> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Highlights From the PAD/D Archive - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/highlights-from-the-padd-archive/ - Published: 2014-04-17T13:02:41.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T15:35:52.000Z - Description: A look at the contents of the large PAD/D Archive at MoMA QNS. - Author: Tiernan Morgan - Tags: Art, Art in the 1980s, Barbara Moore, Lucy Lippard, Mimi Smith, MoMA, PAD/D, Photo Essays, The Guerrilla Girls, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:03 (2014, 2015, part 1) ![10.Fight Speculation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/10-fight-speculation.jpg) A stencil designed by Michael Anderson (all photographs by the author for Hyperallergic except where noted) *Editorial note: This is the second of* [*two posts*](http://wp.me/pHbma-uB7?ref=hyperallergic.com) *dedicated to the history of PAD/D (Political Art Documentation & Distribution) an activist group of New York based artists and writers active between 1979–1988.* ![1.Queens Library Exterior](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/1-queens-library-exterior-.jpg) Exterior of MoMA QNS, Long Island City, New York Briefly used as the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition space during the renovation and rebuilding of the museum’s Manhattan venue (2002–2004), [MoMA QNS](http://www.moma.org/learn/resources/momaqns?ref=hyperallergic.com#subway) now serves as the museum’s storage and archival space. The [PAD/D archive](http://www.moma.org/learn/resources/library/faq%5Flibrary%5Fcollection?ref=hyperallergic.com#padd) is comprised of over 2,700 items, split into two sections: Regular files made up of documents, flyers, photographs and slides, and large flat files for posters, prints, and stencils. Aside from material related directly to PAD/D, countless files are dedicated to socially conscious arts organizations active between 1979–1990\. Alongside familiar names such as the Guerrilla Girls, Group Material, Gran Fury, and the Art Workers Coalition (AWC), one will discover a myriad of lesser known collectives such as Angry Arts and Carnival Knowledge. Were it not for the efforts of PAD/D, the histories of many of these groups would have gone undocumented. The archive was formally donated to MoMA in 1994 by PAD/D members Barbara Moore and Mimi Smith. The photographs below represent a tiny portion of the archive. Special thanks to [Jennifer Tobias](http://www.moma.org/explore/inside%5Fout/author/jtobias?ref=hyperallergic.com), librarian at the Museum of Modern Art, for her help with my research. ![2.Assorted PAD:D files](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/2-assorted-padd-files.jpg) Assorted archive files ![3.PADD:D Card File](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/3-paddd-card-file.jpg) The original index system devised by PAD/D members Barbara Moore and Mimi Smith in 1994, has since become part of the archive. Visitors can now search for material using MoMA’s online ‘DADABASE‘ ![4.Barbara and Mimi](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/4-barbara-and-mimi.jpg) Barbara Moore (left) and Mimi Smith (right) examine original stencils from the archive ![6.Comfort in the Streets](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/6-comfort-in-the-streets.jpg) Alfred Martinez, “Comfort ?…in the Streets” (1987), screenprint ![6.1 Balance your Brain](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/6-1-balance-your-brain.jpg) Rachael Romero, “New York-Balance Your Brain” (1986), screenprint ![8.NFS Logo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/8-nfs-logo.jpg) The logo of the NFS/Anti-gentrification committee, one of PAD/D’s ten subcommittees ![Building Stencil](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/building-stencil.jpg) Anton Van Dalen’s stencil of a burning house. Numerous stencils were used for the NFS Committee’s outdoor exhibits in the Lower East Side ![9.Gentrification](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/9-gentrification.jpg) ![11. NFS Shirt](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/11--nfs-shirt.jpg) T-shirt designed by the NFS/Anti-Gentrification committee ![Exhibition proposal flyers produced by PAD/D’s “Not For Sale (NFS)/Anti-gentrification committee (click to enlarge)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/7-not-for-sale-flyers.jpg) Exhibition proposal flyers produced by PAD/D’s “Not For Sale (NFS)/Anti-gentrification committee (click to enlarge) ![12.New Yorker Magazine](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/12-new-yorker-magazine.jpg) Cover of New York Magazine, May 28, 1984 ![13.Protest Photography](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/13-protest-photography.jpg) Assorted protest photographs documenting PAD/D’s “Image War on The Pentagon” project, part of the “Hands Off El Salvador” march in Washington D.C., May 3,1981 ![14.Death and Taxes Flyer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/14-death-and-taxes-flyer.jpg) Flyer for PAD/D’s “Death and Taxes” exhibition, April, 1981. ![15.Herb Perr Poster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/15-herb-perr-poster.jpg) Poster for PAD/D’s “Death and Taxes” exhibition ![16.Tax Dollars](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/16-tax-dollars.jpg) Herb Perr & Irving Wexler, “New Money” (1981) ![17.Death and Taxes Opening](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/17-death-and-taxes-opening.jpg) Photograph from the opening of “Death and Taxes” at the 345 Gallery, 1981 ![18.Death and Taxes interior](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/18-death-and-taxes-interior.jpg) Interior of the “Death and Taxes” exhibition ![19. Letter to PAD:D](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/19--letter-to-padd.jpg) One of numerous letters addressed to PAD/D. ![19.1 Chicago](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/19-1-chicago.jpg) Flyer for an exhibition of art work inspired by the “Chicago Conspiracy Trial” of 1969 ![20.GG letter to LRL](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/20-gg-letter-to-lrl.jpg) Letter from the Guerrilla Girls to Lucy Lippard (1986). The group admonished Lippard for using the term ‘terrorist’ in an article whilst thanking her for her interest (annotations by Lippard) ![21.Jenny Holzer GG](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/21-jenny-holzer-gg.jpg) Poster designed by Jenny Holzer for an exhibition curated by the Guerrilla Girls ![22.GG letter to MS](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/22-gg-letter-to-ms.jpg) Letter from the Guerrilla Girls addressed to PAD/D member Mimi Smith, February 1989 ![23.AMFCC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/23-amfcc.jpg) Flyer by Artists Meeting For Cultural Change (AMCC) ![24.Angry Ants](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/24-angry-ants.jpg) Ephemera from an archive file dedicated to ‘Angry Arts’ ![25.Red Peril](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/25-red-peril.jpg) Lucy R. Lippard with lettering by Mike Glier, poster for “Red Peril, the Return of the Anti-commies: From Red-Baiting to Red-Hating in Film 1950 to Now”, a film-screening and panel event, February 1982 ![26.Acting Out](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/26-acting-out.jpg) Lucy R. Lippard, poster for “Acting Out: The First Political Performance Art Series”, held at the Elizabeth Irwin High School, March 1981 ![27.MimiSmith_NoTaxesForBombs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2014/03/27-mimismith_notaxesforbombs.jpg) Mimi Smith, “No Taxes For Bombs” (1981), xerox poster (courtesy of Mimi Smith) [*MoMA QNS*](http://www.moma.org/learn/resources/library/faq%5Flibrary%5Fcollection?ref=hyperallergic.com#padd) *(45-20 33 Street in Long Island City, Queens) is open Mondays, 11am–5pm, by prior appointment.*