United Nations: Le Corbusier Correspondence and Related Documents
The Swiss born French architect Le Corbusier (1887-1965) was a Technical Advisor to the United Nations in 1946 for the site
selection process and was a member of the Board of Design Consultants for the UN headquarters in Manhattan in 1947. This
subseries contains correspondence to, from, and about Le Corbusier's work on the UN project.
Box:15
Folder:7
1935 Dec. 6
Le Corbusier to Wallace K. Harrison
Notes of a conversation, offers design services, lists projects he wishes Nelson Rockefeller to fund. ALS. File also includes
photocopy with pencil sketch.
Box:15
Folder:8
1947 Jan. 12
Note de Le Corbusier Relative a la
Construction du Head Quarters de l'U.N.
Offers services of the CIAM team. TLS
Box:15
Folder:9
1947 Jan. 12 Le Corbusier to WKH
Will leave Paris soon to join UN Design Team. TLS
Box:15
Folder:9
1947 Jan 15 Le Corbusier to WKH
TLS
Box:15
Folder:10
1947 Feb. 24 Le Corbusier to WKH
TLS
Box:15
Folder:11
1947 March 26
Robertson, Howard to
WKH
Two preliminary UN sketches attached to explanatory memorandum. TLS
Box:15
Folder:12
1947 April 15 Headquarters Planning Office,
Declaration no. 60
Le Corbusier's statement on the collaborative nature of the UN design process. ADS (photocopy). File includes English translations
(typescript and photocopies), and copies of the French document (mimeograph and negative photocopy).
Box:15
Folder:13
1947 April 17Le Corbusier to WKH
Box:15
Folder:14
[1947 April 21] Headquarters Planning Office
Questionnaire and Document no. 74
Questionnaire, in French, of 24 questions to be answered by the Board of Design Consultants. Typescript. File includes two
mimeograph copies of document no. 74, English translation of questionnaire dated April 21, 1947.
Box:15
Folder:15
[1947] April 21
Le Corbusier to WKH
Reunion du 21 Avril - demande de M. Le Corbusier.TLS
Box:15
Folder:16
1947 April 21 Le Corbusier to WKH
Requests Hugh Ferriss perspectives of Project 23. TLS with handwritten list and sketch on verso. Includes signed note,
pencil on tracing paper
Box:15
Folder:17
1947 April 23 Le Corbusier to WKH
Scheduling of meeting to discuss Oscar Niemeyer's
project. ALS
Box:15
Folder:18
1947 April 24
Le Corbusier to WKH
Request that questionnaire of April 21 be translated by an architect or engineer. TLS. Pencil notation on letter: "Already
done - attatched."
Box:15
Folder:19
1947 April 28 Le Corbusier to WKH
Box:15
Folder:19
1947 April 28 Le Corbusier to WKH
Proposes editorial committee for the architectural report. TLS. File also includes photocopy.
Box:15
Folder:19
1947 April 28 Le Corbusier to WKH
Interoffice memorandum. Le Corbusier requests to show his project no. 23 before Oscar Niemeyer shows project 32. TLS. File
also includes photocopy.
Box:15
Folder:20
1947 April 30 Le Corbusier to WKH
Typed memo signed by Le Corbusier to Harrison from "Le Bureau des Experts-Consultants." He wants to solicit opinions of the
buildings' users and proposes a publishing committee composed of a few architects appointed by Harrison. TLS. Memo accompanied
by a cover note from Mercedes Laurence to Harrison.
Box:15
Folder:21
1947 May 6Le Corbusier to WKH
Box:15
Folder:22
1947 May 7 Le Corbusier to WKH
Cover letter for report of the same date. TLS
Box:15
Folder:22
1947 May 7
Nations Unies, Service des Plans de Construction du Siege, Rapport Presente par Mm. Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, Ernest
Weissman et Vladimir Bodiansmy [sic] Relatif a l'Amenagement du Project 23-32-K Derive des Projets 23-32
Report on scheme 23/32 K. Typescript, signed by the
architects.
