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William G. Merchant / Hans U. Gerson Collection, 1897-1993(bulk 1930-1967)
2001-15  
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Collection location Contact UC Berkeley::Environmental Design Archives
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Table of contents What's This?

Series Description

 

I. PERSONAL PAPERS, 1914-1998

Physical Description: Boxes 1, 22, Flat Files

Scope and Content Note

Consists of portraits of Maybeck and Merchant as well as biographical information on Maybeck and resumes of Merchant and Gerson; one folder of correspondence between Maybeck and Merchant; Gerson's student drawings from the Architectural Association; and records from Gerson's participation in the Ashland Chamber Music Workshop.
 

A. Biographical Information

 

B. Correspondence

 

C. Student Work

 

D. Activities

 

II. PROFESSIONAL PAPERS, 1946-1977

Physical Description: Boxes 1, 2, 21, Flat Files

Scope and Content Note

Documents primarily Gerson's professional activities outside of the firm. Includes writings on such topics as synagogues, public presentation of projects and rental factories; Gerson's application to the California Architectural Licensing Board; minutes and proposals from Gerson's membership in the Berkeley Civic Art Commission; Merchant's awards for design and participation in the Panama Pacific and Golden Gate Expositions; the Age of Enlightenment Award for Gerson's design of Willard Jr. High School; clippings on architectural topics; and three photographic plates of the Temple of the Sun in Rome.
 

A. Writings

 

B. Associations and Committees

 

C. Awards

 

D. Reference Files

 

III. OFFICE RECORDS, 1931-1986

Physical Description: Box 3

Scope and Content Note

Contains an agreement of partnership between Merchant and Maybeck; files relating to the reorganization of William G. Merchant & Associates after the death of Merchant; a list of employees; payroll records and financial ledgers; and brochure materials for Hans U. Gerson and Gerson/Overstreet.
 

A. Administrative

 

B. Financial Records

 

C. Public Relations

 

IV. PROJECT RECORDS, 1933-1988

Physical Description: Boxes 4-8, 20, 22, Flat Files, Tubes, Rolls, Framed Storage

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by project.
Includes residential, commercial, cultural, industrial, and religious projects by both Merchant and Gerson. This series also includes files, drawings, and photographs of the Golden Gate International Exposition. Project photographs are included in project files.
 

A. Project Lists

 

B. Files

 

C. Drawings

 

D. Specifications

 

V. MAYBECK PROJECTS, 1897-1935

Physical Description: Boxes 9, 22-23, Flat File

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by project.
This series contains primarily photographs of residential, commercial, and educational projects completed by Bernard Maybeck, notably Wyntoon Castle and Principia College. The small number of drawings in this series includes a rendering of the Unitarian Seminary, sketches of Principia College, and an entry in the Oakland Public Library Competition.
 

A. Photographs

 

B. Drawings

 

VI. PALACE OF FINE ARTS, 1913-1993

Physical Description: Boxes 10-17, 24, Flat Files, Tubes, Rolls

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.
The focus of this series is the reconstruction of the Palace of Fine Arts in the early 1960s. It contains some photographs of the 1915 building as well as its sculptures and murals. Subjects covered include the funding of the reconstruction project and numerous proposals for its future use. It also includes documentation of smaller Palace of Fine Arts projects completed by Gerson after the primary reconstruction, including some records on the Exploratorium conversion.
 

A. Files

 

B. Clippings

 

C. Photographs

 

D. Drawings

 

E. Specifications

 

VII. WORLD TRADE CENTER, 1943-1963

Physical Description: Boxes 18, 25, Flat Files, Roll, Framed Storage

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.
This focus of this series is Merchant's preliminary proposals for the World Trade Center project, including Merchant's proposals for the Embarcadero Freeway design.
 

A. Files

 

B. Drawings

 

C. Specifications

 

VIII. SAN FRANCISCO RECREATION AND PARK DEPT., 1935-1963

Physical Description: Box 19, Flat Files, Tubes

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by project name.
Contains a number of improvement and expansion projects for a number of parks in the city of San Francisco as well as the Junior Museum and Camp Mather in Tuolomne County.
 

