Richmond Barthé Collection
Scope and Contents
These materials on Richmond Barthé were brought together in 1979 and 1980, and 1998 and 1999 as a special collection for research purposes of Associate Professor Harry C. Ward of the University of Southern Mississippi Art Department. These items describe the personal and professional life of Richmond Barthé.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1927-1980, 1999, undated
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
Biographical / Historical
James Richmond Barthé was born on January 28, 1901 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He exhibited early interest in drawing, which was encouraged by his mother, the nuns at the parochial school, and other local townspeople. In 1915 he went to New Orleans where he worked as a butler. After nine years there, one of his paintings attracted the attention of a Catholic priest, Father Kane, who helped him to enter the Chicago Art Institute in 1924.
Barthé went to the Institute with the intention of becoming a painter. While there, he modeled two clay heads as part of an assignment designed to give him a better understanding of anatomy. The results were so impressive that he embarked on a successful career as a sculptor. Barthé worked on several commissioned sculptures including the nine-and-a-half foot tall eagle over the doorway of the Social Security Building in Washington, DC and several busts, including Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, for the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.
Richmond Barthé was awarded an honorary Master of Arts Degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts Degree from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. He was awarded the Rosenwald Fellowship in 1931 and 1932, and the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1940 and 1941. In 1945 he won the James Joey award for inter-racial justice and the Audubon Gold Medal of Honor.
Barthé had many one-man exhibits, especially during the 1930s and 1940s, including exhibits at the Arden Galleries and the Grand Central Galleries in New York. His work is also found in numerous collections, including those at Yale University, the New York Metropolitan Museum, Philips Galleries and Atlanta University.
In 1934 Barthé took his first of many trips to Europe. In 1950 he moved from his studio in New York to Jamaica, where he put aside sculpture and returned to drawing and painting. He remained in Jamaica until 1970, at which time he moved to Florence, Italy, until 1977 and then to Pasadena, California. Richmond Barthé died in Pasadena on March 5, 1989.
Extent
2.35 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection has been arranged into 4 series:
Series 1. Topical
Series 2. Photographs
Series 3. Audio-Visual
Series 4. Scrapbook
The collection begins with the Topical Series that contains biographical articles on Barthé, illustrations of his work, and articles on his work, which were copied from various journals. Also included are twelve collection and exhibit catalogs (1927-1979), which contain illustrations of Barthe’s work and the work of many other African American artists.
There are two periodicals included in this series, “Art Digest” (1939) and “Neworld” (1978) that contain articles on Barthé, and a book, the Federal Writer’s Project New Orleans City Guide (1938), which contains a photograph of Barthé’s bronze sculpture “The Blackberry Woman.” To glimpse the personal side of Barthe, photocopies of correspondence between him and his friends Carl and Fania Van Vechten between the years 1937-1970 are included in this series, along with photocopied selections of Carl Van Vechten’s photographs from Generations in Black and White.
There are several invitations to functions, such as the National Conference of Artists held at the White House in 1980, where Barthé and his work were honored. Photocopies of photographs from the Dick Moore Associates, Inc. documenting the unveiling of the Paul Robeson bust are included. The lists that were used by Harry Ward and his colleagues to identify available materials on Barthe are in the collection, as well as the correspondence that led to their acquisition and a copy of Harry Ward’s compilation entitled “Barthé on Barthé.”
The Photograph Series contains 52 photographs of Richmond Barthé and his work, plus one of his mother, Marie Clementine Franklin. Included are photographs of some of his sculptures that are housed at the Hampton Institute; National Archives in Washington, DC; St Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica; and the University of New Mexico Art Museum in Albuquerque.
The Audio-Visual series contains a video recording of an interview with Richmond Barthé conducted by Harry Ward in 1980. There are also four canisters of 16mm film: two reels of film produced by the Harmon Foundation of New York, which promotes visual arts in Black communities (1933); one reel of film in which Richmond Barthé and other Black American visual artists are recognized by President Jimmy Carter at the White House (1980); and one reel of film entitled “The Negro Soldier” made by Hollywood director Frank Capra during World War II. At Mr. Capra’s request, Barthé was included in the film, and is shown working in his studio.
The final series is the Scrapbook that was compiled by Mrs. Edna Wright, Richmond Barthé’s sister. This scrapbook documents the career of her brother, and consists of newspaper clippings, magazine articles and items of memorabilia from approximately 1931-1978. Also included in this series is a copy of the periodical “Parnassus”, March 1940.
Photograph Log
The Richmond Barthé Collection
Photograph Log
M118-1 Richmond Barthe with President Jimmy Carter
8 X 10 B&W 1980
Mr. Barthe and President Carter shake hands at the National Conference of Artists held at the White House, April 2, 1980. (Box 1, Folder 2).
