Mark Sponenburgh papers, circa 1940-2017

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sponenburgh, Mark
Title
Mark Sponenburgh papers
Dates
circa 1940-2017 (inclusive)
Quantity
7.25 linear feet, (17 boxes)
Collection Number
WUA120
Summary
The Mark Sponenburgh papers include materials related to Sponenburgh's careers as an artist, educator, and scholar from 1940-2017.
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

Mark Ritter Sponenburgh was born on June 15, 1918, in Cadillac, Michigan and died on December 6, 2012, in Seal Rock, Oregon. He studied sculpture at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan from 1939-1940 and Wayne University in Detroit, Michigan from 1940-1941. In 1942 Sponenburgh enlisted in the United States' Army and was assigned to Combat Intelligence Training. In 1944 he was assigned to the Corps of Engineers as part of the IXth Engineers Command where he analyzed and reproduced maps for the cartography section at the Command headquarters in Paris, France. His unit participated in the D-Day landings at Normandy, and advanced through France, Holland, Belgium, and the Rhineland during World War II. In June 1945 Sponenburgh requested to transfer to the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archive (MFAA) division. He was originally stationed at the Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point, but transferred in September 1945 to the salt mine at Altaussee, Austria, which was the main Nazi storage depot for Adolf Hitler's collection of stolen art and cultural objects. As a member of the Monuments Men, Sponenburgh assisted in operations to transfer the items to the Munich Central Collecting Point for sorting, cataloguing, and eventual restitution.

After the end of his military service, Sponenburgh continued his graduate studies at the Ecôle des Beaux Arts in Paris, France. While in Paris, he married Huguette Ozanon. In 1946 the couple moved to Eugene, Oregon for Sponenburgh's faculty position in Architecture and Allied Arts at the University of Oregon. In 1951 Sponenburgh traveled to Egypt as a Fulbright Scholar at the American Research Center in Cairo, where he continued his studies and research in sculpture, carving, and ancient Egyptian sculpture and art. He returned to Eugene in 1953.

From 1956-1957, Sponenburgh taught as a visiting professor at the Royal College of Arts in London, England. In 1957 he was commissioned by the government of Pakistan to establish the National College of Arts in Lahore, where he served as principal (Dean) of the college and a professor. While working in Pakistan, he organized the first national exhibition of regional Swat folk art. Sponenburgh remained in Pakistan until 1961 when he moved with his wife Huguette to Paris, France, due to her battle with cancer. Huguette Sponenburgh died on June 26, 1961. Sponenburgh returned to Oregon by invitation from fellow MFAA veteran Gordon Gilkey to establish the Art History program at Oregon State University in Corvallis in 1961. Sponenburgh taught at Oregon State until 1983, when he retired as Professor Emeritus.

Sponenburgh was a member of many influential and prestigious organizations including the International Association of Egyptologists, the Royal Society of Arts, the Royal Society of Antiquaries, the International Association of Art Historians, the American Research Center in Egypt, and the Oxford Society. In 1990 Sponenburgh and his wife, Janeth Hogue-Sponenburgh, who he married in December 1962, donated their extensive art collection to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. This collection helped secure the creation of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University in 1998. The Mark and Janeth Sponenburgh Gallery includes over 250 Ancient, European, Middle Eastern, and Asian art works and historical artifacts.

As a lifelong sculptor, Sponenburgh created over 170 pieces of art in stone, wood, and mixed media, which explored human and animal forms and ocean wave patterns. His work can be found in private and public exhibits throughout the United States and abroad including the Detroit Institute of Arts (Madonna), the Portland Art Museum (Torso and Birds in Flight), the Hallie Ford Museum of Art (The Collector), Willamette University (Town and Gown), Oregon State University (bronze bust of Linus Pauling), the University of Oregon, and the United States' Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Mark Sponenburgh papers include materials related to Sponenburgh's careers as an artist, educator, and scholar. Series I (Art) contains photographs, drawings, and slides of sculpture by Sponenburgh as well as photographs and slides of art by other artists. Series II (Career) consists of materials related to his education at Cranbrook Academy of Arts and Wayne University, his career as an artist and sculptor, and his teaching careers at the National College of Arts at Lahore, Pakistan, the University of Oregon, and Oregon State University. These materials include: correspondence; exhibition fliers and pamphlets; published journal articles; academic journals; photographs; newspaper articles; newsletters and honors regarding the Monuments Men; documents concerning the creation of the Hogue-Sponenburgh collection at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art; syllabi and notes for courses taught by Sponenburgh; documents concerning the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan; and designs and proposals for public sculptures created by Sponenburgh. Series III (Travel) contains photographs and slides from Sponenburgh's travels, including various cities in France, Pakistan, Egypt, and England.

