Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Tom Cramer papers, 1964-2017
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Cramer, Tom
- Title
- Tom Cramer papers
- Dates
- 1964-2017 (inclusive)19642017
- Quantity
- 9 linear feet, (18 boxes)
- Collection Number
- WUA122
- Summary
- The Tom Cramer papers documents the art career of Tom Cramer during the years 1964-2017. It also includes an extensive collection of family correspondence from 1943 to 2012. This collection contains original art, art gallery promotional fliers and posters, photographs and slides, sketchbooks, newspapers and clippings, and daily planners and journals.
- Repository
-
Willamette University Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Mark O. Hatfield Library
900 State Street
Salem, OR
97301
Telephone: 5033706866
Fax: 5033706141
archives@willamette.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open to researchers.
- Languages
- Sponsor
- Processed with funds provided by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission's (NHPRC) Access to Historical Records grant.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Tom Cramer was born on February 9, 1960 in Portland, Oregon. He attended the Catlin Gabel School in Portland, the Museum Art School (later known as the Pacific Northwest College of Art), and the Pratt Institute in New York. He is best known for his colorful murals, painted cars and motorcycles, and intricate wood-relief paintings. His art is influenced by his environment, music, and various cultures including Indian, African American, and indigenous peoples of the Northwest coastal region.
Cramer began drawing at the age of 12 and quickly became interested in visual art. He was mentored by Portland modernists Clifford Gleason and Milton Wilson and his work is often viewed as a bridge between this earlier generation of artists and the younger artists in Portland. By the mid-1980s, Cramer became popular through his shows at the Folk Craft Gallery in Portland, Oregon and the Jamison Thomas Galleries in Portland, Oregon and New York. His work was also shown in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as various Portland, Oregon galleries including the Butters Gallery, the Pulliam Gallery, the Mark Woolley Gallery, and the Laura Russo Gallery. From 1994-1997, Cramer worked with James Canfield and the Oregon Ballet Theatre to design sets and costumes for ballets. In 1989 Cramer painted his iconic mural "Machine" on a warehouse building on North Williams Avenue in Portland, Oregon. "Machine" helped change and increase the value of the neighborhood. In 2016, the mural's existence was jeopardized when the warehouse was purchased by a developer who planned to demolish the warehouse in order to construct a new building called Parallax. In 2017, after much controversy, deliberation, and threatened legal action, Cramer and the developer settled amicably. The mural was destroyed when the warehouse was demolished with the agreement that Cramer would paint a new mural on Parallax.
Tom Cramer's current work is built upon his style of the late 1990s with a focus on merging painting and relief wood carving with a less vibrant color palette. His work is included in permanent galleries at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon; the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon; the Jordan Schnitzer Museum at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon; and the Boise Art Museum in Boise, Idaho. He is currently represented by the Augen Gallery in Portland, Oregon and the Imogen Gallery in Astoria, Oregon.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Tom Cramer papers provide insight into the Portland, Oregon art and culture scene from the 1980s to the present. Series I (Art career) includes gallery and art exhibition fliers and posters, publicity for Cramer's art in newspapers and magazines, materials related to his education and teaching career, and original art by Cramer, including fragments of his "Machine" mural, and other artists. Series II (Sketchbooks) includes drawings and notes from 1976 to 2013. Series III (Day planners and journals) includes Cramer's daily planners from 1982 to 2007 and journals from his extensive European travels. Series IV (Correspondence) includes letters to Cramer from friends and family, a collection of family correspondence from 1943-2012, and examples of mail art. Series V (Photographs and slides) includes an extensive collection of slides and photographs of Cramer's art, travels, friends, and family.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.
For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.
Copyright Information: Before material from collections at Willamette University Archives and Special Collections may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in any collections held by University Archives and Special Collections should consult the University Archivist. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Tom Cramer papers, Archives and Special Collections, Mark O. Hatfield Library, Willamette University.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The records are arranged into five series: I. Art career; II. Sketchbooks; III. Day planners and journals; IV. Correspondence; and V. Photographs and slides. Series I includes four subseries: A. Galleries and exhibitions; B. Publicity; C. Education and teaching; D. Art by Tom Cramer and other artists. Files are arranged in original order and in chronological order.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Art career, 1972-2017Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Subseries A: Galleries and exhibitions |
1982-2017 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 4 | Poster: Pacific Northwest College of Art Thesis Exhibition |
1982 |
1 | 5 | Poster: Clinton Street Quarterly |
1986 Winter |
1 | 6 | Poster: Tom Cramer at Clochard Gallery |
1987 |
1 | 7 | Posters: Tom Cramer at Jamison Thomas Gallery |
1988 |
1 | 8 | Posters: Tom Cramer at Blue Gallery |
1990 |
1 | 9 | Posters: From All Walks of Life - A Walk for AIDS |
1993-1995 |
1 | 10 | Posters: Oregon Biennial |
1997 |
1 | 11 | Poster: AIDS Walk Oregon - "Step Forward" |
1997 |
1 | 12 | Poster: Piano Festival Northwest
Currently folded. Has water damage. May need to move to map case.
