Benjamin Galleries Records
1920-2013
Dr. Benjamin Krohn Neva Krohn
The Benjamin Galleries opened in Chicago in 1939 under the direction of Chicago dentist Dr. Benjamin Krohn (1904-1957), an accomplished painter in his own right. Dr. Krohn’s goal was to sell good art in a broad price range in an informal setting. To this end, the Gallery’s first location was in Dr. Krohn’s apartment at 222 E. Ontario, and later moved to his second apartment at 154 E. Superior Street. Dr. Krohn initially exhibited School of Paris artists; at the outset of World War II, he began to feature local artists, including Gertrude Abercrombie, Ellen Lanyon, Eleanor Coen, Aaron Bohrod, and Roland Ginzel. After Krohn’s death his wife Neva continued to operate the gallery, now at 900 N. Michigan Avenue, and exhibited established American painters and sculptors until she sold the business in 1979. This collection includes papers and photographs documenting the operations of the gallery as well as correspondence with artists represented by the business.
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Printed papers, correspondence, black and white photographic prints and color photographic prints.