Scope and Content of Collection

The William Hemmerdinger papers document his multifaceted career as a teacher, artist, writer, gallerist and curator. The collection is particularly rich in research files about artists and in ephemera from Southern California arts institutions.

Series I focuses on the William and Catherine Hemmerdinger Gallery records, including exhibition records, press releases and assorted documents that trace the gallery's operations from the 1980s to the early 1990s.

Series II contains research files primarily on artists, but also on other notable individuals and institutions. Files typically contain clippings, gallery ephemera, exhibition announcements, photographs and/or correspondence. Also included are original artworks by artists such as Claire Falkenstein, Karl Benjamin, Connor Everts and Matsumi Kanemitsu.

Series III contains research files assembled by Hemmerdinger on various subjects including art genres and styles. Although the subject files cover a wide range of topics, the most developed are Native American arts, Asian arts, Southwestern and California desert arts. Files also contain clippings and some ephemera.

Series IV contains ephemera spanning the second half of the twentieth century and the early 2000s. The bulk of the ephemera is gallery and museum exhibition announcements. The series also includes brochures and publicity materials from other cultural institutions. Most of the materials in this series are from Southern California; however, other regions of California, as well as national institutions are represented.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in four series:
Series I. Hemmerdinger Gallery records, 1983-1994;
Series II. Artists and institutions, 1941-2007;
Series III. Subjects, 1871-2006;
Series IV. Ephemera, 1962-2007.