Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Richard C. Gilkey papers, approximately 1940s-2006
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Gilkey, Richard C. (Richard Charles), 1925-1997
- Title
- Richard C. Gilkey papers
- Dates
- approximately 1940s-2006 (inclusive)19402006
- Quantity
- 2.58 cubic feet (3 boxes) plus 1 vertical file and 5 oversize vertical files
- Collection Number
- 2786
- Summary
- Correspondence, photographs, art exhibition announcements and clippings related to a Seattle painter
- 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
-
Open to all users.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Richard C. Gilkey was born December 20, 1925 in Bellingham, Washington and spent his first six years in British Columbia, Canada where his father worked for the timber industry. The family returned to the Skagit Valley, and then moved to Seattle when Gilkey was twelve where he went to Ballard High School. Before finishing high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Gilkey was discharged in 1944.
Gilkey learned to draw as a child and except for high school classes was largely self-taught. While working at various jobs as a young man, Gilkey continued to practice his art, inspired by the works of Guy Anderson, Morris Graves and Mark Tobey. In the mid-forties, Gilkey set up a studio in Skid Row at the corner of Yesler and 1st Avenue in what is now known as Pioneer Square, and with encouragement from Tobey and Graves, experimented in his painting of local figures, still lifes, and cityscapes. Gilkey continued to return to the Skagit Valley when he could paint the landscape of the country. Having inherited some money from his grandmother, Gilkey traveled in Europe for four months in 1948 where he explored the museums and became particularly impressed with the works of Rembrandt, Goya, and van Gogh. Returning to Seattle, Gilkey continued to hone his craft and in 1958 was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship which allowed him to travel to Europe where he painted and studied in Ireland and Italy.
Gilkey’s work ranges from monochromes and black and whites to brilliant color, and the influence of the Skagit Valley can be seen his paintings though his later work became more abstract. His work was included in art shows throughout the Northwest, and in 1982 his work was part of an exhibit at the Osaka National Museum of Art featuring Pacific Northwest artists. In 1990 Gilkey was named the winner of the Osaka Triennale Exhibition and in 1991 was awarded the Washington State Govenor's Art Award. Gilkey’s paintings remain in private and public collections including the Seattle Art Museum, the King County Arts Commission, The Seattle Times, and Swedish Hospital.
Richard Gilkey was diagnosed with lung cancer in September 1997 and died October 3, 1997 at age 72.
Sources: Ament, D.T. (2003 March 13). Gilkey, Richard (1925-1997): Painter of human consciousness. Retrieved from http://www.historylink.org/File/5404; Museum of Northwest Art. (n.d.). Richard Gilkey. Retrieved from http://www.monamuseum.org/artist/richard-gilkey; Richard Gilkey. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved May 16, 2018 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Gilkey.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Consult the scope and content information for each of the accessions listed below.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in 3 accessions:
- Accession no. 2786-001, Richard C. Gilkey papers, 1933-1977
- Accession no. 2786-002, Richard C. Gilkey papers, 1954-1977
- Accession no. 2786-003, Richard C. Gilkey papers, approximately1940s-2006
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 2786-001: Richard C. Gilkey papers, 1933-1977 (bulk approximately 1945-1977)Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, photographs, art exhibition announcements, clippings.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Richard C. Gilkey, February 10, 1978.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/1 | 2786-001 | Biographical materials |
1945-1970 |
1/2 | 2786-001 | Incoming correspondence |
1933-1975 |
1/3 | 2786-001 | Outgoing correspondence |
1957-1970 |
1/4 | 2786-001 | Notes and writings |
1958; undated |
1/5-6 | 2786-001 | Clippings |
1945-1977 |
1/7 | 2786-001 | Ephemera A-K (art exhibitions) |
1949-1974 |
1/8 | 2786-001 | Ephemera L-S (art exhibitions) |
1948-1977 |
1/9 | 2786-001 | Ephemera T-W and miscellaneous |
1951-1975 |
1/10-12 | 2786-001 | Photographs |
undated |
Accession No. 2786-002: Richard C. Gilkey papers, 1954-1977Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, gallery notices, photograph, clippings, ephemera.
The photograph is a 4" x 5" black and white print of a Gilkey painting.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Archives of NW Art, January 1, 1983.
Accession No. 2786-003: Richard C. Gilkey papers, approximately 1940s-2006Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, photographs, slides, and other materials relating to Gilkey's career.
Files either came from Gilkey's home or were kept by Janet Huston of the Janet Huston Gallery in La Conner, Washington, who was Gilkey's agent for many years.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Janet Huston, August 17, 2011.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/1-17 | 2786-003 | Biographical materials
General Notes:
Folder 6 contains personal letters from Morris Graves.
Folder 14 contains a poem written by Carolyn Kizer.
|
1958-1997 |
1/18-76 | 2786-003 | Files maintained by Janet Huston |
1950s-2006 |
Box | |||
2 | 2786-003 | Photographic materials |
1945-1996 |
folder:oversize | |||
1-4 | 2786-003 | Photographic materials |
1947-1948, 1960s, 1979-1980, 1990-1991, undated |
5 | 2786-003 | Miscellaneous |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Artists--Northwest, Pacific
- Painters--Northwest, Pacific
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Fuller, Richard E. (Richard Eugene), 1897-1976
- Gilkey, Richard C. (Richard Charles), 1925-1997--Archives
- Graves, Morris, 1910-2001