Box:15
Folder:23
1947 May 19Le Corbusier to WKH
Expresses his desire to have a central role in the
Project. TLS
Box:15
Folder:24
1947 May 23 Le Corbusier to WHK
Cover letter for documents he encloses. ALS. Attached is letter from Cobusier to Harrison dated June 4, 1947, reiterating
his request made in a postscript on May 19, to preserve model of project 23. TLS
Box:15
Folder:25
1947 May 28 Le Corbusier to WKH
Box:15
Folder:26
[1947 May?]Note on removal of drawing
Unsigned note in pencil on lined paper: Le Corbusier removed drawing from drafting room, re-drew and signed it
Box:15
Folder:27
June 3
1947
Le Corbusier to WKH
Did not receive response to his letter of May 19. Extends dinner invitation. TLS
Box:15
Folder:28
1947 Aug. 28 Le Corbusier to WKH
States his contention that he alone should be in charge of UN design. TLS. Attached is a hand drawn copy of a diagram sent
with the letter. Diagram illustrates division of responsibilities with Harrison as "architect en chef" and Le Corbusier as
"chef d'atelier - mandate par l'UN." File includes negative photocopies
Box:15
Folder:29
1947 Nov 1 Le Corbusier to James Plaut
Note Annexe
from Le Corbusier to Plaut organizer of the "Exposition des 8 Musees" exhibition, explaining the contents of the his UN notebook.
Carbon copy in French with handwritten corrections. Hand colored diagram of Aug. 28 is attached. File also contains copies
of English translation.
Box:15
Folder:29
1947 Nov. 7
Le Corbusier to WKH
Details the history of UN design and his role in the project. Criticizes the current scheme. TLS. File also contains English
translation marked "Unofficial translation."
Box:15
Folder:30
1947 Nov. 10 Le Corbusier to Trygve Lie
Will ask the French government to intervene if he receives no further reply from Harrison. TLS. Attached is a routing slip,
dated Nov. 18, 1947, from the Secretary-General to Harrison. Also attached: English translation of letter; a carbon copy
of Le Corbusier's Nov. 7 letter to Harrison; a hand colored diagram dated 28 Aout 1947 illustrating his idea as to division
of responsiblities; and a carbon copy of Note remise par M. Le Corbusier, dated 3 Novembre 1947.
Box:15
Folder:31
1947 Nov. 10
Le Corbusier to WKH
Cover letter enclosing Nov. 19, 1947 letter to Warren Austin. TL (carbon copy).
Box:15
Folder:32
1947 Nov. 18
Laurence, Mercedes to WKH
Cover memorandum and unofficial translation of Le Corbusier's letter of Nov. 7, 1947. Typescript.
Box:15
Folder:33
1947 Nov. 19
Le Corbusier to Warren Austin
Letter addressed to Senator Warren Austin, President of the Headquarters Advisory Committee. Advocates use of "brise-soleil"
for Secretariat's glass curtain walls. Complains that Harrison is unresponsive to his concerns. TL, 2 copies (carbon copy
and photocopy).
Box:15
Folder:34
1947 Nov. 19 Le Corbusier to WKH
Enclosing a copy of Nov. 19th letter to Senator Austin. Concerned about temperature control. Ink annotation, initialed
by Harrison: "Note: Max found Corbusier had stolen from the joint drafting room & traced & put his Corbus name on a joint
plan of all the architects." TLS. Attached is translation dated November 10, 1947 copy of Nov. 19 letter to Senator Austin.
Box:15
Folder:35
1947 Nov. 19 Plaut, James S. to Harmon H. Goldstone
Plaut, Director of the Institute of Modern Art, Boston, to discuss "aspects of the Corbusier matter" with Goldstone of UN
Planning Office by phone. TL (carbon copy)
Box:15
Folder:36
1947 Dec. 3
Freeze, Pauline to WKH
Cover letter enclosing Warren Austin's reply to Le Corbusier. Clipping, Dec. 8, 1948 attached, "Le Corbusier irked at UN."
TLS
Box:15
Folder:36
1947 Dec. 3 Austin, Warren to Le Corbusier
Replies to Le Corbusier that he is unable to intervene in the matter. TL (carbon copy).
Box:15
Folder:37-38
1947 Dec. 4
Le Corbusier to Warren Austin
Informs Senator of lighting and temperature control problems with UN design. TLS. Includes pencil on tracing paper sketch
of same date, "le mer neurtralisant, le brise-soleil." . Attached is reply from Austin, Jan. 6, 1948 and cover letter from
John C. Ross to Harrison enclosing both documents. Also, Memorandum from Harrison to Michael Harris, Jan. 9, 1948, requesting
a meeting to establish "the absolutely scientfic answer to this question." File includes negative photocopies
Box:15
Folder:39
1947 Dec. 8
Lie, Trygve to Le Corubsier
Lie denies Le Corbusier's request for further involvement in UN project. TL (photocopy).
