Series VII. Exhibition Files from the Reception Center, Exhibit Hall, and Exhibition Center, 1949-1972, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Records document exhibitions shown in the public spaces of the the Time & Life Building at 9 Rockefeller Plaza and in the new Time & Life Building at 1271 Avenue of the Americas in the Rockefeller Center. The majority of files document exhibitions at the second building with one folder listing exhibitions from the first building. Included are some files discussing sculpture in the plaza.
Records come from Bernard Barnes, head of Corporate Special Projects, and his assistants Richard Amill, John Wingerter, John C. Byers, Elizabeth Hanson, and Wells Walker; and Edgar P. Smith, assistant to the Time Inc. president. The majorty of later files come from Hanson in her role as Exhibition Hall Manager with some from Bernard Yudain, the assistant to the Time Inc. president in regards to public affairs.
There is some overlap of exhibitions represented in the records kept by Time Life International/Corporate International on the international traveling exhibitions in this record group and by the Promotion and Public Affairs Department in the Time Publishing and Business Records.
Arrangement
This series is organized into three subseries:
Subseries VII.A. Administrative Files
Subseries VII.B. Exhibition Files
Subseries VII.C. Recurring Exhibition Files
Historical Note
Time Inc. displayed exhibitions in public areas of their offices at the Time & Life Building at 9 Rockefeller Plaza and in the new Time & Life Building at 1271 Avenue of the Americas in the Rockefeller Center. The public areas are referred to as the Reception Center, Exhibit Hall, and Exhibition Center. It isn't clear if these are three separate areas or if they are areas with several names. were renamed.
Some exhibitions showcase Time Inc.'s history or photographs produced by Time Inc. magazines. Exhibitions may be organized by one of the Time Inc. magazines, may be co-organized by Time Inc. and an outside group, or may be a loan of a traveling exhibition from another institution. Several early exhibitions came from the American Federation of Arts.
Based on the creators of the records, exhibitions in the Reception Center, exhibit Hall, or Exhibition Center in the Time & Life Building were managed separately from the traveling exhibitions used for promotion, although there is some exhibits were reprised for travel.
Several people and offices oversaw the organization and implementation of the exhibitions including Bernard Barnes, head of Corporate Special Projects, along with his assistants over time Richard Amill, John Wingerter, John C. Byers, Elizabeth Hanson, and Wells Walker; Edgar P. Smith, assistant to the Time Inc. president; and Bernard Yudain, the assistant to the Time Inc. president in regards to public affairs. By 1968 Barnes is no longer with Time Inc., and Hanson is now in the Central Services Division (later renamed Company Services) as Exhibition Hall manager. By 1972, she is no longer with Company Services, but the Exhibition Hall is still managed as part of this division.
These files are located within the Corporate Public Affairs record group because the earliest version of Corporate Publicity was overseen by the head of Corporate Special Projects according to the Time Inc. Department Head Lists, and an archives transfer form indicates some of the material from Exhibition Center exhibits was the property of Corporate Public Affairs.
In 1970 Time Inc. creates the department Corporate Public Affairs. By 1978 Corporate Public Affairs includes Corporate Creative Services which, among other tasks, oversaw exhibits in the Time Inc. buildings or traveling exhibits sponsored by Time Inc. Around 1986, Corporate Cultural Affairs is created, which may have replaced Creative Services, fully focusing on exhibits.
Subseries VII.A. Administrative Files, 1961-1972, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The Administrative Files contain records regarding running the Reception Center and Exhibition Center and are not focused on any one exhibition. The records include correspondence, drawings, and invoices regarding fabrication of triagular steel sign to announce exhibitions, receipts for equipment purchased or loaned, and attendance statistics compared against major New York City museums. Of interest are records on commissioning artwork to place on the granite plinth over the entrance to the subway and include images of design proposals from Charles Eames and photographs of a test installation. Ultimately "Cubed Curve" by William Crovello was installed in this location, but there are no records in this series about it.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically with arrangement determined by the archivist.
Archives Transfer Form, 1975, inclusive
Insurance, 1961-1972, inclusive
Plaza Sign, 1961-1967, inclusive
Plinth (Plaza), 1966, inclusive
Projectors and Equipment, 1961-1968, inclusive
Reception Center Attendance Figures vs. Museums, 1961-1962, inclusive
Subseries VII.B. Exhibition Files, 1959-1970, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Records include correspondence from co-organizers; correspondence and memoranda regarding installation, shipping, proposals, loans, and insurance; exhibition catalogs and brochures; press releases; press clippings; photographic material depicting installed exhibitions; floor plans; and wall text and labels.
