Finding aid for the John Fitchen papers, 1927-1989 910018

Teresa Morales.

Special Collections

1994

1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100

Los Angeles 90049-1688

Business Number: (310) 440-7390

Fax Number: (310) 440-7780

reference@getty.edu

URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10020/askref

Contributing Institution: Special Collections

Title: John Fitchen papers

Creator: Bucher, François

Creator: Conant, Kenneth John, 1894-1984

Creator: Fitchen, John

Creator: Placzek, Adolf K.

Creator: McKee, Harley J.

Creator: Macaulay, David

Creator: Hubka, Thomas C., 1946-

Creator: Horn, Walter William, 1908-1995

Creator: Heyman, Jacques

Creator: Harvey, John, 1911-1997

Creator: Wachs, William Carl

Creator: Van Nise, Robert L.

Creator: Szarmach, Paul E.

Identifier/Call Number: 910018

Physical Description: 4 Linear Feet(10 boxes)

Date (inclusive): 1927-1989

Abstract: American architect and architectural historian. Most of the research materials relate to three of Fitchen's books: Construction of Gothic Cathedrals, The New World Dutch Barn, and Building Construction Before Mechanization. Other papers include designs, drawings, and sketchbooks, as well as correspondence with numerous architectural historians, primarily on the subject of medieval architecture.

Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy .

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Fitchen papers comprise research materials, manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and reviews for his publications, especially for his 3 books: Construction of Gothic cathedrals, New World Dutch barn, and Building construction before mechanization. Manuscripts and printed materials document numerous articles and lectures by Fitchen. Other files contain material for unpublished projects, including his manuscript "Plot, plan and perspective." Sketches and drawings document Fitchen's designs for bookplates and buildings, including some done as a student. A sketchbook contains drawings of American Dutch barns. Correspondence with more than a dozen architectural historians centers largely on the subject of medieval architecture and construction.

Arrangement note

The papers are arranged in three series: Series I. Research for major publications, ca. 1927-1986; Series II. Student work, manuscripts, lectures, drawings, ca. 1927-1989; Series III. Correspondence, ca. 1954-1984.

Biographical/Historical note

John Fitchen, American architectural historian and architect, is the author of several works, among them, Construction of Gothic cathedrals (1961, 1981), New World Dutch barn (1968), and Building construction before mechanization (1986). He attended Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, where he studied with Kenneth John Conant and developed an abiding interest in medieval construction techniques.

Processing History

Teresa Morales processed the collection in 1996.

Preferred Citation

John Fitchen papers, 1927-1989, Research Library, The Getty Research Institute, Accession number 910018.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa910018

Publication Rights

Contact Library Rights and Reproductions .

Access

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Architecture, Gothic

Architecture, Gothic -- History

Church architecture

Architecture

Architecture, Medieval -- History

Building -- Europe

Architecture -- Historiography

Architecture, Medieval

Barns -- Netherlands

Barns -- United States

Building -- Europe -- History

Building materials -- Europe -- History

Cathedrals

Cathedrals -- Europe

Photographs, Original

Construction of Gothic cathedrals New World Dutch barn Building construction before mechanization

Photographic prints

Architectural drawings -- United States -- 20th century

Vaults (Architecture)

Vaults (Architecture), Gothic

Church architecture -- Designs and plans

Civil Engineering

Church architecture -- Europe -- History

Church architecture -- Themes, motives

Art historians -- Archives

Architects -- Archives

Ayasofya Müzesi

Fitchen, John

Harvard University. Graduate School of Design

Washington Cathedral

Research for major publications, Series I. ca. 1954-1987, n.d.

Container Summary: 7 boxes

Scope and Contents note

Primarily research materials, manuscripts, correspondence, printed matter and photographs related to Fitchen's three books: The construction of Gothic cathedrals (1961, 1981), The New World Dutch barn (1968), and Building construction before mechanization (1986).

box 1, folder 1-6

Gothic Cathedrals, ca. 1954-1981

box 1, folder 1

Research notes, ca. 1954-1959

box 1, folder 2

Drafts, 1954-1958

box 1, folder 3

Original drawings for ms, n.d

box 1, folder 4

Correspondence with publisher, 1957-1960

box 1, folder 5

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1958-1960

box 1, folder 6

Reviews & letter in response to both, 1960-1962, 1980

box 2, folder 1-3

Gothic Cathedrals, n.d.

