Guide to the REPOhistory Archive
1911-1999 (Bulk 1989-1999)

Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 998-2596
Fax: (212) 995-3835
Email: fales.library@nyu.edu

URL: http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/fales/cdfa.htm

© 2002 Fales Library and Special Collections . All rights reserved.
New York University Libraries, Publisher
Processed by: Alan Moore, Jim Costanzo, and Koo Lee - 2001; Leif Sorensen, 2003.
Machine-readable finding aid created by Brian Stevens - derived from a text finding aid, 2002. Description is in English.
2003, Repo History finding aid converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by one2two.xsl.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: REPOhistory (New York, N.Y.).
Title: The REPOhistory Archive
Dates: 1990-2001
Abstract: The group, REPOhistory, was founded in New York City in 1989 and included multi-ethnic visual and performance artists, writers, filmmakers, and historians. Taking its name from the concept of "repossessing history," its purpose was to bring to light absent historical narratives involving, colonialism, race, gender, and class through public installations, performances, educational activities, printed matter and other visual media. The collection includes operation records, proofs of original artworks, promotional materials, source materials, and files of several founding members.
Quantity: 18 linear feet (18 boxes)
Call Phrase: The REPOhistory Archive
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Historical/Biographical Note:

REPOhistory was a multi-ethnic group of visual and performance artists, writers, filmmakers, and historians, founded in New York City in 1989. The group took its name from the concept of "repossessing history." Its purpose was to retrieve, relocate and document absent historical narratives at specific sites in New York City, through public installations, performances, educational activities, printed matter and other visual media. REPOhistory sought to question how history is constructed and insert the stories of peoples and events which have been omitted. Their work addressed historical issues of colonialism, race, gender, and class in a context relevant to current histories.

REPOhistory operated as an artist/scholar cooperative through 6 major public projects and many smaller events. Believing the arts essential to shaping a collective cultural identity and the relationship between art, culture and society to be confused, it instigated a questioning of the culture of the 1980s and the early 1990s.

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Scope and Content Note

The REPOhistory Archive is comprised of the correspondence, meeting minutes, proofs of original artworks, promotional materials, source materials, and files of several founding members. Also included are complete sets of signs (artworks) used for 3 of 6 REPOHistory site specific installations, Queer Spaces, The Lower Manhattan Sign Project, and Buttermilk Bottom. The archive also includes various slides and photos that document specific projects and those members involved.

The REPOhistory Archive is a part of the Downtown Collection at the Fales Library, New York University. The Fales Library is the primary special collections division of the NYU libraries, housing 200,000 volumes of English and American literature from 1700 to the present. Strengths of the collection include the development of the English and American novel, with an emphasis on the Gothic and the Victorian novel. The Downtown Collection, of which the REPOhistory Archive is a part, documents through personal and organizational papers, the artistic and literary Downtown New York scene from ca. 1975 to the present.

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Series 1: General Administration: contains four boxes of REPO general administrative files. The order of this series is maintained in the order it was originally kept. The series includes general correspondence, financial statements, fundraising materials, and meeting minutes arranged alphabetically.

Series 2: Projects, Exhibitions, and Panels: divided into subseries according to specific projects conceived by REPO, the subseries are arranged chronologically.

Subseries: A The Lower Manhattan Sign Project, REPOHistory's inaugural project was inspired by the celebration surrounding the quincentennial of Columbus' "discovery" of the Americas. While the country planned to commemorate a carefully selected history of Columbus' legacy, REPOhistory created a project that presented alternative views of history.

Subseries B: Choice Histories: Framing Abortion, was a 1991 gallery installation investigating the history of women's global struggle for reproductive rights.

Subseries C: Queer Spaces, as part of REPOHistory's contribution to the Storefront for Art and Architecture's exhibition Queer Spaces, eight signs were placed at New York City sites where gays and lesbians gather for social and political purposes.

Subseries D: Entering Buttermilk Bottom, honors the passing of a community destroyed by Urban Renewal to make room for Modern Atlanta and the "New South." This site-specific public art installation consisted of signs, street markings, and a pavilion installation that illustrated the history of the community, as well as a reunion of former residents.

