Arthur G. Barnett photograph collection, 1930-1976

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Barnett, Arthur G., 1907-
Title
Arthur G. Barnett photograph collection
Dates
1930-1976 (inclusive)
Quantity
103 photographs, 15 negatives (1 box, 2 folders) ; sizes vary
Collection Number
PH1523
Summary
Images of the painter, Mark Tobey, both alone and with Arthur Barnett, Mime Jacobsen, and unidentified individuals
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

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collection website. Permission of Visual Materials curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Arthur G. Barnett (1907-2003) was a lawyer and civic leader in Seattle, Washington. Barnett was a supporter of the Japanese Americans during WWII evacuation, chairman of Seattle Council of Churches and Christian Education's Japanese American Emergency Committee, board member and chairman of Seattle's Civic Unity Committee, and field worker for the Warren Avenue Project in 1936. Barnett chaired the Gordon Hirabayashi Defense Committee, representing Hirabayashi in his trial for violating curfew during World War II. He also represented Hirabayashi during his court appeals in the 1980's. Barnett also served as an attorney for Mark Tobey, beginning in the 1940's and continuing until Tobey's death in 1976; he then served as executor for Tobey's estate.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Images of the painter, Mark Tobey, both alone and with Arthur Barnett, Mime Jacobsen and with others. Also images of the Federal Transient Service Camp which was part of the FERA program in the 1930s.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Arthur G. Barnett's rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries; Mark Tobey's rights retained by Seattle Art Museum. [Mark Tobey did not make any of the photographs]

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Gift of Virginia Bartlett, December 3, 2003.

Processing Note

Processed by Anthony McGough, March 2018 and Abbey Maynard, 2019. Revised by Melody Smith, 2019.

Accessioned as PH2004-081.

The current photograph collection, Photo Acc. 2004-081, was received together with the materials that form Accession No. 1598-014 in the Manuscripts Collection on December 3, 2003. The photographs were transferred to the Visual Materials Collection on April 1, 2004.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Interior of Mark Tobey's StudioReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1 between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 2
Arthur Barnett in the doorway facing interior of Mark Tobey's studio
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 3 between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 4-8
Interior of Mark Tobey's studio
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 9-14 between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 15-16
Decorative curule seat
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 17
Desk with possible portrait of Subh-i-Azal mounted on the wall on the left side of the desk
Subh-i-Azal (1831–1912) was a Persian religious leader who founded Azali Babism-- a monotheistic religion that split from what is now known as Bahai.
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 18
Two wooden carvings against a wall near desk
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 19
Long table with wire sculptures
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 20-23 between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 24-25
Painted canvas
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 26-28 between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 29-32
A wooden ladder back chair
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 33
Baskets and a pair of shoes on top of a trunk
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 34
Wire and mixed material sculptures beside a desk covered in papers
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 35-36
White abstract statue on top of a radiator
between 1950 and 1969?
1/1 37
Two sculptures on top of chest of drawers
between 1950 and 1969?

Artifacts in Mark Tobey's StudioReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/2 38
Mask with pointed nose mounted on a pink wall
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 39 1972?
1/2 40
Square shaped metal piece of art mounted on a blue wall
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 41
Large rectangular art work of a red streak mounted on an off-white wall
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 42
Framed abstract art mounted on a pink wall
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 43
Sienna-colored rectangular carving mounted on a blue wall
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 44 1972
1/2 45
Wooden sculpture of Biblical figures possibly for a liturgical processional pole
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 46
Wreath-shaped wooden carving
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 47 1972
1/2 48 1972?
1/2 49-50
Ceramic cups and bowls on a dresser
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 51
Small white statuette of a person with arms outstretched
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 52
Light blue glazed ceramic container
Color photograph.
1972?
1/2 53 1972?

