Collection inventory

Overview of the Collection
Creator:	Kimak, George.
Title:	George Kimak Papers Relating to Artmobile, Inc.
Inclusive Dates:	1950-1969
Quantity:	3.0 linear ft.
Abstract:	George Kimak was an art teacher and co-founder of Artmobile, a "museum on wheels" akin to a bookmobile. Artmobile was intended to "bring original works of art to the schools of New York State" and was the shared vision of George Kimak and Barbara Chapin. Artmobile, Inc. was a non-profit corporation that oversaw the operation of the Artmobile. Collection includes correspondence and papers relating to Artmobile, Inc. and some of Kimak's personal papers, covering the years 1950 to 1969. Materials relate primarily to the planning and development of the "Artmobile concept" between 1952 and 1956.
Language:	English
Repository:	Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

George Kimak was an art teacher in Baldwinsville, New York. With Barbara Chapin, he founded Artmobile, a travelling art gallery based on the same idea as library bookmobiles. Similar efforts by museums such as Illinois State Museum's Museumobile and the Trailer Museum in Cleveland had already proven successful, and the New York State Art Teachers Association was involved as a sponsor. Artmobile was intended to "bring original works of art to the schools of New York State" and in particular to make creative masterpieces physically and intellectually accessible to rural and semi-rural populations. Materials were loaned by museums, galleries, and other art institutions as well as by individuals. Artmobile, Inc. was a non-profit corporation that oversaw the operation of the Artmobile.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The George Kimak Papers Relating to Artmobile, Inc. contains correspondence and papers relating to Artmobile, Inc. and some personal papers of its co-founder George Kimak, covering the years 1950 to 1969. Materials in the collection relate primarily to the planning and development of the "Artmobile concept" between 1952 and 1956 and are divided into four series.

Official records include purpose statements, board minutes, bylaws, and membership material. Office files relate to the development and formation of the organization; letters of inquiry, solicitation and support; and promotional material. Historical files and memorabilia contains clippings, scrapbooks, and a tape of a radio program. Personal Papers of George Kimak contain biographical material, correspondence-subject files, writings, and memorabilia.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Official records, office files, and historical files are arranged chronologically. Kimak's personal papers are arranged alphabetically by type.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Subjects

Genres and Forms

Occupations

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

George Kimak Papers relating to Artmobile, Inc.
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Finding Aid Information

Created by: JOD
Date: Feb 1991
Revision history: 16 Nov 2007 - converted to EAD (MRC)

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Inventory

	Official records
Box 1		Purpose of the Artmobile
Box 1		Plan of action
Box 1		Fellowship application, George Kimak - Barbara Chapin
Box 1		Organizational plans - Bylaws
Box 1		Board minutes - Bylaws - Progress report
Box 1		Memberships and contributions
Box 1		Re-chartering Artmobile 1966

	Office files
		Development
Box 1			Museums
Box 1			Fund raising - foundations - industries - individuals
Box 1			Funds - contributions
Box 1			Promoting the Artmobile concept
Box 1			Artmobile survey questionnaire
Box 1			Mark, Bessie/Munzner, Bertha, Sodus, New York
Box 1			Popolizio, Vincent - State Art Supervisor
Box 1			Raych, A. Morton - Treasurer, New York State Art Teachers Association
Box 1			Schools - educational organizations
Box 1			Syracuse University, Lowe Art Center
Box 1			Letters - State Education Commissioners, foundations, etc.
		Formation
Box 1			Artmobile Planning Committee meeting, Mark Twain Hotel [Elmira, NY] 1952 (2 magnetic tapes)
Box 1			Chapin, Barbara - Executive Secretary - Artmobile
Box 1			Ryerson, Bert - Art Supervisor, Elmira Schools
Box 1			Committee meetings
Box 1			Plans - Correspondence between Board, Committees, etc.
Box 1			Correspondence - Artmobile Committee - Board
Box 1			Artmobile - reports - progress
Box 1			Artmobile chairmen, New York State counties
Box 1			Volunteers for Artmobile
Box 1			Expenditures - prior & during Artmobile tour
Box 1			Museum-on-wheels, interior design 1954-1956
Box 1			Itinerary of pilot unit, pre-tour preparations
		Letters of inquiry
Box 1			Letters - post cards requesting information on Artmobile from various parts of the U.S.A. [untitled folder with inquiries]
Box 1			Interest from abroad - Australia
Box 1			Interest from abroad - Canada
		Letters of solicitation
Box 1			Art Galleries informed about Artmobile
Box 1			List of individuals interested in Artmobile
Box 1			Individuals informed about Artmobile project - superintendents of schools
Box 1			Industries
Box 1			List of organizations informed about Artmobile
Box 1			Letters, individuals - organizations
		Letters of support
Box 2			Artmobile support letters
Box 2			Letters of endorsement, schools - associations - museums
Box 2			Photographs of endorsements
		Promotion
Box 2			Layouts - outlines for flyers and questionnaires on Artmobile
Box 2			Outlines - news articles, reports, etc.
Box 2			Publicity - radio/tv - newspapers - periodicals

	Historical files and memorabilia
Box 2		Radio program, Corning - Station WCLI, Artmobile - [Women's Commentary Program, June Purcell] 1952 (1 magnetic tape)
Box 2		Newspaper clippings (scrapbook) [scrapbook material]
Box 2		Articles - Museum-on-wheels, newspapers, periodicals
Box 2		Articles - letters of endorsement - S.U. Cosmopolitan Club [scrapbook]
Box 2		Visitors at dedication. N.Y.S. Fair [scrapbook] 1955
Box 2		Dedication of Artmobile, N.Y.S. Fair - film 1955
Box 2		Pilot Artmobile tour, New York State [scrapbook] 1955
Box 2		Signatures, first visitors, pilot Artmobile [scrapbook] 1955
Box 2		Pilot Artmobile unit - N.Y.S. - colored slides (26 items)
Package 1		New York State Artmobile (museum-on-wheels) [scrapbook] undated

	Personal Papers - George Kimak
		Biographical material
Box 2			Curriculum vitae, George Kimak [with 6 original drawings]
		Correspondence-subject file
Box 2			Clothes Line Art Gallery, Baldwinsville Central School
Box 2			Resource Center Art Gallery, East Syracuse-Minoa Central School
Box 2			Syracuse Cultural Center
		Writings
Box 2			Area XIII Educational Media Center. The State of Progress, 1968. George Kimak, Director. Council Bluffs, IA. 1969
		Memorabilia
Box 2			Hall of Fame, New York University 1957
Box 2			List of crafts suppliers 1960

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