Oscar and Maudene McNary Collection
MSS.0022
An Inventory of her Records at the African American Library at the Gregory School, Houston Public Library
|
|
|
|
|
Creator |
McNary, Oscar |
|
Title: |
Oscar and Maudene McNary Collection |
|
Dates: |
1915-2008 |
|
Identification: |
MSS.0022 |
|
Quantity: |
5.0 Linear feet |
|
Language: |
Materials are in English. |
|
Repository: |
African American Library at the Gregory School |
Oscar and Maudene McNary have been involved in the fine arts world for over 40 years. They are Texas natives and both had formal education and training in fine arts. They studied under a number of internationally known Texas artists and educators. Oscar McNary, an artist himself has also had his works displayed throughout the country. His other roles included being an art consultant, exhibiting works by such artists as Robert Neal Williams in galleries and art exhibits.
Never one to work alone, his wife, Maudene McNary collaborates with her husband in the purchase and the assessment of a particular piece that catches their eye. The art works the couple has acquired over the years reflects their educational background, training, appreciation, and work within the field. The criteria for collecting as they would express it would be, “Collecting Objectively.” What they decide to collect is something that attracts their eye, irrespective of the artist that created it. They do not let the artist influence their judgment of the object. They view the object in its own light, with the artist being a secondary factor. The criteria they establish for collecting materials include: quality, size, fragility, and variety. Art for them is not only a showpiece, but something they literally live with as a part of their home décor.
Although many of the works of art they have collected over the years represent works created by many prominent African American artists, they also collect works done by other multi-ethnic heritages as a sense of their own cultural awareness, that each culture has something to contribute. The couple has been involved in a variety of art, historic, and civic organizations in the Dallas area for nearly 30 years, and they are strong advocates of promoting young talent. They currently live in Richardson, Texas.
Return to the Table of Contents
The Oscar and Maudene McNary Collection contain newsclippings, correspondence, programs, photographs, art books and publications, and works of art by African American artists. The materials reflect their lives together as art collectors, art consultants, and the many artists they have known both professionally and as friends over the years.
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
Arrangement note |
|
The collection is arranged by subject and material type. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Conditions Governing Access note
Access to documents and photographs are permitted. Access to works of art is restricted. Please consult with Archivist or Curator on staff.
Conditions Governing Use note
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the Oscar and Maudene McNary Collection must be obtained from the African American Library at the Gregory School or the appropriate copyright holder. Please ask reference staff for information and assistance on the possibility of photo duplication and any associated fees. The library reserves the right to restrict duplication.
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maudene McNary, Mrs |
|
|
Maudene McNary, Mrs |
|
|
Oscar McNary , Mr |
|
|
African American artists |
|
|
Art, American |
|
|
Artists--Texas--Houston |
Return to the Table of Contents
Oscar and Maudene McNary, April 2010
Processed by Vince Lee, June 2010
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1 |
Newsclippings |
|
|
|
Collecting Objectively—McNarys fill passion for art by collecting—by Shannon Gilcrease—UT Dallas News (1993) |
|
|
|
The Biggers Picture—by Lisa Gray, Houston Chronicle (2007) |
|
|
|
John T. Biggers dies at age 76 by Janet Kutner, Dallas Morning News (2001) |
|
|
|
Woodcarving Exhibit by Terry Can Sickle, Dallas Morning News (1984) |
|
|
|
A Cultural Hero’s Legacy by Vicki Meeks, Dallas Weekly (2001) |
|
|
|
Professor helped shape art department at TSU by Douglas Britt, Houston Chronicle (2010) |
|
|
|
Gwendolyn Knight stands on her own with retrospectives by Catherine Fox, The Atlanta Journal (1988) |
|
|
|
Knight is content with artistic shadow role by Deloris Tarzan Ament, The Seattle Times (1987) |
|
|
|
Because the world is not drab by Allan Turner, Houston Chronicle Magazine (2001) |
|
|
|
Assessing our bounty by Douglas Britt, Houston Chronicle Zest (2008) |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
2 |
Correspondence |
|
|
|
Letter from Shannon Gilcrease to Oscar and Maudene McNary (1993) |
|
|
|
Letter from Joan Adams Mondale to Oscar McNary (1983) |
