Finding Aid for the Albert Frey papers, circa 1924-1993
0000134
Finding aid prepared by Melinda Gandara, Alex Hauschild, Jennifer Whitlock, Caitlyn Ehisen, Michael Wertheim, and Chris Marino.
The finding aid for this collection was made possible by a Getty Foundation Archival Arrangement & Description Grant.
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Arts Building Room 1434
University of California
Santa Barbara, California, 93106-7130
805-893-2724
adc@museum.ucsb.edu
2010
Title: Albert Frey papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0000134
Contributing Institution:
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
28.0 Linear feet
(15 record storage boxes, 3 flat file drawers, and 3 models)
Date (inclusive): circa 1924-circa 1993
creator:
Chambers, Robson C., 1919-1999
creator:
Frey, Albert, 1903-1998
creator:
John , Porter Clark
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Custodial History note
Gift of Albert Frey, 1989. Additional material gifted by Doug Henry, 2001.
Preferred Citation note
Albert Frey papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa
Barbara.
Biographical/Historical note
Albert Frey was born in Zurich, Switzerland on October 18, 1903. Frey received his formal architectural training at the Institute
of Technology in Winterthur, Switzerland. During his education at the Institute of Technology, Frey apprenticed for two years
under the architect A. J. Arter in Zurich. Graduating in 1924, Frey traveled around Europe and settled by 1925 in Brussels
where he worked for Jean-Jules Eggericx and Raphael Verwilghen. Leaving Eggericx and Verwilghen in 1927, Frey moved to France
where he worked as a draftsman for Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. In 1930, Frey’s visa application was approved and he
relocated to New York.
Shortly after arriving in New York, Frey found work with A. Lawrence Kocher with whom he worked until 1935. Kocher and Frey
completed four buildings and co-authored many articles on urban planning, the modern aesthetic, and technology for
Architectural Record during their partnership. By 1935, Frey had relocated to Palm Springs and began working with architect John Porter Clark.
The two formed a partnership, which lasted twenty years. At the beginning of their partnership Clark and Frey operated under
the name Van Pelt and Lind Architects, since neither Clark nor Frey was licensed at the time. By 1943, Clark and Frey had
become licensed and were able to obtain public commissions which included schools, hospitals and a library. In 1952, Robson
C. Chambers who had been an employee with the firm since 1946 was made a partner, and the firm was renamed Clark, Frey and
Chambers. During his 63 years in Palm Springs, Frey’s most notable projects include: the Raymond Loewy house, the Guthrie
house, the Clark & Frey Office building, the Aerial Tramway and Gas Station, Palm Springs City Hall, the Desert Hospital,
the North Shore Yacht Club, Villa Hermosa, Frey House I and II. Frey continued to design buildings into the late 1980s. Albert
Frey died on November 14, 1998, at the age of 95.
Scope and Content Note
The Albert Frey papers span 28 linear feet and date from circa 1924 to 1993. The collection primarily contains material concerning
architectural projects Frey undertook in American between the years 1930 to 1982, in the form of architectural drawings and
reprographic copies, black-and-white photographs, negatives, slides, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. The collection
also includes Frey’s personal architectural reference books and color travel photographs, three-dimensional building samples
from the Frey House II, his professional awards, and research notes.
Related Archival Materials note
David Gebhard papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa
Barbara.
Robson Chambers papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa
Barbara.
Albert Frey Archive, Palm Spings Art Museum.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Frey, Albert, 1903-1998 -- Archives
Architects -- California
Architectural drawings
Architectural firms -- California
Architectural photographs
Architecture -- California -- 20th century
Architecture -- California -- Palm Springs
Architecture, Modern -- 20th century -- California
Correspondence
Modern movement (Architecture) -- California
Negatives
Photographic prints
Reprographic copies
Sketches
Personal Papers I.
1903-1983
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.58 Linear feet
Biographical Information A.
1903-1983
Box 1, Folder 3
United States Map, Frey's Travel Route
1932-1934
Box 9, Folder 301
Air Force Academy, Colorado photographs
1969
Box 9, Folder 302-303
Amalfi-Paestum photographs
n.d.