|
2000 |
1 | 13 | Posters: Tom Cramer at Folk Craft Gallery |
undated |
1 | 14 | Posters: Tom Cramer at Jamison Thomas Gallery |
undated |
1 | 15 | Posters: daVinci Arts Fair |
undated |
2 | 1 | Art gallery agreements and art lists |
circa 1983-2007 |
2 | 2 | Art proposals and art benefits |
1989-2010 |
2 | 3 | Exhibition fliers (for Tom Cramer and other artists) |
circa 1959-1991 |
2 | 4 | Exhibition fliers and postcards |
circa 1985-2016 |
2 | 5 | circa 1987-2015 | |
2 | 6 | Oregon Biennial: contemporary works by Oregon artists |
1987-1998 |
2 | 7 | Art auctions and exhibits |
circa 1991-2013 |
2 | 8 | Art exhibitions (Art Quake, Arts in the Arboretum, 1st Thursday, and Portland Art Dealers Association) |
1992-2007 |
2 | 9 | From All Walks of Life fliers and pins |
1993-1995 |
2 | 10 | Oregon Ballet Theatre booklets and fliers (season schedules) |
1994-1997 |
2 | 11 | Theatre performance programs |
1995-1996 |
2 | 12 | Laura Russo Gallery exhibit fliers |
circa 2006-2007 |
2 | 13 | Business cards |
undated |
2 | 14 | Business cards |
undated |
2 | 15 | Name tags for various events |
undated |
2 | 16 | Resumes and recommendation letter |
circa 1994-2003 |
2 | 35 | Journey to the Third Dimension: Tom Cramer Drawings and Paintings, 1974-2019, Jordon Schnitzer Museum of Art |
2019 |
Subseries B: Publicity |
1979-2016 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
3 | 1 | Clippings (newspaper articles about Dr. John F. Cramer, John F. Cramer junior, and Anne Cramer) |
circa 1937-1968 |
3 | 2 | Newspaper clippings (and exhibit fliers and correspondence to Betty Perkins (mother) and Francesca Stevenson) |
circa 1979-2011 |
3 | 3 | Newspaper articles about art |
1986-2012 |
3 | 4 | Newspaper articles about art and exhibits (collected by Betty Cramer Perkins - Tom Cramer's mother) |
circa 1987-2009 |
3 | 5 | Newspaper clippings (and art critiques, gallery resume, and photocopies of art) |
circa 1988-2004 |
3 | 6 | Northwest Examiner (article about Cramer's art) |
1987 August |
3 | 7 | 1st Thursday (articles about Cramer's art) |
1988 September - 1993 October |
3 | 8 | 1st Thursday (articles about Cramer's art) |
1995 May - 1999 May |
3 | 9 | The Business Journal (article about Tom Cramer's painted cars) |
1991 |
3 | 10 | Portland Downtowner (article about Cramer's art) |
1993 September 6 |
3 | 11 | The Boise Voice (article about restoration of mural by Tom Cramer) |
2003 Spring |
3 | 12 | Portland Life: Portland Tribune (article about restoration of Cramer's mural "Machinery") |
2003 June 10 |
2 | 17 | Tom Cramer: P.R. (public relations) |
1984-2007 |
4 | 1 | Metro (article about Cramer) |
1986 October |
4 | 2 | The New York Times (Jamison - Thomas Gallery exhibition listing and Art Biennale) |
1988 February 14 - 2003 June 27 |
4 | 3 | Face magazine (Tom Cramer and Gus Van Zant) |
1991 November - 1992 April |
4 | 4 | Willamette Week (articles about Tom Cramer) |
1993 July - 2016 July |
4 | 5 | Oregon Ballet Theatre "Spring Romance" (article about Tom Cramer) |
1995 March 9 - March 12 |
5 | 1 | The Oregonian (newspaper articles) |
1990 August - 2009 October |
5 | 2 | Hipfish Monthly (article about Tom Cramer) |
2016 August |
2 | 18 | Magazine articles |
2001-2015 |
Subseries C: Education and teaching |
1972-2010 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 19 | Catlin Gabel School correspondence and documents |
1972-1978 |
2 | 20 | Pacific Northwest College of Art (Museum Art School) correspondence and records |
1978-1982 |
2 | 21 | Pacific Northwest College of Art catalogs |
1989 Fall - 1992 Fall |
2 | 22 | Pacific Northwest College of Art catalogs |
1993 Spring - 1994 Summer |
2 | 23 | Pacific Northwest College of Art catalogs and benefit art auction |
1994-2010 |
2 | 24 | Class syllabi (taught by Tom Cramer) |
circa 1991-1998 |
2 | 25 | Pratt Institute statement of purpose and report card |
undated |
2 | 26 | School assignments and reports |
undated |
2 | 27 | Pacific Northwest College of Art - Museum Art School Diploma |
1982 May 2 |