A. Files

 

B. Drawings

 

C. Specifications

Container List

 

SERIES I. PERSONAL PAPERS, 1914-1998

 

A.  Biographical Information

Box/Folder 1 : 1

Merchant, W.G. Portraits ca.1914-1952

Box/Folder 1 : 2

Merchant, W.G. Biographical Info 1940-1961

Box/Folder 1 : 3

Gerson, H.U. Resume 1986

Box/Folder 1 : 4

Maybeck, B. Portraits 1931-1947

Box/Folder 1 : 5

Maybeck Family & Travel Photographs 1931-1934

Box/Folder 22 : 10

Maybeck Travel Photograph 1935

Box/Folder 1 : 6

Maybeck, B. Biographical Info 1949-1972

 

B.  Correspondence

Box/Folder 1 : 7

Correspondence between Maybeck & Merchant 1942

 

C.  Student Work (Gerson, H.U.)

flat-file FF : 1-1a

Student Drawings 1937-1938

 

D.  Travel (Merchant, W.G.)

flat-file FF : 1b

Sketch of Lindau, Germany 1909

 

E.  Prizes

Box/Folder 1 : 8

Gerson Memorial Prize 1967-1998

 

F.  Activities (Gerson, H.U.)

Box/Folder 1 : 9

Ashland Chamber Music Workshop 1978-1993

 

SERIES II.  PROFESSIONAL PAPERS, 1946-1977

 

A.  Writings (Gerson, H.U.)

Box/Folder 1 : 1

"Treatise on Lateral Forces" n.d.

Box/Folder 1 : 2

"Planning Rental Factories" 1947

Box/Folder 1 : 3

Miscellaneous Writings & Lectures 1959

Box/Folder 1 : 4

"Some Thoughts Regarding a Second Crossing from San Francisco to Marin County" 1961

Box/Folder 1 : 5

"Some Thoughts on Synagogue Building" 1962

Box/Folder 1 : 6

On the Presentation of Urban Design Projects to the Public 1967

 

B.  Associations and Committees (Gerson, H.U.)

Box/Folder 1 : 7

California Board of Architectural Examiners Application 1946

Box/Folder 1-2 : 8-14

Civic Art Commission, Berkeley 1966-1977

Box/Folder 2 : 15

Architectural Association Membership 1987

 

C.  Awards

flat-file FF : 2

Panama Pacific International Exposision: Award for Design of Palace of Fine Arts (Merchant, W.G.) 1913

Box/Folder 2 : 16

Panama Pacific International Exposision: Certificate of Appreciation (Merchant, W.G.) 1915

Box/Folder 2 : 17

Golden Gate International Exposition: Certificate of Participation (Merchant, W.G.) 1939

flat-file FF : 3

Age of Enlightenment Award (Gerson, H.U.) 1980

 

D.  Reference Files

Box/Folder 21 : 1

Photo Plates, Temple of the Sun, Rome n.d.

Box/Folder 2 : 18

Clippings on Architectural Topics 1958-1966

 

SERIES III.  OFFICE RECORDS, 1931-1986

 

A.  Administrative

Box/Folder 3 : 1

Establishment of Partnership, Maybeck & Merchant 1931-1933

Box/Folder 3 : 2

W. G. Merchant & Associates Reorganization 1962-1965

Box/Folder 3 : 3

Gerson/Overstreet Employee List 1970-1986

Box/Folder 3 : 4

Gerson/Overstreet Consultant Study 1977

 

B.  Financial Records

Box/Folder 3 : 5-6

W.G. Merchant/W.G. Merchant & Assoc. Payroll 1937-1955

Box/Folder 3 : 7

W.G. Merchant/W.G. Merchant & Assoc. Ledgers 1941-1956

Box/Folder 3 : 8

W.G. Merchant & Assoc./ H.U. Gerson/ GersonOverstreet Ledgers 1962-1973

Box/Folder 3 : 9

Gerson/Overstreet Monthly Expenditures 1977-1985

Box/Folder 3 : 10

Gerson/Overstreet Accounting Review 1982-1985

 

