About the Archives
The Archives serve as the corporate memory of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art by preserving and providing access to the institution’s records that document the origins, development, achievements, and activities of the museum. Our collections also include the personal papers and manuscript collections of people related to the museum, such as curators, trustees, and educators. Access is by appointment only.
Using This Site
This site allows browsing and keyword searching of our finding aids, which are descriptive inventories or indexes of an archival collection. These guides usually detail the origin, content, organization, and date of the records as well as information about their creators. Enter your search words in the box above or browse the finding aids by collection title, assigned subject term, or personal and corporate names via the tabs.
More Information
For additional information about the Archives or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Archivist.
Museum Records (RG)
- Office of the Director Records, Paul Gardner Records (RG 01/01)
- Office of the Director Records, Laurence Sickman Records (RG 01/02)
- Office of the Director Records, Ralph T. "Ted" Coe Records (RG 01/03)
- Office of the Director Records, Marc Wilson Records (RG 01/04)
- Department of Asian Art Records (RG 02)
- Department of European Art Records (RG 03)
- Department of Decorative Arts Records (RG 04)
- Department of Modern and Contemporary Art Records (RG 05)
- Department of Prints and Drawings Records (RG 06)
- Department of American Art Records (RG 07)
- Department of South and Southeast Asian Art Records (RG 08)
- Department of Ancient Art Records (RG 09)
- Department of African Art Records (RG 10)
- Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Records (RG 11)
- Department of Photography Records (RG 13)
- Department of American Indian Art Records (RG 14)
The Century of Tung Ch'i-ch'ang Exhibtion Records (RG 24/00)The Magic Theater Exhibition Files (RG 24/01)Sacred Circles Exhibition Records (RG 24/05)Exhibition of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China Records (RG 24/10)Sound, Light, and Silence: Art That Performs Exhibition Records (RG 24/15)Eight Dynasties of Chinese Painting Exhibition Records (RG 24/20)Andrew Wyeth: Autobiography Exhibition Records (RG 24/25)Across Continents and Cultures: The Art and Life of Henry Ossawa Tanner Exhibition Records (RG 24/30)Made in America: Ten Centuries of American Art Exhibition Records (RG 24/35)Albert Bloch: The American Blue Rider Exhibition Records (RG 24/40)Thomas Hart Benton: An American Original Exhibition Records (RG 24/50)Life and the Arts in the Baroque Palaces of Rome: Ambiente Barocco Exhibition Records (RG 24/45)Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs, 1851-1939 (RG 24/60)- Education Department Records (RG 32)
- Director of Educational Affairs Records (RG 33)
- Department of Marketing and Communications Records (RG 44)
- Museum Renovation and Expansion Records (RG 59)
- Miscellaneous Records (RG 60)
- Ephemera Collection (RG 70)
- Westport Garden Club Records (RG 71/01)
- Art Study Club Records (RG 71/15)
- Scrapbook Collection (RG 72)
High Ideals and Aspirations Collection (RG 73)- William Rockhill Nelson Trust Office Records (RG 80/05)
- William Rockhill Nelson Trust Office Records, J.C. Nichols Files (RG 80/10)
- William Rockhill Nelson Trust Office Records (RG 80/15)
- Karen Meizner Files (RG 90)
- Director Emeritus Records (RG 91)
- Lindsay Hughes Files (RG 92)
- Building Superintendent Records (RG 94)
- Ellen Goheen Files (RG 95)
- Assistant Curator of Native Arts Records (RG 96)
- Curator of Exhibition Records (RG 97)
- Senior Curator Records (RG 98)
- Office of the Assistant Director Records (RG 99)
- Scott Erbes Files (RG 100)
Verticle File (VF)
Manuscript Collections (MSS)
- Laurence Sickman Papers (MSS 001)
- Paul Gardner Papers (MSS 002)
- Mary Atkins Papers (MSS 003)
- Laura Kirkwood Nelson Papers (MSS 004)
- Pearl Hobson Papers (MSS 005)
- Jane Rosenthal Papers (MSS 006)
- Milton McGreevy Papers (MSS 007)
- Mary Louise Clifton Womer Papers (MSS 008)
- Jeanne Harris Papers (MSS 009)
- Betty Jones Collection (MSS 010)
- James Roth Papers (MSS 011)
- Lindsay Hughes Cooper Papers (MSS 013)
- Frederic James Papers (MSS 014)
- Ann Constable Papers (MSS 015)
- Betty Dawson Papers (MSS 016)
- Elizabeth Layton Correspondence (MSS 017)
- Mary Atkins Photographs (MSS 019)
- Charles Keck Scrapbook (MSS 024)
- Effie Seachrest Papers (MSS 025)