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 Creator Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Catalogs (PB-01), 1936/2020

63.25 Linear Feet 2,453 items
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.
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Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Benjamin L. Wigfall Artist Archives and Mary Carter Wigfall Personal Papers, 1880/2023

21.875 Linear Feet 50 boxes; 63 folders
The collection documents the life and work of Benjamin L. Wigfall, African American abstract expressionist artist. Benjamin L. Wigfall was the second African American artist to have a painting aquired by the VMFA, as well as the youngest ever artist to do the same. In addition to his work as an artist, Wigfall also taught and mentored in both Virginia at Hampton Institute, as well as New York at SUNY New Paltz and in his own community. Additionally, the collection contains documents related to the life and career of artist and educator, Mary Carter Wigfall, Benjamin L. Wigfall's wife. Mary C. Wigfall founded and directed the Migrant Childcare Center in New York from the early 1970s until her retirement in 1992.
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Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Annual Reports (PB-02), 1935/2018

7.5 Linear Feet 239 items
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.
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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.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

"Arts in Virginia" (PB-04), 1960/1993

23.25 Linear Feet 409 items
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.
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"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.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Bulletins / Calendars / VMFA Magazines (PB-03), 1940/2024

12 Linear Feet 2,595 items
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.
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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.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Lillian Thomas Pratt Personal Papers (SC-07), 1901/1947

1.5 Linear Feet 2 boxes (15 folders), 1 oversize item and 1 binder
The collection documents the formation of the Lillian Thomas Pratt Collection of Fabergé decorative artworks at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Bequeathed to the museum upon her death in 1947, Pratt's Fabergé collection consistently remains one of the highlights of the museum's permanent collection. Pratt purchased most of her Fabergé collection from the Schaffer Collection and Hammer Galleries, both of New York City, in the 1930s and 1940s. Comprised of correspondence, invoices, price tags, and detailed item descriptions, this collection illuminates Pratt's mind as a collector, as well as her relationship with one of her dealers, Alexander Schaffer.
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Children looking at Fabergé egg pendant, 1955/1965 1 item Binder SC-07 Photo Archives, Page Unknown, Item SC07.PH.11.001

Description: A young girl dangles a Fabergé miniature Easter egg pendant on a chain over a table while a young boy touches the egg with his index finger. 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. Series 5: Museum Records, 1901/1947
  2. Photographic Archives

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. Series 5: Museum Records, 1901/1947
  2. Photographic Archives

Children looking at Fabergé imperial eggs 1 item Binder SC-07 Photo Archives, Page Unknown, Item SC07.PH.01.001

Description: Two young children bend down to peer at Fabergé eggs sitting on a table. 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. Series 5: Museum Records, 1901/1947
  2. Photographic Archives
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Collateral and Other Publications (PB-05), 1952/2023

34 Linear Feet 1,418 items and 52 boxes of uncounted items
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.
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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.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

R.E. Lee Camp, No. 1, Confederate Veterans Papers (SC-21), 1885/1958

0.2 Linear Feet 3 boxes; 13 items
The collection documents the history of R.E. Lee Camp, No. 1, Confederate Veterans, a large residential complex for poor and infirm Confederate veterans of the Civil War. Altogether a total of nearly three thousand veterans from thirty-three states called the camp home, and after the camp's closing, the Commonwealth eventually granted use of the buildings and land to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The collection is comprised of photographs and postcards that document the changing landscape of the camp over 50 years, a rare guest register that includes thousands of guest signatures and a page signed by ten members of the Blackfeet Nation, and two extremely rare artifacts – reunion ribbons – provide material testimony to the reconciliation efforts of Confederate and Union veterans only twenty years after they faced each other as enemies during the Civil War.
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Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Education and Outreach Photo Archives, 1950/2010

97 boxes 97 binders
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.
Top 3 results view all 15

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.

Series 10: Studio School, 1992/2010 4 boxes 4 binders Binder PH-01-10 Binder 1, Binder 1, Binder PH-01-10 Binder 2, Binder 2, Binder PH-01-10 Binder 3, Binder 3, Binder PH-01-10 Binder 4, Binder 4

This series documents the various classes held at the Studio School, aka the HealthSouth Visual Arts Center on Grove Avenue, and includes contact sheets, photographic prints, and class catalogs.

Series 11: Teachers Workshops, 1994/2005 6 boxes 6 binders Binder PH-01-11 Binder 1, Binder 1, Binder PH-01-11 Binder 2, Binder 2, Binder PH-01-11 Binder 3, Binder 3, Binder PH-01-11 Binder 4, Binder 4, Binder PH-01-11 Binder 5, Binder 5, Binder PH-01-11 Binder 6, Binder 6

This series documents the various Teachers Workshops, institutes, and programs held at the VMFA from 1994-2005, and includes photographic prints, contact sheets, slides, and event programs.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Events Photo Archives, 1939/2012

10 Linear Feet 44 binders
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.
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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.

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.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.