From Box 3, in a folder titled simply, "Staff Photographs, Resumes," circa 1941 - 1959, a candid photograph of the University Gallery's first permanent director, Ruth Lawrence:

Most of the exhibition files from the late 1930s and early 1940s do not have photographs in them, but when they do, these images give a window into the times. This Swedish Arts and Crafts exhibition from 1944 actually still feels quite modern (I'm looking at you, IKEA). Some of the wall label drafts for the show are also quite interesting — Label IV reads:

Processing the WAM collection allows for direct exposure to the documentation of institutional history. Contained within the third box of the WAM collection is a folder titled, "Biennial Report to President, 1947-1948." The contents consist simply of four delicately aged pages, on which is contained a draft composed by then University Gallery director Ruth Lawrence. The draft opens with Lawrence acknowledging that the Gallery has "completed 15 years of service to the University.

While going through the University Gallery files from the early 1950s, we found many small posters (7"x11") for the exhibitions, no doubt to post around campus. These posters are one-color prints (sometimes on a colorful paper stock) with no images, but with some simple graphic flourishes--they are very charming in their simplicity. I can definitely see echos of this kind of straightforward design in today's graphic design trends. We thought we'd share a few of these gems!

It has begun. On Tuesday, February 8th, project processors Areca and Rebecca, U of M graduate students, and Weisman Art Museum interns, began processing the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum records contained within the University Archives. We've pushed up our glasses, rolled up our sleeves, advanced the lead on our mechanical pencils... and have begun re-foldering, re-boxing, and recording boxes within the collection containing materials that span from the late 1930s to the mid 1960s.