Manuscript Collection

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Identifier

Accession 1522

Inclusive Dates

1936-1999

Restrictions

Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections

Collection Size

1000 pieces, .50 linear feet

Language

English;

Historical Note

Edmund Lewandowski (1914–1998) was an American Precisionist artist. He attended the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1931-1935. He continued to work on his art commercially while teaching in public schools. He had many of his paintings put on display in the famous Downtown Gallery in New York. He served in the United States Air Force during World War II from 1942-1946. After returning he worked as a faculty member at the Layton School of Art until 1949 when he moved to Florida and taught at Florida State University. In 1954 he returned to teach at the Layton School of Art as director until 1972 at which time he came to Winthrop College. He was chairman of the Winthrop Art Department from 1973 through 1984 when he retired as Professor Emeritus.

Scope and Content Note

The Edmund Lewandowski Collection documents the artistic career and professional legacy of Edmund D. Lewandowski, artist and Chairman of the Art Department at Winthrop University from 1973 to 1984. The collection spans the mid-twentieth century through the late 1990s and includes materials relating to his exhibitions, professional activities, and posthumous recognition.

The collection contains personal papers, including handwritten notes by Lewandowski regarding his past exhibitions and two copies of his curriculum vitae. Notes prepared for news releases provide insight into how his work and career were presented to the public. Correspondence, dated primarily from 1997–1999, includes letters exchanged with Ed and Pat Fitzgerald concerning Lewandowski’s life and artistic contributions.

Materials related to a documentary project on Lewandowski include meeting agendas, scripts, and research notes, reflecting efforts to interpret and preserve his legacy. Newspaper clippings from 1978–1999 document exhibitions of his work, critical reception, and reports of his death in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

A significant component of the collection consists of exhibition catalogues (1936–1998) featuring Lewandowski’s artwork, illustrating the breadth and longevity of his career. The collection also includes a signed 1987 print titled ThermalIKEM: An American NuKEM Company, which reflects Lewandowski’s characteristic Precisionist style and interest in industrial and technological themes.

Together, these materials provide a focused record of Lewandowski’s artistic production, professional recognition, and institutional leadership. The collection is valuable for researchers studying twentieth-century American art, Precisionism, and the development of the visual arts at Winthrop University.

Provenance

The Edmund Lewandowski Collection were originally received by the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections as part of the Pat Fitzgerald Papers. This collection was donated by Pat Fitzgerald on September 22, 2015 and accessioned as its own collection on October 14, 2015.

Copyright

For information concerning copyright please contact the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University.

Edmund D. Lewandowski Collection - Accession 1522

LC Subject Headings

Lewandowski, Edmund, 1914-1998--Archives; Winthrop College--Faculty; College teachers--South Carolina--Rock Hill; Artists--South Carolina--Rock Hill; Art teachers--South Carolina--Rock Hill

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