Subseries E: Voices of Renewal, following the 1995-96 project, Entering Buttermilk Bottom, this project represents the second phase of REPOhistory's public art/public history work in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward. This Public Art Residency project was a collaboration by REPO artist Tom Klem and residents of the Fourth Ward's Glen Iris neighborhood. Working directly with those who lived these histories, six artist-created public history markers were created and installed permanently on the private property of those residents whose histories were unveiled and celebrated.

Subseries F: Out from Under the King George Hotel, for this project REPOHistory was invited to Houston, Texas, to create a public art project. They chose to document seven layers of history on the location of an abandoned hotel, the King George Hotel, which sat across the street from a homeless shelter and one block from the site of a new baseball stadium that was the cornerstone of the city's redevelopment plans for downtown Houston.

Subseries G: Civil Disturbances, was a public art project that presented two sets of 20 street signs created by teams of artists working in collaboration with legal scholars for more than a year and a half.

Subseries H: Circulation, an online project explores the city as body by examining the flow of blood through the city; blood as both a physical entity and as a metaphor for identity. The project can be viewed at http://www.repohistory.org/circulation/index.php3

Subseries I: documentation of related projects.

Series 3: Publicity and Promotion: contains a box of materials that relates to publicity and the promotion of REPO and their respective projects. It includes press packets and literature as well as reviews and articles of their work.

Series 4: Theoretical Material: contains a box of source materials used in researching specific projects. It includes articles and readings.

Series 5: Members Files: contains files of core members such as Ed Eisenberg, Greg Sholette, Tom Klem, and Jim Costanzo. Fales has maintained the integrity of the order in which these members kept their files.

Series 6: Slides and photos: contains slides and photos that document projects and events of REPOhistory. These photos are contained in box 14, and slides reside in three photo boxes numbered 15, 16, and 17.

Series 7: Video, Audio, and Electronic: includes videorecordings, audiorecordings and magnetic [computer] disks. The videotapes and audiotapes include interviews and some source material used in researching projects. The magnetic disks belonged to members of REPO and include templates and files that relate to specific projects.

Series 8: Artwork: includes complete sets of signs produced for site-specific art installations.

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Arrangement

Folders are generally arranged chronologically within each subject/author heading.
The files are grouped into eight series.
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Related Material at the Fales Library and Special Collections

Downtown Collection

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Separated Material

There is no information about materials that are associated by provenance to the described materials that have been physically separated or removed.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers. Appointments are necessary for the use of manuscript and archival materials.

Use Restrictions

The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Director of Fales Library and Special Collections. For more information, contact
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 998-2596
Fax: (212) 995-3835
Email: fales.library@nyu.edu

URL: http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/fales/cdfa.htm

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Access Points

Subject Names:
Bogan, Neill
Costanzo, Jim
Eisenberg, Ed
Klem, Tom
Lederman, Robert
Maya Knauer, Lisa
Neville, Chris
Sholette, Gregory
Wilson, Sherill D., 1953-
Subject Organizations:
Political Art Documentation/ Distribution.
REPOhistory (New York, N.Y.).
Subject Topics:
Artists and community.
Arts and society.
Arts finance.
Arts--Censorship--United States.
Arts--Experimental methods.
Arts--United States--Finance.
Censorship.
Culture conflict--United States.
Multiculturalism--Law and legislation.
Multiculturalism.
National Endowment for the Arts.
New York (N.Y.)--Intellectual life.
Performing arts--Finance.
Politics in art.
Racism.
Social problems in art.
Theater and state.
United States--Politics and government--20th century.
Subject Places:
Atlanta -- History.
Atlanta, Georgia -- Description.
Houston (Tex.) -- History.
Manhattan (New York, N.Y.)
New York (N.Y.) -- History.
Document Types:
Audiotapes.
Clippings.
Correspondence.
Ephemera.
Financial records.
Fliers (printed matter).
Grant proposals.
Magnetic disks.
Photographs.
Political posters.
Videotapes.
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Administrative Information

Provenance

The REPOhistory Archive was donated by REPOhistory in 2000. The initial organization of the collection was done by REPOhistory staff as they packed the materials for shipment. The collection was subsequently processed by members Alan Moore and Jim Costanzo.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); The REPOhistory Archive; MSS 113; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections , New York University Libraries.

