In addition to institutional and artist archives, the Burchfield Penney maintains voluminous records representing the museum's history, such as communications, clippings and recordings of artists. As caretakers of these materials, the Burchfield Penney is committed to the proper care and accessibility of its collection and archives for researchers, students and other individuals.
What began as a pilot program in 2012 to enhance the online presence and living legacy of artists in the community, the initiative has expanded for 2013 as an online record of the artistic legacy of Buffalo and Western New York. The project is growing to include a new group of artists for 2013 as well as arts institutions and art movements which played important roles in shaping Buffalo as an arts leader.
The Burchfield Penney's Western New York Artists Archives includes records on more than 2,700 artists.
The Burchfield Penney houses archives on many arts organizations in Western New York.
"An impressive cast of characters." That's how The New York Times described the artists in the collection when they named the Burchfield Penney Art Center one of the "Top 44 Places in the World to Go" with thousands of works to "thrill culture junkies."
