Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Leona Ambrose papers
Ambrose, Leona, 1936-2021
Coll 983
3.76 cubic feet
2 record cartons; 1 legal document case; 2 letter document cases; 1 flat slide box 11x14
circa 1920-2021
1936-2021
Papers of sculptor Leona Ambrose (1936-2021), including personal correspondence, writings, and photographs; professional papers; and photographs of her works. Ambrose, who also made mosaics and paintings, had her work exhibited at the Contemporary Crafts Gallery, the Portland Art Museum, and the Butters Gallery in Portland, Oregon; at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon; and at the Pindar Gallery in New York.
English
Dutch; Flemish
Collection is open for research.
Gift of RaeAnn Auel Haynes, August 2023 (RL2023-049).
Collection is arranged in two series:
- Series 1: Personal papers
- Series 2: Professional papers and memorabilia
Leona Barbara Ambrose was born in 1936 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and grew up in Connecticut, Texas, and New York. After attending a teachers college in Oneonta, New York, she studied sculpture, mosaics, and printmaking at the University of Wisconsin in Madison from 1959 to 1961. She married in 1961 and moved to San Luis Obispo, California. The marriage ended several years later, after which she came to Oregon for the first time and studied at Portland State University. Later in the 1960s, she studied in Los Angeles, California, and in Ravenna, Italy, before doing an apprenticeship at the Joosten Foundry in Soest, the Netherlands, from 1970 to 1971. In 1971, she returned to Oregon, and received a grant to be artist in residence at Woodrow Wilson High School in Portland. She later taught metal sculpting to schoolchildren in the mid- and late 1970s.
Throughout her life, Ambrose took a number of jobs to support herself financially, including positions in teaching, housekeeping, and banking. In the 1990s, she went to Marylhurst College in Marylhurst, Oregon, where she earned a master's degree in art therapy in 1998.
Ambrose's sculptures were exhibited at the Contemporary Crafts Gallery and the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon, in 1975; at the Pindar Gallery in New York in 1987; at the Butters Gallery in Portland in 1990; and at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, in 1992. In addition to sculptures, she also made mosaics and paintings. For most her life in Oregon, she lived in Lake Oswego. She died in March 2021.
Sources: Collection materials; articles in the Oregon Journal and Oregonian, 1971-1977; information provided by RaeAnn Auel Haynes in 2023.
Negatives in the collection are not available for direct access. Contact library staff for assistance.
Leona Ambrose papers, Coll 983, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
For preservation purposes, during processing some items were removed from frames, and two photograph albums were disassembled after being photocopied to show original order and captions.
Ambrose's sculptures "Life Cycle" and "Waves" and two chalk sketches by her are held in Museum Collections, Oregon Historical Society.
The collection consists of the personal and professional papers of sculptor Leona Ambrose. Her personal papers include correspondence, photographs, materials relating to artists she knew, and writings. Personal correspondence includes that from her relatives, particularly her sister Eleanor Ambrose, and from artists Barbara Bartholomew, Keith Jellum, Herman Joosten, Jane Marshall, and Mara Stahl. Photographs include family photographs, and well as photographs from trips Ambrose took in the Columbia River Gorge and eastern Oregon. Ambrose's writings, which are both in bound volumes and on loose sheets, primarily consist of poems and prose she wrote, but also include diary entries and observational notes; some of the bound volumes also contain sketches by Ambrose.
The bulk of Ambrose's professional materials consists of photographs and slides of her artwork. Other professional papers include correspondence with galleries and art institutions, including the Pindar Gallery in New York; catalogs, cards, and flyers for exhibitions featuring Ambrose's work; resumés; clippings about her work and exhibitions; and photographs and other material relating to her work in art therapy in the late 1990s.
