Hugo Gellert Papers
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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).
Subjects
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Donors
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.
About this Guide
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
Repository
Series I: Correspondence and Other Materials
Scope and Content Note
The most valuable portion of Series I are those items documenting Popular Front arts organizations and Hugo Gellert's role therein (1934-44). These files contain correspondence, memos, press releases, minutes, etc., from the Artists Committee for Action for the Municipal Art Gallery and Center, the Artists Coordination Committee (ACC), Artists for Victory, the National Society of Mural Painters, the New York Society of Women Artists, and other organizations. In addition to the World's Fair campaign (including Gellert's exhibit proposal), there is documentation of conflict over the content of the various arts programs sponsored by the U.S. government, and conflict about the working conditions and artistic freedom of artists participating in these programs. In addition to Gellert, the principal correspondent is Frederic Knight (ACC). There are also letters from John Taylor Arms, Alfred Barr, Earl Browder, Stuart Davis, Philip Evergood,Tom Mooney, Robert Moses, and a postcard from Art Young. Other correspondents include officials of the Federal Art Project (U.S. Works Progress Administration) and of the World's Fair. The papers also contain similar, but sparser files documenting Gellert's activities from the 1950s through the 1970s. There is a short story, possibly autobiographical; a long handwritten letter to "Theodore," probably a business partner, about the quarrel that led to their estrangement; a file of Hungarian language correspondence and notes; clippings and press releases documenting Gellert's artistic career, and a proletarian play, "The Wall Between," by Leonard B. Wallis. There is also one folder of notes and doodles for art project proposals.
American Artists Congress, 1936-1940, inclusive
American Artists Congress: "Dear Comrade Trachtenberg..." from L.N. [Hollywood Unit Buro] re: Stanley Rose Bookstore [Rose was the Hollywood, CCA representative of the AAC, and his bookstore is alleged to be a gathering place for anti-communist leftists], Nov 1936
American Dialog, ca.1966-1968, inclusive
Artists' Committee of Action for the Municipal Art Gallery and Center (Includes letters from Otto Kahn, Waldo Frank, Robert Moses, Alfred Stieglitz), 1934, inclusive
Artists Coordination Committee (Frederic Knight, secretary). Includes letters from Alfred A. Barr, George Biddle, Earl Browder, Stuart Davis., 1936, inclusive
Artists Coordination Committee, 1937, inclusive
Artists Coordination Committee, 1938-1941, inclusive
Artists Coordination Committee, undated, inclusive
Artists Coordination Committee: lists of artists, undated, inclusive
Artists for Victory, 1942-1944, inclusive
Artists' Oil Paints, General Conference on [MOMA, NYC] - condensed record, Feb 9, 1940
Artists Societies for National Defense, 1941, inclusive
Capital in Lithographs, 1934-1936, inclusive
Capital in Lithographs: Tom Mooney letter, Mar 17, 1934
Gellert, Hugo: Art Projects Notes & Doodles, undated, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: Biographical reflections ( Masses- New Deal), undated, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: General Correspondence & Documents, 1930s, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: General Correspondence & Documents, 1940s, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: General Correspondence & Documents, 1950s, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: General Correspondence & Documents (includes Philip Evergood letter), 1960s, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: General Correspondence & Documents, 1970s, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: General Correspondence & Documents, undated, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: Memorabilia, 1930s-1970s, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: "Theodore" (business dispute, letters to), 1976, inclusive
Gellert, Hugo: Writings - Short story (?), untitled, 18 pp., ca.1970s, inclusive
Gellert, Jim, 1979, inclusive
Gellert, Livia: Diary, ca.1940, inclusive
Hungary & Hungarian language materials, ca.1940s, inclusive
Inter-American Relations in the Field of Art, Conference on [Washington, DC], 1939-1940, inclusive
Municipal Art Committee, City of New York, 1936-1937, inclusive
Municipal Art Society, 1936, inclusive
The Mural Artist - issue #1 (Mural Artists Guild, United Scenic Artists of America, Local 829, Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America), Dec 6, 1938
Mural Painters, National Society of, 1936-1937, inclusive
National Committee for People's Rights, 1940, inclusive
New York City Executive Committee for Art Week, Oct 1940
New York Society of Women Artists, 1936-1955, inclusive
Siqueiros, David: Protest vs arrest, 1960, inclusive
Spain: Civil War, 1937-1939, inclusive
"The Wall Between" a [proletarian] play in 5 episodes, by Lawrence B. Wallis], undated, inclusive
World's Fair Exhibit Proposal, 1937, inclusive
Young, Art: Signed Holiday Postcard with AY Cartoons [copy - original in NP], Dec 1943
Series II: Graphic and Photographic Materials, 1930s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Content Note
Series II contains drawings, printed graphic materials, and photographs. Drawings are in pencil (including a storyboard and what looks like a sketch for another work); printed graphic materials include postcards and greeting cards, a leaflet, newspaper clipping, catalog, and mockup by Gellert, as well as a small number of items by other artists. Photographs include images of other artists' works (mainly Mexican muralists), and images of individuals, mainly American Communist Party leaders and other radicals (including Israel Amter, Isidor Begun (at a Bronx housewives' demonstration protesting high milk prices), Paul Crosbie (Chair of Queens County, New York City, Communist Party), Angela Davis, Gus Hall, and Vito Marcantonio; a group photograph with Israel Amter, Peter Cacchione, James Ford, Richard Fuchs, William E. Davis, Edward E. Fuchs; and group photograph with Molly Pichenny, Fred Benedict, Isidore Begun, Margaret Walker and Phil David (executive secretary British Communist Party).
