Descriptive Summary
Title: |
Max Abramovitz Architectural Records and Papers Collection |
Dates: |
1926-1995 |
Identification: |
Abramovitz (Max) |
Creator: |
Max Abramovitz, 1908-
|
Quantity: |
The collection contains over 14,500 drawings, over 5,000 photographs, 24 boxes of manuscript material, 7 boxes of oversize
material, 23 boxes of financial records, 5 boxes of reprint tear sheets, 36.75 linear feet of specification notebooks, photo
albums, sketchbooks, art and artifacts.
|
Repository: |
Drawings and Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University
1172 Amsterdam Avenue
MC0301
New York, NY 10027
USA
Phone: 212-854-4110
FAX: 212-854-8904
Email: avery@libraries.cul.columbia.edu
|
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open by appointment only.
Publication Rights
Permission to publish must be obtained in writing from the Director, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University,
Mail Code 0301, 1172 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027.
Preferred Citation
Max Abramovitz Architectural Records and Papers Collection. Drawings and Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library,
Columbia University, New York, NY
Acquisition Information
Max Abramovitz gave his first gift to Avery Library in 1987. These seven Hugh Ferriss drawings (1987.005) were cataloged
as part of the Library's Hugh Ferriss architectural drawings collection. He donated his own records and papers in 14 accessions
during the years 1990-2001 (1990.003, 1990.007, 1991.002, 1992.017, 1993.001, 1993.006, 1994.014, 1995.022, 1996.020, 1997.001,
1997.004, 1998.003, 2000.014, and 2001.002). The bulk of the collection came in the 1997.004 accession.
At the request of Max Abramovitz, the papers that he deposited at Syracuse University in 1965 were transferred to Avery Library
in 1997 (1997.001). The architect also requested that his papers deposited at the University of Wyoming in 1983 be transferred
to Avery. This collection was accessioned in 1998 (1998.003).
The original accession number of all items in the Max Abramovitz collection has been recorded on the file folder or container.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings. Researchers desiring materials about related topics or persons
should consult CLIO, Columbia University's online catalog.
Names:
Abramovitz, Max, 1908-
Harrison, Wallace K. (Wallace Kirkman), 1895-
Organizations:
Harrison and Abramovitz
Abramovitz - Kingsland - Schiff
Abramovitz - Harris - Kingsland
Subjects:
Architects--United States
Document Types:
Architectural drawings--American
Biographical Note and List of Major Projects
Biographical Chronology
1908 |
Born, Chicago, Illinois |
1924 |
Graduates Crane Technical High School, Chicago
|
1929 |
Receives BS degree, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
|
1931-1932 |
Instructor, Columbia University, School of Architecture |
1931 |
Receives MS degree, Columbia University
|
1932-1934 |
Receives fellowship from Columbia for postgraduate work,
Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris
|
1935-1941 |
Associate, Harrison & Fouilhoux |
1937 |
Marries Anne Marie Causey |
1939 |
Works on Harrison & Fouilhoux buildings, New York World's Fair |
1939 |
Birth of son, Michael
|
1939-1942 |
Associate Professor, School of Fine Arts, Yale University
|
1941 |
Birth of daughter, Katherine |
1941-1945 |
Partner, Harrison, Fouilhoux & Abramovitz |
1942-1945 |
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army Corps of Engineers |
1945 |
Receives Legion of Merit Award for service in China |
1945-1976 |
Partner with Wallace Harrison, Harrison & Abramovitz
|
1947-1952 |
Deputy Director of Planning, UN headquarters, New York |
1950-1952 |
Colonel, United States Air Force
|
1952 |
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the United States Air
Force
|
1952-1953 |
Member of Project Installations Committee, US Air Force |
1952 |
Fellow, American Institute of Architects
|
1960 |
Receives President's Award, Columbia University |
1961 |
Honorary Doctorate, University of Pittsburgh
|
1963 |
Receives Award of Achievement, University of Illinois Alumni Association
|
1963 |
Exhibition, Krannert Art Museum, The Architecture of Max Abramovitz
|
1963 |
Fellow, Brandeis University
|
1964 |
Divorce from Anne Marie Causey |
1964 |
Marries Anita Zeltner Brooks |
1970 |
Honorary Doctorate, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign |
1975 |
Gold Medalist, National Academy of Design |
1976-1985 |
Partner, Abramovitz-Harris-Kingsland |
1985-1992 |
Partner, Abramovitz-Kingsland-Schiff
|
1987 |
Special Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Architectural
Profession, New York Society of Architects
|
List of Major Projects
1952 |
United States Embassies, Havana and Rio de Janeiro |
1955 |
Three Chapels, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA |
1957 |
Commercial Investment Trust building, New York, NY
|
1957 |
Corning Glass Works, Corning, NY |
1958 |
Wachovia National Bank, Charlotte, North Carolina |
1959 |
Loeb Student Center, New York University, NY
|
1960 |
Faculty Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA |
1960 |
Gateway 4, Equitable Life Assurance Society, Pittsburgh |
1961 |
Central Intelligence Agency, Langley, Virginia
|
1962 |
Law School, Columbia University, New York |
1962 |
Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center, New York
|
1963 |
Assembly Hall, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign |
1964 |
Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance building, Hartford, CT |
1964 |
Bell Telephone exhibit, New York World's Fair |
1964
|
Institute of International Education, New York |
1965 |
Erieview Plaza, Cleveland, Ohio
|
1966 |
