Exhibitions Department (RG-23) Finding Aids to the Institutional Records of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the VMFA Archives | Records of the Exhibitions Department RG-23 Record Group 23 (RG-23)

Finding Aids to the Institutional Records of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the VMFA Archives | Records of the Exhibitions Department RG-23

Record Group 23 (RG-23)


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Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Archives

Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library
200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Business Number: 804-340-1495
library@vmfa.museum
URL: https://vmfa.museum/library/special-collections-archives/

Devon Kramer, Archives Intern (2011) and Erica Borey, Records Manager (2016); Finding aid encoded by Courtney Tkacz, VMFA Archivist (2021)

Repository
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Archives
Identification
RG-23
Title
Records of the Exhibitions Department (RG-23) 1936-2015 [minimally processed; subject to change]
URL:
https://archives.vmfa.museum/repositories/2/resources/355
Quantity
193.0 Linear Feet, 265 boxes
Creator
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is minimally processed. Requests to perform research must be submitted to the VMFA Archives at least three business days in advance.

As custodians of public records, VMFA only restricts access to public records when sensitive information is present. Such restrictions are applied in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia, § 2.2-3700 thru § 2.2-3714) and the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act (Code of Virginia, § 2.2-3800 thru § 2.2-3809). Both Museum staff and the public may need written permission from the Director to view certain restricted records.

Series 3 (Collections Management) is restricted as they contain sensitive information about acquisitions, insurance, security, and other issues related to the museum's art collection.

Custodial History

The collection was transferred from the Exhibitions Department through periodic deposits.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Exhibitions Department (RG-23). VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Processing Information

This collection was originally processed from June through August 2011, and then reprocessed in 2016. During processing, non-permanent materials such as copies of meeting minutes, routine correspondence, copies of invoices, departmental budgetary information, and declined exhibition proposals were destroyed according to VMFA's Records Retention and Disposition Schedule. Periodicals, books, and exhibition catalogs were transferred to the Library's collection. All files before 1980 were rehoused in new archivally sound folders. Original folder titles were generally retained, when provided.

Scope and Contents

The collection's inclusive dates are 1936-2015, with the bulk of the material dating from 1979-2004. The collection is comprised of correspondence, exhibition schedules, budgets, grant applications, photographs, object lists, notes, collection statements, planning documents, project files, policies, loan arrangements and decisions, and other materials.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into 4 series, and items are generally arranged chronologically within each series. Items with no date are generally placed at the end at each series. The collection is minimally processed, so folder arrangement, titles, or dates are subject to change if additional processing occurs.

Series 1
Exhibition Files, 1936-2012, undated
Series 2
Exhibitions Management, 1936-2015, undated
Series 3
Collections Management, 1977-2004, undated [RESTRICTED]
Series 4
Galleries, 1977-2004, undated

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Related Materials - VMFA Library and Archives

Many of the museum's exhibitions have published catalogs, which can be found in the Library's catalog Pandora or in the Archives Catalog Collection (PB-01) .
For each exhibition held at the museum, the Archives has a vertical file which may include announcements, clippings, press releases, brochures, reviews, invitations, small exhibition catalogs, and other ephemeral material.
Some early exhibition records are found in the Archives Director's Correspondence (RG-01) and curators often created their own exhibition records which are found in the Archives Curatorial Collection (RG-03) .

Container List

RG-23-01
Series 1: Exhibition Files
4,756 folders
1936-2015, undatedEnglish
Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of information regarding exhibitions that were held at the VMFA. Files may include correspondence, schedules, contracts, photographs and slides, installation drawings and procedures, label and catalog text, budgets and invoices, insurance, venue information, and publicity.

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RG-23-02
Series 2: Exhibitions Management
583 folders
1936-2015, undatedEnglish
Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of information regarding general exhibition management. Information may include correspondence, exhibition schedules and programming, long term planning, potential partnerships with other organizations, exhibition committees, couriers, grant applications, protection of artwork, collectors, and reports. Files on potential exhibitions conceived by the museum but never presented are also included.

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RG-23-04
Series 4: Galleries
134 folders
1977-2004, undatedEnglish
Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of information on gallery renovations, installations, reinstallations, fire suppression studies and hazard analyses, storage policies, and other related buildings and grounds files.

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