Guide to the Donald Gordon Papers, 1900-1988 UA.90.F46

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Donald Gordon Papers
Creator
Gordon, Donald E.
Collection Number
UA.90.F46
Extent
31.25 Linear Feet (25 boxes)
Date
1900-1988
Abstract
Dr. Donald Gordon was an art historian and faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh from 1969 until his death in 1984. This collection contains research conducted by Dr. Gordon throughout the world pertaining to the Expressionist Movement, particularly the paintings of Ernst Kirchner, and early twentieth century Modern Art.
Language
English .
Author
Cassidee Knott and Rebecca Kerman.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Donald Gordon was born in New York City in 1931. He attended Havard University for his bachellor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, the latter of which he earned in 1960. In the same year, he was hired as an associate professor of fine arts at Dickinson College. In 1969, Dr. Gordon came to the University of Pittsburgh as a professor of fine arts. He served as the chair of Pitt's Fine Arts department from 1969 to 1973.

Dr. Gordon was the author of three books: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1968), Modern Art Exhibitions 1900-1916: Selected Catalogue Documentation (1974), and Expressionism: Art and Idea (1984). He received several professionial awards and fellowships, including honors from the American Council of Learned Societies (1973-1974) and The Alexander Humboldt Foundation Fellowship from the Central Institute for Art History in Munich (1967-1968). In addition, he served on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Arts, Religion, and Contemporary Culture from 1974 until his death in 1984. He died of cancer at the age of 52 on April 10, 1984, at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Fine Arts Department in 1997.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection contains research and drafts of several of Dr. Donald Gordon's books and articles. This includes photographs and copies of many Expressionist paintings that are held in private or museum collections, as well as catalogs from Modern Art exhibitions from all over the world. Of particular note are Dr. Gordon's provenance files for all identifiable paintings by Ernst Kirchner. Also included are files pertaining to the various courses taught by Dr. Gordon at the University of Pittsburgh and his professional correspondence.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Rebecca Kerman in 2017 and Cassidee Knott in 2018.

Preferred Citation

Donald Gordon Papers, 1900-1988, UA.90.F46, University Archives, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Subjects

    Personal Names

    • Kirchner, Ernst Ludwig
    • Gordon, Donald E.

    Genres

    • Faculty papers

    Other Subjects

    • University of Pittsburgh
    • Art, Modern -- 20th century -- History
    • Art and history
    • Art, Modern -- 20th century
    • Expressionism (Art)

Container List