Betty Marcus Papers

Collection

Identifier: SC-039

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This small collection of papers contains personal and DMFA papers of Mrs. Betty Marcus, a Board of Trustees member from 1963 to 1974 and President from 1970 to 1974. The DMFA papers include Board of Trustees minutes, correspondence, committee notes, DMFA League by-laws, New Museum Bond of 1978-79, and documents pertaining to the search for a new director. Most of the DMFA papers document the Long Range Planning of the new museum building between 1979 - 1984. The personal papers are those that pertain to the Mondrian painting "Farm at Duivendrecht" that Mr. and Mrs. Marcus owned and loaned out.

Dates

1954 - 1984
Other: Majority of material found within 1969 - 1980

Creator

Marcus, Betty Blum, 1923-1984 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for public research. Researchers must make an appointment to view this collection.

Biographical / Historical

Mrs. Betty Marcus, wife of Edward Marcus, was well known for her support of the arts and her civic activities. She was president of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Board, served on the State Fair of Texas Association, the National Committee on Cultural Resources, the Advisory Board of the Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Theatre Three, the Art in Public Places Committee, the Friends of the Dallas Public Library, the Advisory Committee of the Dallas Black Dance Theater, the Foundation of the Arts, Children's Medical Center, and the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. At the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, she was a Board of Trustees member since 1963. She served on many committees over the years, and was even President of the Museum Board from 1970 - 1974. Mrs. Betty Marcus became so well-respected that Mayor Starke Taylor named a park outside of the Arts District concert hall named after her.

Note written by Amanda Davis

Extent

0.83 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection contains the papers of Betty Marcus, Board of Trustees member and President of the Board. Papers document the long range planning of the DMFA, and her Mrs. Marcus' participation in various committees and the future of the museum. The papers have been arranged into informal series due to size.

Arrangement

The papers have been arranged into informal series due to size: DMFA and Personal. Within the DMFA series, folders pertaining to the Long Range Planning for the DMFA were separated, and folders are all arranged alphabetically with "General" placed first and "Miscellaneous" placed last.