Arrangement
Organized chronologically by the exhibition opening based on the original arrangement.
1950-1960: Old Time & Life Building, 1959-1960, inclusive
1961 January 23: Since Time Began, 1960-1962, inclusive
1961 April 14: Latin America: New Departures, 1960-1961, inclusive
1961 May 17: Eisenstaedt: Witness to His Times, 1961, inclusive
1961 June 5: Famous Likenesses, 1961, inclusive
1961 July 8: Form Givers [empty], 1961, inclusive
1961 August 5: Cover Quiz, 1961, inclusive
1961 September 15: West Berlin, 1961, inclusive
1961 October 28: Upjohn Brain, 1961, inclusive
1962 January 24: AT&T / Communicating by Satellite, 1962, inclusive
1962 January 24: AT&T / Communicating by Satellite [RESTRICTED], 1962, inclusive
1962 May 5: Italian Sculpture, 1962, inclusive
1962 June 8: Berlin Wall, 1962, inclusive
1962 June 30: Birth of the Republic, 1960-1970, inclusive
1962 June 30: Birth of the Republic, circa 1962, inclusive
1962 June 30: Birth of the Republic, 1962, inclusive
1962 June 30: Birth of the Republic: Rolled Wall Text, 1962, inclusive
1962 October 5: Early American Folk Arts, 1962, inclusive
1963 February 15: Retrospect: 1923-1963 (Time's 40th anniversary), 1962-1963, inclusive
1963 July 16: World's Fair Preview, 1963, inclusive
1963 September 28: Great Ideas of Western Man, 1963, inclusive
1963 November 5: Soviet Graphic Arts, 1963, inclusive
1964 January 25: The Photography of Gjon Mili, 1964, inclusive
1964 April: World's Fair: Vatican Pavilion, 1962-1965, inclusive
1964 April 18: Paintings of Famous People (Time Cover Show), 1964, inclusive
1964 May 15: Photographs of France, 1964, inclusive
1964 May 20: Time-Life Art for Publication, 1964, inclusive
1964 July 8: Mother and Child in Modern Art, 1964, inclusive
1964 September 26: Medieval Frescoes from Yugoslavia, 1964, inclusive
1964 October 24: Eliot Elisofan, 1965, inclusive
1965 January 22: Mathematica - A World of Numbers, 1965-1967, inclusive
1965 May 8: Art of Two Cities, 1964-1965, inclusive
1965 June 26: Temples of Abu Simbel, 1965, inclusive
1965 August 14: Animal Behavior, 1965, inclusive
1965 October 27: Artzybasheff, 1965, inclusive
1966 January 15: The Works of Gordon Parks, 1966, inclusive
1966 June 8: 17 Latin American Painters, 1966, inclusive
1966 July 9: Industry and the Market Place, 1966, inclusive
1966 August 27: Eisenstaedt: Witness to Our Time, 1966, inclusive
1966 October 20: Early American Folk Arts, 1965-1966, inclusive
1967 January 21: Heredity and You, 1967, inclusive
1967 April 21: A Salute to Canada's Centennial and Expo 67, 1967, inclusive
1967 June 27: Pictures of the Year 1966, 1967, inclusive
1967 August 5: America's Great Wilderness, 1967, inclusive
1967 September 16: Fortune / Art in World Business, 1967, inclusive
1968 January 20: A Chance to Be Somebody, 1968, inclusive
1968 May 15: Picasso - The Artist, 1968, inclusive
1968 June 28: A Science Tune-In: New Horizons in Light and Sound, 1968, inclusive
1968 June 28: A Science Tune-In: New Horizons in Light and Sound [RESTRICTED], 1968, inclusive
1968 September 28: The Olympics: ATribute to the Games, 1968, inclusive
1968 November 18: Made with Paper, 1967, inclusive
1969 July 12: Apollo, 1969-1970, inclusive
1969 July 12: Apollo [RESTRICTED], 1969, inclusive
1969 September 27: Football: The First Hundred Years, 1969, inclusive
1970 February 5: Agencies' Choice, 1970, inclusive
Undated: Time and Life Weather Window, undated, inclusive
Subseries VII.C. Recurring Exhibitions Files, 1949, 1961-1970, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
Records document the annual Christmas and Easter exhibitions and include correspondence arranging installation and removal; floor plans; examples of wall text; and audiovisual material with the music and narration. Records mainly come from Bernard Yudain and Elizabeth Hanson. Because The Sistine Chapel was a reprisal of part of the initial Illuminations exhibition, there are some records from Corporate Public Affairs staff Jim Alberse and Jeanne Kerr.
