Corita Kent Papers
Collection-level Scope and Content Note
The Corita Papers, dated 1961-1976, include correspondence, business records, and printed materials relating to Corita's art. The collection amounts to one box of material (0.5 linear feet). It includes reproductions of Carita's highly celebrated serigraphs, which involve innovative use of color and quotations. Carita's correspondence with her Florida dealer, Murray Lebwohl, provides insight into an artist's business dealings.
Dates
- Creation: 1961 - 1976
Creator
- Corita, 1918-1986 (Person)
Collection-level Access Restrictions
Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Conditions Governing Use note
Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.
Biographical note
Corita Kent (1918–1986) was an artist, educator, and advocate for social justice. At age 18 she entered the religious order Immaculate Heart of Mary, eventually teaching and then heading the art department at Immaculate Heart College. During the course of her career, her artwork evolved from using figurative and religious imagery to incorporating advertising images and slogans, popular song lyrics, biblical verses, and literature. Throughout the ‘60s, her work became increasingly political, urging viewers to consider poverty, racism, and social injustice. In 1968, she left the order and moved to Boston. After 1970, her work evolved into a sparser, introspective style, influenced by living in a new environment, a secular life, and her battles with cancer. She remained active in social causes until her death in 1986. At the time of her death, she had created almost 800 serigraph editions, thousands of watercolors, and innumerable public and private commissions.
Source:
- "About Corita." The Corita Art Center website, accessed 9/15/2022. https://www.corita.org/about/corita
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet (1 document case)
Language of Materials
English
Metadata Rights Declarations
Arrangement
Like materials, such as correspondence, have been grouped together by the processing archivist.
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Murray Lebwohl.
Topical
- Title
- Corita Kent Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Joyce W. O'Brien
- Date
- 2001 April
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2022: Edited for DACS compliance by John Zarrillo
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu