Georgia O'Keeffe letters to Edith Evans Asbury, 1957-1986

The collection consists of correspondence, photographs, and ephemera documenting the relationship between Georgia O'Keeffe and her friend Edith Evans Asbury, which began in 1957 when Asbury wrote to request an interview with the artist for a profile she was preparing. Series I (in Box 1) consists of four folders of their correspondence, with carbon copies of some of Asbury's letters, and ends in 1978 after two decades of visits and gifts had been exchanged. Subjects covered in the letters vary widely, but include comments on literature sent and read, gardening, weather, household projects, and O'Keeffe's thoughts about the painter Mark Rothko and on her own exhibitions. In December 1974 O'Keeffe sent a book manuscript to Asbury for comment; the manuscript is not present, but Asbury's notes and reply are, along with two letters from O'Keeffe to Robert Garst (1976, 1978) thanking him for his advice on the project. The collection also includes two letters (1963) from Garst to Asbury, and two letters (1968, 1970) to Asbury from O'Keeffe's sister Claudia. The series ends with photocopies of letters from 1979 sent between the New York Times, various lawyers, and Asbury concerning statements regarding O'Keeffe's relationship with Juan Hamilton that were published in the Times, and ended Asbury's friendship with O'Keeffe

Series II (in Boxes 1 and 2) contains eleven folders holding more than 225 snapshot photographs of O'Keeffe, Asbury, and others, taken while Asbury was visiting or traveling with O'Keeffe and others in New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas in the 1960s. The informal photographs show the artist alone, with friends, and with pets at her homes and studios in Abiquiu and at Ghost Ranch; she is also seen at a beauty parlor and while hiking, shopping, driving, and boating. One set of prints captures O'Keeffe relaxing at Ghost Ranch with her friend Mangus (Mike) Harding and the photographer Todd Webb. Sets of both black and white and color snapshots document O'Keeffe's activities at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, during the installation of her 1966 exhibition there, accompanied by her manuscript list of paintings for the exhibit; a second group was taken after the exhibition moved to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, later that year. Negatives are present for most of the photographs

Series III (in Box 2) contains three folders: Asbury's airline ticket stubs and travel ephemera (1963-1964); O'Keeffe's filled-in data form for the serial Current Biography (1964) with a portrait photograph by Rick Stafford; and two of Asbury's articles on O'Keeffe cut from the New York Times, a profile (1968) and an obituary (1986).