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Container List

[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]

 

Series I: General Administration

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 List of artists undated
1 2 Artist resumes undated
1 3 Art Matters book project undated
1 4 Book distribution correspondence and documents undated
1 5 General correspondence 1989-1990
1 6 General correspondence 1990-1991
1 7 General correspondence 1991-1992
1 8 1993 correspondence between MOMA and Repohistory 1993
1 9 General correspondence 1993
1 10 General correspondence 1994-1995
1 11 General correspondence 1996
1 12 General correspondence 1997
1 13 General correspondence (email format) 1997-1999
1 14 Fundraising - general proposals undated
1 15 Fundraising - general correspondence undated
1 16 Fundraising - budgeting/planning undated
1 17 Drafts for grant applications/fundraising letters undated
1 18 Fundraising information undated
1 19 Lannan Foundation visual arts grant undated
1 20 Grant applications and correspondence - Art Matters undated
1 21 Grant applications - Artist Space undated
1 22 Grant from Cultural Council Foundations 1990
1 23 Grant application - Arts Forward Fund undated
1 24 Grant application and correspondence - Manhattan Borough President undated
1 25 Documents and correspondence - Materials for the Arts undated
1 26 Grant application - Hudson River Middle School undated
1 27 Grant application - Metropolitan Life Foundation undated
1 28 Grant application - New York Council for the Humanities undated
1 29 Grant application - NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs undated
1 30 Grant application - National Endowment for the Arts undated
1 31 Grant application - New York State Council for the Arts undated
1 32 Grant application - North Star undated
1 33 Grant application - Public Art Fund undated
1 34 Grant application - Puffin Foundation undated
1 34A. Grant application - Seattle Arts Commission undated
1 35 Grant application - Andy Warhol Foundation undated
1 36 New York Foundation for the Arts - community assists 1998
1 37 Fundraising and financial reports 1990-1995
1 38 Fundraising and financial report 1998
1 39 Grant applications for REPO book - List and Kaplan Foundations undated
1 40 Internal Revenue Service application for tax-exempt status undated
Box Folder Title Date
2 1 Fundraising - NYFA Panel undated
2 2 Fundraising - Lower Manhattan Sign Project undated
2 3 Fundraising - LMSP grant guidelines undated
2 4 Fundraising - East Harlem undated
2 5 Fundraising - Queer Spaces undated
2 6 Fundraising - Circulations undated
2 7 Fundraising - Entering Buttermilk Bottom undated
2 8 Fundraising - Voices of Renewal undated
2 9 Fundraising - Foundation Contact Information undated
2 10 Fundraising - research undated
2 11 Fundraising - Neill Bogan folder undated
2 12 Fundraising - other organizations' proposals undated
2 13 Fundraising - individual foundations' literature and brochures undated
2 14 Fundraising - individual foundations' literature and brochures undated
2 15 Fundraising - individual foundations' literature and brochures undated
2 16 Fundraising - individual foundations' literature and brochures undated
2 17 Fundraising - loan agreements undated
2 18 Fundraising - mailing lists undated
2 19 Fundraising - letters of support undated
2 20 Fundraising - letters of fiscal sponsorship undated
2 21 Fundraising - pamphlets from libraries and museums undated
2 22 Fundraising - private donors undated
2 23 Letterhead 1992
2 24 Minutes of meetings 1989
2 25 Minutes of meetings 1990
2 26 Minutes of meetings 1991
2 27 Minutes of meetings 1992
2 28 Minutes from structural meetings 1992
2 29 Minutes of meetings 1993
2 30 Minutes of meetings 1994
2 31 Minutes of meetings 1995
2 32 Minutes of meetings 1996
2 33 Minutes of meetings of Repo Steering Committee 1997
2 34 Minutes of meetings of Repo Steering Committee (Neill Bogan) 1997
2 35 Minutes of meetings 1998
2 36 Office leases and subleases undated
2 37 Receipts for expenses undated
2 38 Stationery designs undated
2 39 Repohistory logo undated
Box Folder Title Date
3 1 Expenses for Circulations undated
3 2 Receipts for Urban Encounters undated
3 3 Receipts and billings from Civil Disturbances undated
3 4 General receipts undated
3 5 Receipts for general operations and unidentified projects undated
3 6 Misc. general administration correspondence undated
3 7 Misc. general administration undated
3 8 Bank statements A undated
3 9 Bank statements B undated
3 10 Bank statements C` undated
3 11 Financial statements undated
3 12 Corrections of mailing addresses undated
Box Folder Title Date
4 1 New York state tax exempt papers undated
4 2 New York state charities registration documents undated
4 3 Treasurer's files - History Project 1989
4 4 Treasurer's files - Repohistory 1990
4 5 Treasurer's files - Repohistory 1991
4 6 Treasurer's files - Repohistory 1992
4 7 Treasurer's files - Repohistory 1993
4 8 Treasurer's files - Repohistory 1994-1995
4 9 Treasurer's files - ledger and bank statements 1990-1994
4 10 Treasurer's files - financial records 1990-1993
4 11 Treasurer's files - accounting report to fiscal sponsor 1993
4 12 Treasurer's files - reimbursed receipts 1992
4 13 Treasurer's files - federal tax returns and related documents undated
4 14 Lisa Knauer's files undated
4 15 Greg Sholette's files - minutes of meetings and narratives undated
4 16 Greg Sholette's files - History Project proposals undated
4 17 Greg Sholette's files - structure 1997
4 18 Greg Sholette's files - minutes of Circulation project meetings undated
4 19 Greg Sholette's files - minutes of NY Lawyers in Public Interest meetings undated
4 20 Greg Sholette's files - Lower Manhattan Project Sign Project texts undated

