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Firestone Library Architectural Drawings Collection

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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

Call Number:
AC411
Repository:
Princeton University Library: University Archives
Extent:
  • 4 boxes
  • 1 folder
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Firestone Library Architectural Drawings Collection; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Date:
1931-1963 (inclusive)
Creator:
R. B. O'Connor & W. H. Kilham, Jr. (Firm).
Form:
Architectural drawings (visual works)
Abstract:
R. B. O'Connor & W. H. Kilham, Jr. is the New York City architictural firm that was appointed in 1944 to design Princeton University's Firestone Library, which opened in 1948. The collection includes architectural drawings, plans and photographs of Firestone Library (1948) and the later addition of the John Foster Dulles Library of Diplomatic History (1962).

R. B. O'Connor & W. H. Kilham, Jr. (Firm).

R. B. O'Connor & W. H. Kilham, Jr. is the New York City architictural firm that was appointed in 1944 to design Princeton University's Firestone Library, which opened in 1948.

The collection includes architectural drawings, plans and photographs of Firestone Library (1948) and the later addition of the John Foster Dulles Library of Diplomatic History (1962). Most of the materials are attributable to the R. B. O'Connor and W. H. Kilham, Jr. architecture firm. The collection also contains a senior thesis and architectural drawing of Ides van Waterschoot van der Gracht, Princeton Class of 1923.

The materials are generally arranged by exterior drawing and plans, interior drawings and plans, and oversized materials.

The collection was purchased as a group lot at auction. The person or organization that assembled the collection is unknown.

Purchased as group lot at auction from Grogan and Company, Dedham, Massachusetts in April 2013.

This collection was processed by Lynn Durgin in 2013 May.

Additional architectural drawings of Firestone Library are held in the Office of Physical Planning Records (AC154).

No appraisal information is available.

People
Organization

Publisher
University Archives
Finding Aid Date
Published in May 2013.
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. If copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers will not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with non-commercial use of materials from the Mudd Library. For materials where the copyright is not held by the University, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

Firestone Library Exterior, Painted, Color Rendering of Firestone Library with Walkway, 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Firestone Library Exterior, Pencil Sketch of Firestone Library and Plaza, undated. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Exterior Pencil Sketch of the Dulles Reading Room, 1959. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Drawn by Schell Lewis for O'Connor and Kilham

Physical Description

1 box

Copy of Exterior Pencil Sketch of the Dulles Reading Room, 1959. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Drawn by Schell Lewis for O'Connor and Kilham

Physical Description

1 box

Photograph of Exterior of Firestone Library Entrance, circa 1948. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Scale Drawing of Turret on Southwest Corner of Tower, circa 1948. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Scale Drawing of Turrets on Main Tower, circa 1948. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Exterior Sketch of a Chapel, 1931. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Drawn by Schell Lewis for William Bayard Willis Architect

Physical Description

1 folder

Geology Addition to Guyot Hall, Exterior Sketch, 1963. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Drawn by Schell Lewis for O'Connor and Kilham architects.

Physical Description

1 folder

Two Sketches of Interiors of a Dining Hall (Scheme BI and BII), circa 1940-1960. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Interior of Library Lobby, Concept Sketch, circa 1940s. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Interior of Library Lobby, Photograph, circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interior of Library Reading Room, Charcoal Sketch (No. 6), circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interior of Library Reading Room, Charcoal Sketch with Color (No. 4), circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interior of Library Study Area, Charcoal and Color, circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interior of Library Concept Sketch, Charcoal and Color, Showing Multiple Floors, circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interior of Library, Possibly a Reference Collection Area, Charcoal Sketch on Gray Paper, circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interior of Library, Entrance Area, Pencil Sketch, circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interior of Library, Typical Seminar Room, B Floor, circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Sketch of Large Hall (Dining Hall?), Scheme 3, circa 1946. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Print of Unidentified Building, Street Elevation, 1933. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Ides van Waterschoot van der Gracht, architect.

Physical Description

1 box

Oversized portfolio Containing Sketches and Plans of Dulles Library Addition to Firestone Library, circa 1940-1960. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Photograph of Exterior of Firestone Library, circa 1948. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Photograph of Exterior of Firestone Library with Cars, People, Mounted on Board, circa 1948. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Photograph of Exterior of Firestone Library From Washington Road, Before Dulles Library, circa 1948. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Interior Photograph of Library, Showing Book Shelves, circa 1948. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Senior Thesis (with Accompanying Illustrations)of Ides van Waterschoot van der Gracht, 1926. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Princeton University senior thesis titled "A Monastery and School for the training of the Clergy in the Liberal Studies" with a set of five drawings and plans.

Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest