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University Chapel Stained Glass Windows Restoration records
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Held at: Princeton University Library: University Archives [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: University Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The Office of Physical Planning was the division of Princeton University's Department of Facilities charged with oversight of the construction of new buildings on campus and alterations to existing structures. The primary responsibility of Physical Planning was the management of construction of major structures and alterations to existing structures on the Princeton campus. Physical Planning also arranged for interior design, furniture planning, and landscape design in and around campus buildings. Its other duties included providing long-range planning support for campus building projects, particularly in regards to land use and zoning considerations as well as the maintenance of campus graphics including building plans and maps.
The antecedent to the Office of Physical Planning can be found in the Grounds and Buildings Committee of the Trustees, established in 1876. At the time of its formation the committee appointed a single individual to act as the Curator of Grounds and Buildings, later known as the Superintendent of Grounds and Buildings. As the campus grew in size so too did the level of staffing required for its management and maintenance. In 1964 the title of the position was changed accordingly to Manager of the Division of Physical Planning, and once again in 1986 to Director of Physical Planning. These changes in title were often spurred by the frequent arrival of new personnel, and the most singularly consistent figure in the administration of the Office of Physical Planning was Jon D. Hlafter *61, who served as its director from 1969-2004.
The title of the larger administrative department of which the Office of Physical Planning was a part also changed frequently throughout the University's history. At various times it was known as Grounds and Buildings; Property and Physical Facilities; Physical Planning and Facilities; and Planning, Plant and Properties. Since 1983, the department has simply been known as the Department of Facilities. Headed by the University Vice-President for Facilities, the Department of Facilities and its subsidiary units are located in the MacMillan Building.
Jon Hlafter's acceptance of the position of University Architect in 2004 came amid a reorganization of the Department of Facilities which resulted in the end of the Office of Physical Planning as it had been known. The tasks that had been overseen by Physical Planning were distributed among several newly created Facilities divisions, with the Office of Design and Construction being most analogous to the old Physical Planning office.
In February 2000, the Office of Physical Planning initiated a project to restore the 27 stained glass windows of the University chapel and some of the exterior sculptures. It was the largest stained glass restoration effort attempted in the United States in a quarter century and the first at the University Chapel since it was built in 1928. The stained glass restoration project was completed in December 2001, and was awarded a Historic Preservation Award by the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office.
The collection consists of architectural surveys of the University Chapel with details of the window bays and the exterior facade, as well as photographs, slides, and microfilm documenting the work done on each window and sculpture and day logs recording daily progress. Also in the collection are several boxes of glass fragments from the original windows.
Received from the Office of Physical Planning in 2004 in accession AR.2004.018.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
Container lists for this collection were created by Christie Peterson with assistance from Suchi Mandavilli '14 in December 2011. Finding aid updated by Christie Peterson in December 2011.
In February 2020 five boxes of broken glass samples (listed as Series 2: Glass Samples, 2000-2001) were deaccessioned, leaving gaps for the following box numbers: box 11-13, 79-80.
Five boxes of broken stained glass shards were deaccessioned in February 2020.
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- University Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- Christie Peterson
- Finding Aid Date
- 2007
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. For instances beyond Fair Use, if copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of materials from the Princeton University Archives.
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Collection Inventory
Series 1: Project Binders and Microfilm, 2000-2001 consists of binders of records and slides documenting the work done on each window as part of the project, and microfilm of some related records.
The binders and records in Series 1: Project Binders and Microfilm are organized according to window numbers.
Physical Description10 boxes
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Includes materials with identifiers: Window 32, 33, 24, 31, 30, 28.
Physical Description1 box
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Includes materials with identifiers: Window 43, 36, 25.
Physical Description1 box
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Includes materials with identifiers: Window 18, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30.
Physical Description1 box
Includes materials with identifiers: Window 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 43.
Physical Description1 box
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Series 2: Oversize Drawings, 1999-2001 consists of one set of architectural plans for the University Chapel as a whole, and detailed plans for individual window.
The plans in Series 2: Oversize Drawings, 1999-2001 are organized by window numbers.
Physical Description66 boxes
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