PERRY, REGENIA.
Regenia Perry papers, circa 1920-2017

Restrictions on Access

Collection stored off-site. Researchers must contact the Rose Library in advance to access this collection.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Separated Material

The Rose Library also holds publications formerly owned by Regenia Perry. These materials may be location in the Emory University online catalog by searching Perry, Regenia, former owner.

Source

Purchased from Regenia Perry, 2016. Additions were purchased from Perry in 2017 and eight photographs by James Van Der Zee were a gift from Perry in 2018.

Custodial History

The collection was originally acquired from Regenia Perry in 2014 and in Rose Library's custody until the execution of a deed of sale in 2016. At that time, Perry made additions to the collection, including James Van Der Zee photos. The deed for the additions made in 2016, excluding some of the Van Der Zee photos, was executed in 2017. The remaining Van Der Zee photos were held in the library's custody until execution of the deed of gift in 2018.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Regenia Perry papers, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Appraisal Note

Acquired by Curator of African American Collections Pellom McDaniels III as part of the Rose Library's holdings in African American art and art history.

Processing

Arranged and described at the collection level by Sarah Quigley and Faiza Rahman 2017-2019. Material in the collection is primarily described by record type. Some material is described by creator or subject due to its volume or uniqueness.

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Biographical Note

Regenia Alfreda Perry, African American art historian, was born in 1941 in Virgilina, Virginia. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) in 1961, and went to Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University) in Cleveland, Ohio, where she received a Ph.D. in Art History in 1966. Perry is the first African American woman to hold doctorates in art history and American art. She has published books on African American art, including James Van Der Zee, Photographer (1973), The Folk Tradition in Black American Art (1975), Black Folk Art in America (with John Beardsley, 1982), and Harriet Powers Bible Quilts (1994). She also has taught at numerous colleges and universities, including Howard University (Washington, D.C.), though the majority of her professorial career was spent at Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, Virginia). Perry also founded Raven Arts, an art consulting firm that represents African American folk artists.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of the papers of Regenia Perry from circa 1920-2017 and includes art and artist files, photographs, printed material, and slides documenting her scholarship in the field of African American art history. There is also some correspondence and writings by Perry, as well as artwork by several African American artists, including Phillip Lindsay Mason and James Wells. There are numerous prints of photographs by James Van Der Zee, all of which are annotated by Perry. Eight of these prints are signed by Van Der Zee and were part of the 1974 Graphics International Portfolio. The prints in this collection were originally produced between 1910-1940.

Arrangement Note

Arranged in alphabetical order.