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], Mark Sponenburgh papers, Archives and Special Collections, Mark O. Hatfield Library, Willamette University.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The records are arranged into three series: I. Art, II. Career, and III. Travel. Files are arranged in original order, alphabetical order, and chronological order.

Location of Collection

Mark O. Hatfield Library

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Art, circa 1940-2014Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box item
1 1
Sculpture file catalog
Descriptions and photographs of sculptures by Sponenburgh.
circa 1940-2010
2 1
Sculpture and drawings file catalog
Descriptions and photographs of sculptures and drawings by Sponenburgh. Removed notes from back and moved to box 5.
circa 1945-1999
Folder
5 5
Notes from sculpture files
undated
3 1
Student work - Mark's: "Prophet", "St. Francis", votive relief, "Evening"
circa 1941
3 2
"Atlantis"
undated
3 3
"Caryatid" (photographs)
undated
3 4
"Eternus" - acceptance and dedication 27 March 1987
1987-1993
5 2
"Eternus" - miscellaneous notes, articles, and deed of gift
circa 1987-1994
3 5
"Eternus" - photographs of "Eternus II" and dedication of sculpture
circa 1988 March
3 6
"Eye" (disposition of sculpture)
2013
5 4
"Fellaha" by Mark Sponenburgh (photographs)
undated
3 7
"Linus Pauling" (photographs of Pauling with Sponenburgh and of the bronze bust)
circa 1987-2004
5 3
"Linus Pauling" (Linus Pauling bronze bust)
1995-1996
8 2
"Linus Pauling" (Linus Pauling bronze bust)
1995-1996
3 8
"Marmara" (fish)
undated
3 9
"Ondine" (or "Undertow") (disposition of sculpture)
2014
3 10
"Perpetua"
undated
3 11
"Repose"
circa 1964-2004
3 12
"Sleep"
undated
3 13
"Solomon"
undated
3 14
"Stabat Mater"
undated
3 15
"Symbol" - pine: carved, rendered
undated
3 16
"Symbol" (photographs)
undated
3 17
Three female figures (one "Dancer" - Egypt)
undated
3 18
"Tom" (cat)
undated
3 19
"Torso" (female): red sandstone (disposition)
2014
3 20
"Town and Gown" notes
1992
3 21
Unknown title (bird)
undated
5 1
Photographs of sculptures by Mark Sponenburgh
circa 1940-1953
3 22
Photographs of various sculptures
circa 1948-2004
3 23
Photographs of various sculptures
circa 1950-2004
3 24
Proofs (photograph proofs of sculptures)
undated
3 25
Photographs and negatives of sculptures
undated
3 26
Photograph negatives of sculptures by Sponenburgh
undated
3 27
Photographs and descriptions of sculptures by Mark Sponenburgh
undated
3 28
Miscellaneous photographs of sculptures
undated
3 29
Miscellaneous images of unidentified art
undated
3 30
Records of sculptures
circa 1966-1968
3 31
Disposition of sculptures by Mark Sponenburgh
2015
5 6
Drawings
undated
8 1
"El Khamsin"
1953
17 1
Drawing for St. Luke project
circa 1993
3 32
Pakistan - Swat: textiles, jewelry, and carvings (Swat folk arts photographs and brochures)
circa 1961-1997
3 33
Mestrovic (negatives and photographs of sculpture)
undated
5 7
Photograph of "Om Saber" by Gamal el Seguini
circa 1952
3 34
Photographs of ancient sculptures with identifying information
undated
3 35
Photographs of ancient sculptures
undated
5 8
Photographs of ancient and contemporary sculptures with identifying information
undated
item
11 1
Slides of sculptures by Mark Sponenburgh
Labeled envelopes with slides.
undated
12 1
Slides of sculptures and drawings by Mark Sponenburgh
Labeled envelopes with slides.
undated
13 1
Slides of sculptures and projects by Mark Sponenburgh
Labeled boxes with slides.
undated

