The New Mexico History Museum recently announced new collections featuring artist and printer, Gustave Baumann, are available and accessible to researchers, art collectors, and students interested in southwestern history.
The museum is making the collections available online and in-person with an appointment, according to a June 28 press release.
"These materials provide detailed insights into Gustave Baumann’s personal relationships and business practices,” said Billy Garrett, NMHM executive director. “They are an important resource for anyone wanting to better understand Mr. Baumann and his times.”
Born in Germany and later settling in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1918, Baumann’s artistic career spanned several decades until his passing in 1971, the release stated. In 2021, the Ann Baumann Trust donated a collection of Baumann's documents and photographs to the NMHM, prompting the museum to develop detailed finding aids that described the organization and content of the collection.
The collection includes Baumann’s correspondence with his wide circle of friends, his annual hand-printed Christmas cards, letters between museum collections throughout the United States, photographs of Santa Fe, and the naturalization certificate Baumann received upon becoming a U.S. citizen in 1904, according to the release.
Some of these materials were previously featured in "In a Modern Rendering: The Color Woodcuts of Gustave Baumann: A Catalogue Raisonné" by Gala Chamberlain and Nancy E. Green, the release stated.
The finding aids are now available on the New Mexico Archives website, providing researchers and history buffs with the opportunity to delve into Baumann's contributions from their homes, the release stated.
People can make an appointment to view the Baumann papers by contacting the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library, while appointments to see Baumann’s photographs can be made with the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives, both of which are part of the NMHM, according to the release.
The New Mexico Museum of Art also houses other Baumann-related materials, including artwork and marionettes. Both the New Mexico History Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Art are divisions within the New Mexico Department of Cultural Resources according to the release.