Diaries and Notes
Object Details
- Collection Artist
- Cornell, Joseph
- See more items in
- Joseph Cornell Study Center Collection
- Sponsor
- Funding for the processing of this collection was generously provided by the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation.
- Extent
- 3.5 Linear feet (Boxes 8-10, 98-99, 135; OV108, OV119)
- Date
- 1940-1976, undated
- Archival Repository
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Research and Scholars Center
- Identifier
- SAAM.JCSC.1, Series 3
- Type
- Archival materials
- Collection Citation
- Joseph Cornell Study Center, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
- Arrangement
- Alphabetical groupings of diaries and notes were created after the artist's death by his estate or his sisters, though some files of subject-based notes were kept together by Cornell. The distinction between who grouped the materials is often indiscernible, thus subject groups have been maintained where found, and noted as grouped by Cornell's sister, when known. Other diaries and notes are arranged chronologically in general files where no subject grouping is apparent.
- Collection Rights
- Unpublished materials are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
- Scope and Contents
- Diaries and notes document activities of the day; thoughts about art and religion; emotions and feelings related to memory or inspirations, as well as general mood; observations about people passing by; music listened to and books read; and planning and reflections on artwork. Written on seemingly any available surface, diaries, or "diary notes," are written on backs of receipts and old letters; paper bags from Woolworths', magazine shops, and record stores; manila envelopes and mailers; and napkins and torn fragments of paper. Cornell occasionally addresses a diary notation to an imaginary muse or drafts an unsent letter to someone he admired or corresponded with. As years passed, Cornell would often revisit his diaries and add review dates, sometimes commenting upon a memory or adding found scraps and objects, including clippings, dried leaves and flowers, toys, and stamps. Especially rich in thoughts about Cornell's own artworks are the files "Art Notes Related to 'Objects.'" Here, Cornell writes about planning for an exhibition of various ephemera evoking nostalgia ("Metaphysique d'Ephemera") at Hugo Gallery in 1946, which most likely refers to planning for what was eventually called "Portraits of Women: Constructions and Arrangements by Joseph Cornell - The Romantic Museum." He includes ideas about an exhibition of Italian ephemera, "La Bella Napoli," as well as other exhibitions, such as the "Night Voyages" show (1953, Egan Gallery) and "The Philosophical Toy" exhibition. He refers to various admired artists and subjects of focused thought, such as: artists, Caravaggio, Willem de Kooning, Julio de Diego, Piero Dorazio, Marcel Duchamp, Piero della Francesca, Alberto Giacometti, Juan Gris, Parmigianino, Vermeer; poets, Apollinaire and Eluard; ballet dancers, Fanny Cerrito, Lucille Grahn, Zizi Jeanmaire, and Marie Taglioni; actresses, Lauren Bacall, Claire Bloom, Jennifer Jones, Hedy Lamarr, and Lois Smith. He also references works in progress and artwork series, such as: "Aviary" and "Cockatoo" boxes, "Dovecote" boxes, "Homage to the Romantic Ballet," "Hotel" boxes, "Medici" boxes, "Nostalgia of the Sea," "Pharmacy" boxes, "Pink Castles," and "Soap Bubble Sets." Other collecting projects and thematic projects noted include "Dennison boxes," "GC 44," and a "Scrapbook of Swizerland." The "Cherubino #4, Writings – Notes" box is another large group of diary notes that were found together, placed in a cardboard box with painted label by Cornell. He wrote a disclaimer note about the "Cherubino" boxes, kept on top of this material, though the notes found within the box reference a wide number of artworks and subjects. References include "Andromeda" box, "Draco," "Fountain of Youth," "Sun Box," and "View at Ostend," among many other notations. A separate box of potentially related source material can be found in Series 8.2: Subject Source Files, "Cherubino #1." Other references to "Cherubino" can be found scattered throughout diary notes and jotted as annotations throughout the collection. Within general chronological files of diaries and notes, topics include observations of Cornell's surroundings and emotions, including feelings of inspiration as well as "dullness," "sluggishness," and "endless monotony"; memories and pleasant feelings of nostalgia and "routine"; creative "sparkings" and time spent in "cellar" studio working on various works and ideas. Cornell also often makes reference to Joyce Hunter and her death, as well as occasional reference to religion and Christian Science, and in 1961, an "inspiration to work more for world condition." Notes about Cornell's backyard quince tree, music listened to, assistants or "helper" issues, and constellations observed in the night sky, also make frequent appearances. Researchers should note that diaries and notes can be found scattered throughout the collection.
- Collection Restrictions
- Access to the collection requires an advanced appointment. Contact collection staff at least two weeks prior to preferred date, at AmericanArtCornellStudy@si.edu. Series 9: Artifacts and Ephemera, Series 13: Personal Library and Book Collection, and Series 14: Record Album Collection, are still undergoing processing and preservation and may not be available for research use. Record albums are unavailable for playback. Contact collection staff for full lists of publications and record albums.
- Record ID
- ebl-1589483019231-1589483019674-1
- Metadata Usage
- CC0