1972 Interior of Mark Tobey's StudioReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/3 54
Ceramic cups and bowls on a chest of drawers
Color photograph.
1972
1/3 55 1972
1/3 56 1972
1/3 57
Cluttered metal desk with portrait of Subh-i-Azal hanging above desk
Color photograph.
1972
1/3 58
Frames of varying sizes leaning against wall
Color photograph.
1972
1/3 59 1972
1/3 60 1972
1/3 61-62
White abstract sculpture sitting on a radiator beside a painting area and two artifacts on a dresser
Color photograph.
1972
1/3 63
Mask with pointed nose mounted on a pink wall with frames and wooden objects below
Color photograph.
1972
1/3 64 1972
1/3 65
Glass door cabinet full of books with horse sculpture, chest of drawers, and box on top
Color photograph.
1972
1/3 66
Cabinet full of books and papers with cabinet doors open
Color photograph.
1972

Mark Tobey Studio Contact SheetsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/4 67-70 1951

Portraits of Mark TobeyReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/5 71 1938
1/5 72
Mark Tobey seated in a hat, scarf, and coat
Between 1940 and 1950?
1/5 73 Between 1940 and 1950?
1/5 74 Between 1940 and 1950?
1/5 75-76 Between 1940 and 1950?
1/5 77
Mark Tobey standing between trees holding a pole
Mary Willis (Randlett) (Photographer)
Written on verso: at Momres
1949
1/5 78 Between 1950 and 1960?
1/5 79 Between 1950 and 1960?
1/5 80 Between 1950 and 1960?
1/5 81 Between 1955 and 1960?
1/5 82 December 1963
1/5 83
Mark Tobey and Arthur Barnett standing in dried corn stalks on Bainbridge Island
Color photograph.
Between 1965 and 1970?
1/5 84 Between 1965 and 1970?
box-folder:oversize
OS7 84a
Ernst Beyeler, Pehr Hallsten and Mark Tobey in yard outside Tobey's house in Basel
Comet, Zurich
Ernst Beyeler was a Swiss art collector, and a prominent dealer in modern art. Swedish scholar Pehr Hallsten was Tobey's companion from 1940 until Hallsten's death 1966.
Between 1960 and 1966
Box/Folder
1/5 85 1972?
1/5 86
Mark Tobey and Mark Ritter in front of their home in Basel
Arthur L. Dahl (Photographer)
Color photograph.
March 1975

Arthur BarnettReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/6 87 1943
1/6 88-89 Between 1960 and 1970?

Mark Tobey Funeral and CemeteryReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/7 90
Mark Tobey's house in Basel, Switzerland
Color photograph.
Written on verso: 69 St. Alban Vorstadt, Basel, Switzerland.
1976?
1/7 91
Outside church following Tobey's funeral service
Color photograph.
1976
1/7 92
People gathered in the cemetery following Mark Tobey's funeral service
Color photograph.
1976
1/7 93
People standing beside flower arrangements beside graves at the cemetery following Mark Tobey's funeral service
Color photograph.
1976
1/7 94 1976
1/7 95 1976

Mark Tobey in JapanReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/8 96 Between 1930 and 1939?
1/8 97 Between 1930 and 1939?

Federal Transient Service CampReturn to Top

Arthur G. Barnett worked for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the early 1930s after his service in the army and before he began his law practice in 1935. The WPA replaced the Federal Emergency Relief Administration program (FERA). Federal Transient Service camps were part of the FERA program. These camps provided transient people with food, shelter, and occasionally work. They were often on the outskirts of large cities. These photos of the camp groups are possibly related to Barnett's time in the WPA.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/9 98 Between 1930 and 1940?
1/9 99 Between 1930 and 1940?
1/9 100
Aerial view of building surrounded by forest
Between 1930 and 1940?
1/9 101 Between 1930 and 1940?
1/9 102-103 Between 1930 and 1940?

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Artists' materials--Photographs
  • Artists' studios--Photographs
  • Public housing--Photographs
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Barnett, Arthur G., 1907- --Photographs
  • Barnett, Arthur G., 1907---Archives
  • Barnett, Arthur--Photographs
  • Tobey, Mark
  • Tobey, Mark--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • United States. Federal Transient Service--Photographs

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Randlett, Mary, 1924- (photographer)