Unreformatted audiovisual material in the collection is not accessible.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically with arrangement imposed by the archivist.
Historical Note
Two recurring exhibitions featured in the Time & Life Building Reception or Exhibition Center were the Christmas exhibit and The Sistine Chapel, which was frequently an Easter exhibit. These two exhibitions comprised illuminated large-scale transparency reproductions of master artworks.
In 1955, the Life staff responsible for the Rockefeller Center lobby Christmas display developed an exhibition showcasing large-size color transparencies. This was based on an exhibit of large transparencies recently produced by Kodak for Grand Central Station in 1950. The Time Inc. exhibit was the first to use the technique to reproduce works of art, showcasing illuminated copies of master works related to the life of Christ. This initial Christmas exhibit inspired the development of the later Illuminations of Fifty Great Paintings exhibit. The Sistine Chapel was part of Illuminations in 1958, then displayed as a separate show.
Christmas Story: General Files, 1961-1969, inclusive
Christmas Story: Music, circa 1961, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes audiovisual material.
3 audiotape reels (endless tape) : analog; 5 1/4 in., 1/4 in. tape.
Christmas Story: Narration, 1963-1969, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes audiovisual material.
1 audio cartridge (Fidelipac cartridge) : analog; 5 1/4 x 4 in., 1/4 in. tape. Label: "Xmas Narration. 12/5/63. 10/16/69."
1 audio cartridge (Fidelipac cartridge) : analog; 5 1/4 x 4 in., 1/4 in. tape. Label: "Xmas Narration. 12/19/63. 10/16/69."
1 audio cartridge (Fidelipac cartridge) : analog; 5 1/4 x 4 in., 1/4 in. tape. Label: "Xmas Narration. 12/12/66."
2 audio cartridges (Fidelipac cartridge) : analog; 5 1/4 x 4 in., 1/4 in. tape. Label: "Christmas Narration. 12/24/69."
Christmas Story: Notes for Show in 1970, 1962-1970, inclusive
Christmas Story: Souvenir Brochure, circa 1961-1969, inclusive
Christmas Story: Structural Display Blueprints, 1961, inclusive
Christmas Story: Telephone Tape, circa 1961, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes audiovisual material.
2 audiotape reels (endless tape) : analog; 5 1/4 in., 1/4 in. tape.
Christmas Story: Wall Text and Labels, circa 1960, inclusive
The Sistine Chapel: General Files, 1958-1970, inclusive
The Sistine Chapel: Floor Plans and Wall Text, 1961, inclusive
The Sistine Chapel: Floor Plans: Lobby, 1961, inclusive
The Sistine Chapel: Life Article, 1949, inclusive
The Sistine Chapel: Music, 1962, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes audiovisual material.
1 audiotape reel (endless tape) : analog, 7 1/2 ips; 5 1/4 in., 1/4 in. tape. On container label: "Time & Life Easter Music. Sistine Chapel. 3/13/62. 7.5ips. Repaired 4/1/70."
1 audiotape reel (endless tape) : analog, 7 1/2 ips, monaural; 5 1/4 in., 1/4 in. tape. On container label: "W.O.#: R-28788" and "Product: Time & Life Easter Show."
1 audiotape reel (endless tape) : analog, 7 1/2 ips, monaural; 5 1/4 in., 1/4 in. tape. On container label: "W.O.#: R-28186" and "Product: Time & Life Easter Show."
The Sistine Chapel: Narration, 1968, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes audiovisual material.
2 audiotape cartridges (Fidelipac cartridge) : analog; 6 7/8 x 6 in., 1/4 in. tape. On label: "Easter ___. [Repair] 3/27/68."
2 audiotape cartridges (Fidelipac cartridge) : analog, 7 1/2 ips; 6 7/8 x 6 in., 1/4 in. tape. On label: "Sistine Chapel."
1 audiotape cartridge (Fidelipac cartridge) : analog, 3 3/4 ips; 6 7/8 x 6 in., 1/4 in. tape. On label: "Easter Narration. Sistine Chapel."
3 audiotape cartridges (Echo-matic II self threading) : analog, 3 3/4 ips; 5 x 3 1/2 in., 1/4 in. tape. On label: "Time, Inc. Exhibition Hall. Easter Show."
The Sistine Chapel: Photographs of Artwork, circa 1961, inclusive
The Sistine Chapel: Transparency, circa 1961, inclusive
The Sistine Chapel: Wall Text, 1962, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes audiovisual material along with wall text labels.
1 audiotape reel : analog; 5 in., 1/4 in. tape. On label: "Culture."