M118-2 Richmond Barthe in Florence, Italy
3 ½ X 3 ½ Color Undated
Mr. Barthe stands in front of the Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-3 Richmond Barthe’s Studio in Harlem
4 ½ X 3 ½ Albumen Undated
Mr. Barthe’s studio in New York City. Photograph shows the fireplace including several sculptures and framed pictures on the walls. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-4 Richmond Barthe’s Studio during Harlem Renaissance
4 ½ X 3 ½ Albumen Undated
Mr. Barthe’s studio in New York City. Photograph shows the bed and includes two sculptures and framed pictures on the wall. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-5 Richmond Barthe’s “Harmonica Player”
3 ¾ X 4 ¾ Albumen Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture of “Harmonica Player”. Original in Bronze, stands eighteen inches high. (Box 2, Folder 13)
M118-6 Richmond Barthe’s “Rug Cutters”
4 ¾ X 6 ½ Albumen Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture of “Rug Cutters”. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-7 Richmond Barthe and James Garner
5 X 7 Color Undated
Richmond Barthe stands with actor James Garner. Inscription reads: “With Love—Barthe”. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-8 Richmond Barthe’s “Benga”
7 X 10 Albumen Undated
Mr. Barthe’s sculpture of “Benga” positioned on a stack of notebooks. Original in Bronze. Photo by Carl Van Vechten. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-9 Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Richmond Barthe poses for a portrait. Photographed by Carl Van Vechten. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-10 Richmond Barthe’s “The Resurrection”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Mr. Barthe’s “The Resurrection,” a sculpture of Jesus discarding of the winding clothes of his burial. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-11 Marie Clementine Franklin
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Mr. Barthe’s mother, Marie Clementine Franklin, poses for a portrait. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-12 Richmond Barthe’s “Awakening of Africa”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture “Awakening of Africa”. Original in Bronze. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-13 Richmond Barthe’s Bust of Booker T. Washington
8 X 10 Albumen Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpted bust of Booker T. Washington housed in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans on the New York University campus since its unveiling on June 2, 1946. Original in Bronze. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-14 Graduates pose with Richmond Barthe’s “The Christ”
5 X 5 ¾ B&W Undated
Two unidentified graduates (one male and one female) in cap and gown, stand next to Mr. Barthe’s six-foot tall sculpture, “The Christ,” at the City of St. Jude, Montgomery, Alabama. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-15 Richmond Barthe’s “Stevedore” (front view 1)
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Front view photograph of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture “Stevedore” on display at St. Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Original in Bronze. (Box 2, Folder 16).
M118-16 Richmond Barthe’s “Juliet”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Mr. Barthe’s sculpture of actress Katherine Cornell as “Juliet”. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-17 Richmond Barthe’s “Head of John the Baptist”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s “Head of John the Baptist” sculpture. Original in Plaster (toned bronze), 13 ½ inches high. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-18 Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 Albumen Undated
Mr. Barthe poses in hat and scarf for photographer Eugene Hogan. There is a 2 ½ inch tear in center of photograph and 10 scribbled circles on the photo. (Box 2, Folder 13).
M118-19 The head of a male by Richmond Barthe
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Photo of a sculpture by Mr. Barthe of the head of a man, eyes cast downward with molded hat-like piece on back of head. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 14).
M118-20 Sculpture of African American male by Richmond Barthe
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture title unidentified. Front view of an African American male with arms extended above head, wearing ruffled anklets. (Box 2, Folder 14).
M118-21 Richmond Barthe’s “Stevedore” (rear view 1)
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Rear view photograph of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture “Stevedore” on display at St. Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Original in Bronze. (Box 2, Folder 16).
M118-22 Richmond Barthe’s “Stevedore” (rear view 2)
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Rear view photograph of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture “Stevedore” on display at St. Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Original in Bronze. (Box 2, Folder 16).
M118-23 Richmond Barthe’s “Stevedore” (front view 2)
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Front view photograph of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture “Stevedore” on display at St. Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Original in Bronze. (Box 2, Folder 16).
M118-24 Bust of a male by Richmond Barthe (rear view)
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Photo of the back of a bust of a man in a suit coat, vest and tie by Mr. Barthe. On display at St. Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 16).
M118-25 Bust of a male by Richmond Barthe (front view)
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Photo of bust of a man in a suit coat, vest and tie by Mr. Barthe. Bust is positioned on a small stand with plaque. On display at St. Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 16).
M118-26 Bust of a male by Richmond Barthe (right facing)
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Photo of the right side of a bust of a man in a suit coat, vest and tie by Mr. Barthe. On display at St. Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 16).
