SYD FOSSUM: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscript Collections

SYD FOSSUM:

An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society


OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
	Creator:	Fossum, Syd, 1909-1978.
	Title:	Syd Fossum papers.
	Date:	1930-1978.
	Abstract:	Correspondence (1934-1978), subject files, scrapbooks (1933-1965), art show catalogs (1930-1960s), minutes of the Minnesota Artists Association (1935-1938), writings (1947-1970), and mimeograph army newspapers (1945) of an artist and an activist for artists' concerns.
	Quantity:	3.5 cu. ft. (3 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description section for shelf locations.

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BIOGRAPHY OF SYD FOSSUM

Sydney Glenn Fossum was born in 1909 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the son of George and Olive Fossum. He studied art at the Minneapolis School of Art (1929-1933). After graduation, he was an artist with the Public Works of Art Project and served as an officer in the Minnesota Artists Association (1939). After serving in the U.S. Army (1943-1945), he taught art at the Minneapolis School of Art (1945-1950), Washington University (1950-1951), and the Des Moines (Ia.) Art Center (1953-1957). He also taught at other institutions, and was director of the Duluth (Minn.) Art Institute (1960-1962). Fossum married Bernice (Bunny) Olson in 1932. He died in San Francisco in 1978.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE PAPERS

The correspondence and subject files contain information on a number of other artists; on artists' unions, especially the Minnesota Artists Association and the Artists Equity Association; on his army service; on his teaching assignments; on sales and exhibitions of his paintings; and on his personal life.

The art show catalogs are for his one-man shows and other shows where his works were exhibited. Information about his army career (1943-1945) can be found in the correspondence files, as well as the "Muzzle Blast" and "Trail Blazer" (army newspapers) folders. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings, catalogs, and other miscellany.

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ORGANIZATION OF THE PAPERS
	The documents are organized into the following sections:

		Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers
		Subject Files
		Writings, Publications, and Publicity Materials
		Art Show Catalogs

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ARRANGEMENT OF THE PAPERS
	General Correspondence is filed in four separate but overlapping alphabetical sequences (1934-1942, 1938-1955, 1958-1964, 1960-1976), with separate folders for several significant correspondents. Subject files comprise one alphabetical sequence. Printed materials are filed by type.

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OTHER FINDING AIDS
	A print version of this finding aid is available in the repository; filed in ALPHA notebooks under the heading: Fossum, Syd.

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INDEX TERMS
	This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.
	Topics:
		Artists -- Minnesota.
		Artists -- Salaries, etc.
		Painting -- United States -- Catalogs.
		Artists -- United States -- Social conditions.
		Artists -- United States -- Correspondence.
		Art -- United States -- Exhibitions.
		Artists as teachers.
		Painting -- Study and teaching.
		Theater programs -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
	Persons:
		Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971.
		Sabean, Sam.
	Organizations:
		Artists Equity Association.
		Duluth Art Institute.
		Minneapolis Theatre Union.
		Minnesota Artists Association.
		Public Works of Art Project -- Employees.
		United States. Army. Field Artillery Battalion, 882nd.
		United States. Army. -- Periodicals.
		Walker Art Center.
	Occupations:
		Artists.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
	Preferred Citation:
		[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Syd Fossum Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
		See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples
	Accession Information:
		Accession number: 13,915
	Processing Information:
		Processed by: Bonnie Beatson Palmquist, April 1994
		Catalog ID number: 08-00009114

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note both the location and box numbers shown below.

Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers

Location

Box

151.L.17.3B

Genealogical information and chart, undated.

Correspondence Files:

The General Correspondence files are arranged as they were received from the donor. Each set is in alphabetical order by correspondent. Subjects include: artists and unions, the Fossum painting shown at the New York World's Fair (1939), his service in the U.S. Army (1943-1945), his teaching assignments at different institutions, sales and exhibitions of his paintings, and events in his personal life.

General correspondence, 1934-1942. 3 folders.

General correspondence, 1938-1955. 4 folders.

General correspondence, 1958-1964. 5 folders.

General correspondence, 1960-1976. 4 folders.

Letters, 1939-1950.

Photocopies of letters from Cameron Booth, Pegeen Sullivan, Gov. Elmer Benson, Hudson D. Walker, and other notables.

