Barrett Collection on Texas Artists

Collection

Identifier: SC-018

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains reference files compiled on individual Texas artists, Texas galleries and museums. The files contain personal correspondence between the artsits and Nona or Richard Barrett and documentation images of the artists' work, typically in the form of 35mm slides. The gallery and museum files include advertising materials for exhibitions and events. They also include personal correspondence between the gallery and museum employees and the Barretts. The majority of the correspondence with local artists, galleries, and museums dates from the 1980s to early 2000s.

Dates

1934 - 2007
Majority of material found within 1980 - 2000

Conditions Governing Access

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

Biographical / Historical

Richard and Nona Barrett began collecting Texas art in 1986, when Nona's mother bought the couple their first work, Bill Haveron's Sorry, Buddy (But No Way Out). Richard and Nona married in October 1987 and avidly pursued the work of Texas artists. Their interest in both the art and artists led to communications and lasting friendships with the artists whose works they often purchased.

Richard Barrett, born in 1942, was raised in Namibia and South Africa. He resided in England for a time before moving to Texas. Mr. Barrett is a trained opera singer who speaks twelve languages fluently. Nona Barrett, born in 1949, is a native Dallasite. She worked for Murray Smither, a Dallas art dealer who owned his own gallery. The couple made annual trips to Art Basel in Switzerland where they began collecting Swiss art, the other focus of the collecting. They spent their winters at their other home in Crested Butte, Colorado.

Richard and Nona initially collected primarily contemporary Texas art, but they expanded their collection to include work from the 1870s to 1988, with the majority of the collection dating from 1930s-1950s. The couple donated large portions of their collection to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Dallas Museum of Art between 1999 and 2008. Portions of each donation were then distributed to museums across the state of Texas.

Note written by Lauren Nightingale

Extent

8.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection contains artist files, slides and gallery catalogs for Texas artits. The majority of the correspondence with local artists, galleries, and museums dates from the 1980s to early 2000s.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged in three series: 1. Artist correspondence with Nona and Richard Barrett. 2. Gallery and museum correspondence with the Barretts. 3. Slides from the Barrett Collection of artwork. Files are organized alphabetically by personal or corporate name within each series.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Dallas Museum of Art Library acquired the files through a gift from Richard and Nona Barrett on July 20, 2007. The Texas artist files and slides along with the gallery and museum correspondences were transferred to the Dallas Museum of Art Archives in August 2007.