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Series II: Projects

 

Subseries A: Projects - Lower Manhattan Sign Project (LMSP)

Box Folder Title Date
5 1 Correspondence between Tom Klem and Jenny Dixon undated
5 2 Lisa Knauer's papers and correspondence undated
5 3 Lisa Knauer's administrative correspondence undated
5 4 Correspondence - legal matters undated
5 5 Correspondence - invitations undated
5 6 Correspondence - general undated
5 7 Original letters of support and city permissions undated
5 8 Planning for the opening performance undated
5 9 Edited texts for the signs and the map undated
5 10 Sherill Wilson - advisor on signs undated
5 11 Artist call for proposals undated
5 12 Budgeting/planning undated
5 13 Project outlines undated
5 14 Project proposal drafts undated
5 15 Sketches and designs of drafts undated
5 16 Preliminary drafts for signs undated
5 17 Jim Costanzo's notes and research materials undated
5 18 Greg Sholette's notes and research materials undated
5 19 Sign supplies undated
5 20 Original proposal for signs undated
5 21 Sign catalog copy undated
5 22 List of sites for signs undated
5 23 List of historical signs before LMSP undated
5 24 Notebook/planner undated
5 25 Proofs (master set) undated
5 26 Proofs - sign art/texts undated
5 27 Proofs - sign art/texts undated
5 28 Flyer layout and proofs undated
5 29 Research - historical society landmark undated
5 30 Research - general undated
5 31 Maps undated
5 32 Snug harbor undated
5 33 Educator towns - teacher handouts undated
5 34 Contact information undated
5 35 Umbrella organizations for larger public art project undated
5 36 Sign project tea information notebook undated
5 37 Parade/performance of opening undated
5 38 Parade undated
5 39 Parade - Neill Bogan file undated
5 40 Cloth to cover signs for day without art undated
5 41 Announcements of related events undated
 