Subseries D: Art by Tom Cramer and other artists |
1974-2017 | ||
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Art by Tom Cramer |
circa 1983-1987 |
1 | 2 | Tom Cramer pole figures: Casa U Betcha Seattle proposal art |
undated |
1 | 3 | Mail art from unknown artist |
undated |
2 | 28 | Art by Tom Cramer |
circa 1974-2010 |
2 | 29 | Pamphlets and cards featuring art by Tom Cramer |
1994-2001 |
2 | 30 | Art supplies (receipts and costs) |
circa 2002-2015 |
2 | 31 | Art related materials - miscellaneous |
undated |
2 | 32 | Art and music magazines |
1978-2016 |
2 | 33 | Artslandia, volume 6 |
2016-2017 |
2 | 34 | Shannon Kraft Photographs, volume 2 (photography book) |
circa 2015 |
3 | 13 | Art by other artists |
circa 1979-2005 |
3 | 14 | Portfolio and resume |
circa 2005-2009 |
item | |||
6 | 1 | "Machine" mural fragments |
1989-2017 |
Series II: Sketchbooks, 1976-2012Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
7 | 1 | Sketchbook (mixed media)
Two sketchbooks have been removed and are on display in the Archives and Special Collections case.
|
1976-1977 |
7 | 2 | Sketchbook (black and white sketches) |
1979 |
7 | 3 | Sketchbook (spring vacation) |
1980 |
7 | 4 | Sketchbook (black and white ink) |
1982 |
7 | 5 | Sketchbook |
1983-1984 |
7 | 6 | Sketchbook |
1984-1985 |
7 | 7 | Sketchbook |
1986 |
7 | 8 | Sketchbook (mixed media) |
1987 |
7 | 9 | Sketchbook (mostly portraits) |
1987 |
7 | 10 | Sketchbook (black and white ink) |
1995-1996 |
7 | 11 | Journal and sketchbook for trip to India |
1998 |
7 | 12 | India trip: journal and sketchbook |
2002-2005 |
7 | 13 | Trip to India: Calcutta, Puri, Hampi, Hospet, and Goa (sketchbook) |
2007 January |
7 | 14 | Sketchbook: Madurai, India |
2007 |
7 | 15 | Brighton Beach "Brown Betty" beach cottage guest book (with sketches) |
2007-2008 |
7 | 16 | Sketchbook |
2008-2012 |
7 | 17 | Tom Cramer: titles for art |
2013 |
7 | 18 | Sketchbook (Tom Bennett Cramer) |
undated |
7 | 19 | Sketchbook |
undated |
item | |||
8 | 1 | Sketchbooks
Contains 3 sketchbooks. Includes First Year Sculpture sketches.
|
circa 1979-1981 |
9 | 1 | Sketchbooks
Contains 21 sketchbooks.
|
1982-1993 |
Folder | |||
10 | 1 | Sketchbook |
1986 |
10 | 2 | Sketchbook |
1986 |
10 | 3 | Sketchbook (black ink) |
1986 |
10 | 4 | Sketchbook |
1986-1987 |
10 | 5 | Sketchbook |
1986-1987 |
10 | 6 | Sketchbook |
1987 |
10 | 7 | Sketchbook |
1988-1997 |
10 | 8 | Sketchbook (black and white ink) |
1989 |
10 | 9 | Sketchbook |
1989-1990 |
10 | 10 | Sketchbook |
1989-1995 |
10 | 11 | Sketchbook (black ink) |
1992 |
10 | 12 | Sketchbook (black ink) |
1992-1993 |
10 | 13 | Sketchbook |
circa 1994 |
10 | 14 | Sketchbook |
1995-2010 |
10 | 15 | Sketchbook |
circa 1996-1997 |
10 | 16 | Sketchbook |
1998 |
10 | 17 | Sketchbook |
1999 |
10 | 18 | Sketchbook |
circa 2000-2006 |
10 | 19 | Sketchbook |
2001-2009 |
10 | 20 | Sketchbook (includes sketches of Portland) |
2007-2008 |
10 | 21 | Sketchbook |
2013 |
Series III: Day planners and journals, 1982-2008Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
11 | 1 | Travel journal (trip to Europe) |
1982 |
11 | 2 | Day planner (calendar) |
1982 |
11 | 3 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1992 |
11 | 4 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1992-1993 |
11 | 5 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1993-1994 |
11 | 6 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1994-1995 |
11 | 7 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1995-1996 |
11 | 8 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1996-1997 |
11 | 9 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1997-1998 |
11 | 10 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1998-1999 |
11 | 11 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
1999-2000 |
11 | 12 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
2000-2001 |
11 | 13 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
2001-2002 |
11 | 14 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
2002-2003 |
