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Indian and Himalayan Art Department Records

 Collection
Identifier: IHA

Scope and Contents

This record group documents curatorial activities of the former Indian and Himalyan Art department. The records comprising this group at present mostly pertain to the exhibition "Intimate Worlds: Masterpieces of Indian Painting from the Alvin O. Bellak Collections." The exhibition ran from March 2 to April 29, 2001. There are also some general departmental files.

Early records of the department are part of the Far Eastern Art Department Records. For departmental records generated primarily during the tenure of Stella Kramrisch, see the Indian Art Department Records. This record group also includes the files for the 1995 exhibition, "Himalayan Paintings for Buddhist Meditation: Visualization of Passion and Enlightenment," which was held after Kramrisch's death but prior to Mason's curatorial appointment. For related documentation, see also the Stella Kramrisch Personal Papers.

Dates

  • 1998-2005, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Indian and Himalayan Art Department Records are the physical property of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Archives. The Museum holds literary rights only for material created by Museum personnel or given to the Museum with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Biographical / Historical

Indian and Himalyan Art became the official designation of the curatorial office in 1995 until 2014. In earlier years, the office operated under the divisions of "Eastern Art" and "Oriental Art," becoming a separate "Indian Art" office in 1972. The department is now known as the South Asian Art Department.

The impetus for the growth and redefining of the department was largely due to Stella Kramrisch, who joined the museum as its Indian art curator in 1954. Kramrisch died in 1993, bequesting her personal art collection to the Museum, and endowing the curatorial chair of the department to which she had devoted nearly 40 years of scholarship and service. In 1997, Darielle Mason joined the museum as its first Stella Kramrisch Curator of Indian and Himalayan Art, a position she continues to hold. Katherine Paul served as Associate Curator from 2003 to 2008. Joining the staff in 2009, Yael Rice also served as Associate Curator. In addition, Ainsley Cameron was the Ira Brind and Stacey Spector Assistant Curator of South Asian Art in South Asian Art from August 2012 to April 3, 2017.

Extent

3.75 linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This record group documents curatorial activities of the former Indian and Himalyan Art department.

Processing Information

These materials were arranged and described by Bertha Adams, Susan Anderson and Megan Finn. Funded by a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services and National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Creator

Title
Guide to the Indian and Himalayan Art Department Records
Author
Finding aid prepared by Bertha Adams, Susan Anderson and Megan Finn
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Funded by a grant from Institute of Museum and Library Services and National Historical Publications and Records Commission

Repository Details

Part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Library and Archives Repository

Contact:
Philadelphia Museum of Art
PO Box 7646
Philadelphia PA 19101-7646 United States