Paul Stankard discusses Paul Hollister’s scholarship, personality and demeanor. Oral history interview with Paul Stankard, March 23, 2018, Bard Graduate Center. Clip length: 01:37.

Paul Stankard:  Hollister was a scholar, he was a historian. He was—I believe Hollister was a—Paul Hollister was a nice guy, he was very pleasant, very formal. Educated, two degrees from Harvard. Friendly with—he was proud to be friendly with Robert Frost. Not too shabby. [laughs] And he was very, very interested in the decorative arts. And I believe that in our conversations, we use to—he used to giggle, ’Oh, I don’t think that’s fine art.’ [laughs] You know, he was a painter. He was at the crossroads of Abstract Expressionism and every other movement that went through New York City. He was a bit traditional with his paintings. But there was a certain referential freedom to his paintings. He approached contemporary glass as, I think, decorative art. His interest in the decorative arts, and how this work built on the decorative arts tradition. He could be, I don’t know the best adjective, he could be a real—I don’t know, is ‘crumb-bum’ a word? [laughs] He was a—grouchy. That’s the word I’m looking for. He could be grouchy. [laughs] And, you know, that’s who he is. Grouchy, up-tight, you know, he’ll calm down. [laughs]