----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I apologize as a Canadian art librarian and art historian in advance for the naivety of this question. I am researching Canadian artists who worked in the U.S. during the 19th and early 20th centuries, often as illustrators and graphic designers. There were literally hundreds doing this, although they didn't wave Canadian flags, and were generally thought by most Americans to be one of them. It is in their biographical entries that you see where they were born and studied, and how they maintained artistic links with other artists, artists' societies, and museums in both countries. I have done extensive research in Canada, but apart from the Archives of American Art, little in the U.S. What I would appreciate learning from my esteemed U.S. colleagues is: if one is looking for the work of a particular artist, is there one or more sources where one can search the art holdings of several museums, or is it necessary to approach each individual museum who MIGHT have some work. I am interested also in archives. I know the AAA collections, and should probably try to gain access to RLIN (which can be expensive from Canada) but are there any databases for archives that would be helpful? I would appreciate any information, suggestions, but please do not go out of your way. All replies will be acknowledged. I am grateful for replies to my inquiry regarding the cataloguing of prints in books and periodicals, and I expect to soon reply to those of you who responded with such care. It is taking a while to digest the information. For a non-cataloguer, an understanding of this requires a quick but thorough study of modern cataloguing methodologies. <^><^> <+><+> <-><-> -- -- -- Mary Williamson, Fine Arts Bibliographer and Senior Librarian, York University (retired); Adjunct Faculty, Graduate Dept. of Art History. email: [log in to unmask] *** fax: (416) 484-0345