 1982, then irregularly until it ceased publication in 1992, "Arts in Virginia" was conceived as a privilege of membership in the museum and included articles about the museum's collection as well as the arts in Virginia. Noted local and national scholars were invited to publish their research, and sometimes guest edited entire issues. In the first two decades of publication, graphic designers used the cover to experiment with different designs, including cut-outs and textures.
  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Bulletins / Calendars / VMFA Magazines (PB-03), 1940/2024 12 Linear Feet 2,595 items

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The collection is part of the Publications Archive, and is comprised of archival copies of all Bulletins / Calendars / VMFA Magazines published by the museum since 1940. The publishing frequncy has changed many times (monthly, quarterly, bi-monthly) and the title changed three times, but the publication has always served to document the daily activities at the museum, including exhibitions, tours, programs, lectures, and more.
  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Catalogs (PB-01), 1936/2020 63.25 Linear Feet 2,453 items

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The collection is part of the Publications Archive, and is comprised of archival copies of all catalogs published by the museum, as well as catalogs for exhibitions that were shown at the museum, but produced by other institutions. Other catalogs highlight particular aspects of the museum's permanent collection.
  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Children looking at Fabergé eggs, 1966 1 item Binder SC-07 Photo Archives, Page Unknown, Item SC07.PH.03.001

Description: A young girl tries on a jewelled ring as a young boy looks on. Four Fabergé eggs are on the table in front of them. In the 1950s and 1960s, the museum regularly set up publicity shots with children that allowed them to take a closer look at (and often touch!) the Fabergé artworks.

  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
  2. Lillian Thomas Pratt Personal Papers (SC-07), 1901/1947
  3. Series 5: Museum Records, 1901/1947
  4. Photographic Archives

Children looking inside Fabergé imperial egg, 1966 1 item Binder SC-07 Photo Archives, Page Unknown, Item SC07.PH.02.001

Description: Two young children peer into the open top of the Imperial Tsarevich Easter Egg. In the 1950s and 1960s, the museum regularly set up publicity shots with children that allowed them to take a closer look at (and often touch!) the Fabergé imperial eggs.

  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
  2. Lillian Thomas Pratt Personal Papers (SC-07), 1901/1947
  3. Series 5: Museum Records, 1901/1947
  4. Photographic Archives

Collateral and Other Publications (PB-05), 1952/2023 34 Linear Feet 1,418 items and 52 boxes of uncounted items

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
The collection is part of the Publications Archive, and is comprised of archival copies of collateral and numerous other types of publications created by the museum, including theater programs, gallery guides, statewide services catalogs, marketing reports, and Council publications.
  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Education and Outreach Photo Archives, 1950/2010 97 boxes 97 binders

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
This collection documents the history of the various Education and Outreach initiatives, comprising everything from the VMFA's Artmobile program to art classes, lectures and symposia to family open houses, and includes photographic prints, slides, programs, and related ephemera.
  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Events Photo Archives, 1939/2012 10 Linear Feet 44 binders

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
This collection documents the various events held at and hosted by the VMFA from the years 1939-2012, including Fine Arts and Flowers, Jumpin in July, and Fast Forward. Materials include event programs, photographs, slides, and negatives.
  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Exhibitions Photo Archives, 1936/2010 52 Linear Feet 210 binders

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
This collection documents the visual history of various VMFA exhibitions for the years 1936-2010, comprising photographic prints, slides, programs, and related ephemera.
  1. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

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