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Guide to Robert A. German Collection
MSS-2005-04-09
MSS-2005-04-09
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Table of contents
Title: Robert A. German Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2005-04-09
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
9.75 Linear feet
(9 boxes, 6 flat file drawers)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1990-2003
Date (inclusive): 1972-2005
Abstract: The collection contains architectural project files, blueprints, professional records, academic papers, portfolios, and biographical
files that encompass the professional achievements of Robert Alan German (1957-2004). German, a San Jose State University
(SJSU) alumnus, was a prolific Bay Area architect and industrial designer. After graduating from SJSU with a B.S. in Industrial
Design and minor in Graphic Design in 1982, German’s career progressed steadily over the years from working as draftsperson
for various architectural firms to managing Pyramid Design Group as its Principal Architect. The bulk of the collection (1990-2003)
is comprised of blueprints, project files, and administrative records that document German’s process of designing and managing
various commercial and residential projects. The 24”x36” blueprints reflect the sundry designs of German’s residential projects
and remodels, which incorporated orthodox styles such as American Craftsman, Spanish Revival, Victorian, and Colonial, as
well as Modernist constructions reminiscent of those produced by Frank Lloyd Wright and Joseph Eichler. The rest of the collection
includes German’s professional records that document the administration of Pyramid Design Group and his academic and personal
papers.
creator:
German, Robert Alan, 1957-2004
The collection is open for research.
Copyright has been assigned to the San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
[Identification of item], [Name of record group], Robert A. German Collection, MSS-2005-04-09, San José State University Library
Special Collections & Archives.
Processed by: Xiaoda Wang Reviewed by: Danelle Moon Date completed: 2014 Encoded by: Xiaoda Wang Date encoded: 2014
Robert Alan German (1957-2004), a San Jose State University alumnus, was a prolific Bay Area architect and industrial designer.
German was born on February 20, 1957 in Hawaii. Having finished Vintage High School in Napa, California in 1975, German was
accepted to San Jose State University, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design, along with a minor
in Graphic Design, in December 1982. During his studies at SJSU, German was introduced to drafting techniques and design theories
in Industrial Design courses, such as Model Making, Contemporary Home Design, and Solar Energy Theories, as well as in various
art and art history courses.
German started working in residential design since 1978. In the early stages of his career, German interned and worked as
architectural draftsperson at several industrial development and architectural firms, wherein some of his main duties included
preliminary-schematic and working drawings of residential and commercial buildings, interior space remodels, and site development.
The sundry designs of German’s residential projects and remodels incorporated orthodox styles such as American Craftsman,
Spanish Revival, Victorian, and Colonial, as well as Modernist constructions reminiscent of those produced by Frank Lloyd
Wright and Joseph Eichler. During his mid-career between 1982 and 1989, German was given management roles at subsequent firms,
where he was in charge of bidding, space planning, design, and production of various industrial office projects in the Bay
Area. In 1988, German received certification from The California State Board of Architectural Examiners. From 1991 onward,
German was the Principal Architect of Pyramid Design Group, a firm that offered architectural and interior design services
for residential and commercial clients in the Bay Area. In this more holistic role, German oversaw all design phases, which
included meeting with clients during preliminary design, preparing drawings and coordinating with consultants during design
development, construction documentation for contractor bidding, bid assistance and negotiation, and construction administration.
German passed away on May 16th, 2004 in Menlo Park, California.
Professional Timeline:
1991-2004: Principal Architect at Pyramid Design Group, Menlo Park, CA
1988-1989: Project Architect at John Stewart Associates, San Carlos, CA
1987-1988: Vice President of Architectural Design and Engineering at Landbank Investment International, Redwood City, CA
1982-1987: Project Manager at Cabak Randall Jasper Griffiths Associates, Menlo Park, CA
1982: Draftsperson/Designer at Stoecker & Northway, Inc., Portola Valley, CA
1980-1982: Draftsperson at Robert Peterson Architects, Inc., Menlo Park, CA
1978-1980: Draftsperson/Design-Planner at Northland Investments, Sunnyvale, CA
1979-1980: Draftsperson/Job Coordinator at Shohfi Properties, Santa Clara, CA
Summer 1979: Draftsperson (Internship) at Cabak Associates, Menlo Park, CA
Scope and Content of Collection
Robert A. German Collection documents the academic and professional achievements of Robert A. German from 1972 to 2004. This
collection contains German’s architectural project files, blueprints, professional records, academic papers, portfolios, and
biographical files. The bulk of the collection (1990-2003), in Series I, documents the commercial and residential projects
that Robert German had designed and managed. Each project folder consists of materials used in various stages of architectural
design (preliminary design, design development, construction documentation, bid negotiation, and construction administration),
such as floor-plans, construction drawings, invoices, home appliance and décor catalogs, insurance and county council reports,
specifications, correspondence, meeting minutes, and photographs. Series II contains 24”x36” blueprints that accompany the
aforementioned projects in Series I, as well as industrial designs and drawings German had produced for college courses. Series
III consists of Robert German’s professional records from Pyramid Design Group, whereof he was the principal architect. It
includes client contract templates, time cards, promotional brochures, and other records used for organizational administration.
Series IV includes Robert German’s academic and personal files, such as academic records and course work from SJSU and Cañada
College, his portfolios of architectural projects and artworks, awards, photographs, planners, resumes, and references.
Robert A. German Collection is arranged into four series. Series I: Project Files, 1972-2005, bulk 1990-2003; Series II: Blueprints
and Drawings, 1978-2002, bulk 1994-2002; Series III: Professional Records, circa 1981-2004; Series IV: Academic and Personal
Papers, 1975-2005, bulk 1990-1991.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Architecture – California, Northern
San Jose State University -- Alumnae and alumni