Newly acquired archive offers a peek inside the singular mind of ‘a beautiful artist’
The Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley has acquired the archive of artist Mildred Howard, offering insights into her creative process and personal history. The collection includes photographs, letters, and unfinished artworks that chronicle her career spanning over 50 years. Howard's work often reflects themes of memory and identity, utilizing found objects and mixed media.
- ▪Mildred Howard's archive was recently acquired by The Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley.
- ▪The collection includes photographs, newspaper clippings, and fragments of unfinished artworks.
- ▪Howard's artistry spans over 50 years and often explores themes of memory and identity.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Tor Haugan UC Berkeley Library June 1, 2026 Share Facebook X LinkedIn Email Print For more than 50 years, artist Mildred Howard has made meaning and memory her muses. The Bancroft Library recently acquired her archive. “There are so many stories behind so many pieces of paper,” Howard said. (Photos by Jami Smith/UC Berkeley Library) From the outside, Mildred Howard’s home studio is unassuming, cradled in a crescent of streets in Oakland.A man sits on a bench, waiting for the bus. A woman walking southbound offers a greeting, a soft “God bless you,” as she passes.Climb one flight of stairs, and you ascend to another world.Morning light filters through the gauzy curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows. A tufted chaise rests on a zebra-print rug.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Berkeley News.
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