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Ruth Leavitt Fallon papers

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: 2021.leavitt

Collection Scope and Content Note

The Ruth Leavitt Fallon papers are a compilation of materials related to the career of computer artist Ruth Leavitt Fallon. This collection includes documentation and images on the graphics word processing program Write Island and the art piece The Creative Muse. Additional scope and content information can be found in the Contents List section of this finding aid.

The Ruth Leavitt Fallon papers are arranged into three series. The collection is housed in one archival document box.

Dates

  • Creation: 1984 - 2019
  • Creation: Majority of material found in 1984-1985, c. 2008-2009

Creator

Language

The materials in this collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and by users of its library and archives. Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, she has given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes.

Biographical Note

Ruth Leavitt Fallon (also known professionally as Ruth Leavitt) is an American computer artist.

Leavitt’s art studies focused on abstract impressionism. By 1967, she began producing art on mainframe computers, creating and transforming graphics by stretching and distorting the images. She later worked with personal computers. In 1976, Leavitt edited Artist and Computer, one of the earliest books about computer art, which showcased 35 artists and detailed how individuals could use computers to create new art forms and visual expressions. Within a few years, she produced film animations using her computer graphics and customized programs. In 1984, Leavitt was an instructor of computer art at SUNY Buffalo; her name was passed along to Don Beil and Tom Myers, who were looking to hire a graphic artist for their word processing program called Write Island. She developed the graphics for the game, a visual product for children to learn word processing. For the next few decades, Leavitt taught computer art courses and produced her own art pieces.

As of 2021, Ruth Leavitt Fallon resides in Maryland and continues to create art.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 archival document box)

Abstract

The Ruth Leavitt Fallon papers are a compilation of materials related to the career of computer artist Ruth Leavitt Fallon, including documentation on the word processing program Write Island and an art piece titled The Creative Muse.

System of Arrangement

Series I: Write Island, 1984-1985

Series II: The Creative Muse, c. 2008-2009

Series III: Background information, 2019

Custodial History

The Ruth Leavitt Fallon papers were donated to The Strong in February and June 2020 as a gift of Ruth Leavitt Fallon. The papers were sent by Fallon and accessioned by The Strong under Object IDs 120.851 and 120.1839, respectively.

Processed by

Julia Novakovic, February 2021

Subject

Title
Finding Aid to the Ruth Leavitt Fallon Papers, 1984-2019
Status
Completed
Author
Julia Novakovic
Date
10 February 2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play at The Strong Repository

Contact:
The Strong
One Manhattan Square
Rochester NY 14607 USA
585.263.2700
585.423.1886 (Fax)