Scope and arrangement
The administrative records of AICA USA document the activities engaged in and issues faced by the organization in its efforts to promote the visual arts and advance the aims of art history and scholarship. It consists of correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, newsletters, awards and call for papers. The material reflects issues of the day, including fair wage/minimum payments; hosting the international congress; awards; panel discussion topics; book publishing; applying for not-for-profit status; professional standards; strategies for survival; writers contracts; licensing fees and fair use; art critics and artists of color; and group health insurance.
The material is arranged by terms of Presidents. A list of known Presidents follows: Irving Sandler, 1968; John Perrault, 1978-1981; David Bourdon, 1981-1984; Ellen Lubel, 1984; Phyllis Tuchman, 1987-1991 and 1993-1995; Kim Levin, 1991-1992; Phyllis Braff, 1992-1993; Alexandra Anderson-Spivy, 1995-1997; Judith Stein, co-president 1998-1999. Also included is material from Jane Gollin who was administrative assistant during Amei Wallach's presidency, 2001-2003. The bulk of the material spans the years 1987-1993, and includes the presidencies of Tuchman, Levin and Braff. The records also reflect the various other positions that the Presidents held including; vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and they chaired or were members of the following committees: program, membership, nominating, international and national congress. Levin and Tuchman were also elected to the international body.
The most useful material in the collection are the newsletters which describe in detail issues, topics, and controversies and include transcripts, membership information, and lists the members of the executive board.
A controversy in 1996 involving AICA member Max Kozloff's publication of Richard Avedon photographs without permission resulted in the establishment of an ethics committee. (See the files of Alexandra Anderson-Spivy's and Judith Stein).
Sound recordings of general meetings and the lecture following are also included in the collection. These recordings are unavailable pending preservation transfer.