Harriet Hanley Galleries (Minneapolis, Minn.), 1939-1963. 4 folders.

Rockwell Kent correspondence, 1942-1978. Photocopies.

Hudson D. Walker correspondence, 1947-1949. Photocopies.

Bill Norman correspondence, 1943-1946.

Sam Sabean correspondence, 1938-1945, 1955-1978. 2 folders.

Sabean was associated with United American Artists in New York, while Fossum was president of the Minnesota Chapter. The organization became the United American Artists of Minnesota (1940) and later the Artists Equity, Minnesota Chapter (1960). Other artists involved were Clement Haupers and Cameron Booth. The correspondence concerns their union, and professional and personal activities.

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Subject Files

Location

Box

151.L.17.4F

Adult art classes, 1962-1968.

Art income, 1941-1977.

Sales, rentals, and commissions.

"Art Lovers," 1955, 1979. Photocopies.

Artists Equity Association, 1946-1960.

Catalogs for one-man shows, 1940-1960.

Colloquy, Walker Art Center, 1964.

Commercial work, 1945-1947, 1974.

Destruction of Haines mural at Fort Snelling, 1965.

Includes correspondence and newspaper clippings.

Duluth Art Institute, 1960-1962.

Correspondence with Maurice Cohen.

Duluth Art Institute, 1960-1962. 2 folders.

Newsletters and correspondence.

Exhibitions and awards, 1934-1975.

International Art Association (International Falls, Minn.), 1962, 1966.

Interview with George Reid, 1977.

Job applications, etc., 1960-1962.

Jury work, 1949-1959.

Fossum served as judge for exhibitions.

Lectures and demonstrations, 1962-1972.

Minneapolis Public Schools, 1969-1970.

Material on circulating art shows.

Minnesota Artists Union minutes, July 1935 - September 1938. 2 folders.

Fossum was secretary of the organization. Papers include a history of the union.

Miscellaneous.

New York World's Fair, 1938-1939. Photocopies.

A Fossum painting was displayed at the fair.

Newspaper clippings, 1951-1975.

Pencil sketches, undated. 2 items.

Prize and award winners, 1937-1967. Photocopies.

Includes list of winners and photocopies of paintings.

Public Works of Art project, 1934.

Includes bulletins and other printed matter.

State Fair Art Show entry fees, 1966-1967.

Traveling show: 25 serigraphs, October 1959-October 1960.

Yard sales, 1965-1974.

Each year Fossum held a yard sale to sell his paintings.

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Writings, Publications, and Publicity Materials

Location

Box

151.L.17.3B

Miscellaneous writings, 1947-1963.

"As I See the Arts," 1966-1967.

A newspaper column.

"Why We Don't Submit to the Walker Biennials Anymore," September 17, 1968.

Retirement After 50 Years, 1968.

One-act play about the retirement of Larry Dominic.

"The Government Art Projects and an Artist's Life (1933-1943)" (COPYRIGHT RESERVED), 1969-1970.

Location

Box

144.D.4.4F

North Country Anvil, 1972-1979. 0.25 cubic feet.

Issues contain works by Fossum.

Muzzle Blast, 1945.

Fossum was editor of this newsletter of the 882nd Field Artillery Battalion.

Trail Blazer, 1945.

Fossum was staff artist of the 70th Division's newsletter.

Scrapbooks, 1933-1965. 9 volumes.

Exhibit clippings, catalogs, etc.

Bernice Fossum scrapbook, 1936-1938. 3 folders.

Materials relating to Minneapolis theatrical productions, consisting largely of programs and photographs. Bernice Fossum sat on the board of directors of the Minneapolis Theatre Union, which staged many of the plays documented in the scrapbook. The first of the three folders is a photocopy of the scrapbook as it appeared before it was dismantled for preservation reasons. The remaining two folders contain the scrapbook contents.

Yard sales and Christmas cards, [196-].

Artists Equity Association, Northern California Chapter, 1957-1960.

Includes its newsletters.

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Art Show Catalogs

Location

Box

151.L.17.4F

General file. 0.4 cubic feet (2 bundles).

Various catalogs containing Fossum's work.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Catalogues, 1930-1949. 1 bundle.

Location

Box

144.D.4.4F

Art Show Catalogs. 0.6 cubic feet (3 bundles).

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