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Katharine Steele Renninger papers, 1941-2003 (inclusive)

Extent:

14.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Katharine Steele Renninger (1925-2004) was a painter and printmaker in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A self-described "abstract realist," Renninger was known for depicting architectural structures and everyday objects in her artwork, things that to her represented a disappearing way of life. Katharine Steele Renninger papers, 1941-2003, consist of ledgers, scrapbooks, day planners, correspondence, photographs, press clippings, exhibition materials, awards, objects, and other materials that document Renninger's artistic and professional development.

Held at: James A. Michener Art Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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Bucks County Council for the Arts records, 1973-1995 (bulk 1974-1986)

Extent:

19.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Bucks County Council on the Arts (BCCA) was established in 1973 to foster, promote and coordinate support for the arts in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1983, BCCA's bylaws were revised to reflect its new name: Bucks County Council for the Arts. In 1985, BCCA was charged with running a new museum that was to occupy the recently closed Bucks County Prison in Doylestown. The museum opened to the public in 1988 as the James A. Michener Arts Center (now known as the James A. Michener Art Museum). Bucks County Council for the Arts records, 1973-1995 (bulk 1974-1986), consist of administrative and financial records, photographs and slides, scrapbooks, performing arts files, and other materials.

Held at: James A. Michener Art Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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George Nakashima papers, circa 1907-2006

Extent:

15.0 linear feet

Abstract:

George Nakashima (1905-1990) was an American architect and furniture designer and maker, often referred to as one of the fathers of the American craft movement. After being interned during World War II, Nakashima moved to New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania and set up a woodworking studio. Between the 1950s and 1980s, Nakashima's furniture was in high demand; he had exhibitions all over the world and pieces were purchased and displayed in museums. George Nakashima papers, circa 1907-2000s, consist of letters, business records, sketches, handwritten notes, architectural drawings, photographs, catalogs, awards, subject files, printed material relating mostly to Nakashima's work as a furniture designer, artwork from Nakashima's personal collection, tools, and other materials documenting Nakashima's professional and personal life. There are also materials from his daughter, Mira Nakashima-Yarnall, related to her work and her book about her father. There is a small amount of materials...(see more)

Held at: James A. Michener Art Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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James A. Michener Art Museum Archives oral history project records, 1980s-2015

Extent:

0.83 linear feet

Abstract:

The James A. Michener Art Museum, located in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is an independent, non-profit cultural institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting the art and cultural heritage of the Bucks County region. Opened in 1988, the museum is named for Doylestown's most famous son, the Pulitzer-Prize winning writer James A. Michener. James A. Michener Art Museum Archives oral history project records, 1980s-2015, consist of audio, audiovisual, and textual materials from an ongoing project whose purpose is to collect interviews with individuals with links to the old Bucks County prison (Doylestown, Pennsylvania), the surrounding area, and/or James A. Michener Art Museum.

Held at: James A. Michener Art Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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William Arthur Smith papers, 1918-1989 (bulk 1930s-1960s)

Extent:

20.0 linear feet

Abstract:

William Arthur Smith (1918-1989) was a painter, illustrator, and photographer. In 1956, he moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania and established a studio and gallery in New Hope. Smith received several high profile commissions, traveled extensively, and has work in many major museums, including the National Portrait Gallery, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Library of Congress. William Arthur Smith papers, 1918-1989 (bulk 1930s-1960s), consist of biographical information, press clippings, exhibit catalogs, materials from travel and international exhibitions, business correspondence, personal correspondence, documents related to commissioned and non-commissioned artwork, lecture and presentation materials, materials relating to or from Pearl S. Buck and Carl Sandburg, photographs and negatives, honors and awards, materials from organizations with which Smith was involved, sketchbooks and original artworks, and other materials. There are several oversized items in the collection.

Held at: James A. Michener Art Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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Edward J. Byrne Studio drawings, photographs, and pamphlets, circa 1920s-2000s

Extent:

2.5 linear feet

Abstract:

Edward J. Byrne (1898-1968) was a prominent stained-glass window designer in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and nearby areas. After partnering with George Sotter, he opened the Edward J. Byrne Studio in 1933 in Carversville, PA. The studio relocated to Doylestown in the 1960s and was taken over by Byrne's son, Edward J. Byrne, Jr. Edward J. Byrne Studio drawings, photographs, and pamphlets, circa 1920s-2000s, consist of presentation drawings and full size cartoons of stained glass window designs for area churches, as well as photographs and negatives and pamphlets, computer printouts, and photocopies of newspaper articles showcasing the work of Edward J. Byrne Studios.

Held at: James A. Michener Art Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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James A. Michener Art Museum Archives subject files, circa late-1970s-2016

Extent:

65.0 linear feet

Abstract:

The James A. Michener Art Museum, located in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is an independent, non-profit cultural institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting the art and cultural heritage of the Bucks County region. Opened in 1988, the museum is named for Doylestown's most famous son, the Pulitzer-Prize winning writer James A. Michener. James A. Michener Art Museum Archives subject files, circa late-1970s-2016, consist of reference files with printed matter and ephemera on more than 1500 artists, groups, and organizations of various creative disciplines in the Bucks County, Pennsylvania area.

Held at: James A. Michener Art Museum Archives [Contact Us]

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Woman's Club of Germantown records, 1917-1994 (inclusive)

Extent:

3.0 linear feet

Abstract:

The Woman's Club of Germantown was organized in 1917 to foster women's participation in social, civic, educational and philanthropic life in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The club purchased the Johnson House, a historic site on the Underground Railroad, and occupied it until the club dissolved in 1982. The Woman's Club of Germantown records, 1917-1994, largely consist of the club's annual reports from 1917 to 1982 and blank stationary. The collection also includes a small amount of newspaper clippings, photographs, scattered financial records, and correspondence regarding the club's dissolution.

Held at: Johnson House Historic Site [Contact Us]

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Congregation Mikveh Israel records, 1765-2011 (inclusive)

Extent:

120.0 linear feet

Abstract:

Congregation Mikveh Israel, known as the "Synagogue of the American Revolution," is the oldest formal Jewish congregation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the oldest continuous synagogue in the United States, tracing its origins to a communal cemetery established for the Jews in Philadelphia in 1740. Following the Sephardic tradition, Mikveh Israel has counted among its members many prominent individuals who have contributed to the development of Jewish life in Philadelphia and the United States. The Congregation Mikveh Israel records, 1765-2011, include a large quantity of membership and vital records, and extensive papers from several former religious leaders (hazanim) and synagogue presidents (parnassim). Additionally, there are administrative and financial records, property-related materials, photographs, publications and ephemera, and documentation of various congregational committees and activities. There are some materials from several people and organizations associated...(see more)

Held at: Mikveh Israel Archives [Contact Us]

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King of Prussia Post Office and General Store ledgers, 1927-1966 (inclusive)

Extent:

2.25 linear feet

Abstract:

The King of Prussia Post Office and General Store was established in the late 18th century and continued in operation until the 1980s. Beginning in the late 1930s, it also housed an antiques business. The King of Prussia Post Office and General Store ledgers, 1927-1966, consist of financial ledgers, most of which relate to the general store, post office, and antiques businesses. Other ledgers include bookkeeping records and accounts with another business.

Held at: King of Prussia Historical Society [Contact Us]