|
|
|
Note card from Eugene L. Forney to Oscar McNary (2004) |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
3 |
Programs |
|
|
|
Oscar McNary—DMA Masters Exhibition (2000) |
|
|
|
”Collecting Objectively” (1993) |
|
|
|
The Creative Expression of Jacob Lawrence and Gwen Knight (2002) |
|
|
|
John Biggers Market Art (1994) |
|
|
|
Contemporary African American Ceramic Artists (1998) |
|
|
|
The McNary Collection (1993) |
|
|
|
The McNary Collection Flyer (1993) |
|
|
|
Houston Colored High Schools Forty-Seventh Annual Program (1942) |
|
|
|
Booker T. Washington High School 100th Anniversary Celebration (1993) |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
4 |
Photographs |
|
|
|
MSS0022.001--Wagon by Robert Neal Williams |
|
|
|
MSS0022.002--Robert Neal Williams with Wife (February 15, 1983) |
|
|
|
MSS0022.003--Maudie and Richard Mosby at Houston Fatstock show and rodeo (1955) |
|
|
|
MSS0022.003a--Accompanying written description of the photograph by Maudene McNary |
|
|
|
MSS0022.004--Oscar McNary (n.d.) |
|
|
|
MSS0022.005--Robert Neal Williams with Oscar McNary and wood caring scene at old City Park exhibit (February 15, 1983) |
|
|
|
MSS0022.006--Elizabeth Catlett “Madonna” 1982 lithograph |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
5 |
Financial Records |
|
|
|
Purchase Invoice for Elizabeth Catlett’s “Madonna” 1982 lithograph from Ellen Sragow Ltd. (1999) |
|
|
|
Check image for the purchase of painting by Dr. Ruth McCrane from the David Dike Fine Art Gallery (1996) |
|
|
|
Check image for the purchase of “old Woman” by John Biggers from the Black Heritage Gallery (1994) |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Gwen Knight |
|
|
|
Gwen Knight Dossier |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
6 |
Robert Neal Willams |
|
|
|
Descriptive caption of “Folk Art” by Robert Neal Williams (n.d.) |
|
|
|
Publicity/Press Release for the Dallas County Heritage Society by Oscar McNary (1983) |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
7 |
Dr. Ruth Mae McCrane |
|
|
|
Funeral Program of Dr. Ruth Mae McCrane (2002) |
|
|
|
Autographed publicity for Dr. Ruth Mae McCrane for David Dike’s fall exhibition (1996) |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
8 |
Art Book Art in Houston |
|
|
|
Black Art in Houston by John Biggers and Carroll Simms with John Edward Weems, 1979 Texas A & M University Press |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
9 |
Art Book of John Biggers |
|
|
|
The Art of John Biggers—View from the Upper Room by Alvia J. Wardlaw @ 1995 Museum of Fine Arts Houston Public Library |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
10 |
ElIzabeth Carlett Works on Paper,1944-1992 |
|
|
|
Elizabeth Carlett-Works on Paper 1944—1992 c. 1993 Hampton University Museum |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
11 |
After Vesalius |
|
|
|
After Vesalius-Drawings by Jacob Lawrence c. 1996 Jacob Lawrence |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
12 |
Booker.T.Washington |
|
|
|
Booker T. Washington—The Master Mind of a Child of Slavery by Fredrick E. Drinker c. 1915 |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
13 |
Art book-Blackburn's Workshop of Color |
|
|
|
Blackburn’s Workshop of Color (1992) |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
14 |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
Historic timeline of John Biggers |
|
|
|
Quotation Placard of Fredrick Douglas |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
15 |
Item Separated |
|
16 |
|
Oversized items(Works of Acts) |
|
|
|
|
“Old Woman”—John T. Biggers—1952 Lithograph (20 x 23”) |
|
|
|
|
Ceramic Bowl—Carroll Harris Simms 1985 |
|
|
|
|
Folk Art—hand carved wooden miniatures by Robert Neal Williams |
|
|
|
|
|
-farm scene of cow being led by man and woman |
|
|
|
|
|
-man at churn |
|
|
|
|
|
-boy running with dog |
|
|
|
|
|
-baseball player holding a watermelon |
|
|
|
|
|
-woman and driver in horse-drawn carriage |
|
|
|
|
|
-Pastor delivering sermon from pulpit |
|
|
|
|
|
-Woman sitting down performing chores |
|
|
|
|
|
-horse drawn carriage |
|
|
|
|
|
-2 hunters carrying their catch |
|
|
|
|
|
-dog in alert standing position |
|
|
|
|
|
-prospector leading a mule |
|
|
|
|
|
-cow grazing |
|
|
|
|
|
-African American Union Soldier on horseback |
|
|
|
|
|
-2 swans |
|
|
|
|
|
-horse-drawn wagon of Miller’s Fish Market |
|
|
|
|
Gwendolyn Knight, “Diva”, silk screen print, 1994, 28 x 23” |
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth Catlett, “Madonna”, lithograph, 1982, 21 1/8” x 15 7/8” |
|
|
|
|
Folk Art Hand carved wooden miniatures by Robert Neal Williams: |
|
|
|
|
|
-2 horse drawn carriages with driver |
|
|
|
|
|
-tables with 4 chairs |
|
|
|
|
|
-stove |
|
|
|
|
|
-cabinet |
|
|
|
|
|
-watermelon slices |
Return to the Table of Contents
|
