Exploring The Archives

Over the course of the summer, I cataloged many exhibition and auction catalogs that originated from the Knoedler London Library collection. This week, I gained insight into the workings of M. Knoedler & Company gallery offices in the 1960s and 70s through an examination of a selection of papers and indices now in the Jean Outland Chrysler Library archive. One of the more unusual items I encountered, and which proved a challenge to describe, was a set of card catalog drawers filled with auction data. I created a finding aid that orders and describes the contents of the M. Knoedler & Company Papers.

-Rachel Juris, 2009 Jean Outland Chrysler Library Cataloging Fellow

Auction Catalogs

The Jean Outland Chrysler Library auction catalog collection includes rare or unique items, ranging in date from the early 19th century to today. Auction catalogs that belonged previously to the M. Knoedler & Co. Ltd. library (later acquired by Walter P. Chrysler Jr.) have been available to researchers via microfiche since the 1970s (the microfiche is held in the collections of many major research libraries). However, some of the print catalogs have not been cataloged individually. The physical catalogs are significant objects because they contain original handwritten annotations of sale prices, newspaper clippings, and notes made by Knoedler & Co. employees. The Jean Outland Chrysler Library auction catalog collection is extensive, too large to be cataloged in a single summer, however, this week I began the process of creating individual catalog records for items from the Knoedler auction catalog collection. The criteria for cataloging auction catalogs differ slightly from those for cataloging monographs (for example, date and place of sale, owner, and auctioneer are components of an auction catalog record), and I am learning a new skills through the process of completing this project.

-Rachel Juris, 2009 Jean Outland Chrysler Library Cataloging Fellow