Series II:  Career, 1941-2017Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 36
Le Salon: The Paris American Art Exposition
1946
3 37
Denver Art Museum: 53rd and 54th Annual Exhibitions
1947-1948
3 38
Exhibitions
circa 1947-1971
3 39
Portland Art Museum: Artists of Oregon (exhibition)
1950-1951
3 40
Exhibitions
1950-2009
5 9
Kharouba Gallery: One - Man Show (exhibition)
1950
3 41
San Francisco Museum of Art: 70th Annual Oil and Sculpture Exhibition
1951
3 42
Seattle Art Museum: 39th Annual Exhibition of Northwest Artists
1953
3 43
Portland Art Museum: Artists of Oregon (exhibition)
1954
3 44
Portland Art Museum: Artists of Oregon (exhibition)
1956
3 45
Marine Science Center: Newport (Oregon) (exhibition)
1965
3 46
Cranbrook: 5th Biennial National Religious Art Exhibition
1966
3 47
Salishan Lodge: One - Man Show (exhibition)
1966
3 48
University of Oregon 8th Pacific Northwest Art Annual
1968
3 49
Salishan Lodge: One - Man Show (exhibition)
1968
3 50
Sunriver Lodge (exhibition)
1970
3 51
Artists of Oregon (exhibitions)
1970-1973
5 10
Exhibitions
1971-1978
5 11
Oregon State University articles, correspondence, and exhibition fliers
1974-1978
3 52
Salishan Lodge (exhibitions)
circa 1980-1982
3 53
Lakewood Center Gallery
circa 1982
3 54
Galerie Chevrier: Variations in White
1987-1988
3 55
Hallie Ford Museum (Hogue - Sponenburgh Collection pamphlets and correspondence)
circa 1991-1996
8 6
Hogue - Sponenburgh Collection at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art
undated
5 12
Exhibitions and lectures (publicity for Hallie Ford Museum of Art exhibits and the Hogue - Sponenburgh Lecture Series)
1992-2013
5 13
Sponenburgh lectureships (Hogue - Sponenburgh Art Lectureship at Willamette University)
1993-1996
5 15
Newspaper articles featuring Mark Sponenburgh (regarding Egyptian art)
circa 1965
5 16
Publicity
1981-2007
3 56
Publicity (newspaper articles)
1996 October 25 - 1996 November 22
6 2
Egypt (newspaper article about Mark Sponenburgh - written in French)
undated
5 14
Exhibition catalogs: Retrospective, Triad Gallery
1996
3 57
Proof photos and copy retrospective 1996 Triad Gallery (photos of sculptures and biography)
circa 1996
3 58
Sculpture by Mark Sponenburgh: a Retrospective 1940-1995 (booklet)
1996
item
16 1
Newspaper articles about Sponenburgh's retrospective exhibit at Triad Gallery (poster)
1996 November 1
Folder
4 1
United States Educational Foundation for Egypt: Orientation Program (Fulbright Scholarship)
1951 September
4 2
Fulbright Scholarship program in Egypt
circa 1951
4 3
La Revue du Caire (The Cairo Review): journal articles by Mark Sponenburgh
1952 October - 1953 March
4 4
Published journal articles by Mark Sponenburgh
1953-1954
4 5
Photographs of students
circa 1958-1960
4 6
National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan (and exhibition programs for Zamana Gallery)
1959-1999
4 7
Photographs: National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan
circa 1960-1996
6 3
National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan: convocation
1996
4 8
National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan
1996-2012
4 9
Pakistan: Kipling - Mayo School of Art (article)
undated
4 10
Student critiques and papers
1972-1983
4 11
Maritime Arts
1978 Spring
4 12
Egypt
circa 1979
6 4
Strasbourg: notes on an illustrated talk - Liberal Arts lectures at Oregon State University
1982-1983
4 13
Oregon State (Phi Kappa Phi, "Age of Crisis" lecture series, and courses taught
circa 1984
6 5
Notes on five sculptors for University of Oregon talk
undated
4 14
End of year report (various articles and pamplets)
1985-1988
4 15
Cranbrook Educational Community annual report
1986-1987
4 16
Environment (articles about endangered ocean species)
circa 2009
4 17
Lecture notes and bibliography
undated
4 18
Wave forms (conference paper)
1973
4 19
Proposal for exhibition center for marine education at the El Membrillo site of Catholic University, Vaparaiso, Chile
1984
4 20
Research and lecture proposals
1985 April - 1994 June
6 6
"Symbol" (American eagle): proposal (to Columbia Financial Center in Portland, Oregon)
1985 December 6
4 21
Proposal: Lewis and Clark monument - Seaside
circa 1987
4 22
Proposal: Oregon High Desert Museum
undated
4 23
"The Guardian" : commission for veterinary hospital
undated
4 24
Design proposals
undated
4 25
Special letter of recommendation - honor: Dr. Ernst Scheyer - long time friend of Mark Sponenburgh
1941 March 28
6 8
Memorial for Dr. Ernst Scheyer
Dr. Ernst Scheyer was an art historian and one of Sponenburgh's professors at Wayne University.
1974-1985
8 4
Memorial for Dr. Ernst Scheyer
1985
4 26
Awards
circa 1951-1984
4 27
Resume, letters of recommendation, honors
1975-1989
4 28
Resume, letters of recommendation, honors (letters of recommendation)
1981
4 29
Resume, letters of recommendation, honors (resume: Distinguished Professor)
circa 1981
8 3
Distinguished Professor Award
1981
item
9 1
Distinguished Professor Award (plaque)
1981 September 17
Folder
4 30
Monuments Men newsletter
2010
4 31
Honors - Monuments Men
2017 June 6
4 32
Photographs of Mark Sponenburgh receiving honors certificate from Senator Ron Wyden
undated
4 33
Business cards
undated
6 7
Photograph of "Sorrow" ("Tristesse") (1927) by Mahmoud Moukhtar
undated
4 34
Mahmoud Moukhtar project (with Badr Eldin Abou Ghazi)
circa 1952-1991
4 35
Correspondence with Badr Eldin Abou Ghazi
1982
6 1
Miscellaneous (articles and correspondence)
circa 1992-2007
4 36
Various publications
1946-1956
4 37
The Museums Journal: Organ of the Museums Association of Pakistan
1958
item
10 1
Book: Everyday Life in Egypt at the Time of Ramses (in French)
circa 1952
Folder
7 1
5000 Jahre Kunst in Pakistan (book: 5000 Years of Pakistani Art - gifted by Gordon Gilkey)
1962
4 38
The Kipling Journal
1964 March - 1966 September
4 39
The Kipling Journal
1966 December - 1969 March
4 40
The Kipling Journal
1969 June - 1971 June
4 41
The Kipling Journal
1971 December - 1972 September
7 2
American Research Center in Egypt, inc. newsletter
1975 Fall - 1978 Winter
7 3
American Research Center in Egypt, inc. newsletter
1978 Spring - 1979 Summer
7 4
American Research Center in Egypt, inc. newsletter
1980 Spring - 1982 Winter
7 5
American Research Center in Egypt newsletter
1982 Spring - 1984 Fall
7 6
American Research Center in Egypt newsletter
1985 Spring - 1986 Summer
7 7
Newsletter of the American Research Center in Egypt
1986 Fall - 1989 Winter
7 8
Newsletter of the American Research Center in Egypt
1989 Summer - 1990 Spring
7 9
Newsletter of the American Research Center in Egypt
1990 Fall - 1991 Fall
7 10
Newsletter of the American Research Center in Egypt
1992 Winter - 1993 Spring
7 11
Newsletter of the American Research Center in Egypt
1993 Fall - 1999 Winter
7 12
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
1992
7 13
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
1993
7 14
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
1994
7 15
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
1995
7 16
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
1996
7 17
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
1997
7 18
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
1998
7 19
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
1999
7 20
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
2000
7 21
Book: Samuel F. B. Morse: Educator and Champion of the Arts in America
1982
7 22
Mark and Janeth Hogue - Sponenburgh Collection pamphlet
undated
7 23
Correspondence for visit to the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) and faculty art show at Oregon State University
1976-1986
7 24
American Research Center in Egypt annual meetings
circa 1990-1994
4 42
William Appleman Williams (articles and papers)
William Appleman Williams purchased "Overture" (also known as "Metamorphosis").
circa 1981-1985
4 43
Willamette Scene ("Town and Gown")
1992-1994
4 44
Correspondence with Dr. Sibal
1998 April 01
4 45
Photographs of Mark Sponenburgh
undated
8 5
Photograph of Mark Sponenburgh
undated
4 46
Chronology by Sponenburgh
undated
4 47
Chronology and list of illustrations intended for book
undated
4 48
Obituaries (for Mark Sponenburgh)
2012
4 49
Correspondence after Mark Sponenburgh's death
2012 December
4 50
Book: Land of Civilization, Turkey
1985
4 51
Book: Ceramics from the World of Islam by Esin Atil
1973
item
13 2
Slides of sculptures and projects by Mark Sponenburgh
Labeled boxes with slides.
undated

