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 2009
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Records of the Statewide Partnerships Department (RG-15), 1935/2012

51.25 Linear Feet 57 boxes; 1,918 folders
Top 3 results view all 69
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Willie Anne Wright Artist Archives (VA-02), 1944/2021

47 boxes 47 boxes; 724 folders
The collection documents the career of renowned lensless photographer Willie Anne Wright. Wright's paintings, serigraphs and drawings were her professional focus until 1972 when pinhole photography became her primary creative medium. Comprised mainly of the exhibition files Wright maintained, as well as information about gallery representation and art sales, the collection traces the evolution of her artistic journey over four decades.
Top 3 results view all 36
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Records of the Council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (SC-04), 1953/2007

21.25 Linear Feet 17 boxes; 308 folders and 4 unprocessed boxes
The collection documents the rich history of the Council of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the museum's oldest and longest-running support group. Founded in 1955 by a group of interested women, the Council has grown greatly over the years in membership, events, projects and support given to the museum. The collection spans the entire six decade history of the Council through minutes, officer's reports, committee reports, subject/event files, and some past Presidents' files. A large portion of the documentation is devoted to the Council Sales Shop, begun in 1962, and turned over to the museum in 2010.
Top 3 results view all 22
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.
2 results

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

Pinkney Near Personal Papers and Henrietta Near Artist Archives (SC-42), 1873/2020

2.5 Linear Feet 4 boxes; 27 folders
This collection documents the lives and careers of Pinkney Near, former curator of VMFA, and his wife, artist and art aficionado, Henrietta Near.
Top 3 results view all 8

Art Organizations, 1961/2015 Box SC-42 Box 1

This file contains correspondence, grant applications, meeting minutes, articles, and ephemera pertaining to Henrietta's work with various Richmond art organizations. Included are Art6 (2004-2015), ArtSpace (1990-2007), Hand Workshop (1991-1992), Henry Street Gallery (1987), Very Special Arts (1998-2000), and VMFA (1961).

  1. Series 2: Henrietta Near, 1873/2020
  2. Sub-Series 2.1: Career Files, 1961/2016
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Records of the Trustees (RG-02), 1933/2010

62.5 Linear Feet 50 boxes; 1,619 folders, 3 reels of microfilm, 1 hard drive 1 item 1 reel of microfilm (RG02.02.0.001)
The collection documents the work of the Trustees from 1933-2010, including committee files, signed minutes, meeting files, rosters, and records from Trustee Presidents and the Secretary of the Museum.
Top 3 results view all 49
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.
Top 3 results view all 33
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Marsha Polier Artist Archives (VA-13), 1968/2023

1 box 1 box
Born in 1949, Marsha Polier Grossman has held a long career acting in various artistic roles, such as graphic designer, photographer, and instructor, to name a few. In the 1970s and 1980s, Grossman frequently exhibited at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, alongside other prominent Virginia photographers. Her collection includes examples of her artwork, correspondence with other artists, and information on exhibitions in which she was a participant.
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Marsha Polier Artist Archives (VA-13), 1968/2023 1 box 1 box

Polier-Grossman, Marsha
Born in 1949, Marsha Polier Grossman has held a long career acting in various artistic roles, such as graphic designer, photographer, and instructor, to name a few. In the 1970s and 1980s, Grossman frequently exhibited at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, alongside other prominent Virginia photographers. Her collection includes examples of her artwork, correspondence with other artists, and information on exhibitions in which she was a participant.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Records of the Aaron Siskind Foundation (SC-38), 1920/2020

1.5 Linear Feet 4 boxes; 16 folders
The collection documents the activities of the Aaron Siskind Foundation during its years of operation, from 1984 to 2020. Aaron Siskind directed that his estate become a resource that would support contemporary photography and reward and encourage excellence in its practitioners. Since his death in 1991, the Aaron Siskind Foundation provided cash grants to individual photographic artists on a yearly basis until disbanding in 2020.
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Art Management, 2003/2009 3 boxes 3 boxes; 1 folder Box SC-38 Box 1, Box RG-26 Box Disk-01, Box RG-26 Box Disk-08

This file contains print materials and CD's that document the Aaron Siskind Foundation's organization system for Siskind works in their care.

  1. Series 2: Aaron Siskind Foundation, 1983/2019
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Records of the Curatorial Department (RG-03), 1928/2019

215 Linear Feet 164 boxes; 4,402 folders
Top 3 results view all 41

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.