Archives

A bookshelf packed with colorful books about women artists.
The Library and Research Center (LRC) holds primary-source records in the Archives of Women Artists as well as the historical records of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

The Betty Boyd Dettre Library and Research Center’s reading room is open to visitors. If you would like to schedule an in-person research visit, please submit a Researcher Registration Form or email lrc@nmwa.org if you are unable to complete the online form.

The Archives of Women Artists

The Archives of Women Artists is dedicated to collecting and preserving the papers and primary records of women visual artists and organizations that promote women’s contributions to the arts. The archive includes personal papers, correspondence, gallery guides, sketches, photographs and slides, and other unique materials.

Finding Aids

Use our detailed finding aids to explore available materials in the Archives of Women Artists.

View the Finding Aids
A brief note, handwritten in Spanish in green ink on yellowed paper, dated September 9, 1940. Beneath the closing, drawings of two hearts connected by an arrow and two birds beak to beak, along with two collaged flowers and a leaf, and a bright pink lipstick imprint.
Letter from Isolda P. Kahlo to Frida Kahlo, 1940
Photo credit: Donald Woodman

Explore the Judy Chicago Visual Archives

Judy Chicago, a long-time cultural leader as an artist, writer and art educator, is perhaps best known for her iconic The Dinner Party (1974–1979), which celebrates women’s history. The Library and Research Center holds the Judy Chicago Visual Archives, a comprehensive collection that includes materials related to The Dinner Party, slides of artwork from Chicago’s childhood to early career, and lectures on topics such as feminism, Judaism, and art.

Visual Archive

This collection visually documents the career of artist Judy Chicago and will grow over time with additional deposits from the artist.

Designed to assist researchers, our detailed finding aid describes the contents and organization of the Judy Chicago Visual Archive.

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Judy Chicago Portal

The archives are part of the Judy Chicago Research Portal, which unites the collection at NMWA with the artist’s paper archives at the Harvard Schlesinger Library and her art education archive at the Penn State University Libraries.

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Donating Materials to the LRC

The Library and Research Center is not accepting donations of books, archives, or artist file materials until further notice.

A painting of a light-skinned woman standing before a large, shaped piece of metal. She wears a white blouse, a black apron and brown goggles, with her hair tied in a scarf. She holds two welding tools. Sparks fly where her tools touch the metal. Another welder is in the distance.
Edna Reindel, The Welders at Lockheed Working on the Intake Duct of the P-38 (from the series, “Women at War”), 1943; Oil on canvas, 32 x 28 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of the artist; © Edna Reindel; Photo by Lee Stalsworth

Citing Material

When citing materials in the LRC collections, patrons should include the following information in the citation: a copyright notice (if the copyright holder is known); acknowledgment of the photographer (if applicable); the title of the collection; and the credit line “Collection of the Betty Boyd Dettre Library and Research Center, National Museum of Women in the Arts.”

Inside the Dinner Party Studio installation view; Photo credit: Emily Haight, NMWA