11 | 15 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
2003-2004 |
11 | 16 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
2004-2005 |
11 | 17 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
2005-2006 |
11 | 18 | Day planner (calendar/organizer) |
2006-2007 |
11 | 19 | Planner (daily calendar) |
2007-2008 |
Series IV: Correspondence, 1943-2015Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
12 | 1 | Correspondence: John and Mary Cramer (father and step-mother) |
circa 1964-1998 |
3 | 15 | Correspondence: John and Mary Cramer (father and step-mother) |
1984 September 4 - November 1 |
12 | 2 | Correspondence: Betty Cramer Perkins (mother) |
circa 1964-2012 |
12 | 3 | Correspondence: Seldy Cramer Speers (sister) |
circa 1983-2014 |
12 | 4 | Correspondence: personal |
1961-1987 |
12 | 5 | Correspondence: personal |
1981-1986 |
12 | 6 | Art sold and donated and gallery correspondence |
circa 1984-2015 |
12 | 7 | Correspondence: Bill Yost |
circa 1985-2003 |
12 | 8 | Correspondence |
1987-2014 |
12 | 9 | Correspondence: personal |
1988-1989 |
12 | 10 | Correspondence: personal |
1990-1993 |
12 | 11 | Correspondence: personal |
1994-1999 |
12 | 12 | Correspondence: personal |
2000 January 16 - 2008 December 13 |
1 | 16 | Correspondence: Rebecca Burrows |
2004 May |
12 | 13 | Correspondence: Jack Eyerly |
2007 February 10 |
12 | 14 | Correspondence: personal |
circa 2009 April - 2015 August |
12 | 15 | Correspondence: personal |
undated |
12 | 16 | Correspondence: personal |
undated |
12 | 17 | Correspondence: personal |
undated |
12 | 18 | Correspondence |
undated |
12 | 19 | Blank postcards |
undated |
12 | 20 | Art related correspondence |
circa 1977-2014 |
12 | 21 | Tom Cramer: paintings and sculpture (correspondence) |
circa 1984-1992 |
Series V: Photographs and slides, circa 1927-2015Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 17 | Poster: compiled photographs of friends and family |
undated |
3 | 16 | Photographs of family, friends, and art |
undated |
item | |||
13 | 1 | Photographs of art, friends, and family
Includes older family/relatives photographs.
|
undated |
14 | 1 | Photographs of art, friends, and family |
undated |
Folder | |||
15 | 1 | Photos of Tom Cramer |
circa 1966-1996 |
15 | 2 | Art photographs (photographs of Tom Cramer and friends) |
circa 1993-2005 |
15 | 3 | Photo negatives of art (Laura Russo Gallery and Linda Hodges Gallery) |
circa 1996-2002 |
15 | 4 | Photograph negatives of art |
undated |
15 | 5 | Art photographs: Tom Cramer/Burlon Craig - by William Jameson |
undated |
15 | 6 | Photographs (painted cars) |
undated |
15 | 7 | Art photographs |
undated |
15 | 8 | Cramer X-mas (Christmas) party (from Rebekah Johnson and E. J. Haar) |
1996 |
15 | 9 | Photograph negatives (art, friends, and family) |
undated |
15 | 10 | Photographs of family, friends, and art |
undated |
15 | 11 | Photographs of family, friends, and art |
undated |
16 | 1 | Photographs of family, friends, and art |
undated |
16 | 2 | Photographs: family, friends, art and travel |
undated |
16 | 3 | Photographs: family, friends, and art |
undated |
16 | 4 | Photographs: family, friends, and art |
undated |
item | |||
17 | 1 | Carousels of slides of Cramer's art and other styles of art |
undated |
18 | 1 | Slides of Cramer's art |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Art
- Art--Study and teaching
- Arts--Northwest, Pacific
Personal Names
- Eyerly, Jack
- Jamison, William Robert, 1945-1995
- Van Sant, Gus
Corporate Names
- Catlin Gabel School
- Folkcraft Gallery
- Hallie Ford Museum of Art
- Jamison Thomas Gallery
- Laura Russo Gallery
- Oregon Ballet Theatre
- Oregon Biennial (Portland, Or.)
- Oregonian (Firm)
- Pacific Northwest College of Art
- Pratt Institute
- Willamette Weekly
Geographical Names
- Portland (Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Posters
- clippings (information artifacts)
- color photographs
- correspondence
- fliers (printed matter)
- mail art
- mural paintings
- newspapers
- sketchbooks
- zines
Functions
- color slides