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Subseries 1.1: Indiana State Library and Historic Building materials, 1932-1962

 Series

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: This collection includes correspondence, pamphlets, clippings and other ephemera; architectural drawings and blueprints; photographs and photograph albums; scrapbooks and illustration boards from Edward D. Pierre and his architectural firms, Pierre and Wright and Edward D. Pierre and Associates, in Indianapolis, Indiana ranging from 1925 to 1962. The materials cover a surfeit of topics such as Pierre's architectural projects and contests, including the Indiana State Library and Historical Building (ISL) and Milo H. Stuart Memorial Hall at Arsenal Technical High School; local, state, and national contemporary news and affairs; World War II; professional organizations and their activities; city planning; and civic projects in Indiana, from youth engagement to disaster relief to Christmas and peacebuilding.

The scrapbooks are arranged according to Edward Pierre's original organizational system, wherein the volumes were numbered first according to their subject, and then based on the item number within that topic. For example, the three scrapbooks concerning the construction industry (the second subject series) were numbered 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. Of the 30 scrapbooks, five volumes have been deconstructed and their contents foldered and boxed to preserve the papers originally found within the scrapbooks, such as correspondence, oversize drawings, and fragile materials. This preservation strategy was only implemented when it was determined that the organization and presentation of the items was not vital to maintaining the integrity of the contents and scrapbook as a whole, as in the case of sequential design sketches. When items were removed from scrapbooks, care was taken to maintain the original order of materials within the folders. In some cases, completely loose or oversized items were removed from certain scrapbooks to preserve materials from continuing to sustain significant damage in their current state. When this occurred, special care was taken to note where each item came from within the original scrapbook.

Dates

  • circa 1925-1962

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 26 Cubic Feet (8 manuscript boxes; 25 clamshell boxes; 4 volumes; 1 small oversize box; 4 medium oversize boxes; 4 very large oversize boxes; 1 map-case drawer)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671