C.  Public Relations

Box/Folder 3 : 11

W. G. Merchant & Assoc. Firm Listing 1951

Box/Folder 3 : 12

H.U. Gerson Brochure 1964

Box/Folder 3 : 13

Gerson/Overstreet Brochure Materials ca. 1972

 

SERIES IV.  PROJECT RECORDS, 1933-1988

 

A.  Project Lists

Box/Folder 20 : 1

Projects Card File 1950-1965

Box/Folder 4 : 1

Miscellaneous Project Lists 1951-1985

Box/Folder 4 : 2

Architectural Records Owned by H.U. Gerson 1987

 

B.  Files

 

**See Project Index

 

C.  Drawings

 

** See Project Index

 

D.  Specifications

 

** See Project Index

 

SERIES V.  MAYBECK PROJECTS, 1897-1935

 

A.  Photographs

 

**See Project Index

 

B.  Drawings

 

**See Project Index

 

SERIES VI.  PALACE OF FINE ARTS, 1913-1993

 

A.  Files

 

**See Project Index

 

B.  Photographs

 

**See Project Index

 

C.  Drawings

 

**See Project Index

 

D.  Specifications

 

**See Project Index

 

E.  Clippings

flat-file FF : 4

Advertising Posters n.d.

Box/Folder 17 : 110

Clippings 1915

Box/Folder 17 : 110-119

Clippings 1932-1993

 

SERIES VII.  WORLD TRADE CENTER, 1943-1963

 

A.  Files

 

**See Project Index

 

B.  Drawings

 

**See Project Index

 

C.  Specifications

 

**See Project Index

 

SERIES VIII.  SAN FRANCISCO RECREATION & PARK DEPT., 1935-1963

 

A.  Files

 

**See Project Index

 

B.  Drawings

 

**See Project Index

Series Description
I. PERSONAL PAPERS, 1914-1998
A. Biographical Information
B. Correspondence
C. Student Work
D. Activities
II. PROFESSIONAL PAPERS, 1946-1977
A. Writings
B. Associations and Committees
C. Awards
D. Reference Files
III. OFFICE RECORDS, 1931-1986
A. Administrative
B. Financial Records
C. Public Relations
IV. PROJECT RECORDS, 1933-1988
A. Project Lists
B. Files
C. Drawings
D. Specifications
V. MAYBECK PROJECTS, 1897-1935
A. Photographs
B. Drawings
VI. PALACE OF FINE ARTS, 1913-1993
A. Files
B. Clippings
C. Photographs
D. Drawings
E. Specifications
VII. WORLD TRADE CENTER, 1943-1963
A. Files
B. Drawings
C. Specifications
VIII. SAN FRANCISCO RECREATION AND PARK DEPT., 1935-1963
A. Files
B. Drawings
C. Specifications
Container List
PERSONAL PAPERS, 1914-1998
Biographical Information
Correspondence
Student Work (Gerson, H.U.)
Travel (Merchant, W.G.)
Prizes
Activities (Gerson, H.U.)
PROFESSIONAL PAPERS, 1946-1977
Writings (Gerson, H.U.)
Associations and Committees (Gerson, H.U.)
Awards
Reference Files
OFFICE RECORDS, 1931-1986
Administrative
Financial Records
Public Relations
PROJECT RECORDS, 1933-1988
Project Lists
Files
Drawings
Specifications
MAYBECK PROJECTS, 1897-1935
Photographs
Drawings
PALACE OF FINE ARTS, 1913-1993
Files
Photographs
Drawings
Specifications
Clippings
WORLD TRADE CENTER, 1943-1963
Files
Drawings
Specifications
SAN FRANCISCO RECREATION & PARK DEPT., 1935-1963
Files
Drawings
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