Dan Wiesendanger diaries

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: Coll2008-014

Staff Only

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection consists entirely of diaries kept by Dan Wiesendanger from 1976 until mid-1995, a year before his death. The diaries fall into three groups: (1) general daily accounts, (2) "Opinions on Painting", and (3) miscellaneous. The general daily accounts document the events in Wiesendanger's life, his friends, and family, including reminiscences of his earlier life. The volumes beginning with No. 11 contain many photographs, some dating back to the 1940s. The "Opinions on Painting", also known as "Red Books" or "Art News", document Wiesendanger's work as an artist and his activities within the artists' communities of Los Angeles and Pasadena. The volumes include accounts and photographs of many of Wiesendanger's paintings; newspaper clippings and photographs of the work of other artists he considered particularly important; and the activities of various art societies in Los Angeles and Pasadena. The miscellaneous volumes document events Wiesendanger considered of particular interest: the first Iraq War in 1991; the Shasta Dixieland Jazz Festival in Redding, California, in April 1991, and the Medford Jazz Jubilee in Medford, Oregon, in October 1991; and a trip back to Wisconsin, which he knew would be his last, to attend the wedding of a niece in 1995.

Dates

Creation: 1976-1995

Creator

Wiesendanger, Dan (Person)

Access

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Publication Rights

Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the physical owner. Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in the materials. Note that ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials directly from the copyright holder(s).

Biography

Dan Wiesendanger was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 5, 1915. He served in the U.S. Army from June 1941 until December 1945, for the majority of the time as non-commissioned officer in charge of Special Services Section, Athletics and Entertainment, in the headquarters offices of various regiments, divisions, and corps. He later settled in Los Angeles, where for many years he lived with his roommate Clint at 3279 Descanso Drive. He was a modernist painter, working in a variety of media. He is credited with developing geometric abstraction in the late 1960s. He was also a songwriter and member of ASCAP. He died in a Los Angeles nursing home on July 14, 1996, of prostate cancer.

Extent

1.7 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Diaries kept by artist Dan Wiesendanger (1915-1996) from 1976 until mid-1995, documenting the events in his life, his friends, and family, including reminiscences of his earlier life. A separate series of diaries documents Wiesendanger's work as an artist and his activities within the artists' communities of Los Angeles and Pasadena.

Acquisition Information

Date and method of acquisition unknown.

Processing Information

Processed by Michael P. Palmer, May 2, 2008.

Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.