Box 9, Folder 304
Arizona, Chelley-Oraibi photographs
1969
Box 9, Folder 305
Arizona-New Mexico, Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest, Gallup photographs
1969
Box 9, Folder 306
Arizona-Utah: Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Zion Canyon photographs
1969
Box 9, Folder 307
Borrego Springs photographs
1973
Box 9, Folder 308
Bremen to New York, Paris and New York photographs
1930-1933
Box 9, Folder 309
California, Nevada, Arizona, F.L. Wright, Taliesin West photographs
1934-1941
Box 9, Folder 310-311
Camogli-Tarquinia photographs
1962
Box 9, Folder 313
Garda-Verona photographs
1962
Box 9, Folder 314
German Pavilion photographs
1967
Box 9, Folder 315
Gornergrat, Zermatt, Switzerland photographs
1973
Box 9, Folder 316
Grand Canyon photographs
1967
Box 9, Folder 317
Grand Canyon, Arizona/ High Sierras photographs
1941
Box 9, Folder 318
Grand Canyon North Rim photographs
1969
Box 9, Folder 319
Guggenheim Museum photographs
1962
Box 9, Folder 323-324
Honeymoon Trip: France, Switzerland, Italy photographs
1938
Box 9, Folder 325
Hurricane- Arizona/Utah photographs
1969
Box 9, Folder 326
La Jolla, Scottsdale photographs
1971
Box 9, Folder 327
Lake Powell photographs
1967
Box 9, Folder 328
Lake Tahoe, Owens Valley, Virginia City photographs
1971
Box 9, Folder 329
Le Corbusier photographs
1962
Box 9, Folder 330
Los Angeles to San Francisco photographs
n.d.
Box 9, Folder 331
Mesa Verde, Colorado photographs
1969
Box 9, Folder 332
Monument Valley photographs
1967
Box 9, Folder 333
New York photographs
1962
Box 9, Folder 334-336
New York photographs
1930-1933
Box 9, Folder 337
New York City photographs
1937-1939
Box 9, Folder 338
New York and East Coast photographs
1932
Box 9, Folder 339-340
Ostia-Capri photographs
1968
Box 9, Folder 341
Palm Canyon Area- Andreas, Murray, etc. at House photographs
1971
Box 9, Folder 342
Palm Springs photographs
1965
Box 9, Folder 343
Palm Springs to New York and New York to Palm Springs photographs
1937-1939
Box 9, Folder 344
Palm Springs and Environs, trip to Hoover Dam photographs
1934-1937
Box 9, Folder 345
Palm Springs Environs photographs
n.d.
Box 9, Folder 346
Pueblos, New Mexico photographs
1969
Box 10, Folder 347
Rainbow Bridge photographs
1967
Box 10, Folder 350
Ronchamp, France photographs
1955
Box 10, Folder 351
San Jacinto Tram to Hidden Lake photographs
1972
Box 10, Folder 352
Schonreid, Zurich, etc. Switzerland photographs
1973
Box 10, Folder 354
Sirmione photographs
1962
Box 10, Folder 355
Southern California Architecture: Los Angeles, Pomona, Fresno photographs
1965-1974
Box 10, Folder 356
Southern California Architecture photographs
1965
Box 10, Folder 357-358
Switzerland photographs
1962-1973
Box 10, Folder 359-360
Switzerland, Milano Triennale, Paris, Le Corbusier and Anore Lurcat photographs
1933
Box 10, Folder 361-362
Unidentified Travel photographs
1966
Box 10, Folder 363
United States Pavilion photographs
1967
Box 14
Sketches of Venice
1925
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(2 sketches)
Scope and Contents note
Two pencil sketches, both on tracing paper, mounted on boards. Signed and dated on the reverse.
Box 10, Folder 365-366
West Coast to New York Trip photographs
1932
Box 10, Folder 367-368
West Coast: San Francisco to San Diego photographs
1932
Box 10, Folder 369
Wyoming: Yellowstone Park, Jackson Hole photographs
1969
Box 10, Folder 370
Yosemite photographs
1965
Box 10, Folder 371
Frey, Albert Portrait
1930-1932
Professional Papers II.
1932-1988
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.42 Linear feet
Correspondence A.
