Correspondence, 1940-2008

This series, focusing on correspondence between Parsons and her many contacts around the Northwest, emphasizes Parsons’ ideal of doing “anything to make correspondence less banal.” It is characterized by the artistic inclinations and personalities of the senders. Almost exclusively in the form of Christmas cards, there are many different styles present. Many of these Christmas cards can be traced back to the Museum Art School, where the instructors annually made their own Christmas cards. Many of these Christmas cards contain short notes about the New Year, or about the recent exhibitions of the sender. Also contained are letters between Parsons and her colleagues detailing artistic, economic, and personal problems, as well as untitled, small scale artworks without a name or clear sender.