Subseries B: Projects - Choice Histories

Box Folder Title Date
6 1 Proposals undated
6 2 Artist space exhibition - correspondence and official documents undated
6 3 General information undated
6 4 Articles and legal briefs undated
6 5 Women's health information undated
6 6 Gallery handouts and catalogue photocopy undated
6 7 Race and class committee materials and readings undated
6 8 Readings on abortion undated
6 9 'Sexuality' receipts undated
6 10 'Race/Class' receipts undated
6 11 'Medicine' receipts undated
6 12 'Law/Morality' receipts undated
6 13 'Book/Chronology' receipts undated
6 14 General receipts and financial statements undated
6 15 General receipts and video receipts undated
 

Subseries C: Projects - Queer Spaces

Box Folder Title Date
6 16 Correspondence undated
6 17 Correspondence - legal matters undated
6 18 Project outlines undated
6 19 Research undated
6 20 Contact information undated
6 21 Meeting minutes undated
6 22 Queers in Space undated
6 23 Proofs undated
6 23A. Printer's proofs [OVERSIZE] undated
 

Subseries D: Projects - Entering Buttermilk Bottom

Box Folder Title Date
6 24 Correspondence undated
6 25 Correspondence concerning specifications undated
6 26 Correspondence between Tom Klem and James Malone undated
6 27 Project outlines undated
6 28 Budgeting/planning undated
6 29 Meeting minutes undated
6 30 Contact information undated
6 31 Disk printouts of Donna Kessinger undated
6 32 Maps undated
6 33 Maps - Sanborn Mosaics 1911
6 34 Maps - Sanborn Mosaics - Civic Center east 1911
6 35 Maps - Sanborn Mosaic - Dickanny Alley undated
6 36 Maps - Sanborn Mosaics 1932-1951
6 37 Maps - Sanborn Mosaics - Civic Center east undated
6 38 Maps - 'Misc. other maps' undated
6 39 Maps - unspecified undated
6 40 Research - official city documents undated
6 41 Research - white pages undated
Box Folder Title Date
7 1 Research - articles A undated
7 2 Research - articles B undated
7 3 Research - interviews undated
7 4 Research - 'Neill Bogan' undated
7 5 Research - 'U-Rescue articles' undated
7 6 Research - binder 1995
7 7 Research - Atlanta Historical Society photo collection undated
7 8 Research - bibliography undated
7 9 Arts Festival of Atlanta - 1995-1996
7 10 Arts Festival of Atlanta - site works undated
7 11 Original artwork undated
7 12 Proofs for artwork undated
7 12A. Artwork [OVERSIZE] undated
7 13 Labels undated
7 14 Misc. undated
 

Subseries E: Voices of Renewal

Box Folder Title Date
7 15 Correspondence undated
7 16 Project outlines undated
7 17 Budgeting/planning undated
7 18 Contact information undated
7 19 Research undated
7 20 Resumes undated
7 21 Proofs undated
7 22 Maps undated
7 23 Arts Festival Atlanta undated
 

Subseries F: Out From Under the King George Hotel

Box Folder Title Date
7 24 Correspondence undated
7 25 Budgeting/planning undated
7 26 Jim Costanzo's notes and correspondence A. undated
7 27 Jim Costanzo's notes and correspondence B. undated
7 28 Contact information undated
7 29 Research - Deeds and city/county documents undated
7 30 Research - articles undated
7 31 Research - photocopies of photo documentation of renovations undated
7 32 Research - handwritten notes undated
7 33 Research - Neill Bogan undated
7 34 Research - NY Public Library call slips undated
7 35 Research - bibliography undated
7 36 Proofs of artwork undated
 

Subseries G: Civil Disturbances

Box Folder Title Date
8 1 Correspondence undated
8 2 Correspondence - legal matters undated
8 3 'Lisa Knauer folder' undated
8 4 Research undated
8 5 Mayor Giuliani and artist Lederman undated
8 6 Research - legal briefs undated
8 7 New York Lawyers for Public Interest (NYLPI) undated
8 8 Receipts undated
8 9 Proofs for artwork undated
8 10 Printer's proofs undated
8 11 Misc.