Nína Sæmundsson: Letters 1956–1966

This fonds contains the letters of Icelandic artist Nína Sæmundsson (1892–1965), born Jónína Sæmundsdóttir. Nína’s relative Helga Guðmundsdóttir invited Nína to Copenhagen, where she began her studies in 1915 and was accepted into the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts the following year. After her studies and several years spent travelling in Europe and exhibiting, Nína emigrated to the United States and enjoyed a successful artistic career in New York City and later Hollywood. She returned to her birthplace of Iceland in 1955. Many of her letters are from her partner in Hollywood, screenwriter Polly James. There are also letters from correspondents in Belgrade, France, Copenhagen, Florence and various locations in the United States.