Collection: Thomas Wilfred papers | Archives at Yale (original) (raw)

Collection

Call Number: MS 1375

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, drawings, photographs, printed material, clippings and miscellanea documenting the professional career of Thomas Wilfred, inventor of the clavilux and a prominent artist and developer of lumia, an artform which utilizes light as the medium of expression, 1914-1968. Additional materials detail Wilfred's musical career as a lute player, 1914-1918.

The development of lumia within the field of kinetic art and the prominent role of Thomas Wilfred in this development, as an inventor, artist, performer, and teacher are documented. Correspondence with individuals, fellow artists, universities and organizations, and museums details Wilfred's attempts to develop, promote, and market the calivilux. Correspondents include: Eugene Epstein, Alfred N. Goldsmith, the Musuem of Modern Art, W. Christian Sidenius, the Whitney Musuem of Art, and several universities.

Material detailing the construction and experimental work Wilfred performed, including extensive numbers of drawings, photographs, and sketches of clavilux models, patents on the clavilux, contracts for performances, research data for design plans, compositions for "visual symphonies," and clippings and printed material on performances and recitals are arranged in the papers. Other materials include research data, clippings, and writings on the artform of lumia, and additional information for compositions written by Wilfred and articles published by Wilfred and others.

Dates

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy, which is retained by the repository. Researchers wishing to obtain an additional copy for their personal use should consult Copying Services information on the Manuscripts and Archives web site.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by Thomas Wilfred was transferred to Yale University in 1983. Permission to publish from the digital audiorecording of Patricia Marx's inteview with Wilfred (ACCN 2015-M-046) must be obtained from New York Public Radio. These materials may be used for non-commercial purposes without seeking permission from Yale University as the copyright holder. For other uses of these materials, please contact beinecke.library@yale.edu. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Thomas Wilfred, 1983; W. Christian Sidenius, 1994-1995; Raymond Epstein, 1996; and Georgia M. Newton, 2009 (Accession 2010-M-026).

Arrangement

Arranged in two series and four additions: I. Correspondence, 1923-1968. II. Clavilux, Lumia, and Miscellanea, 1914-1968.

Extent

24.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1375

Additional Description

Abstract

The papers consist of correspondence, drawings, photographs, printed material, clippings, and miscellanea documenting the professional career of Thomas Wilfred, inventor of the clavilux and a prominent artist and developer of lumia, an artform which utilizes light as the medium of expression. Additional materials detail Wilfred's musical career as a lute player. The development of lumia within the field of kinetic art and the prominent role of Thomas Wilfred in this development, as an inventor, artist, performer, and teacher are documented. Correspondence with individuals, fellow artists, universities and organizations, and museums detail Wilfred's attempts to develop, promote and market the clavilux. Correspondents include: Eugene Epstein, Alfred N. Goldsmith, the Museum of Modern Art, W. Christian Sidenius, the Whitney Museum of Art, and several universities. Material detailing clavilux construction attempts and experimental work Wilfred performed, including extensive numbers of drawings, photographs and sketches of clavilux models, patents on the clavilux, contracts for performances, research data for design plans, compositions for "visual symphonies," and clippings and printed material on performances and recitals are included. Other materials include research data, clippings, and writings on the artform of lumia, and additional information for compositions written by Wilfred and articles published by Wilfred and others.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Wilfred was born on June 18, 1889, in Naestved, Denmark. He studied music in Europe, achieving international status as a performer on the lute. He moved to the United States in 1916, and began to develop and perform on the clavilux and promote lumia as an art form. Wilfred died on August 15, 1968 in Nyack, New York. Wilfred toured the United States performing clavilux recitals, and appeared with such artists as Leopold Stokowski. He constantly designed new clavilux models, built and headed the Art Institute of Light in New York, adapted the clavilux for scenic projections in theatre productions, and composed over fifty compositions for the clavilux.

Other Finding Aids

For an index of books that are included in this collection, please consult theBibliographical Index.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title

Guide to the Thomas Wilfred Papers

Author

compiled by William E. Brown, Jr. and staff of Manuscripts and Archives

Date

January 1984

Description rules

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Language of description note

Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
beinecke.library@yale.edu

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours