Finding aid for the Joseph Garramone Kokoon Arts Club collection


Title:
Joseph Garramone Kokoon Arts Club collection
Repository:
Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Phone: 330-672-2270
http://www.library.kent.edu/specialcollections
Creator:
Garramone, Joseph
Dates:
1930-1963
Quantity:
2.33 cubic feet (2 flat oversize boxes, 1 document case)
Abstract:
This collection, dating from 1930-1963, contains artwork created by Joseph Garramone as well as correspondence related to his involvement in the Kokoon Arts Club of Cleveland, Ohio.
Identification:
OhKeUSC0134
Location:
11th Floor
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of Joseph Garramone

Born in Laurenzana, Italy in 1886, Joseph Garramone came to the United States with his family via New York from Naples in 1897. Upon arrival, the family settled in Cleveland, Ohio. Garramone attended grade school in Cleveland and subsequently, attended the Cleveland School of Art from 1904 through his graduation in 1907. He was awarded a scholarship to the New York School of Art and studied there under Robert Henri for two years. In 1909, after completing his education, Garramone returned to Cleveland and was employed at The Otis Lithograph Company, where the premier product of the time was commercial theatrical posters. In 1911, Garramone, along with several other artist colleagues at Otis Lithograph, founded the Kokoon Arts Club. Garramone also produced artwork independently, working from his home studio. His work was exhibited on several occasions in the May Show at the Cleveland Museum of Art. From approximately 1923 to 1948, Garramone and his wife Rose owned and managed The Pengwin, a restaurant, candy counter, bakery and soda fountain, located in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Garramone died on November 28, 1963.

Scope and Content

This collection includes original artwork created by Joseph Garramone for the Kokoon Arts Club as well as various photographs and correspondence relating to his involvement in the organization. The artwork consists of drawings and paintings that were used as decoration for the Kokoon Arts Club's annual masquerade balls. The bulk of the correspondence dates from between 1949 to 1963, and includes original letters and postcards (some photocopies) from a number of artist acquaintances including William Zorach, August Biehle, Joe and Jerry Jicha, and a more extensive collection of letters from Hugo Robus.

Statement of Arrangement

The Joseph Garramone Kokoon Arts Club collection is organized by series as follows: Series 1: Personal Information; Series 2: Correspondence (with subseries arranged alphabetically by author); Series 3: Photographs; Series 4: Sketches and paintings (arranged chronologically, then alphabetically)Related Material: Related Material

Additional information related to the Kokoon Arts Club can be found in the
Kokoon Arts Club and Philip Kaplan papers.


Subject Headings

The following subjects are found in this collection:

Subjects:

Art -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies, etc.
Art, American -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Art, Modern -- 20th century.
Balls (Parties) -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- 20th century.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- History -- 20th century.
Cleveland (Ohio) -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.
Garramone, Joseph -- Archives.
Kokoon Arts Club (Cleveland, Ohio)
Painters -- Ohio -- Cleveland.

Persons:

Biehle, August F., 1885-1979.
Jicha, Joseph, 1901-1960.
Robus, Hugo, 1885-1964.
Zorach, William, 1889-1966.

Organizations/Corporations:

Kokoon Arts Club (Cleveland, Ohio)
Otis Lithograph Company.

Functions:

Art -- Societies, etc. -- Management.

Places:

Cleveland (Ohio)

Occupations:

Artists.
Arts administrators.

Material Types:

Correspondence.
Drawings (visual works)
Paintings.
Photographs.
Works of art.

Preferred Citation

Joseph Garramone Kokoon Arts Club collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Acquisition Information

Joseph F. Garibotti, grandson of Joseph Garramone, donated this collection to Kent State University Special Collections and Archives on August 31, 2010.

Processing Information

This collection was processed at the item level.


Detailed Description of the Collection



Series 1: Personal Information, 1963; undated

Box 1 / Folder 1
Biography of Joseph Garramone, undated




Box 1 / Folder 2
Obituary of Joseph Garramone, 1963





Series 2: Correspondence, 1949-1963




Subseries 1: Letters from Hugo Robus, 1949-1963

Box 1 / Folder 3
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, June 1, 1949




Box 1 / Folder 4
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, March 5, 1950




Box 1 / Folder 5
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, April 30, 1950




Box 1 / Folder 6
Letter: Hugo Robus to Jospeh Garramone, November 28, 1950




Box 1 / Folder 7
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, March 28, 1951




Box 1 / Folder 8
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, December 14, 1951




