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Archive of approximately 200 snapshots relating to Inez Smith Robinson, Anne Brigman's close friend and occasional model.

Silver prints
The collection includes 50 photographic studies and about 150 family and travel photos. Many cannot be identified, but a selection of approximately 30 stunning snapshots seem to depict outings to the High Sierras, and others are captioned with Santa Barbara locations, many in the same hand. One identifies sitters, including Inez. We believe that Inez can be found in at least three additional snapshots, possibly dating from when she was pursuing a PhD at Berkeley in bacteriology. Also included are five addressed envelopes (lacking contents); two postmarked real photo postcards, both of these are addressed to "Miss Inez Smith" from "Beulah" (likely Brigman's sister Beulah Wardrope Nott); and 6 cards and other personal printed ephemera.
Most images approximately 2 1/2 x 4 in. (6.4 x 10.2 cm.), and the reverse, the sheets slightly larger

  • Provenance:
    Inez Smith Robinson's Estate, 2003; to the Present Owner
    James Rhem's Anne Brigman's Songs: Her Life, Her Photographs, Her Poems (2005) identifies Inez and comments on the sale of her items in Rochester, NY in 2003.

    Inez Smith married Milton Robinson in 1925 and moved to Rochester, New York, where Robinson worked at Eastman Kodak.

    Two trees that appear in a few of the snapshots bear a close resemblance to those that were used for Brigman's iconic The Pool and The Limpid Pool.
  • Condition: For condition reports, email Deborah Rogal at [email protected]

    Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

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April 30, 2026 12:00 PM EDT
New York, NY, US

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