Oral Histories

Interview of John Coplans

Photographer, art critic, and curator at the Pasadena Art Museum.
Subtitle:
Pasadena Art Museum: John Coplans
Series:
Oral History of the Pasadena Art Museum
Topic:
Art
Biographical Note:
Photographer, art critic, and curator at the Pasadena Art Museum.
Interviewer:
Ratner, Joanne L.
Interviewee:
Coplans, John
Persons Present:
Coplans and Ratner.
Place Conducted:
Coplans's home in New York City, New York.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Joanne L. Ratner, UCLA Oral History Program; B.A., American Studies/Art History, Scripps College; M.A., Art History/Museum Studies, University of Southern California.Ratner prepared for the interview by Ratner reviewing a variety of materials directly related to the Pasadena Art Museum, including minutes of the board of trustees from 1965 to 1974, minutes of the executive committee from 1958 to 1974, calendars of events, exhibition catalogs and reviews, scrapbooks, newspaper and magazine articles, California Design files, and essays, brochures and speeches pertaining to the museum's early history. In addition, Ratner read relevant interviews conducted by the UCLA Oral History Program for its Los Angeles Art Community: Group Portrait series.
Processing of Interview:
David P. Gist, assistant editor, edited the interview. He checked the verbatim transcript of the interview against the original tape recordings, edited for punctuation, paragraphing, and spelling, and verified proper names. Words and phrases inserted by the editor have been bracketed.The edited transcript was sent to Coplans in June 1988. He verified proper names and made a few minor corrections or additions and returned the transcript in September 1988. Lisa White, editorial assistant, prepared the biographical summary and interview history. George Hodak, editorial assistant, prepared the index.
Length:
2.25 hrs.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Series Statement:
This series focuses on the history of the Pasadena Museum of Art and its role as a pathbreaking venue for contemporary art in Southern California in the 1960s.
Abstract:
TAPE NUMBER: II, Side Two (April 27, 1987)Effects on the demise of the Pasadena Art Museum on the Los Angeles arts community--Coplans's career since leaving Los Angeles in 1971.