box 2, folder 1

Manuscripts, n.d.

box 2, folder 2

Manuscript, appendices, n.d.

box 2, folder 3

Manuscript, notes, n.d.

box 3, folder 1-3

Dutch Barns, 1963-1975, n.d.

box 3, folder 1

Notes & draft, 1965-1968

box 3, folder 2

Manuscript text, n.d.

box 3, folder 3

Correspondence after publication, 1965-1975

box 4, folder 1-6

Papers & photographs: Dutch Barns, ca. 1963-1986, n.d.

box 4, folder 1

Sketches. See also drawings of American barns in sketchbook, Box 9., 1963

box 4, folder 2

Miscellaneous photos (negatives placed in cold storage, box 10), n.d.

box 4, folder 3

Miscellaneous plates, n.d.

box 4, folder 4

Photographs for Netherlandish barns, 1982-1986, n.d.

box 4, folder 5

Illustrations for manuscript, n.d.

box 4, folder 6

Photo mechanicals for manuscript, 1964

box 5, folder 1-4

Papers & photographs: Building Construction, ca. 1954-1985

box 5, folder 1

Notes, 1954-1967

box 5, folder 2

Drafts, 1973-1976

box 5, folder 3

Manuscript, 1983-1985

box 5, folder 4

Manuscript figures, 1976

box 6, folder 1-4

Papers & photographs, ca. 1984-1987, n.d.

box 6, folder 1

Illustrations (n.b., post-its), n.d.

box 6, folder 2

Illustrations (n.b., post-its,), n.d.

box 6, folder 3

Reviews, correspondence, ca. 1987

box 6, folder 4

Translation, 1984-1988

box 10

Negatives (2), pulled from Box 4, f.4, 1982-1986, n.d.

Student work, manuscripts, lectures, drawings, Series II. ca. 1927-1989,

Container Summary: 2 boxes

Scope and Contents note

Series comprises papers related to Fitchen's publications (other than those referenced in Series I), his lectures, student work at Harvard, and drawings and designs.

box 7, folder 1-31

Papers: Lectures, manuscripts, offprints, correspondence

box 7, folder 1

"Premier of Baseball," lecture 1989;

box 7, folder 2

"English vs. French Vaulting," lecture 1985;

box 7, folder 3

"Visual Impact of the Gothic Cathedral," lecture, 1979

box 7, folder 4

Building Cheops' Pyramid, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians (JSAH) 1978

box 7, folder 5

"Early Timber Framed Construction in America," lecture, 1972

box 7, folder 6

"New World Dutch Barn," lecture, 1971

box 7, folder 7

Why Not Fountains in Winter? 1970

box 7, folder 8

Vitas, grant applications, etc; 1967-1985

box 7, folder 9

"New York State Dutch Barns," lecture, 1965

box 7, folder 10

Architecture, the Optimistic Art, AIA Journal proofs 1964

box 7, folder 11

"Masonry Techniques of the Middle Ages," lecture, 1963

box 7, folder 12

Untitled miscellaneous articles, 1961

box 7, folder 13

Erection of French Gothic Nave Vaults, Gazette offprint, 1960

box 7, folder 14

Plot, Plan and Perspective, manuscript, 1959

box 7, folder 15

Changing Face of the Riviera, 1959

box 7, folder 16

An Old House of Laminated, Solid Wood Walls, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians (JSAH) 1957

box 7, folder 17

Comment on Flying Buttresses, Gazette offprint, 1955

box 7, folder 18

Draftsman to Architect, manuscript, 1951-1952

box 7, folder 19

Architectural Subject Matter, 1949

box 7, folder 20

Introduction to Art, manuscript, 1937

box 7, folder 21

Student drawings, Harvard, 1927-1928

box 7, folder 22

"The Roof," manuscript

box 7, folder 23

Problem of Ventilation

box 7, folder 24

Principles of Architectural Construction

box 7, folder 25

Notes on Female Architecture

box 7, folder 26

Medieval Scaffolds

box 7, folder 27

"Here Once Stood a House," manuscript,

box 7, folder 28

"First Book on the Moon," manuscript

box 7, folder 29

Dealing with the Inexplicable

box 7, folder 30

Miscellaneous designs & drawings by Fitchen

Scope and Contents note