Guide to the Rhode Island School of Design Painting Department records , 1987-2010
Rhode Island School of Design Archives
Fleet Library at RISD
2 College Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-709-5922
Fax: 401-709-5932
email: risdarchives@risd.edu
Published in 2009
Collection Overview
| Title: | Rhode Island School of Design. Painting Department records |
| Date range: | 1987-2010 |
| Creator: | Rhode Island School of Design. Department of Painting |
| Extent: | 14 linear feet |
| Abstract: | This collection consists of BFA and MFA theses from 1987-2010 arranged alphabetically and organized by year. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Rhode Island School of Design Archives |
| Collection number: | 08.05 |
Scope & content
The BFA theses, 1987-2010, are arranged alphabetically within 3-ring notebooks and folders organized by year. The bulk of the theses include a written statement of varying length, style, composition, and complexity and a set of slides showing the students' work. Slides may be identified by year, size of print, color or b/w, title, or student. Statements, typed and handwritten, may include professor's written comments, including proofreading marks, and statements may include drafts as well. The MFA theses, 1987-2010, are stored separately, the bulk of which do not include slides. Recent theses may include computer discs instead of slides. The BFA theses, 1992 and 1993, include separate students' proposals with slides prepared for the Lief - Peers Awards. Other years may include the proposals with the theses. Thesis slides may be stored with the proposals.Please contact the Archives to identify students with theses in the collection.
Access Points
Subject Organizations Subject Topics- Rhode Island School of Design--Dissertations
- Painting--Study and teaching (higher)--Rhode Island--Providence
Arrangement
The records are organized into one series:
- I. Theses, 1987-2010
Historical note
RISD created the Freehand and Painting Department in 1901 as part of a general reorganization of the school. Taught since the school's opening in 1878, painting was part of the general Freehand Department, 1886-1901. Instruction was based upon the independent French atelier system. The appointment of John R. Frazier as Department Head in 1923 led to a gradual move to a unified curriculum. The 1930s brought course work in the Mural Painting (1933-1947) and Portraiture (1933-1946) majors.The department became part of the new Fine Arts Division in 1940 and the school offered an illustration major in 1943. All three majors led to a BFA beginning in 1943. A 1947 reorganization led to a consolidation of majors under Illustration or Painting. Illustration remained a part of the department until RISD appointed a separate Head of Illustration in 1962.
In 1943 Painting began to offer a lithography course, originally part of Graphic Arts. Renamed the printmaking workshop in 1956, the coursework was expanded in 1962. RISD changed the department name to Painting and Printmaking in 1972 with two separate majors. A subsequent reorganization in 1979 stripped Printmaking from the title, but retained Printmaking as a program within the department. In 1990 all programs within the Fine Arts Division became individual departments.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | The use of certain documents and collections may be restricted. Please consult the Archives staff for further details. |
| Use of the materials: | Permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from archival materials must be obtained in writing from the Archives. The researcher assumes full responsibility for use of material and for conformity to all applicable laws, including copyright. |
| Preferred citation: | Rhode Island School of Design. Painting Department records., 08.05, Rhode Island School of Design Archives. |
| Contact information: | Rhode Island School of Design Archives Fleet Library at RISD 2 College Street Providence, RI 02903 Tel: 401-709-5922 Fax: 401-709-5932 email: risdarchives@risd.edu |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | These materials were transferred from the Painting Department. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Douglas Doe. |
| Encoding: | Finding aid encoded by Jessica Bitely 2009 February 27 |
| Revisions: |
2012 Sep 4 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |