Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. 1.2 linear ft. (1/2 archival boxes, 1 flat box)

Summary

1. The collection includes press clippings about her sculpting career, manuscripts from her retirement period, and some posthumous correspondence. The press clippings were contained in a scrapbook and document Savage's activities and accomplishments as well as those of her students. The scrapbook also includes two letters: one from the Carnegie Corporation and another from "La Revue Moderne." In the collection also are her 1939 World's Fair contract with an attached map of the fairgrounds, a student report on the Savage School, three magazine covers designed by Savage, and an unidentified attendance roll with signatures of artists and architects such as Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Aaron Douglas. Five manuscripts from her retirement period are also included. The correspondence folder includes a letter from Savage to "Argosy Magazine" requesting that they publish her article. Posthumous materials include correspondence requesting information and input from her daughter, Irene Allen, regarding exhibitions of Savage's art, and/or writings about the artist.

Subject

1. Savage, Augusta, 1892-1962
2. Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts (Harlem, New York, N.Y.)
3. Women sculptors -- United States
4. African American women artists
5. African Americans in art

Genre/Form

1. Scrapbooks.

Call number

1. Sc MG 731

Language

1. English

Note

1. Photographs transferred to Photographs and Prints Division.

Source (note)

1. Lorriane Lucas

Biography (note)

1. Augusta Savage (1892-1962) was a Harlem Renaissance sculptor and the first director of the Harlem Community Art Center. Arriving in New York in 1921, Savage graduated from Cooper Union and received fellowships to study in France. Her works include "The Harp", commissioned for the 1939 World's Fair, the award-winning "Gamin," and busts of W.E.B DuBois, James Weldon Johnson and Marcus Garvey. Savage became active in the Harlem arts community through organizing efforts such as the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts, the Vanguard, a group of young, progressive intellectuals, free art classes through the adult education department of the State University of New York, and as assistant supervisor for the WPA Federal Art Projects. In 1945, Savage retired to the Catskills where she authored children's stories - none of which are known to have been published.

Author

1. Savage, Augusta, 1892-1962.

Title

1. Augusta Savage papers, 1926-1987.

Biography

1. Augusta Savage (1892-1962) was a Harlem Renaissance sculptor and the first director of the Harlem Community Art Center. Arriving in New York in 1921, Savage graduated from Cooper Union and received fellowships to study in France. Her works include "The Harp", commissioned for the 1939 World's Fair, the award-winning "Gamin," and busts of W.E.B DuBois, James Weldon Johnson and Marcus Garvey. Savage became active in the Harlem arts community through organizing efforts such as the Savage Studio of Arts and Crafts, the Vanguard, a group of young, progressive intellectuals, free art classes through the adult education department of the State University of New York, and as assistant supervisor for the WPA Federal Art Projects. In 1945, Savage retired to the Catskills where she authored children's stories - none of which are known to have been published.

Connect to:

1. Finding Aid

Research call number

1. Sc MG 731