Box:15
Folder:40
1947 Dec. 9
Harrison, Wallace K. to Le Corbusier
Assignment of further UN work "is in the hands of the United Nations." Copies sent to Trygve Lie, Senator Austin, and Nelson
A. Rockefeller. TL (carbon copy and photocopy). Attached are: copies of letters from Lie (Dec. 8, 1947) and Price (Jan. 15,
1948), and letter to Senator Austin (Nov. 19, 1947).
Box:15
Folder:41
1947 Dec. 18
Rockefeller, Nelson A. to Le Corbusier
Reply to Le Corbusier's letter of Nov. 10, 1947. States that Harrison's letter answers the questions Le Corbusier raises
and he can contribute nothing further to the situation. TL (carbon copy)
Box:15
Folder:42
1948 Jan. 15Price, Byron to Le Corbusier
Price responds for Secretary General, Trygve Lie, to earlier letters. Request for further association with UN project is
denied. TL, 2 copies (carbon copy and photocopy).
Box:15
Folder:43
1948 March 2 Lie, Trygve to WKH
Get well wishes, UN loan agreement update. TLS (photocopy).
Box:15
Folder:44
1948 July 19Le Corbusier to Wallace Harrison
Informs Harrison of the special edition of Architecture d'aujourd'hui devoted to Le Corbusier, with a section devoted to his UN work. TLS. Inscribed issue of of the magazine is included in the
file.
Box:15
Folder:45
1948 Nov. 28Le Corbusier memorandum
Memorandum de Le Corbusier relatif a la creation des plans du siege des Nations Unies a New York a l'attention de MM. des
Delegues de l'U.N. a l'Assemblee Generale de 1948 a Paris.
Box:15
Folder:45
1948 Dec. 1 Le Corbusier to Byron Price
Cover note with sketches for attachments establishing his role in the UN plans. Note stamped: Received, Dec. 15 1948, Byron
Price, Asst. Secretary-General. TLS (photocopy). Attached is clipping and 1948 memorandum.
Box:15
Folder:46
1948 Dec. 10
Hamilton, Thomas J. to WKH
Reports on a party at which Le Corburier claims credit for UN design.
TLS
Box:15
Folder:47
1948 Dec. 30Lie, Trygve to Robert Schuman
Explanation of Le Corbusier's role in the UN project. TL (carbon copy).
Box:15
Folder:48
1950 March 14
Lewis, Bernard to WKH
Newspaper Guild of New York votes Page One Award to UN Design Committee and Le Corbusier. TL
Box:15
Folder:48
1950 March 17
Price, Byron to Bernard Lewis
Responds to Lewis' letter of March 14. As Board of Design worked "as a unit" an individual member should not be singled for
the Page One Award. TL (carbon copy)
Box:15
Folder:49
[1950?] Le Corbusier Construction de la nouvelle
capitale du Punjab aus Indes
Extract from the Punjab contract. Includes note stating that the plans for the Secretrait are based on his model 23, designed
between Jan. 28 and March 15, 1947 before the arrival of the UN "experts".
Box:15
Folder:50
1956 July 5
Hauser, E.O. to WKH
Informally requests Harrison's personal opinion on Le Corbusier and his UN work for profile article in The Saturday Evening
Post. TLS.
Box:15
Folder:50
1956 July 11
Harrison, Wallace K. to E.O. Hauser
Brief summary of Le Corbusier's involvement with project. TL (photocopy).
Box:15
Folder:50
1956 July 17 Hauser, E.O. to WKH
Thank you note. ALS
Box:15
Folder:51
1973 Nov. 20
Abramovitz commentary
MA's reaction to newspaper article in which Le Corbusier claims UN buildings as his own design. File contains 1987 correspondence
between MA and Niemeyer regarding schemes 23 and 32. Also included are photographs and clippings.
Box:15
Folder:52
1989 Envelope fragment
Pencil notation and sketch cut from manila envelope addressed to Max Abramovitz, postmarked 1989.
Box:15
Folder:53-54
Clippings
Clippings included in the Le Corbusier files include pages from a document entitled, UN Headquarter Documents Le Corbusier
1946-1946 with inscription to WKH.
|
