Finding Aids to the Special Collections in the VMFA Archives | Pinkney Near Personal Papers and Henrietta Near Artist Archives SC-42
Special Collection 42 (SC-42)
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Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Archives
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Business Number: 804-340-1495
library@vmfa.museum
URL: https://vmfa.museum/library/special-collections-archives/
Emily Johnson, Archivist; Kate Kaluzny, Photo Archivist
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Custodial History
The collection was packed and donated by Henrietta's estate in August 2023.
Preferred Citation
Pinkney Near Personal Papers and Henrietta Near Artist Archives (SC-42). Gift of Henrietta J. Near. VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.
Processing Information
In general, during processing, all publications are removed and added to the VMFA Library's holdings and original newspaper clippings are photocopied, with identifiers transferred, and then destroyed. Original folder titles are retained, when provided.
Biographical / Historical
Pinkney Longlois Near was born April 28, 1927, in Manhattan, New York. After graduating from St. Paul's School in 1944, Pinkney joined the U.S. Marine Corps., serving in the Pacific Theater during the Occupation of Japan from March 26, 1945-August 21, 1946. In 1950, Pinkney earned his Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University. On August 18, 1956, Pinkney married Henrietta. From 1954-1990, Pinkney served as a curator of VMFA, only leaving briefly to work as a curator at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Pinkney passed away August 29, 1990.
Henrietta Jane Near (née Lloyd) was born November 2, 1929, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. She first began exploring art in Hartford, Connecticut at the Hartford Art School. Henrietta graduated from Wellesley College in 1951 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History and a minor in Studio Art. She taught silkscreen painting at VMFA from 1980-1989 before moving on to teach drawing and pastel at the Hand Workshop from 1990-1992. Henrietta was an involved participant in Richmond's local art scene, exhibiting her art at the 1708 Gallery, Artspace Gallery, and the Henry Street Gallery, among others. Her artwork can be found in the collections of Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Wesleyan College, University of Virginia Hospital, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, in addition to numerous private collections.
Scope and Contents
The collection's inclusive dates are 1873-2020, with the bulk of the material dating from 1970-2000. The collection consists of correspondence, financial records, ephemera, newspaper articles, and photographic materials depicting the lives and careers of Pinkney and Henrietta Near, as well as papers from their respective families.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into 4 series, and items are generally arranged chronologically within each series. Items with no date are generally placed at the end at each series.
- Series 1
- Pinkney Near, 1916-2002
- Series 2
- Henrietta Near, 1873-2020
- Series 3
- Pinkney and Henrietta Near, 1962-1966
- Series 4
- Artist Research Files, 1969-2011
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Art museum curators.
- Artists -- Virginia
- Near, Henrietta.
- Near, Henrietta.
- Near, Pinkney L., 1927-1990
- Women artists.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Near, Henrietta.
- Near, Pinkney L., 1927-1990
Container List
This series documents the life and career of Pinkney Near.
- SC-42-01.1
Sub-Series 1.1: Career Files1958-2002English.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 3 Graphic Materials Binder: SC-42 Box 4 SC42.01.1.F01
VMFA1958-2002Scope and Contents
This file contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, ephemera, and a miniature medallion pertaining to Pinkney's time at the VMFA.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 SC42.01.1.F02
Cincinnati Art Museum1963-1990Scope and Contents
This file contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and ephemera pertaining to Pinkney's time at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 3 Graphic Materials Binder: SC-42 Box 4 SC42.01.1.F01
- SC-42-01.2
Sub-Series 1.2: Personal Papers1916-1990English, Latin.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 3 Graphic Materials Binder: SC-42 Box 4 SC42.01.2.F01
Childhood and Education1927-1956Scope and Contents
This file contains a baby book, birth certificate, bibliography, diplomas, report cards, among other materials pertaining to Pinkney's early life and education.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 Graphic Materials Oversize: SC-42 File 1 SC42.01.2.F02
Military Service Records1945-1946Scope and Contents
This file contains papers and cards documenting Pinkney's time in the Marine Corps.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 SC42.01.2.F03
Personal Life1956-1990Scope and Contents
This file contains ephemera, correspondence, and vital records pertaining to Pinkney's life.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 3 Graphic Materials Binder: SC-42 Box 4 SC42.01.2.F01
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 SC-42-01.3
Sub-Series 1.3: Near Family Papers1916-1983English.Scope and Contents
This sub-series contains correspondence between Near family members, articles, and poetry written by Clifford Near, Pinkney's brother.
This series documents the life and career of Henrietta Near.
- SC-42-02.1
Sub-Series 2.1: Career Files1961-2016
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 Graphic Materials Binder: SC-42 Box 4 SC42.02.1.F01
Art1971-2016Scope and Contents
This file contains loan agreements, sale orders, correspondence, photographs, and articles pertaining to Henrietta's artwork.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 SC42.02.1.F02
Art Organizations1961-2015Scope and Contents
This file contains correspondence, grant applications, meeting minutes, articles, and ephemera pertaining to Henrietta's work with various Richmond art organizations. Included are Art6 (2004-2015), ArtSpace (1990-2007), Hand Workshop (1991-1992), Henry Street Gallery (1987), Very Special Arts (1998-2000), and VMFA (1961).
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 SC42.02.1.F03
Dance1966-1999Scope and Contents
This file contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and articles about the topic of dance and Henrietta's dance career.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 Graphic Materials Binder: SC-42 Box 4 SC42.02.1.F01
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 Graphic Materials Binder: SC-42 Box 4 SC-42-02.2
Sub-Series 2.2: Personal Life1929-2017Scope and Contents
This sub-series contains correspondence, ephemera, and newspaper clippings that pertain to Henrietta's personal life and interests.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 1 SC-42-02.3
Sub-Series 2.3: Financial Records1990-2014Scope and Contents
This sub-series contains correspondence and financial records that pertain to the finances of and donations made by Henrietta Near. Included in the institutions she donated to are the Bayly Art Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, among others.
- Mixed Materials SC-42 Box 2 Graphic Materials Binder: SC-42 Box 4 SC-42-02.4
Sub-Series 2.4: Lloyd Family Papers1873-1994Scope and Contents
This sub-series contains correspondence, a book, ephemera, and photographs that pertain to the Lloyd family.
This series contains correspondence, photographs, and ephemera pertaining to the shared lives of Pinkney and Henrietta Near.