Georgia O'Keeffe Research Collection
Collection
Identifier: AC 600
Scope and Content
Collection contains Nancy Reily’s research material about Georgia O'Keeffe covering all periods of her life (1887-1986) and to her ancestors. Material includes photocopies of Georgia O’Keeffe letters and primary source documents held elsewhere. Some material (family history, genealogical documents) relates to Reilly’s family (Mortens) who were neighbors to GOK in Abiquiu. The papers were mostly compiled during the Reily’s research and writing process, from about 1996 to 2011. Much of the original correspondence dates from this period.
Dates
- 1877-2011
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Biographical Information
Georgia Totto O'Keeffe (November 15, 1887 – March 6, 1986) first came to the attention of the New York art community in 1916. She is best known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, New York skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes. Born on 15 November 1887 near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; O'Keeffe attended high school in Madison, Wisconsin between 1901 and 1902. She joined her family in Virginia in 1903 where she completed high school and graduated in 1905. From 1905-1906 she studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. O'Keeffe abandoned the idea of pursuing a career as an artist in 1908 and took a job in Chicago as a commercial artist. After attended Teachers College of Columbia University from 1914–15 augmented by additional courses at Columbia in 1916, she took a job as head of the art department at West Texas State Normal College (West Texas A&M) from fall 1916 to February 1918. In 1924, O’Keeffe married Alfred Stieglitz whom she had met and known for years during her time in New York. By 1929, O'Keeffe traveled to New Mexico. Between 1929 and 1949, she visited New Mexico annually to paint. In August 1934, she visited Ghost Ranch, north of Abiquiú, for the first time and decided immediately to live there; in 1940, she moved into a house on the ranch property. In 1972, O'Keeffe's eyesight was compromised and she stopped oil painting but continued working in pencil and charcoal until 1984. O'Keeffe became increasingly frail in her late 90s. She moved to Santa Fe in 1984, where she died on March 6, 1986, at the age of 98.
Extent
7 Linear Feet
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Georgia O'Keeffe Research Collection, 1877-2011
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- HA
- Date
- © 2015
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library Repository
Contact:
Fray Angélico Chávez History Library
New Mexico History Museum
113 Lincoln Ave
Sante Fe NM 87501 USA
(505) 476-5090
historylibrary@state.nm.us
Fray Angélico Chávez History Library
New Mexico History Museum
113 Lincoln Ave
Sante Fe NM 87501 USA
(505) 476-5090
historylibrary@state.nm.us