James A. McGrath photograph collection, 1950-2008

Overview of the Collection

Collector
McGrath, James A.
Title
James A. McGrath photograph collection
Dates
1950-2008 (inclusive)
Quantity
Over 200 negatives, black and white, and color photographs of varying sizes (2 boxes) ; sizes vary
Collection Number
PH1358
Summary
Images of James McGrath teaching students at a number of overseas schools; traveling through Asia, Europe, and Africa; working at the Institute of American Indian Arts; and his involvement in acting and community projects
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

James A. McGrath was born in Tacoma in 1928. McGrath studied at Central Washington State College and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1950. He received an Master of Arts Degree from the University of New Mexico in 1973. He taught in Richland, Washington public schools, 1952-1955; in American schools in Germany, 1955-1958; then served as Director of Arts for American Schools in Europe, 1958-1962. When the Institute of American Indian Arts opened in Santa Fe in 1962, McGrath returned to the U.S. to teach design, painting, and poetry there. He served as the Institute's Director of Arts, 1966-1972 and Director of Special Projects, 1972-1973. From 1973 until 1982 he was the Arts and Humanities Coordinator for U.S. Department of Defense Schools in Southeast Asia.

After one year as teacher and arts curriculum developer at a community school on the Hopi Indian Reservation, he went back to Asia as Arts, Humanities and Intercultural Studies Coordinator for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Southwest Asia. In late 1985, he returned to Santa Fe to re-enter the American arts scene. He again served the Institute of American Indian Art as Dean, 1988-1989; and as Museum Director, 1989-1990. Beginning in 1989, McGrath served as consultant with the New Mexico Arts Division and New Mexico State Department of Education to develop teaching training in the arts. He continued his consultant work in New Mexico and abroad, including Korea, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the Congo.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of James McGrath teaching students at overseas schools; traveling through Asia, Europe, and Africa; working at the Institute of American Indian Arts; and his involvement in acting and community projects.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: William Witherup, October 13, 2003.

Processing Note

Preliminary processing by Arlene G. Cohen, 2016.

Accessioned as PH2004-053.

The current photograph collection, Photo Acc. 2004-053, was received together, on October 13, 2003, with the materials that form Accession No. 4547-004 in the Manuscripts Collection. The photographs were transferred to the Visual Materials Collection on December 12, 2003 and February 2016.

Related Materials

James A. McGrath Papers (Mss Coll 4547)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Native American Arts EducatorReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Institute of American Indian Arts
Box/Folder
1/1
Contact sheet with 11 images of traditional Native American dancers performing the Apache Mountain Spirit Dance, NW Swan Dance and Pueblo Buffalo Dance in the East Room of the White House
Event coordinated by McGrath who was serving as Art Director at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
1965
1/1
Institute of American Indian Arts students Dominick Laduce and Manuelito Lovato with their teacher Otellie Loloma and McGrath in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
1971-1972
1/1
McGrath and David Warren with an artifact from the Betty Rosenthal Collection of the Institute of American Indian Arts
Robert Nugent (photographer)
1970
Box/Folder
2/1-2/15
Hopitutukaiki The Hopi School, Inc.
Album created by McGrath covering his work with the school from 2005 through 2009. Includes photographs of students and their work, reports, newspaper clipping, and other materials relating to the school.
2005-2009

TeachingReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/2
Columbia High School, Richland, Washington
Mock up of the 1955 yearbook and assorted photographs of the school and students. McGrath was an art teacher and the Columbia High School Yearbook advisor.
1952-1955
1/3
Frankfurt High School, Germany
McGrath with Anita Voetz, the Frankfurt High School the yearbook editor, preparing a student for yearbook photos
circa 1956-1958
Yokota Elementary School, Yokota, Japan
Box/Folder
1/3
McGrath showing an Indian moccasin to a group of Japanese children
circa 1973-1974
1/3
McGrath showing what appears to be a skunk pelt to a group of Japanese children
circa 1973-1974
1/3
McGrath fitting an Indian motif vest on a child surrounded by group of Japanese children
circa 1973-1974
1/3
McGrath showing an Indian neckpiece to a group of Japanese children
U.S. Air Force (Photographer)
These pictures were made while McGrath was the Arts and Humanities Coordinator for the Department of Defense Overseas Schools in Southeast Asia.
circa 1973-1974
Box/Folder
1/4
U.S. Dept. of Defense Dependent's Schools, Pacific Area Administrator's Workshop, Baguio City, Philippines
U.S. Air Force (Photographer)
2 photographs of McGrath attending the workshop
1974
1/5
U.S. Dept. of Defense Overseas Schools, Philippine Cultural Arts Workshop, Philippines
Photograph of McGrath and students in the Ethnic Cooking class. Description of the class, attendees and recipe for coffee can bread on reverse of photograph
1974
1/6
MacArthur Elementary School, Bohol, Philippines
U.S. Air Force (Photographer)
3 photographs of McGrath teaching a clay arts workshop being surrounded by children
1984
1/7
College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico
9 photographs and 36 negatives of the McGrath's students sculpture projects.
1986-1987
1/8
Very Special Arts North Fourth Art Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
McGrath working wiith a disabled student
1986-1987
1/9
Seoul Academy, Seoul, Korea
3 photographs of workshop and murals.
1986-1988
1/10
Republic of Yemen
3 photographs of McGrath teaching art students under the auspices of the United States Information Agency’s Arts America Program
1990
1/11
Tularosa, New Mexico
3 photos from the clay, bronze sculpture workshop
1993-1994