860 United Nations Plaza building, New York
|
1966 |
Hilles Library, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, MA |
1967 |
Union Bank Square, Los Angeles |
1967
|
Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, New York |
1969 |
Erie County Bank, Buffalo, New York
|
1969 |
Cincinnati Center, Ohio
|
1969 |
Fiberglas Tower, Toledo, Ohio
|
1969 |
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois, Urbana-
Champaign
|
1970 |
Westinghouse building, Pittsburgh
|
1970 |
Banque Rothschild, Paris
|
1970 |
Brandeis University master plan
|
1971 |
United States Steel, Pittsburgh |
1972
|
First National Bank building, Louisville, Kentucky |
1972 |
Music School and Hancher Auditorium, University of Iowa, Iowa City |
1976 |
GAN Tower, La Defense, Paris
|
1977 |
Nationwide Insurance, Columbus Ohio
|
1977 |
Mead Tower, Dayton, Ohio |
1977 |
Dayton Power and Light, Dayton, Ohio
|
1979 |
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York |
1982 |
Owens-Illinois world headquarters, Toledo, Ohio |
1984 |
Jewish Chapel, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
|
1984 |
American Electric Power, Columbus, Ohio |
1989 |
Swiss Bank Tower, New York, NY
|
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Max Abramovitz Architectural Records and Papers Collection spans the years 1926-1995. The collection consists of architectural
drawings, photographs, correspondence, photo albums, scrapbooks, sketchbooks, financial records, reprint tear sheets,
specification notebooks, art and artifacts.
Organization of the Papers
This collection is organized into following 9 series. These series are based on the
Standard Series for Architecture and Landscape Design Records
devised by the Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley
Personal Papers
Professional Papers
Office Records
Project Records
United Nations
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Battery Park City
Art and Artifacts
Additional Donations
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I Personal Papers, 1926-1993
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
Personal Papers: Biographical Information, 1976-1993
Personal Papers: Student Work, 1926-1933
Personal Papers: Sketchbooks, 1929-1960
Personal Papers: Photographs, 1929-1951
Personal Papers: Military Service, 1942-1955
Personal Papers: Appointment and Address Books, 1962-1995
Series II Professional Papers
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
Professional Papers: Correspondence
Professional Papers: Writings of Max Abramovitz 1935-1969
Professional Papers: Lectures
1948-1987, n.d.
Professional Papers: Exhibitions, 1963-1964, 1985
Professional Papers : Faculty Papers, 1929-1967
Professional Papers: Awards And Honors, 1954-1988
Professional Papers: Associations, 1958-1991
Professional Papers: Licenses and Certificates, 1937-1997
Professional Papers: Photographs
Series III Office Records
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
Office Records: Job Lists
1981-1995
Office Records: Financial Records
1948-1987
Office Records: Scrapbooks
Office Records: Tear Sheet File
Office Records: Project Documentation.
Office Records: Promotional Materials and Clippings
1932-1964, n.d.
Office Records: Memorabilia
1987-1996, n.d.
Series IV Project Records
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
Project
Records : Architectural Drawings
Project Records: Shop Drawings, [ca.1973-ca.1986]
Project Records: Project Files, [ca.1966-ca.1987]
Project Records: Photographs
Project Records: Specifications
Series V United Nations
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
United Nations: Meeting Minutes, 1947-1948
United Nations: Le Corbusier Correspondence and Related Documents
United Nations: Photographs
United Nations: Printed Materials
United Nations: Clippings
United Nations: Additions and Alterations
United Nations: Miscellaneous
Series VI Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
Lincoln Center: Meeting Minutes 1956 - 1963
Lincoln Center: Project Files, 1958-1962, 1965-1966, 1968, 1973-74 (bulk 1958-1962)
Lincoln Center: Printed Materials
Lincoln Center: Photographs
Lincoln Center: Early Schemes and Site Plans
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Philharmonic Hall
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Metropolitan Opera House
Series VII Battery Park City
The Battery Park City material, with the exception of the Agreement of Lease and copies of the 1973 West Side Highway report,
was arranged in labeled file folders. Labels read: N-520 Battery Park City and include a topical subject term. These subject terms are transcribed below at the folder level. In the few instances
where these terms have not been used, a note is included giving the wording of the original label. Dates have been added.
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
Battery Park City: Correspondence
Battery Park City: Administrative Documents
Battery Park City: Reports and Plans
Battery Park City: Public Relations
Battery Park City: Project Files
Series VIII Art and Artifacts
Includes artifacts, models, and sketches. For a listing of additional drawings consult the Architectural Drawings Indexin the Dept. of Drawings and Archives.
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
Artifacts
Model of Assembly Hall, University of Illinois
Model of Philharmonic Hall
Model by Dimitri Hadzi
Model of sculpture from Jewish Chapel, Brandeis University
Hugh Ferriss rendering
Barbara Hepworth sketches
Le Corbusier sketch, 1947 Dec.
Richard Lippold sketches
Seymour Lipton's Archangel
Series IX Additional Donations
The series is arranged into the following subseries:
American Institute of Architects documents
Charles Abbe file
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