Associated American Artists

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Associated American Artists was established in 1934 in New York City.

From the guide to the Associated American Artists Records, 1916-1974, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Organized in 1934 to stimulate interest throughout the U.S. in the ownership of works of art by promoting the sale of prints through department stores. In 1935, oils, watercolors, and other media were added. Later the department store project was abandoned in favor of a New York headquarters.

From the description of Associated American Artists records, ca. 1934-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 744425261

From the description of Associated American Artists records, ca. 1934-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82844411

The Associated American Artists was created in 1934 with the mission of bridging the gap between artists and their audiences by making fine art affordable, accessible, and attractive for the general American public. The A.A.A. offered new editions of prints to collectors at very reasonable prices. This was accomplished by publishing limited-edition prints of etchings and lithographs by American artists that sold for as little as five dollars each. The organization commissioned original graphic art from many notable American artists, whose art often reflected or commented on the social ideas of the era. All lithographs and etchings were produced in editions ranging from 125 to 250 impressions. Between 1934 and 1945, the organization published more than 600 limited-edition prints. An early collaboration allowed the prints to be displayed and sold in fifty department stores nationwide. Later, the department stores were abandoned in favor of a headquarters in a gallery in New York City. By the 1950s, the organization began to design fabrics as well.

The organization was also notable for its innovative use of modern merchandising and advertising techniques to sell and introduce high-quality artwork to a broad audience. New products were introduced in newspaper articles and magazines that targeted both the public and professional trade audiences. Prints were also advertised on the back of periodicals, which introduced the art to an even wider audience across the country.

From the guide to the Associated American Artists records, circa 1934-1981, (Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Bailey, Henry Turner, 1865-1931. Trade catalogs of artwork, 1887-1975. University of California, Santa Barbara, UCSB Library
creatorOf Arms, John Taylor, 1887-1953. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1933-1955. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Aaron Bohrod papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Wood, Gramt, 1892-1942. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1935-1942, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn George Grosz papers, 1893-1981 (inclusive) 1919-1959 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Associated American Artists. Institutional file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Associated American Artists Records, 1916-1974 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf United States. Office of War Information. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1943-1944. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Adolf Dehn papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Subject file : ASSOCIATED AMERICAN ARTISTS: miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Aaron Bohrod Papers, 1932-1963 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Associated American Artists. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1959-1970. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Chaim Gross Papers, 1937-1964 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Associated American Artists records Archives of American Art
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Peter Milton papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Landacre, Paul, 1893-1963. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1936-1948, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Jozef Pielage papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Adolf Dehn papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf American Artists Group. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1936-1957, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1916-1969, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn The Nation, records, 1879-1974 (inclusive), 1920-1955 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Martin and Harriet Diamond Vertical Files of American Art, 1915-1995 Rutgers University. Art Library.
referencedIn Castellón, Federico. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1933-1971, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Dwight, Mabel, 1876-1955. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1915-1967, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with Sylvan Cole Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Federico Castellon Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Luigi Lucioni Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith American Artists Group. corporateBody
associatedWith Arms, John Taylor, 1887-1953. person
associatedWith Baer, Howard. person
associatedWith Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975 person
associatedWith Blatas, Arbit. person
associatedWith Bohrod, Aaron. person
associatedWith Bohrod, Aaron. person
associatedWith Castellón, Federico. person
associatedWith Castellón, Federico, 1914-1971, person
associatedWith Cole, Sylvan, person
associatedWith Curry, John Steuart, 1897-1946 person
associatedWith Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968. person
associatedWith Diamond, Martin person
associatedWith Dwight, Mabel, 1876-1955. person
associatedWith Gross, Chaim, 1904- person
associatedWith Grosz, George, 1893-1959 person
correspondedWith Hocking, William Ernest, 1873-1966 person
associatedWith Jones, Joe, 1909-1963 person
associatedWith Landacre, Paul, 1893-1963. person
associatedWith Lewenthal, Reeves, 1909- person
associatedWith Lewenthal, Reeves, 1909-1987. person
associatedWith Liederman, Maurice J. person
associatedWith Lucioni, Luigi, 1900- person
associatedWith Lucioni, Luigi, 1900-1988. person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Milton, Peter, 1930- person
correspondedWith Nation (New York, N.Y. : 1865). corporateBody
associatedWith Pielage, Jozef. person
associatedWith United States. Office of War Information. corporateBody
associatedWith Wood, Gramt, 1892-1942. person
associatedWith Wood, Grant, 1891-1942. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
United States
United States
Subject
Art, American
Art, American
Sculpture, American
Art
Art
Art
Art
Art galleries, Commercial
Art galleries, Commercial
Art galleries, Commercial
Artists
Artists
Business and industry
Painters
Painting, American
Sculptors
Occupation
Painter
Sculptors
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1933

Active 1955

Americans

Information

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