1934-1988
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 4
Benedict, Harry (Holden and Johnson Architects)
1986-1987
Box 1, Folder 7
City of Palm Springs, Historic Site Preservation Board
1984-1988
Box 1, Folder 8
Clark, John P. (Williams, Clark and Williams Architects)
1986
Box 1, Folder 10
Kocher, Sandra (re: Le Corbusier)
1968-1980
Box 1, Folder 11
Lanmon, Lorraine (re: William Lescaze)
1974
Box 1, Folder 13
Lichtenstein, Susanne
1986
Box 1, Folder 15
National Museum of American History
1983-1984
Box 1, Folder 16
Pommer, Richard (re: Chrystie-Forsyth project)
1973-1974
Box 1, Folder 17
Princeton University, John Vincent Boyer
1983
Box 1, Folder 18
Schools, Miscellaneous
1951-1953
Box 1, Folder 20
Stiverson, Cynthia "Architecture and the Decorative Arts"
1988
Box 1, Folder 22
Wilson, Richard Guy (re: "Machine Age America" exhibition)
1983-1984
Box 1, Folder 23
Wodehouse, Lawrence
1984-1986
Box 1, Folder 24
Wolfe, James (re: James D. Kornwolf)
1984
Box 1, Folder 25
"Some Thoughts on Esthetic Research" AIA Journal
1958
Box 1, Folder 26
"Albert Frey on Hawaii" Bulletin
1951
Box 10, Folder 372-376, Box 1, Folder 27
"In Search of Living Architecture"
1939
Box 1, Folder 28
Script for Narration by A. Frey, Houses 1 and 2
1991
Associations and Committees C.
1944-1986
Box 1, Folder 29
American Institute of Architects: Architectural Graphic Standards
1985
Box 1, Folder 30
American Institute of Architects: Desert Chapter
1985-1986
Box 1, Folder 31
American Institute of Architects: Fellowship
1957
Box 1, Folder 32
American Institute of Architects: Inland California Chapter
1966-1969
Box 1, Folder 33
American Institute of Architects: Membership and Foundation Contributions
1966-1979
Box 1, Folder 34
"AIA New Fellows" American Institute of Architects Journal
1957
Box 1, Folder 35
American Institute of Architects: Southern California Chapter
1944-1979
Box 1, Folder 36
Palm Springs Historical Society
1986
Box 1, Folder 37
American Association of Nurserymen
1968
Box 1, Folder 38
American Architecture
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 39
European and World Architecture
n.d.
Reference Files F.
1932-1938
Box 1, Folder 41
Solar Projection from 10 Foot Pole, Palm Springs
1935-1936
Box 1, Folder 42
Terragni, Guiseppe, Villa Near Milan, italy
1938
Box 1, Folder 43
United States Department of Agriculture, Farm House Plans
1934
Box 1, Folder 44
Village Green Heritage Center Brochure
n.d.
Office Records III.
1931-1993
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.33 Linear feet
Financial Records A.
1933-1964
Physical Description:
0.08 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 45-46
Certificates of Payment
1945-1964
Box 1, Folder 47
Cost Estimates, Riverside County Building Program
1957
Box 1, Folder 48-49
Footage and Job Costs
1933-1964
Public Relations B.
1941-1993
Physical Description:
1.42 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 50
Adler, F. (re: Premiere Apartment Hotel)
1965
Box 10, Folder 377
"Albert Frey, Architect" by Josepha Rosa
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 51
"Architecture California"
1986-1987
Box 10, Folder 378
Office Employee Descriptions
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 52
Palm Springs City Hall
1957
Box 1, Folder 54
San Gorgonio Pass Memorial Hospital
1947
Film and Audio b.
1941-1993
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Box 12
Albert Frey
n.d.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
1 VHS copy
Box 12
Albert Frey Exhibition, P.S. Desert Museum Jan 3, 1993 and Jean Farrar and Culver Nichols
1993
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Original VHS
Box 12
Albert Frey House, Paseo el Mirador and Albert Frey New House, Palisades Dr.
1941-1953, 1964
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
original 8mm film, 3 VHS copies, betacam copy
Box 12
Albert Frey Panel
1992
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Original 2 standard audio cassettes
Box 12
Alpha Beta Markets, North Shore Beach and Yacht Club
1958-1960
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
original 8mm film, 3 VHS copies, betacam copy
Box 12
Frey and Chambers Buildings
n.d.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
original 8mm film, 3 VHS copies, betacam copy
Box 12
John Clark/Albert Frey, Interviewer: Nan Tynberg, Palm Springs Public Library Local History Project
1986
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
Original VHS
Box 12
Palm Springs Parade at City Hall and Premiere Apartments
1956-1957
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note
original 8mm film, 3 VHS copies, betacam copy
Books a.
