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 2016
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 9
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.
Top 3 results view all 7

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.
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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.
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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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Records of the Aaron Siskind Foundation (SC-38), 1920/2020 1.5 Linear Feet 4 boxes; 16 folders

Aaron Siskind Foundation
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.
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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Benjamin L. Wigfall Artist Archives and Mary Carter Wigfall Personal Papers, 1880/2023 21.875 Linear Feet 50 boxes; 63 folders

Wigfall, Benjamin L., 1930-2017
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.

Series 10: Other Artists and Friends, 1949/2020 3 boxes 2 boxes 10 folders

This series is comprised of correspondence, photographs, slides, negatives, newspaper clippings, ephemera, and more related to other artists and friends around Benjamin L. Wigfall.

Series 1: Benjamin L. Wigfall, 1944/2023 3 boxes 2 boxes 10 folders Box VA-12 Box 1, Box VA-12 Box 2, Binder VA-12 Box 10, VA-12 Box 38, VA-12 File 1

This series is compromised of correspondence, clippings, photographs, magazines, art reproductions, and other material related to Wigfall's life, education, career, and family.

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.
Top 3 results view all 5

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.

Series 3: VMFA Magazine, 2009/2024

This series is comprised of VMFA Magazine issues, which has been published since January 2009 and is still in print. The issues are published in full-color, but the publication frequency has changed many times over the years.

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 23

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

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.
Top 3 results view all 9

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.

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