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Ambrose, Leona, 1936-2021
Women sculptors--Oregon
Sculpture, American--20th century
Fine Arts
slides (photographs)
correspondence
photographs
poems
Personal papers
Series 1
circa 1920-2021
1936-2021
Birth certificate
1936
1
1
Autobiography and resumé written for application to Marylhurst College
1994
1
2
Biographical timeline
1994
1
3
Birthday card signed by multiple people
circa 2015
1
4
Postcard from Ambrose to Minnie Kane
1968 October
1
5
Correspondence from Eleanor Ambrose
1964-2019
1
6-7
Correspondence from Eleanor Ambrose
undated
1
8
Letters from Eleanor Ambrose and Robin Ambrose with enclosed clipping
1978
1
9
Correspondence from Joseph Ambrose, Jr. and Barbara Ambrose
1963
1983
2011-2012
1
10
Cards from Robin Ambrose
1992 September 20
1998
1
11
Correspondence from Shalah Barbizadeh
1979-1980
1
12
Correspondence from Barbara Bartholomew
1975-2007
1
13
Letter from Christie School about Bonnie Lou Rice's job application, and draft of Ambrose's letter of recommendation for Rice
1974
1
14
Correspondence from Bill Clark
1991-2004
1
15
Correspondence from Mary Ann Clarke
1961-1963
1
16
Correspondence from Kit Abel Hawkins
2004-2021
1
17
Correspondence from Keith Jellum
1990-2016
1
18
Correspondence from Herman Joosten (includes one enclosed publication in Dutch)
1973-1989
English, Dutch; Flemish.
1
19
Letter from Marjorie Kreilich, congratulating Ambrose on her exhibition at the Pindar Gallery
1987 September 27
1
20
Correspondence from Jane Marshall
1971-2002
1
21
Correspondence from Mara Stahl
1983-2020
undated
1
22-23
Postcards from Marianne van Witzenberg
1989-2015
1
24
Correspondence from Gudrun Zimmermann
1982-1985
1996-2017
1
25
Correspondence from various people
1962-2017
1
26-27
Correspondence from various people
undated
1
28
Correspondence and newsletters relating to high school reunions
1981-2014
1
29
Card with watercolor of flower, either by Shalah Barbizadeh or Herman Joosten
circa 1980
1
30
Cards, catalogs, and clipping relating to exhibitions of Barbara Bartholomew's work
1992-2003
1
31
Memorial service program for Barbara Bartholomew
2007
1
32
Invitation to memorial retrospective exhibition of Barbara Bartholomew's work
2008 December
1
33
Invitation to reception thanking Cameron G. R. Geddes for donating paintings by Barbara Bartholomew to Portland State University
2010 June
1
34
Poems by Kit Abel Hawkins
2020
1
35
Slides of small sculpture by Herman Joosten (most likely produced circa 1970)
1976
6
46
Cards and flyers relating to exhibitions of Jane Marshall's work
1986-1999
1
36
Booklet of poems by Mara Stahl sent to Ambrose by Kit Abel Hawkins
2017
1
37
Prints of Mara Stahl's art collected by Ambrose; cards for exhibitions of Stahl's work
circa 1995-2015
circa 1985-2000
1
38
Newspaper clipping about program assisting the son of Marianne van Witzenberg
1979 May 31
1
39
Flyer from Guerrilla Girls with inscription and note to Ambrose
circa 1988
1
40
Letter of recommendation for Ambrose's application to art therapy graduate program at Marylhurst College by Jean Auel
1994 March 26
1
41
Essay by Ambrose about Alice Neel, with supporting research materials, written for Marylhurst College
circa 1997
1
42
Diploma for Master's of Art Therapy from Marylhurst College; program for commencement ceremony
1998 June 20
1
43
Photographs of commencement ceremony at Marylhurst College (prints and negatives)
1998 June 20
4
1
Personal and family photographs (prints and negatives)
1939-2011
4
2
Personal and family photographs from album (prints)
circa 1920-1993
1942-1993
4
3
Preservation photocopy of personal and family album
circa 1920-1993
1942-1993
4
4
Family photographs (prints)
circa 1959-1965
4
5
Personal photographs, including of residence in Lake Oswego (prints and negatives)
1972 January-March
4
6
Personal photographs, including of Ambrose with her sister and nephew (negatives)
1972 March
4
7
Photographs of Ambrose and sister Eleanor Ambrose at Timberline Lodge; photographs of Mt. Hood area (prints)
1984 September
4
8
Photographs of trip up the Columbia River Gorge with Ambrose's sister Eleanor Ambrose (prints)
1985 September
4
9