Series III:  Travel, circa 1941-2012Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 52
Travel (photograph negatives)
circa 1983-1998
4 53
Travel (unidentified photographs and postcards)
undated
4 54
Miscellaneous photographs (unknown locations)
undated
item
14 1
Slides - travel and miscellaneous
Labeled boxes with slides.
undated
15 1
Photographs - travel
Labeled envelopes with photographs.
circa 1983-1998

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Art
  • Art--Study and teaching
  • Arts--Northwest, Pacific

Personal Names

  • Abu Ghazi, Badr Eldin
  • Gilkey, Gordon
  • Hogue-Sponenburgh, Janeth
  • Lewis, Mary
  • Scheyer, Ernst, 1900-1985
  • Williams, William Appleman

Corporate Names

  • Allied Forces. Supreme Headquarters. Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Section
  • American Research Center in Egypt. Annual Meeting
  • Cranbrook Academy of Art
  • Hallie Ford Museum of Art
  • National College of Arts (Pakistan)
  • Oregon State University
  • Publication (American Research Center in Egypt)
  • University of Oregon
  • Wayne University
  • Willamette University
  • École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts (France)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs
  • black-and-white negatives
  • clippings (information artifacts)
  • color negatives
  • correspondence
  • fliers (printed matter)
  • journals (periodicals)
  • newsletters
  • newspapers

Functions

  • black-and-white slides
  • color slides