American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter: Centennial Drawing Collection, 1930-1976 approximately

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Hill, Henry, 1913-1985
Abstract:
An exhibit of design drawings created by current members was created at the time of the chapter's 1982 centennial to support the events planned for the celebration. This collection consists of drawings collected for that exhibition and created between 1930 and 1976. Essentially there are 195 individual project files, containing more than 900 drawings presentation and design drawings.
Extent:
20 Linear Feet: 6 Flat File Drawers, 5 Tubes, 3 Framed Items
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], AIA-SF: Centennial Drawing Collection, [2011-17] Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

An exhibit of design drawings created by current members was created at the time of the chapter's 1982 centennial to support the events planned for the celebration. This collection consists of drawings collected for that exhibition and created between 1930 and 1976.. Essentially there are 195 individual project files, containing more than 900 drawings presentation and design drawings created by the following individuals and firms: Anshen & Allen; Edward Charles Basset; Bliss & Faville; Henrik Bull; Field, Bull, Volkmann & Stockwell; John Field; Aaron Green; Harwell H. Harris; Hart, Krivatsky & Stubee; Henry Hill; Hill & Kruse; Knorr, Elliott and Associates; John Kruse; Lane, Knorr, Elliott; Alton Lee; Mendelsohn, Dinwiddie & Hill; Donald Olsen; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Douglas Dacre Stone; Stone, Marraccini & Patterson; John Carl Warnecke & Associates.

The AIA Centennial exhibit also included historical drawings from archival sources to provide historical perspective on local development and contemporary work was shown to highlight the design talent in the Bay Area.

Biographical / historical:

The San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects was organized to protect the integrity of the profession and to standardize the conduct and practice of its members. Demand for the services of builders and designers significantly increased as the city's population grew during the later part of the nineteenth century. Professionally trained architects of the time were continually challenged by the unethical practices of untrained "architects," who took advantage of patrons and threatened the work of reputable and qualified architects.

Prior to the AIA charter, trained architects in California formed a short-lived professional society in 1869. A second and larger association of well-known and respected San Francisco architects, the Pacific Coast Association of Architects, was founded in May 1881. Augustus Laver, an important founding leader of this group, submitted the AIA charter petition which was signed by John Wright, George Sanders, William Curlett, Seth Babson, T.J. Welsh, and J.E. Wolf. These men were convinced that a unified group of professionals supported by the larger, national organization of the AIA would further protect the practice. In the spring 1882, the AIA granted the organized architects of San Francisco their charter and thereby expanded its membership westward beyond Chicago. In February 1927 the San Francisco Chapter was renamed the Northern California Chapter, which was incorporated on August 4, 1955. In 1980 the chapter became The American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter. The most recent name variation, AIA San Francisco, a Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, was adopted by members in 1992.

An exhibit of design drawings created by current members was created at the time of the chapter's 1982 centennial to support the events planned for the celebration. Historical drawings from archival sources were displayed to provide historical perspective on local development and contemporary work was shown to highlight the design talent in the Bay Area.

Sources: Parman, John. "That Brilliant Year, 1882." American Institute of Architects San Francisco Chapter Centennial Directory, 1982, 20. Thompson, Elisabeth K. "History of the Chapter." American Institute of Architects San Francisco Chapter Centennial Directory, 1982, 21-23.

Custodial history:

The centennial collection of the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter, consisting of drawings donated to the chapter by its members, was given to the Bancroft Library via John l. Field on January 25, 1983 (Banc mss 81/1c). In 2011 the collection was transferred to the Environmental Design Archives. The EDA holds the records of many of the firms represented in this artificial collection. In fact 84% of the projects were designed by architects and firms held by the EDA.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the Curator. Copyright for all drawings has not been assigned to the Environmental Design Archives (EDA). For those items for which the EDA does not hold copyright, permission for publication must be acquired from the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], AIA-SF: Centennial Drawing Collection, [2011-17] Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:
230 Bauer Wurster Hall #1820
Berkeley, CA 94720-1820, US
Contact:
(510) 642-5124