Photographs of Ambrose and Jane Marshall at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (prints)
1987 February
4
10
Photographs of Ambrose and sister Robin Ambrose, including Robin Ambrose's thesis exhibition in Athens, Georgia (prints)
circa 1988
4
11
Photographs of trip to eastern Oregon with other artists (prints)
1991 August
4
12
Photographs of trip to eastern Oregon (prints)
1992 August-September
4
13
Preservation photocopy of album including family photographs, photographs of Ambrose with her sisters, photographs of Ambrose with Jane Marshall, and photographs of trips to eastern Oregon
circa 1959-1992
1984-1992
4
14
Photographs of trip up the Columbia River Gorge (prints and negatives)
1999
4
15
School paper by Ambrose about herself and her family, "Do You Know Me?" with family photos
1937-1951
2
1
Notebook with sketches and diary entries
1968-1970
2
2
Book with writings and sketch
1982-2015
2
3
Book with sketches and writings
1984-1987
2
4
Book with writings, including lists of book titles
1985-1990
2
5
Loose pages of writings
1988-2016
2
6
Notebooks with writings
circa 1989-2010
2
7
Book with sketches and writings
1990-1994
2
8
Notebooks with writings
1990-2020
2
9
Book with writings and sketch
1993-1994
2
10
Book with writings
1997-2009
2
11
Book with writings
1998-2001
2
12
Poems
1999-2015
2
13
Notebooks with writings
2002-2019
2
14
Book with poems
2005-2006
2
15
Notepads and loose pages of writings, primarily poetry
2003-2011
2
16
Book of writings and sketches
2006-2020
2
17
Notebook of writings
2006-2020
3
1
Notepads and loose pages of poetry
2015-2016
3
2
Loose pages of poetry
2015-2020
3
3
Memorial service program for Ambrose
2021 May 8
3
4
Professional papers and memorabilia
Series 2
1960-circa 2005
Artist statements and drafts thereof
circa 1975-1992
3
5
Acceptance letter, invitation card, and catalog for 26th Annual Wisconsin Salon of Art, including a piece by Ambrose
1960 November
3
6
Catalogs for exhibitions including Ambrose's work
1960-1965
3
7
Cards and flyers for Ambrose's work and exhibitions
1962
1972-1992
3
8
Photographs of Robert Pyle Gallery, Morro Bay, California, including paintings by Ambrose
1963 February
5
1
Photographs of operations at foundry in Soest, the Netherlands (prints)
1970-1971
5
2
Slides of Ambrose and Herman Joosten constructing a sculpture in Soest, the Netherlands
circa 1970
6
1-2
Photographs of artist residency at Woodrow Wilson High School (prints)
1971
5
3
Photographs of exhibition at Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Portland, Oregon (prints and negatives)
1975
5
4
Catalog for Oregon Artists in the Schools exhibition, Portland Art Museum
1975
3
9
Photograph of Ambrose working with pupil, used for cover of Oregon Artists in the Schools exhibition catalog (print)
1975
5
5
Receipt of good condition for sculpture featured in Oregon Artists in the Schools exhibition
1975 June 12
3
10
Slides of micro-welding workshop
1975-1976
6
3
Cards for exhibitions at Pindar Gallery and other artists featured at Pindar Gallery
1984-1987
3
11
Photographs of exhibition at Pindar Gallery, New York (prints and negatives)
1987
5
6
Slides of exhibition at Pindar Gallery
1987
6
4-5
Press release about Pindar Gallery exhibition including Ambrose
1987
3
12
Photographs of exhibition at Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon (prints and negatives)
1992
5
7
Letter of recommendation for Ambrose by Leo L. Steppat
1962 April 18
3
13
Letter of introduction for Ambrose by Philip B. Eagle
1968 October 9
3
14
Correspondence with galleries and arts organizations
1975-1996
3
15
Book of letters from Ardenwald School pupils to Ambrose
1976
3
16
Correspondence with Pindar Gallery
1986-1987
3
17
Letter from Ambrose to Arbor School applying for teacher aid position
1993 April 6
3
18
Letter from Garlington Center thanking Ambrose for her work with children at the center
1993 September 28
3
19
Certificate of appreciation from Ardenwald School
1976
3
20
Draft of grant project proposal
circa 1983
3
21
Fieldwork evaluations for Ambrose's work with Portland Parks and Recreation Disabled Citizens' Recreation
1997 March 6
1997 May 12
3
22
Information sheet about YWCA Women's Issues art therapy program
circa 2000
3
23