1953-1957
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
Box 4
Aluminum in Modern Architecture Volume I by John Peter
1956
Box 4
Camini d'Oggi by Roberto Aloi
1957
Box 4
Das Haus des Architekten/Architects' Homes/ La Maison de l'Architecte by Robert Winkler
1955
Box 4
World's Contemporary Architecture Volume 4, edited by Yuichi Ino and Shinji Koike
1953
Clippings D.
1931-1987
Physical Description:
0.83 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 55, Box 5, Folder 174
Aluminaire Residence
1931-1987
Box 1, Folder 57
"Architecture Old and New", Creative Art, April
1933
Box 1, Folder 58
"Bel Vista", Architect and Engineer, April
1951
Box 1, Folder 59
Cahuilla Elementary School: Architectural Record, January
1953
Box 1, Folder 60-61
Clark and Frey Office: Progressive Architecture, October
1950
Box 1, Folder 56
Clark House: [incomplete], The Architectural Forum, September
1942
Box 5, Folder 175
Cree Residence: Holiday, August
1957
Box 1, Folder 63
Desert Hospital: Domus, July/August
1952
Box 1, Folder 64
Frey Residence #1: Architectural Forum, August
1950
Box 1, Folder 65
Frey Residence #1: [cover] Artistic Homes, vol. XXV, No. 4
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 66
Frey Residence #1: Arts and Architecture, July
1945
Box 1, Folder 67
Frey Residence #1: House and Garden, January
1948
Box 1, Folder 68
Frey Residence #1: House and Garden, August
1950
Box 1, Folder 69
Frey Residence #1: International Asbestos-Cement Review, July
1956
Box 1, Folder 70
Frey Residence #1: Journal of the American Institute of Architects, November
1951
Box 1, Folder 71
Frey Residence #1: Nuestra Arquitectura, January
1952
Box 1, Folder 72
Frey Residence #1: Palm Springs Villager, May
1958
Box 1, Folder 73
Frey Residence #1: Progressive Architecture, July
1948
Box 1, Folder 74
Frey Residence #1: Werk, June
1946
Box 5, Folder 176
Frey Residence #2: Los Angeles Times Home, October 3,
1965
Box 1, Folder 75
Hatton Residence: Progressive Architecture, December
1949
Box 1, Folder 76
"Hillside Living", Palm Springs Life, January
1967
Box 1, Folder 77
"House in California", Domus, September
1946
Box 1, Folder 78
Kocher Residence: Art In America in Modern Times
1934
Box 1, Folder 78
Kocher Residence: "Long Island Modern" exhibition catalog
1987
Box 1, Folder 79
Kocher Residence: Hound & Horn, January/March
1932
Box 5, Folder 177
Kocher-Samson: The Architectural Review, March
1937
Box 1, Folder 80
Loewy Residence: House and Garden, May
1947
Box 5, Folder 178
Loewy Residence: Life, March 24,
1947
Box 1, Folder 81
Loewy Residence: The Villager, March
1947
Box 2, Folder 82
Loewy Residence: Werk, June
1952
Box 2, Folder 83
"Make Mine Metal", Palm Springs Life, March
1979
Box 2, Folder 84
Palm Springs City Hall: Construction Metal Corp. [AIA File no. 17-A]
1959
Box 2, Folder 84
Palm Springs City Hall: Pacific Architect and Builder, February
1959
Box 2, Folder 85
Palm Springs Racquet Club: Architect and Engineer, June
1951
Box 2, Folder 86
Recreational Building
1940
Box 2, Folder 87
Tramway Aerial Station: Products
1964
Project Records IV.
circa 1939-circa 1986
Language of Material:
English
Files A.
1939-1979
Physical Description:
2.0 Linear feet
Note
see Project Index
Photographs B.
1925-1986
Physical Description:
1.83 Linear feet
Note
see Project Index
Building Material Samples, Frey House 2 D.
n.d.
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Box 11
Exterior Wall Siding
n.d.
Box 11
Extruded Anodized Aluminum Frames
n.d.
Box 11
Chip of Exterior (Non-Slip) Concrete
n.d.
Box 11
Philippine Mahogany for Door Jambs and Cabinets
n.d.
Box 11
Philippine Mahogany Plywood for Wall Paneling
n.d.
Box 11
Self-Tapping Stainless Steel Screw and Neoprene Washer
n.d.
Box 11
Sun Burned "1000s of Years" Grey Granite
n.d.
Box 11
Washable Unbleached Cotton Fabric
n.d.
Card-file-box 13
Additional Donations V.
1992
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.46 Linear feet
Scope and Content note
Video footage of Albert Frey.
