Architectural archives.

Format:

Archive

Manuscript

Author/Creator:

American Institute of Architects. Philadelphia Chapter

Contributor:

American Philosophical Society.

Historical Society of Philadelphia.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American Institute of Architects. Philadelphia Chapter.

American Institute of Architects.

Genre:

Architectural drawings.

Correspondence.

Diaries.

Historic conservation reports.

Minutes.

Photographs.

Scrapbooks.

Physical Description:

cubic ft.

Arrangement:

Arranged by series.

Summary:

Series I. American Institute of Architects. Philadelphia Chapter. Records, 1840-1956. MS61-529. Held at the Historical Society of Philadelphia from 1956 to 1986. Series II. American Institute of Architects. Philadelphia Chapter. Records, 1869-1910. PAAV86-A22. Held at the American Philosophical Society from 1965 to Dec. 1986. Series III. American Institute of Architects. Philadelphia Chapter. Records, 1887- Given to the Athenaeum at the time of the formation of the Archives in Dec. 1986, with irregular additions from the current chapter office.

Notes:

Correspondence in the Chapter's files shows that the Officers had regularly been concerned with a. the provision of its drawings, books and others materials for research, b. the preservation of the documents of the activities of the Chapter, depositing its minutes and drawings at several libraries throughout the City. In the mid-1970's the Athenaeum of Philadelphia refined its research collection mission to focus on acquisitions in support of architecture and the decorative arts. The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects had a history of association with the Athenaeum, including having had offices within the building fron 1847 to 1870 with the establishment of the "Architectural Library of Philadelphia" on the third floor during their tenure. See Architectural collections, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia (1990). With the redefinition of the Athenaeum's mission it became a logical place in recent years for the deposit of materials from the current AIA local chapter office. In 1986 it was decided to consolidate as much of the materials previously placed throughout the City in the Architectural Archives established for the AIA Philadelphia Chapter at the Athenaeum. To this end, transfer was made of known materials from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and from the American Philosophical Society. Original Old Philadelphia Survey drawings, discovered to be located at the Free Library of Philadelphia after the 1986 transfer, are still located at that site.