Panel Session 1, Saturday March 7, 1-3pm
The Architectural Vision: Non-Print Reference Sources on Architects

Co-Moderators: Anita Carrico, Head Architecture Library, University of
Maryland; and Thomas Jacoby, Art and Design Librarian, University of
Connecticut, Storrs

Co-Sponsors: Academic Library Division, Architecture Section, and Reference
and Information Services Section

Panelists:
*Bruce Laverty, Architectural Archivist, Athenaeum of Philadelphia
*Hyman Myers, AIA, Historic Preservation Architect, Vitetta Group
*C. Ford Peatross, Curator of the Architecture, Engineering, and Design
Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
*Tony Wrenn, Archivist, American Institute of Architects Headquarters

Access to architectural records often falls beyond the reach of obvious
reference sources- OCLC, RLIN, NUCMUC.  Existing collections are usually
found in local historical societies, professional association chapters, or
special collections in public, college, university and museum libraries.
Many records have been destroyed without documentation, and existing
holdings are yet inaccessible beyond the repositories' local record.
Cooperative Preservation of Architectural Records (COPAR), is a national
effort made up of regional committees, formed to create a venue to share
holdings as well as expertise in managing such records.

Hyman Myers, AIA, Chief Restoration Architect, Vitetta Group, reported
first hand how professionals use and critically value architectural
archives.  He began by describing the Vitetta Group's unusually vast
library of nearly 5,000 books, pamphlets, product samples and literature,
and over 20 serial titles.  They also have an "archive" of over 100 past
projects, including drawings, specifications, and project correspondence.
Myers personally cares for his firm's library and its circulation.  Due to
the competitive nature of the profession, they do not open their collection
to other architects, but do allow access to serious researchers, students
and clients.  Myers finds himself fortunate to have numerous architectural
collections available in his region.  He discussed the various materials he
finds crucial to his work:  visual documents such as drawings and
photographs, and when time permits, any written records.  Sources such as
advertisements, postcards, models and artifacts are also of value.  He
claimed that the high costs for reproductions were well worth the
information held within.

Bruce Laverty, Architectural Archivist, Athenaeum of Philadelphia, spoke on
how the Athenaeum became a major repository of architectural records.  The
catalyst to his collection's development was an NEH award to fund the
Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects, 1700-1930, in which
research into biographical sketches led to donations of multitudes.  Bruce
likened this survey of area institutional holdings to the efforts of COPAR.
The Athenaeum's collecting efforts do not compete with other architectural
archives in Philadelphia, in fact they turn collections to the most
appropriate repository.  With the assistance of the Pew Charitable Trust,
many collections in the area receive conservation treatment and cataloging,
enabling long term loans to make the records more accessible to the public.
Intellectual access to the drawings at the Athenaeum began with cards and
has moved to records in RLIN.  Just recently they have been investigating
web access via a searchable database as well as image digitization.  His
work, The Guide to Roman Catholic Building Resources at the Athenaeum of
Philadelphia, may be viewed at www.libertynet.org/~athena.

Tony Wrenn, Archivist, American Institute of Architects Headquarters
(www.aiaonline.com), presented a brief history of the profession in
architecture and the foundation of the AIA 141 years ago.  Their first
professional librarian was hired in 1950, and the first professional
archivist (Wrenn) in 1980.  The scope of their collection is material of
all types on "the profession of architecture and not the practice."  Unique
materials include: membership and fellowship files, records of the
professional society, chapter records and publications, papers of
architects, awards, biographical information, a women in architecture
collection, rare serials, portrait photographs, and architectural
photographers' collections, to name a few.  Other materials include
personal libraries, audio/visual material and slides.  Collections are
housed both on and off site with electronic access.  They offer fee based
services as well as limited photo duplication services.  Wrenn is also
active in COPAR efforts and was a founder and chair of the Metropolitan
Washington Area COPAR.

C. Ford Peatross, Curator, Architecture, Engineering, and Design
Collections, Prints and Photographs Division, the Library of Congress
(http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/print/) described the progress the Library of
Congress has made in processing and exhibiting the over 14 million
architectural records in their collections.  He immediately noted that
COPAR is a key element for research and management.  The Library of
Congress took over the national COPAR effort in 1979 from the arms of one
of its founders, Catha Rambusch (whom Ford credited as its warrior
goddess).  The Newsletter for COPAR  has returned from a three year hiatus
with its March 1998 issue.  Ford encouraged all to submit contributions
(holdings information, news releases for newly acquired collections, grant
awards, workshops and presentations, etc.) to cpea@loc.gov.  Web access to
COPAR's  National Union Index of Architectural Records is via the National
Trust Library at www.lib.umd.edu/UMCP/NTL/coparind.htm.  Ford highlighted
the updated Historic American Buildings/Historic American Engineering
Records site (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/hhhtml/habshome.html) and its
future full scale printing capabilities to a plotter.  They are also
working on mounting the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.  Online exhibits
include the U.S. Capitol, Frank Lloyd Wright, and soon Charles and Ray
Eames.

Discussions following the presentations covered the impending future of the
AIA Library, resources on women in architecture, and the future of
collection development regarding computer aided design.  The future insures
a void in documentation on the design development process since all work is
done on the computer.  Myers noted that professional firms can't even keep
up in their own electronic file archiving, who knows what repositories will
do?

related event:  Session 5, "Documenting Gardens"

Recorded report submitted by Beth J. Dodd, Curator, Alexander Architectural
Archive, The General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.

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Beth J. Dodd                            Architecture and Planning Library
Curator                                 The General Libraries
Alexander Architectural Archive         The University of Texas at Austin
dodd.beth@mail.utexas.edu               P.O. Box P  (BTL200/S5430)
512.495.4621                            Austin, TX  78713-8916

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