Mary Ann Scherr papers, 1941-2013, bulk 1960-2000
Object Details
- Place of publication, production, or execution
- United States
- Physical Description
- 4 Linear feet; 0.282 Gigabytes
- Arrangement
- The collection is arranged as 6 series. Series 1: Biographical Material, 1948-2005 (Box 1; 0.1 linear feet, ER01; 0.282 GB) Series 2: Correspondence, 1941-2007 (Box 1; 5 folders) Series 3: Writings, 1979-2005 (Box 1; 2 folders) Series 4: Personal Business Records, 1947-2004 (Box 1; 0.3 linear feet) Series 5: Printed Material, 1950-2007 (Box 1-2; 1.2 linear feet) Series 6: Photographs, circa 1960-1999 (Box 2; 0.3 linear feet)
- Access Note / Rights
- Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information. Use of video recording requires advance notice.
- Summary
- The papers of jeweler and designer Mary Ann Scherr measure 4.0 linear feet and 0.282 GB and date from 1941 to 2013, with the bulk of the material from 1960 to 2000. Scherr's career is documented through scattered biographical material and a digital video recording of an interview; correspondence with museums, universities, professional entities, and colleagues; writings by her as well as professional and student writings about her; business records documenting projects and connections with institutions and organizations; news clippings, promotional ephemera, catalogs, posters, and other printed materials; and photographs of Scherr and of her artwork. An additional 2.0 linear feet donated in 2016 includes biographical material including information about Scherr's children, resumes and awards; personal and professional correspondence; teaching files and material regarding honorary degrees; project files pertaining to Scherr's "Body Monitors" jewelry; financial records including invoices for projects and supplies; photographs of Scherr with her designs, with others, and of works of art; artwork consisting of designs, illustrations, and computer clip art design; and printed material.
- Citation
- Mary Ann Scherr papers, 1941-2013, bulk 1960-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
- Use Note
- 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.
- Related Materials
- Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Mary Ann Scherr conducted by Mary Douglas, April 6-7, 2001.
- Biography Note
- Mary Ann Scherr (1921-) is a jeweler and designer living in Raleigh, North Carolina. Scherr was born in Akron, Ohio, and trained at the Cleveland Institute of Art, The University of Akron, and Kent State University, among others. She has worked in illustration, automotive and toy design, fashion, and metalwork but is most renowned for her functional approach to jewelry design through "body monitors," high-tech utilitarian ornaments that monitor and react to the conditions of the wearer or the wearer's surroundings.
- Language Note
- Collection is in English.
- Provenance
- The collection was donated by Mary Ann Scherr in 2001, 2005, and 2008 under the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America. Additional material donated 2016 by Scott Scherr, Mary Ann Scherr's son.
- Location Note
- Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
- Data Source
- Archives of American Art
- Record number
- (DSI-AAA_CollID)6026
- (DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)236023
- AAA_collcode_schemary
- Creator
- Scherr, Mary Ann, 1931-2016
- Subject
- Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America
- Type
- Photographs
- Theme
- Women
- Craft
- Lives of artists
- Topic
- Jewelry making
- Women artists
- Women jewelers
- Theme
- Women
- Craft
- Lives of artists
- Record ID
- AAADCD_coll_236023
