ARCHIVE & COLLECTIONS

From ephemera to the peculiar collection of books accumulated and various stories told over the years, Skowhegan has made an effort to make these elements of Skowhegan’s history available to alumni, scholars, and general public. View below to see what is currently in our archive and collections.

Alumni Library (New York)

Alongside the a digitized collection lectures and historic founding documents, Skowhegan is building a collection of artist-published books from our alumni. Located in Skowhegan New York on 136 West 22nd Street, this peer-based library captures our community of artists as they develop their art making and practices.

To learn more about Skowhegan’s holdings, or to contribute your artist-published book to Skowhegan’s New York library, please submit a general archive inquiry using the button below.

We currently cannot accept exhibition catalogs.

In 2010, Skowhegan began an oral history project to document and shed light on key moments in our history and complement the Lecture Archive. Through in-depth interviews with instrumental members of the community—many conducted with Liza Zapol, Oral Historian—the oral histories include reminiscences and anecdotes ranging from Skowhegan’s genesis and nascent years to its influence in, and relationship to, the broader art world.

Partial support for this project was provided by the H. King and Jean Cummings Charitable Trust of the Maine Community Foundation.

To access the Oral History Project, please submit a general archive inquiry using the button below.

Oral History Project

  • Emma Amos

    Faculty: 1986, 1997, 2006
    Governor: 1986-2016

    March 21, 2013, New York City

  • Warren C. Cook

    Founding Family Member
    Trustee: 1999-current

    July 22, 2012, Skowhegan, ME

  • David Driskell

    Alum: 1953
    Faculty: 1976, 1978, 1991, 2004
    Board of Governors: 1975–1989
    Board of Trustees: 1989–2002
    Advisory Committee: 2003–2020
    Skowhegan Lifetime Legacy Award Recipient, 2016

    February 9, 2012, Hyattsville, MD

  • Yvonne Jacquette

    Faculty: 1977, 1994
    Governor: 1978-2011

    March 12, 2014, New York City

  • Mildred C. Brinn

    Trustee: 1976-1977, 1979-2017


    December 9, 2011, New York City
    *Interview for institutional use only

  • Ashley Bryan

    Alum: 1946, 1956

    July 25, 2012, Little Cranberry Island, ME

  • Lois Dodd

    Faculty: 1979
    Governor: 1980-1993

    December 1, 2011, New York City

  • Rackstraw Downes

    Faculty: 1975, 1981, 2002
    Governor: 1981-1993

    June 3 & 20, 2013, New York City

  • Sigmund Abeles

    Alum: 1955, 1956

    October 11, 2013, New York City

  • Janet Fish

    Alum: 1961
    Faculty: 1973-1974
    Governor: 1976-2012

    June 6, 2013, New York City

  • Sidney Hurwitz

    Alum: 1954
    Faculty: 1966-1968, 1977
    Fresco Instructor

    November 14, 2011, Boston, MA

  • William King

    Alum: 1948-1952
    Faculty: 1967, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1989
    Governor: 1972-2008

    September 14, 2011, East Hampton, NY

  • Penelope Jencks

    Alum: 1956, 1957

    November 14, 2011, Newton, MA

  • Alex Katz

    Alum: 1949-1950
    Faculty: 1960, 1963-1964, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1995
    Governor: 1962-1979
    Medal for Painting : 1980

    December 8, 2011 New York City

  • Barbara Lapcek

    Director: 1984-1996

    May 17, 2012 New York City

  • Brice Marden

    Faculty: 1970-1971
    Governor: 1972-1976

    April 17, 2012, New York City

  • Barbara Sussman

    Alum: 1976-1977
    Dean: 1982-1983

    November 10, 2011, Hoosick Falls, NY

  • Alexander F. Milliken

    Trustee: 1987-2001

    October 7, 2013, New York City

  • Muriel Palmer

    Founding Family Member

    November 11, 2011, North Bennington, VT

  • Abigail Shahn

    Alum: 1959, 1961

    July 23, 2012, Solon, ME

  • Daphne Cummings

    Founding Family Member
    Alum: 1982
    Governor: 1996-2016

    January 23, 2012, New York City

  • Heidi Nitze

    Alum: 1956-1957

    May 24, 2013, New York City

Document Archive

The Document Archive at Skowhegan traces the trajectory of the school as it was shaped not only by the myriad of artists who constituted it, but also the staff and the administrators who saw to its upkeep. As the most comprehensive collection of documentary material available for Skowhegan, it charts the ethos of the school as it has endured multiple regime changes, political rifts—internal and external, such as the Vietnam War—and larger social and stylistic changes. It includes both narrative accounts of prominent figures such as David Driskell and Bill King through written correspondence, and also more institutional materials such as minutes from past Trustee and Governor meetings. In addition, epistolary records such as solicited by the institution from past alumni, offer insight into how Skowhegan shaped a generation of artists, and offered a place of respite and artistic discovery. The Skowhegan Document Archive also includes photos from every year of its operation, giving precious glimpses into what has changed and what has inevitably remained the same.

We often get, and welcome, inquiries about our history that involve looking through these materials. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate physical access to our archive at this time.

We encourage you to submit your request for information using the form below.