Winifred Milius Lubell Collection

Winifred Milius Lubell’s family organized the works after her death. Drawings, collages, watercolors and prints were received from the family in oversized artist’s portfolios, grouped broadly by subject, many with identifying number or title. An accompanying spreadsheet, provided by the family, included summary information describing the works: identifying number (which could refer to an individual piece or to groups of pieces), titles and notes on media, date and number of pieces. Not every work on the list was found in the portfolio folders and not every work in the portfolio folders was identified in the spreadsheet listing. Woodblocks were received in boxes with no clear organizing principle, and were not included in the spreadsheet inventory. Drafts and artwork for the book Metamorphosis of Baubo were also received, boxed and mostly in folders, though folder descriptions did not always fully represent the folder contents. It is possible that the folders represented the author’s organization scheme for these papers. Similarly, the library received two boxes of papers sent by the Wellfleet Public Library in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, primarily focused on a project studying medieval manuscripts, particularly on marginalia in these manuscripts, as well as people on the margins of society at the time. As it is not known if this was the original filing scheme, the material has been organized into broad subject categories, retaining Winifred Lubell’s original folder titles and contents unless otherwise noted. The Wellfleet Public Library also sent three DVD videos of the artist discussing her life and works. Two of the DVDs were removed to preservation quality boxes. Steven Lubell, the artist’s son, also sent a DVD video in which the artist discusses some of her work relative to her marginalia project.

Additional material, received after the collection was processed, included archival material (papers, notes, sketches, slides), drawings, a small watercolor and sketchbooks. Some of this material was in topic folders, though most was loose. A series of drawings on women and the labor movement (Box 49) was drawn on and matted with acidic paper. The mats, with their identifying information, are an integral part of the image and have been retained. Where possible, a neutral sheet of polyester has been inserted between the mat and the drawing to limit further damage. Most sketchbooks had removable adhesive lables with an identifying "SK" number. These have been removed to avoid adhesive damage, and the number has been noted in the sketchbook description. Included in this additional material were a folder of clippings and several issues of workers' newspapers New Masses and Yard News, as well as ART Forum were among these papers. These have been removed and included in the Rutgers University Art Library collection. A selection of the newspaper clippings was photocopied and retained. The originals were discarded.

Each drawing, print or painting has been given an individual Rutgers identification number. These do not always correspond to the original identifying numbers that are on the spreadsheet provided by the family and on some of the prints and drawings. A list has been created to reconcile the two numbering systems. See ARCHIVAL MATERIAL series, Box 17, Folder 14, WM Lubell Rutgers Supplemental Information.

Rutgers identification numbers also include box, folder and item number. Woodblocks carry only an item number. Examples and explanations of these identifying numbers follows:

Lubell 2/1 - 4

This work is in Box 2, Folder 1, with the unique item number 4.

Lubell 406

This is a woodblock. Woodblock and plate numbers are listed on the label of each box.

Numbers were written in pencil on the upper right hand corner of the verso, or the nearest clear surface that would not interfere with the artwork, carving or any notations. Exceptions were Masonite and burlap backed linoleum blocks, which have labels attached with Methyl Cellulose, and the metal plates, which have the number written on a film made of Paraloid B72 using an acetone solvent.

The collection includes a small number of works by other artists, and some for which the artist has not been determined. Among these are Lubell 261, which is possibly by Richard Stein, Lubell 268, possibly a woodcut by B. Woodworth and Lubell 269 by George Maas. Lubell 134 and 336 have no identified artist. Lubell 121 is signed Barbara Stoughton.

Pieces that were matted on acidic paper were removed from the mat to stop further deterioration of the paper. Where possible without damaging the paper, the corrosive tape used to attach the piece to the mat was also removed. Where necessary, repairs were made to torn sheets. Many of the works have pin holes in the corners, tape or tape damage from earlier mountings and evidence of foxing. Some tape or glue has been replaced with Filmoplast for the illustrations to Metamorphosis of Baubo. Many prints and much of the archival material had a smell of mold or mildew, though none was visible. Much of the affected material has been vacuumed to remove mold spores. Mildew retardant folders and mildew retardant sheets have been used for a portion of the works, in order to limit damage to the material. All collages, drawings and prints through Lubell 186 are interleaved with acid free, buffered tissue. Prints from Lubell 189 on are interleaved with acid-free, buffered or unbuffered tissue. Woodblocks have been placed in boxes with Volera polyethylene foam and acidic cardboard to protect the faces from rubbing together. Acidic cardboard was used, as it more closely corresponds to the chemistry of the wood.

The artworks used a variety of papers and boards, some of which have been noted in the item descriptions. Generally, the woodcuts are printed on rice paper, often quite thin, the collages on heavy paper or thin board, and the watercolors, as well as many of the ink drawings on heavy paper, illustration board or construction paper.

Measurements are of the paper size, unless otherwise noted, and are height x width in centimeters. Sketchbook measurements are height x width x thickness in centimeters.