Contents and Arrangement
Online

Series 3: Business Files, 1940s-2006

23 linear feet

Collection Overview

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

This series consists of correspondence, invoices, contracts, receipts, photographs, clippings, and sketches relating to the commissioning of sculpture and artwork, production of sculpture and artwork, arrangement of exhibitions, and participation in organizations and events.

The creators of the files, both George and Helen Segal, established two distinct ways of record-keeping over the course of Segal's lifetime: Segal organized files dating between the 1950s and 1976 by year, no matter the content, subjects, or correspondence contained therein; while material that dates from 1977 to 2006 was organized both by year and by subject. This shift in organization may have resulted from Segal's first public commissions in the late 1970s, as new materials such as contracts, commission proposals, and accounting information necessitated a different approach to record keeping. Materials that were found in Segal's studio and household after the original donation and arrangement of the bulk of the papers exist in distinct subseries based on the groupings in which they were found.

A true reading of the series will require perusal of multiple subseries, since Segal's correspondence usually related to a variety of topics and was addressed to many parties, including family, friends, and business contacts with whom Segal developed personal relationships. Very few of the files were strictly managed: exhibition correspondence is included in Subseries 3B: Business Correspondence by Year, personal correspondence is present across the entire series, and subject-specific correspondence can exist outside its subject file. Researchers are advised to consider the dates of the information (when known or relevant) and reference all files corresponding to those dates for the most comprehensive approach within the series (and the collection).

There is considerable correspondence with Gordon Hyatt, Pierre Restany, Martin Friedman, Phyllis Tuchman, Jan van der Marck, Vaughn Kaprow (Vaughn Rachel), Peter Putnam, Theodor Kollek, and Frederick R. Weisman.

Notable if less frequent correspondents include Marcel Duchamp, Walter De Maria, Robert Whitman, Robert Scull, Jasper Johns, Billy Klüver, Mark di Suvero, Ivan Boesky, Richard (Dick) Bellamy, Ileana Sonnabend, Sidney Delevante, Charles Martin Simon (Charlie Nothing), Maximilian Schell, Peter B. Lewis, Joan Mondale, and Jill Johnston.

Arrangement

Series is arranged into seven subseries with additional subdivisions.

Collection History

Custodial History

Files, photographs, and artwork were gathered from the Segal home, office, and studio.

Appraisal

Personal family photographs were returned to the Segal family.

Processing Information

The contents of Series 1: Artwork underwent sterilization via ozone to address mildew and bacterial concerns. The materials were then flattened, sleeved, enclosed, and/or matted as appropriate for their medium and/or format.

This collection was processed by Valerie Addonizio in January-July 2009 and January 2010, with assistance from Ayse Gursoy and Christine Call. Finding aid written by Valerie Addonizio in 2009; updated with new material in 2010 and 2012.

The 2019 accession was processed and added to the finding aid by Kelly Bolding in November 2019. Materials in this accession were intellectually integrated into the existing arrangement of the collection, namely into Series 3: Business Files and Subseries 9A: Catalogs. At this time, materials from the 2012 accession (formerly Series 11: Additional Material) were also intellectually integrated into Series 3: Business Files.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Works of art rendered in any medium (including ink, pencil, and crayon) and on any support (including sketchbooks, paper, board) and in any form (including doodles and illustrated assignments), as well as photographs by George Segal and any art works by George Segal depicted in photographs are copyright The George and Helen Segal Foundation. Photoduplication for personal scholarly use is permitted. Reproductions for the purpose of publication, whether in print or electronic media, must be authorized in writing by The George and Helen Segal Foundation or its licensing VAGA (Visual Artists and Galleries Association), New York City. Rights and permissions of the Donald Lokuta photographs are retained by the creator. Photoduplication is permitted for personal scholarly use only. Reproductions for the purpose of publication, whether in print or electronic media, must be authorized in writing by Donald Lokuta or his licensing agent VAGA (Visual Artists and Galleries Association), New York City. Beyond Segal and Lokuta, the library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright. Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Series 3: Business Files; George Segal Papers, C1303, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (mss): Boxes 38-68; 70; 105-110; 112; B-001348; B-001349; P-000139; B-001350; B-001351