Invoice from Gerald H. Robinson with note that he is willing to accept artwork as payment
1977 July 1
3
24
Issue of Oregon Arts Foundation newsletter including mention and photograph of Ambrose
1971 October
3
25
Issue of Contemporary Crafts News with piece mentioning Ambrose
1975
3
26
Photographs relating to art therapy work (prints)
circa 1997-1998
5
8
Slides of artwork by art therapy program participants
1997-1998
5
9
Resumés; business card
circa 1975-2005
undated
3
27
Clippings about Ambrose's work and exhibitions
1971-1992
3
28
Clipping of photograph of Ambrose's sculpture "Steer"
undated
3
29
Price list for sculptures by Ambrose
undated
3
30
Snapshots of sculptures and mosaics (prints)
1962
1966
5
10
Photographs of sculptures (prints, contact sheets, and negatives)
circa 1965-1968
5
11
Photographs of bronze works Ambrose made while studying in Los Angeles, California (prints)
circa 1967-1968
5
12
Photographs of sculptures and painting by Ambrose (prints and negatives)
undated
5
13
Slides of sculptures in wax stage before casting
1979-1983
6
6-7
Slides of sculptures "Arrows," "Black Hommage," and "Columns" (produced 1965-1968)
1965-1971
6
8
Slides of sculpture, "Bird" (produced 1964)
1965
6
9
Slides of sculpture, "Bronze Flower" (produced 1971-1973)
circa 1976
6
10
Slides of sculpture, "Bud Set" (produced 1969-1970)
1971-1976
6
11
Slides of sculpture, "Caped Form" (produced 1969)
1971
6
12
Slides of sculpture, "Female Form" (produced circa 1968)
1968-1976
6
13
Slides of sculpture, "Garden" (produced 1968)
1968-1971
6
14
Slides of sculptures "Gilgamesh" and "Head" (produced circa 1961-1968)
circa 1961-1968
6
15
Slides of sculpture, "Hommage to Mondrian" (produced circa 1965)
1965
6
16
Slides of sculpture, "Life Cycle" (produced 1967-1969)
1971-1976
6
17
Slides of sculpture, "Mandala" (produced 1971-1972)
circa 1976
6
18
Slides of sculpture, "Meditation piece/Metamorphosis" (produced 1987)
circa 1991
6
19
Slides of necklaces (produced in the 1960s)
1968
6
20
Slides of sculptures exhibited at Pacific University, including "Butterfly," "Fan," "Fortune Cookies," and "Small Bloom" (produced 1990-1991)
1991-1992
6
21
Slides of sculptures "Painted Toy" and "Seth" (produced circa 1964-1965)
1964-1965
6
22
Slides of sculpture, "Pot" (produced 1968)
1968
6
23
Slides of sculpture, "Sculpture Landscape" (produced 1970)
1971
6
24
Slides of sculpture, "Seascape Forms" (produced 1967)
circa 1976
6
25
Slides of silver sculpture set (produced 1969-1970, later recast in bronze and titled "Transformations")
1971
6
26
Slides of sculpture, "She Kinah" (produced 1964-1965)
1965
6
27
Slides of sculpture, "Sketch" (produced circa 1960)
circa 1960
6
28
Slides of stainless steel sculpture set; slides of sculptures "Steel #1" and "Steel-ruddered Heart" (produced 1960s-1970)
circa 1965-1971
6
29
Slides of sculpture, "Steel #3" (produced 1960s)
circa 1968
6
30
Slides of sculptures "Steer," "Toy I," "Tubes," and "Wing Thrust" (produced 1960s-1971)
circa 1965-1971
6
31
Slides of sculpture, "Symbalon" (produced in 1960s)
circa 1968
6
32
Slides of sculpture, "Waves" (produced 1969-1970)
circa 1976
6
33
Slides of installation of sculpture at Woodrow Wilson High School
1972 July
6
34
Slide of sculpture, "Aluminum Forms" (produced 1972)
1976
6
35
Slide of small sculptures "Bronzed Menage," "Lead," "Female Form," and "Waves" (produced 1960s-1970s)
1976
6
35
Slide of sculpture, "Flaps" (produced 1968)
1968
6
35
Slide of sculpture, "Glassed Toy" (produced 1965)
1965
6
35
Slide of sculpture, "Live Song," (produced 1968)
1968
6
35
Slide of sculpture, "Menage Altow" (produced 1976 or earlier)
1976
6
35
Slide of sculptures "Painted Toy" and "Hommage to Mondrian"
1965
6
35
Slide of sculpture, "Spiney" (produced 1967-1968)
1968
6
35
Slides of unidentified sculptures
circa 1965-1991
6
36
Slides of mosaics (produced in the 1960s)
circa 1965
6
37
Slides of pastels (produced in the 1960s)
circa 1962-1968
6
38-39
Slides of watercolors (most likely produced circa 1991-1992)
1995
6
40-42
Slides of identified drawings and paintings (produced 1964-circa 1975)
1965-1976
6
43
Slides of unidentified drawings and paintings (produced in the 1960s or 1970s)
1962-circa 1975
6
44-45