Art, Poetry and CalligraphyReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/12
Guemas Island, Washington
Photograph of painting Paddle Phosphorescence done in 1955 and exhibited at the Meridian Gallery in San Francisco in 2002; and 10 Polaroid photographs found with the painting.
1955
folder:oversize
XH4
Hill's Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Robert Nugent Photography, Santa Fe, New Mexico (photographer)
2 photographs of an art exhibit including the work of McGrath.
1973
Box/Folder
1/13
Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico
4 slides of McGrath's sculptures submitted to the Southwest '96 exhibit for consideration.
1996
1/14
West End Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico
6 photographs of area around Cieneguilla, New Mexico submitted to the West End Press for publication.
1996
1/15
Christmas cards
5 Christmas cards designed by McGrath with photographs and poetry.
2000
1/16
Calligraphy
2 photographs (1 color and a copy in black and white) from the Zen Calligraphy Workshop given at the Ypaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico; a calligraphy Birthday card given to McGrath from Cynthia ?; and a calligraphy painting possibly done by McGrath.
2006

Other Activities Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/17
Virginia City Players performing Rip Van Winkle
McGrath and his wife Jean were cast members with the Montana based Virginia City Players Theater Company during the 1951 season. 2 photographs: one of an actor in costume, possibly McGrath, with handwritten notes on front "Rip looks into the Fifties..." "Oh! What a Beautiful Baby" and "All the best, [signature illegible]"; and the other of actors in costume with handwritten notes on front, "Eddy" and "Best of luck Jim and Jean after 4 months with Rip" [signature illegible].
1951
1/18
Hands Across America
Hands Across America was a benefit event and publicity campaign staged on Sunday, May 25, 1986 throughout the continental United States. Approximately 6.5 million people held hands in a human chain for fifteen minutes along a path across the country. The event hoped to raise money for and draw attention to homelessness and hunger. 8 photographs of participants in the Route 201 portion of the event taking part in various activities.
May 25, 1986
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/19
Northwestern United States
17 photographs of McGrath on a hitchhiking trip through Washington, Idaho, Utah and Colorado.
1949
1/20
Turkey
McGrath atop a structure at the archaeological ruins of Ephesus, south of Izmir in Turkey.
1958
1/21
Germany
McGrath and three others at the German Winter Festival
1958
1/22
Libya
Photograph of McGrath sitting on a camel mounted on a Christmas card. Printed on front of card: Greetings from Libya. Printed on inside of card: Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Handwritten on inside of card: Love from Jim with camel and fleas.
1958
1/23
Seoul, Korea
Photographic slide of McGrath
1973
1/24
Taipei, Taiwan
1 color postcard of a temple and 5 black and white copies of the psotcard.
1973
1/25
China
McGrath sitting near some ancient Chinese statues.
1980
1/26
Abha, Saudi Arabia
2 photographs of McGrath with a group of artists at a USIS/Arts America exhibit.
1993
Greece
Box/Folder
1/27
2 photographs on the island of Leros where McGrath and Santa Fe poet Morgan Farley developed a workshop.
2000
1/28
18 photographs from of friends and students in Greece with notes on the verso of some
circa 2010

James McGrath Portraits and Personal InformationReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Portraits
Box/Folder
1/29
2 Graduation portraits of McGrath
Kennnell-Ellis Studios, Eugene, Oregon (photographer)
McGrath graduated from University of Oregon with a B.S. in 1950.
1950
1/30
Portrait of McGrath in front of artwork
Robert Nugent (Photographer)
Photograph used in an article about McGrath appearing in the Tacoma News Tribune, June 25, 1973, page 8.
circa 1973
1/31
5 photographs of McGrath with notes by Suzuki
Tadao Suzuki (Photographer)
circa 1980, 1984
1/32
2 copies of a portrait of McGrath
Nora Fisher (Photographer)
1990
1/33
6 portraits of McGrath and 1 photograph of him at home.
2008
Box/Folder
1/34
McGrath's promotional brochures
The file contains printed brochures and the original artwork used to make them
1985
1/35
Artwork for Jonah Raskin's book James McGrath -- In a Class by Himself
A list of the items in the book is included but many of the items on the list are not included.
2010-2011

McGrath and other peopleReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/36
Betty Taira
2 photographs of Betty Taira with McGrath. She taught at the U.S. Department of Defense Dependents School in the Far East.
undated
1/37
Phil Gibbons and others
5 photographs of Phil Gibbons, McGrath and others at Central Washington College, Ellensberg, Washington with a letter and poem on reverse of two of the photographs.
1948
1/38
John Jay Hoover
McGrath at the exhibition of Artist in Residence John Hoover, an Alaskan Aleut artist, in the Philippines and Taiwan.
circa 1970
1/39
Paulette Beall
Correspondence to McGrath from Paulette Beall, a mentor of his from the University of Oregon, including photographs of her art work.
1989-1981
1/40
Jonah Raskin
McGrath with author Jonah Raskin..
2012
1/41
Tadao 'Rio' Suzuki
3 pictures and a note from Suzuki.
1996
1/42
Jeni McGrath
2 photographs of McGraths's daughter of Jeni.
1999
1/43
McGrath's 80 Birthday Celebration
16 photographs of friends celebrating.
2008

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Art teachers--United States--Photographs
  • Photographs--Specimens
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • McGrath, James A.--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • Institute of American Indian Arts--Employees--Photographs