Menil Archives
The Menil Archives identifies, preserves, and administers institutional records of long-term and permanent administrative, legal, fiscal, and research value to the Menil Foundation and the Menil Collection. The Archives also houses Special Collections and the Film and Media Collection. Subject to reasonable restrictions on the grounds of their fragility, security or confidentiality, records are available to individuals demonstrating a need to consult the material for research purposes. Access policies and restrictions apply equally to all researchers.
Dominique de Menil and Max Ernst, atrium of Menil House,
Houston, 1952. Photo: Larry Gilbert
Research hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.– 5:00 p.m., by appointment only. Requests for appointments can be made by emailing archives@menil.org; please include a summary of the topic or project and research dates.
Guidelines and procedures:
All patrons are required to fill out a registration form.
No food or beverages are allowed in the Archives.
Use only pencils when taking notes.
Cotton gloves (provided by the Archives) must be worn when handling photographs and other delicate materials.
Note that researchers assume the responsibility to secure required permissions to copy, quote and/or publish any materials in the collection
Archival Holdings
Menil Foundation Institutional Records
These are records generated in the normal course of business and include, but are not limited to, Administration, Curatorial, and Registration departmental records; Menil Foundation Project and Grant records; Exhibition History files; Architectural records for the Menil Collection and the Cy Twombly Gallery; Menil Family Records, including Dominique de Menil Research and Future Exhibitions files, and 3363 San Felipe (Menil House) records; Artists' files; Collection Research and Scholars’ papers; Education and Outreach Programs; Manuscript Collection; and Publications records.
Film and Media Collection
This collection includes 16 mm films, audio and video tapes, and digital formats of collection and archival media related to artists’ performances, institutional events, and museum exhibitions. There are also approximately 120 films selected by Henri Langlois from the Cinematique Français; films by Roberto Rossellini, including an unfinished documentary on science made at Rice University; films by and about Joseph Cornell; independent films by various directors, including Danny Lyon; the collection of films made by François de Menil; and an extensive collection of interviews about John de Menil conducted by Adelaide de Menil Carpenter.
In 2008 Menil Archives produced the film Max Ernst Hanging, directed by Francois and John de Menil, assembled from archival footage shot by Francois de Menil in 1973 during the installation of the exhibition Max Ernst: Inside the Sight.
Walter Hopps, founding director, and Dominique de Menil viewing model of the museum
with architect Renzo Piano (background), 1985
Rosalind Constable Collection, Menil Archives
Jermayne MacAgy Papers
Publications, lecture notes, photography, and personal records of Jermayne MacAgy, art historian, teacher, director of the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, Texas, and head of the Art Department, University of St. Thomas (the bulk of this collection dates from 1941–1964).
University of St. Thomas, Art History Department
Architectural records, art history department administrative records, correspondence, public relations, photography, and programs and special events for the period 1956–1987.
Rice University, Institute for the Arts
Administrative records, correspondence, special events and program records from 1968–1999.
The Rothko Chapel
Records related to events, awards, photographs, conservation and restoration of the Rothko Chapel, Houston, Texas, and Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk, for the period 1964–2003.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
The archive has acquired a number of collections that support the interests of, or are related to, the Menil Collection.
These collections include:
Alexander Iolas/ René Magritte Letters, 1946–1963
Barnet Hodes/ René Magritte Correspondence Collection,
1956–1966
Byzantine Fresco Chapel Papers
Rosalind Constable Collection
Couturier Archives. The Papers of Father Marie-Alain Couturier, O.P.
Louise Ferrari Papers, 1966–1998
Roy Fridge Journals, June 1959–August 1997
Roy Fridge Papers, 1927–2007
Jim Love Papers, 1927–2006
David McManaway Papers, 1979–2010
Marvin Chauncey Ross, Papers, 1930–1988
David Sylvester’s René Magritte Catalogue Raisonne Research Papers
David Grainger Whitney's Jasper Johns Research Papers, 1951–1992
David Grainger Whitney Trust, Bequest, 2005.