Box 1 / Folder 9
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, October 14, 1954




Box 1 / Folder 10
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, June 25, 1955




Box 1 / Folder 11
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, December 31, 1958




Box 1 / Folder 12
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, January 14, 1959




Box 1 / Folder 13
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, February 14, 1959




Box 1 / Folder 14
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, March 20, 1959




Box 1 / Folder 15
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, May 27, 1959




Box 1 / Folder 16
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, July 15, 1959




Box 1 / Folder 17
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, October 17, 1959




Box 1 / Folder 18
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, January 3, 1960




Box 1 / Folder 19
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, May 16, 1960




Box 1 / Folder 20
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, August 10, 1960




Box 1 / Folder 21
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, August 16, 1960




Box 1 / Folder 22
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, November 3, 1960




Box 1 / Folder 23
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, February 22, 1961




Box 1 / Folder 24
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, May 18, 1961




Box 1 / Folder 25
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, July 31, 1961




Box 1 / Folder 26
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, August 11, 1961




Box 1 / Folder 27
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, September 25, 1961




Box 1 / Folder 28
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, January 15, 1962




Box 1 / Folder 29
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, June 4, 1962




Box 1 / Folder 30
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, July 19, 1962




Box 1 / Folder 31
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, August 21, 1962




Box 1 / Folder 32
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, September 26, 1962




Box 1 / Folder 33
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, January 19, 1963




Box 1 / Folder 34
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, March 6, 1963




Box 1 / Folder 35
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, May 15, 1963




Box 1 / Folder 36
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, October 25, 1963




Box 1 / Folder 37
Letter: Hugo Robus to Joseph Garramone, December 23, 1963







Subseries 2: Letters from William Zorach, 1950-1962

Box 1 / Folder 38
Letter: William Zorach to Joseph Garramone, January 12, 1950

Physical Description: Photocopy



Box 1 / Folder 39
Letter: William Zorach to Joseph Garramone, March 2, 1962

Physical Description: Photocopy



Box 1 / Folder 40
Postcard: William Zorach to Joseph Garramone, March 6, 1962

Physical Description: Photocopy



Box 1 / Folder 41
Postcard: William Zorach to Joseph Garramone, March 23, 1962

Physical Description: Photocopy






Subseries 3: Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated

Box 1 / Folder 42
Christmas card from August Biehle to Joseph and Rose Garramone, undated




Box 1 / Folder 43
Letter: Holiday greetings from Joe and Jerry Jicha to Joseph and Rose Garramone, undated





Series 3: Photographs, undated

Box 1 / Folder 44
Photograph of Kokoon Club Bal group, including Joseph and Rose Garramone, undated




Box 1 / Folder 45
Photograph of William Zorach (L) and Joseph Garramone (R) at Otis Lithography Company, Cleveland, Ohio, undated





Series 4: Sketches and Paintings, 1930; undated

Box 2 / Folder 1
Female figure, 1930

Physical Description: Pencil and pastel on canvas board



Box 2 / Folder 2
Male figure, back view, 1931

Physical Description: Watercolor sketch



Box 2 / Folder 3
Ballet figure, undated

Physical Description: Ink and pencil sketch



Box 2 / Folder 4
"Bal Masque", undated

Physical Description: Painting



Box 2 / Folder 5
"Design for Kookoon Club" [sic], undated

Physical Description: Pencil sketch



Box 2 / Folder 6
"Figure #1", undated

Physical Description: Painting



Box 2 / Folder 7
Female figure, undated

Physical Description: Painted pencil sketch



Box 2 / Folder 8
Female dancing figure, undated

Physical Description: Ink and pencil sketch



Box 3 / Folder 1
Figure sounding horn, undated

Physical Description: Pastel



Box 3 / Folder 2
"Kookoon Ball" [sic] stylized face, undated

Physical Description: Painting



Box 3 / Folder 3
"Kookoon Club" [sic] Devil-like face, undated

Physical Description: Painting



Box 3 / Folder 4
"Kookoon Club Ball" [sic] stylized face, undated

Physical Description: Painting



Box 3 / Folder 5
"Kookoon Club Bal Decoration" [sic], undated

Physical Description: Painting



Box 3 / Folder 6
Kokoon Club Bal decoration, undated

Physical Description: Painting



Box 3 / Folder 7
"Sketch - Kookoon Arts Club Poster" [sic], undated

Physical Description: Pencil sketch



Box 3 / Folder 8
Turkish dancing figures, undated

Physical Description: Pencil sketch and paint on board