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This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

Posted to Internet: February 2004

Acquisition Note: R. K. Courtney donated this collection to the University of Iowa in 1998 and 2000.

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

Abbreviations: For an explanation of the abbreviation and dating conventions used in the finding aid, please see Abbreviations.

Biographical Note

R. Keith Courtney is an Iowa City resident and artist. From the late 1970s to the late 1980s he conducted a project titled "Notes From All Over," which invited artists to send him found objects and printed matter.

Scope and Contents

The R. K. Courtney donation consists of art works, correspondence, and related documentation dating from 1971 -- 1995. The majority of this material concerns his "Notes from All Over" project. The materials in boxes 1 -- 3 were donated October 11, 1998; those in box 4 on June 7, 2000. This is an Alternative Traditions in Contemporary Art collection.

Prepared by D. Crites, J. Roethler, September 2004

Item Inventory

Box 1

Blue ring Binders (3)

"Notes From All Over." Found pieces from all over placed in binders. Two of them titled on spine "NOTES FROM ALL OVER."

Grey Ring Binders (1)

Assorted works and correspondence for "Notes From All Over."

Box 2

Grey Ring Binders (4)

Assorted works and correspondence for "Notes From All Over," cont.

Box 3

Clip Binders (12)

Checklist of Titles of clip binders

"B Sequence" and "Notes II: B. Sequence." 1971 -- 1977. "Notes mentioning seasons, holidays and times of day" (Two red binders)

"Notes: G Sequence." 1971 -- 1977. "Notes from Genda Buenger " (One blue binder)

"Notes from Elsewhere" n.d. and "More Notes from Elsewhere." 1989. (Two brown binders)

"More Notes from the Street" 1989, "More Notes from the Street: Part 2" 1989, "More Notes from the Street: Part 3," 1989, "Notes from the Street," (n.d. Includes statement about project, beginnings and endings. Orange binder). (Three brown binders and one orange binder)

"Notes." n.d. (One yellow binder)

"Untitled." n.d . (One black binder with no title, but 'Notes ..' project)

"Untitled." n.d . (One brown binder with no titled, but 'Notes ..' project)

Box 4

Correspondence

One letter from Lloyd Dunn and enclosure, 1989

R.K. Courtney Works

Mail Art Mailing List

February 1991

March 1991

Documentation/Catalogues

Art Paper's Mail Art Show , pamphlet, n.d.

The Found Foto Album. Catalogue for project of same name. Stangroom, 1992 Grime: the secret content of the abandoned roadside tapes (tape not found March 2004), pamphlet enclosed. Project coordinated by C. Reider. Date of publication [1995?]

International Mail Art Show. Catalogue and show by Lon Spiegelman. Enclosed with catalogue is circular titled "Mail-Art Shows." Date of publication [1980?]

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