Dorathy Bruce (1904-1989), also known as Dorathy Bruce Farr, was a Portland painter and batik artist who spent a portion of her career in New York, where she and her husband, the painter Fred Farr, were associated with the Abstract Expressionist group which included Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, and Robert Motherwell. Bruce created murals in New York and Florida and had shows from New Hampshire to New Orleans. Bruce and her husband won a grant in the 1940s to work on a mural in the Social Security Building in Washington, D.C. In addition to murals, Bruce worked in lithography, woodblock, pottery, and mosaics.
Back in Portland, Dorathy Bruce had shows at the Fountain Gallery and Sally Judd Gallery from the 1960s to the early 1980s before becoming ill and unable to work. She died on August 21, 1989.
This collection of papers represents various stages of Dorathy Bruce Farr's life. There are letters she wrote to her friend Rex Amos; news clippings of art show reviews; photographs taken at a party late in her life, and a copy of her obituary from The Oregonian in 1989.
Materials are arranged in two series in chronological order.
This collection is open to researchers.
Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.
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[Identification of item], The Dorathy Bruce Farr papers, Archives and Special Collections, Mark O. Hatfield Library, Willamette University.
Donated by Rex Amos, 2011.
Letters from Dorathy Bruce to Rex Amos.
Written from Anchorage, Alaska
This letter, written from Anchorage, Alaska, is really a montage of news clippings and writing. The envelope was created out of a small paper bag.
Written from Anchorage, Alaska
Written from Anchorage, Alaska
Written on a trip to New York City
Written from New York City
This letter is written in the margins of the May 26, 1966 edition of The Village Voice, New York City.
Postcards written from New York City.
Written from New York City.
Written from New York City.
Written from New York City.
Written from New York City.
Self-portrait of Dorathy sick in bed with Sam the cat in attendance.
Written from Portland, Oregon.
Written from Portland, Oregon.
Written from Portland, Oregon.
Written from New York City on paper with clippings from newsprint and magazines and handwritten text surrounding. Another paper sack envelope.
Two letters without dates or envelopes.
Art reviews and other materials related to Dorathy Bruce, collected by Rex Amos.
Reviews of Bruce art shows, written by various authors.
Copy of Bruce obituary from The Oregonian