Museum Building Construction Series
Scope and Contents Note
The collection comprises the records of the original construction of the Clark Art Institute's Museum Building, formerly known as the 55' Building. The records document development and construction from 1952 to 1960.
Documentation of the project includes a very small number of photostat prints, a few hectographs and the majority of the inventory consists of blueprints and diazo-print architectural drawings. Other items include preliminary designs, consultant documentation, project team correspondence, certificates, contracts, permits, affidavits, etc.
Additionally, there are several filing cabinet drawers in the North Court storage room that still contain Museum Building drawings that can be added to this collection. There are also several drawers full of various manuals, receipts, and correspondence. These drawers were intended to be part of this collection, however, due to time/staff/resource constraints it was decided that these materials should stay where they are for now and that a future Archival Studies graduate student can use them as an internship project.
Dates
- 1952-1973
History of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
In 1950 Sterling and Francine Clark chartered the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute as a home for their extensive art collection. Opened to public in 1955, the Institute has built upon this extraordinary group of works to become one of the most beloved and respected art museums in the world, known for its intimate galleries and stunning natural environment. One of the few institutions in the United States that combines a public art museum with a complement of research and academic programs, including a major art history library, the Clark is now a leading international center for research and discussion on the nature of art and art history. Building upon the founders' legacy, the Institute envisioned a master plan for the twenty-first century, which fosters the Clark's commitment to providing space for its expanding research and museum programs while maintaining the unique character of its beautiful rural setting.
Extent
113.16467 Linear feet (15 boxes, 2 drawers and tubes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Records of the Museum Building Construction is comprised of material related to the Clark's expansion project, dating from the early 1950's to the early 1970's, including records of the companies contracted for the project, as well as architectural drawings, correspondence, financial records, and material specifications.
Arrangement Note
The collection is arranged in nine series: by the name of one architect who was prominently involved, Daniel Perry, as well as the company of specialty, who were contracted and/ or sub-contracted for the duration of the expansion project.
Physical Description
The overall physical condition of the architectural drawings in this inventory is good. However, due to the condition (age and fragilty) of some of the drawings in the inventory, many of which were duplicates of the originals, they had to be rehoused separately in handmade, large oversized archival quality folders, interwoven with large acid-free, archival quality tissue paper. Though most of the drawings in the inventory are stable enough to handled well, it is advised that they still get handled very carefully, due to their age.
Dimensions
Mainly the diazo-prints and blueprints and other drawings/ sketches in this series range from 8.5 x 11 inches to 36 x 74 inches.
- Agreements
- Allston, M.A.
- Architects
- Architectural drawings (process)
- Architectural surveys
- Architecture
- Arlington (Mass.)
- Art museum architecture
- Art museums (buildings)
- Art museums (institutions)
- As-Built drawings
- Blueprints (Reprographic copies)
- Boston (Mass.)--Pictorial works
- Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
- Building Permits
- Business correspondence
- Cambridge (Mass.)
- Catalogs
- Charts (Graphic documents)
- Chicago (Ill.)
- Commercial correspondence
- Design drawings
- Detroit (Mich.)
- Diazotype
- Framingham (Mass.)
- Garden City (N.Y.)
- Jersey City (N.J.)
- Lawrence (Mass.)
- Louisville (Ky.)
- Michigan City (Ind.)
- New Haven (Conn.)
- New York (N.Y.)--Pictorial works
- Newark (N.J.)
- North Adams (Mass.)
- Philadelphia (Pa.)
- Port Jefferson (N.Y.)
- Rocky Point (Suffolk County, N.Y.)
- Sketches
- Somerville (Mass.)
- Springfield (Mass.)
- Williamstown (Mass)
- electrical drawings
- electrical engineering
- electrical engineers
- electrical plans
- elevations (building divisions)
- mechanical engineering
- mechanical engineers
- Title
- A Guide to the Records of the Clark Art Institute Museum Building Construction
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Brieanna Chillious
- Date
- March 9, 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Archives Repository