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Georgia O'Keeffe Oral History Project

 Collection
Identifier: MS-32

Scope and Contents Note

In 1999, The Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum began working together on the Georgia O'Keeffe Oral History Project with the goal of recording and transcribing interviews with Georgia O'Keeffe's surviving relatives, colleagues, friends, and employees.

The co-directors of the project, Agapita Judy Lopez (Director, The Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation) and Barbara Buhler Lynes (Curator and Emily Fisher Landau Director of the Research Center, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum) developed a list of individuals to be interviewed by Sarah L. Burt and Jane Cook. The bulk of the interviews were conducted from 2000 to 2003.

The interviews cover a range of topics with special attention to the interviewees' interactions with O'Keeffe and her contributions to the art world and her community.

Most of the interviews were recorded on audiocassettes and were later transcribed by the interviewer. Transcripts and audio recordings have been digitized by the Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1970s, 1991-2010
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 2000-2003

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Restrictions

Some materials restricted at the interviewees' or creators' request. Access to audiocassettes restricted.

Copy and Reproduction Restrictions

Duplication of media is restricted. Reproduction of print materials is for research purposes only. As per the agreements with interviewees, publication of information from the interviews requires the written consent of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and the participants or their successors.

Biographical Note

Sarah L. Burt (1952-2015) was the projects manager for The Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation for approximately 10 years. Projects she worked on included the Georgia O'Keeffe Oral History Project, a photo research project about O'Keeffe's historic homes in New Mexico, and the National Historic Landmark Nomination for O'Keeffe's Abiquiu house and studio. Later she worked as the curator at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska and curator at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana.

Jane Cook is a professional anthropologist, writer, and artist, who pursued graduate work as an oral historian at Harvard University, the University of Texas, Austin, and Boston University. Cook worked on the Georgia O'Keeffe Oral History Project as an interviewer.

Extent

5.09 Linear Feet (8 hollinger boxes, 1 album box, 2 audiocassette boxes)

Additional Description

Overview

The collection consists of interviews with Georgia O'Keeffe's surviving relatives, colleagues, friends, and employees as well as supporting project documentation. The bulk of the materials date from 2000 to 2003 and include audiocassette recordings, typed transcripts, photographs, and research and project records.

Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged into three series: Interviews, Project files, and Photographic material. Series are arranged alphabetically by interviewee or subject.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was transferred to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum from The Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation in 2006.

Credit Line

Gift of The Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation.

Existence and Location of Copies

The interviews were originally recorded on audiocassette and were transferred during processing to master digital audio files from which derivative user access files were created. During the transfer, the digital audio stream was not edited.

Ownership and Rights

The majority of the rights are held by the interviewee. As per the agreements with interviewees, publication of information from the interviews requires the written consent of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and the participants or their successors.

This collection is the physical property of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. The Museum holds literary rights only for material created by Museum personnel or given to the Museum with such rights specifically assigned. The collection is subject to all copyright laws. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply. Contact the Archivist for further copyright and publication information as it pertains to this collection.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Pat Bacha and Elizabeth Ehrnst in 2016. Final processing was completed by Ashley Baranyk in 2019.

Related Names

Subjects

Genre / Form

Geographic

Topical

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Finding Aid to the Georgia O'Keeffe Oral History Project, circa 1970s, 1991-2010
Status
Completed
Author
Elizabeth Ehrnst and Ashley Baranyk
Date
July 2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Repository

http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/
Contact:
217 Johnson Street
Santa Fe NM 87501 US
505-946-1000

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