M118-27 Bust of a male by Richmond Barthe (left facing)
5 X 7 B&W Undated
Photo of left side of a bust of a man in a suit coat, vest and tie by Mr.
Barthe. On display at St. Ann Parish Library in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 16).
M118-28 Richmond Barthe with bust of Hans Neiderlein Gelhart
3 ½ X 5 B&W Undated
Photo appears to be taken from a scrapbook. Barthe stands next to bust of Neiderlein Gelhart. Neiderlein directed German operas at the “Met” each year. Bust is now in Germany. (Box 2, Folder 17).
M118-29 Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Barthe poses for portrait in bow tie. (Box 2, Folder 17).
M118-30 Richmond Barthe’s “Rug Cutters”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Landscape photograph of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture of “Rug Cutters”. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-31 Richmond Barthe’s “Rug Cutters”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Portrait photograph of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture of “Rug Cutters”. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-32 Sculpture of female by Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Sculpture by Mr. Barthe of a woman on tiptoes with arms extended above head. She is wearing a short dress and antennae, possible sprite or fairy. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-33 Head of female with hood by Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Sculpture by Barthe of head of woman with hood over her head, face showing. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-34 Detail from Richmond Barthe’s “Exodus: The Green Pastures”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Moses, Aaron, and Hezekiah from Mr. Barthe’s “Exodus: The Green Pastures. Original in Marble relief (1938). (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-35 Head of African American male by Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture of an African American male. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-36 Bust of male by Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Photo of a bust of an unknown male with hand up near throat by Mr. Barthe. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-37 Sculpture of African American male (rear view)
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture title unidentified. Rear view of an African American male with arms extended above head, wearing ruffled anklets. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-38 Sculpture of person in long robe by Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Sculpture of person in full-length robe with one arm bent upwards and the other at side. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-39 Head of person by Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Sculpture of the head of an individual, gender unidentified, by Barthe. The piece has a flat back and is shown hung on a wall. Sculpture unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-40 Richmond Barthe’s “Harmonica Player”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture of “Harmonica Player”. Original in Bronze, stands eighteen inches high. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-41 Richmond Barthe’s “Mother and Son”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Landscape photo of Mr. Barthe’s sculpture “Mother and Son”. Original in Plaster, 1939. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-42 Richmond Barthe with his sculpture “The Christ”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Barthe uses a sculpting tool to work on the hand of his sculpture “The Christ”. Front view of the six-foot tall sculpture. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-43 Richmond Barthe with his sculpture “The Christ”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Barthe poses holding the hand of his sculpture “The Christ” with his left hand and holding a sculpting tool in his right hand. Left facing view of the six-foot tall sculpture. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-44 Richmond Barthe with his sculpture “The Christ”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Barthe poses holding the wrist of his sculpture “The Christ”. Left facing view of the six-foot tall sculpture. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-45 Student models for Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Homer, a student at Lincoln School in New Rochelle, New York models for Mr. Barthe at a demonstration. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-46 Richmond Barthe works on a sculpture
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Mr. Barthe applies chunks of his medium to a work in progress. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-47 Richmond Barthe with Eleanor Roosevelt
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Barthe meets Eleanor Roosevelt at a portrait exhibit. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-48 Richmond Barthe’s bust of George Washington Carver
8 X 10 B&W 1977
Enshrinement ceremony for the bust of George Washington Carver by Barthe at the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in spring 1977. The photo shows Daniel T. Williams and Elaine Thomas on wither side of the bust.
(Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-49 Richmond Barthe with bust of a female
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Mr. Barthe poses with a bust of a woman that he sculpted. Model for bust is unidentified. (Box 2, Folder 15).
M118-50 Richmond Barthe with bust of Hans Neiderlein Gelhart
2 ½ X 3 ¾ B&W Undated
Barthe stands next to bust of Neiderlein Gelhart. Neiderlein directed German operas at the “Met” each year. Bust is now in Germany. (Box 5, Folder 4).
M118-51 Richmond Barthe
8 X 10 Albumen Undated
Mr. Barthe wearing a suit coat and tie faces left and poses for photographer Carl Van Vechten. Inscription reads: “For my sister Edna – with best wishes for a very happy birthday. Love your brother.” (Box 5, Folder 4).
M118-52 Richmond Barthe’s “The Christ”
8 X 10 B&W Undated
Photo of Barthe’s sculpture of “The Christ” ca. 1949. (Box 5, Folder 4).
- African Americans. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Albums (Books). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Artists. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Barthé, Richmond (James Richmond), 1901-1989
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Mississippi. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Periodicals. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Video recordings. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Richmond Barthé Collection
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
