Guide to AMA's Archives

AMA's archives are devoted to the collection and preservation of papers and other records related to the art and artists of the Americas with particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Initiated in the early 1940s, the archives complement the museum's permanent art collection and serve as a central clearing-house for information on a broad geographical region. The exhibition catalogs, announcements, exhibition records, photographs, letters, news clippings, art periodicals, and other types of documents that make up the collection provide a rich research resource for students and scholars.

For further information or to make arrangements to consult the archives, please contact gsvitil@oas.org

Individual Country Vertical Files

Scope

Information of a general nature about the visual arts in individual member countries of the Organization of American States. Emphasis on 20th century but some limited material on pre-Columbian and colonial art, film, and architecture.

Material Types

Catalogs of group shows, national and international biennial and salon catalogs including Sao Paulo Biennial catalogs, CAYC publications, museum newsletters, Boletin de Artes Visuales, auction catalogs, catalogs and press clippings related to specific art groups such as Taller de Grafica Popular (Mexico).

File Orgainization

Alphabetically by country then subdivided chronologically by year.

Location

Casita building. Vertical files may be consulted on an appointment basis by calling the museum at 202-370-0147

Individual Artist Vertical Files

Scope

Information about individual artists with an emphasis on contemporary Latin American and Caribbean artists

Matreial Types

Exhibition catalogs, news releases, announcements, notices, press clippings photographs, letters and biographical material.

File Organization

Alphabetical by last name, either in an individual file or within the appropriate cumulative file at the beginning of each alphabetical group.

Location

Casita building. Vertical files may be consulted on an appointment basis by calling the museum at 202-370-0147

Exhibition Vertical Files

Scope

Information relating specifically to exhibitions at the OAS (formerly Pan American Union) dating from the 1940s to 1985.

Material Types

Exhibition catalogs, news releases, announcements, notices, press clippings, photographs, price lists, administrative records, letters and biographical material.

File Organization

Chronologically by year dating from the 1940s to 1985. LOCATION: Columbus Memorial Library. Records accessible by year of transfer to library and may be consulted on an appointment basis by calling the museum at 202-370-0147. For a list of exhibitions please see Contemporary Latin American Artists: Exhibitions at the Organization of American States 1941-1985 published by Scarecrow Press in 2 volumes.