Spanish Children's Drawings of the Civil War, bulk 1936-1939
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Collection context
- Creator:
- Spanish Child Welfare Association of America
- Extent:
- 153 drawings
- Language:
- Catalan; Valencian , Spanish; Castilian , English .
- Scope and content:
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Avery's collection of Spanish children's drawings of the civil war consist of 153 drawings made by children aged 7 to 14 between the years 1936 and 1938. The drawings were willed to the Department of Art History and Archaeology of Columbia University by Martin Vogel, a lawyer, who died on May 20, 1938 at the age of 59. He made several bequests to Columbia University in a will dated March 16, 1938. From the date of this will and of his death, it is likely the drawings he purchased were those exhibited at Lord & Taylor's in February 1938. His name, however, does not appear among the patrons of the exhibition.
In 1977, the late Professor George Collins discovered these drawings upon examination of some large boxes designed to resemble folio books that were kept in the slide library of the Department of Art History. He had them transferred to the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, where they reside.
- Biographical / historical:
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During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) children were evacuated from the war zones to colonies in the war-free areas of Spain and in the south of France. Drawings by these children – most between the ages of seven and fourteen – were collected from throughout Spain in a concerted effort by the Spanish Board of Education and the Carnegie Institute of Spain. A large group was assembled by Joseph A. Weissberger in early 1938 and brought to the United States on behalf of the Spanish Child Welfare Association for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC – "Quakers"). They were used by the AFSC as a means to publicize the plight of the children and collect funds for more evacuations and assistance to the already established colonies. Over 850 of these drawings have been identified in a variety of locations. The AFSC published sixty of the drawings in the book And they still draw pictures! (the publication included a prologue by Aldous Huxley). Several printings were sold for $1.00 each for the same fund.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers are encouraged to request materials at least one month in advance. You will receive an email from the department within 2-3 business days confirming your request and currently available appointment times. Requests are limited to 8 boxes per day (or equivalent), with a maximum of 5 boxes for off-site materials, 5 folders of drawings, or 5 rolls or tube boxes.
- Contact:
- avery-drawings@columbia.edu