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Hugo Gellert Papers

Call Number

TAM.150

Dates

1934-1980s, inclusive
; 1934-1944, bulk

Creator

Gellert, Hugo, 1892-1985
Deak, Zoltan (Role: Donor)

Extent

2 Linear Feet in 2 manuscript boxes and one oversized box.

Language of Materials

Materials are in English

Abstract

Hugo Gellert was a communist, graphic artist, cartoonist, muralist and painter born in Hungary in 1892. After coming to the U.S. in 1906, he became a leading contributor of art work to progressive journals such as The Masses and Liberator, and was the author of 3 books. He played a leading role in many Popular Front arts organizations such as: the Mural Artists Guild of the United Scenic Painters, the Artists Coordinating Committee for the New York World's Fair and Artists for Victory; he was also involved with the Hungarian-American anti-fascist group, the Anti-Horthy League. These papers include correspondence, notes, and clippings, documentation of Gellert's participation with Popular Front arts organizations, pencil drawings, reproductions of graphic art by Gellert, and photographs.

Historical/Biographical Note

Hugo Gellert (1892-1985) was a communist graphic artist, cartoonist, muralist and painter. He was born in Hungary in 1892 and came to the U.S. in 1906. Gellert was a leading contributor of art work to The Masses, The Liberator and New Masses. Gellert published three books: Karl Marx in Lithographs (1933), Comrade Gulliver (1935), Aesop Said So (1936). Among his murals were those done for the National Maritime Union headquarters and the Seward Park Houses, both in New York City. He also played a leading role in many Popular Front arts organizations from the 1930s through World War II. Gellert was the director of the John Reed School of Art. In 1937 he organized the Mural Artists Guild of the United Scenic Painters, and successfully fought, as chair of the Artists Coordinating Committee, to insure that only works of organized artists were accepted for exhibits at the New York World's Fair. During WWII, Gellert was active in Artists for Victory. Throughout his life, Gellert contributed to the Hungarian-American radical press beginning in 1916, with the newspaper Elore, and later to the Magyar Szo. He also organized, in 1927, the Anti-Horthy League, a Hungarian-American anti-fascist group.

Arrangement

The files are grouped into 2 series; folders are arranged alphabetically by title.

Series I: Correspondence and Other Materials Series II: Graphic and Photographic Materials

Scope and Content Note

This collection contain correspondence, memos, press releases, minute, clippings, notes, drawings, printed graphic materials, and photographs that document Hugo Gellert's role in Popular Front arts organizations from 1934-1944, as well as his artistic career. In addition to Gellert, the principal correspondent is Frederic Knight of the Artists Coordination Committee (ACC).

Donors

Deak, Zoltan

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright (and related rights to publicity and privacy) to materials in this collection created by Hugo Gellert was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date; Hugo Gellert Papers; Tam 150; box number; folder number;
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Zoltan Deak on behlaf of the American Hungarian Word in 1993. The accession numbers associated with this gift are 1993.002, 1993.009 and NPA.1994.005.

Related Archival Materials

Hugo Gellert Papers at the Archives of American Art (http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/hugo-gellert-papers-7845/more)

Collection processed by

Peter Meyer Filardo, 2009. Edited by Erika Gottfried to reflect the incorporation of nonprint materials and for compliance with DACS and Tamiment Required Elements for Archival Description, March 2013.

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 16:54:23 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Description is in English

Processing Information Note

Photographs separated from this collection were established as a separate collection (Hugo Gellert Photographs - PHOTOS 065) in April 1994. In 2013 this photographs collection was reincorporated into the Hugo Gellert Papers (TAM 150).

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from GELLERT GUIDE.doc

Repository

Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012