Biographical and Family Records

Object Details

Sponsor: Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art

Collection Citation: Ben Shahn papers, 1879-1990, bulk 1933-1970. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Arrangement note: Records are arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series has been scanned in entirety.

Collection Rights: The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.

Scope and Contents note: This series includes biographical sketches for Shahn maintained by Downtown Gallery and various award certificates received by Shahn over the course of his career. There is a 1924 passport for Shahn and his first wife, Tillie Goldstein, and various family legal records including the divorce papers of Ben and Tillie Shahn, copies of Jonathan Shahn's birth certificate and Ezra Shahn's doctorate certificate, and indenture papers for a branch of Bernarda Bryson Shahn's family. Also found in this series are resume details for Bernarda Bryson Shahn and two cards showing her membership in the Author's Guild.

Collection Restrictions: This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.