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George Kreier, Jr. Collection
Notifications
Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Architectural Archives [Contact Us]220 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19094
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Architectural 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
This collection contains the records of the professional work and practice of George Kreier, Jr., a Philadelphia-based decorative and structural mold maker, designer, and inventor. It measures approximately 7 linear feet and includes architectural drawings, professional and project correspondence, patent research as well as the final patents, project related photographic material (including descriptions and tear sheet layouts for advertising the work of the firm), a few competitor catalogs, and plaster and plasticine sample objects. The collection contains little material from George Kreier Jr.'s father, George Kreier Sr., and his work in decorative sculpture. There is also no personal material for George Kreier Jr. or the Kreier family.
Gift of the Estate of George Kreier, 2007.
The collection was processed and the finding aid prepared by William Whitaker, Allison Olsen and Heather Isbell Schumacher, with the assistance of Shaikhah Alsahi. Work was substantially completed in 2018, with additions and corrections in 2021.
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania: Architectural Archives
- Use Restrictions
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This collection is available for research by appointment only.
Collection Inventory
Series I documents Kreier's pre cast and decorative concrete or plasticine mold work with architects, from between 1960 and 1972. Most of the drawings are marked up prints sent by the architects to Kreier for the commission, there are a few original sketches by the architects or Kreier's office. These drawings were originally folded within the corresponding project folders. Consulting projects include Millcreek Public Housing with Louis Kahn (Philadelphia, PA), State University of New York at Albany with Edward Durell Stone, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs Building with Minoru Yamasaki, and Precast concrete housing plans for workers in Jamaica.
Arranged by client in alphabetical order.
Physical Description7 Folder(s)
1 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
3 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
3 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
7 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
12 Drawing(s)
5 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
3 Drawing(s)
4 Drawing(s)
6 Drawing(s)
7 Drawing(s)
4 Drawing(s)
4 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
5 Drawing(s)
1 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
3 Drawing(s)
10 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
2 Drawing(s)
42 Drawing(s)
6 Drawing(s)
4 Drawing(s)
Series II documents Kreier's professional work from two periods: his precast and decorative concrete or plasticine mold work between 1955 and 1972, and his architectural restoration work for the University of Pennsylvania between 1989 and 1999. There is no documentation of his childhood, student work, or work from between 1973 and 1988.
Section A contains biographical files for George Kreier Jr., including a curriculum vitae, and two items likely inherited from George Kreier Sr: a product catalog from George Kreier Sr's sculpture company, and a sketchbook from the 1860's by fellow German immigrant and Philadelphia sculptor, Franz Meynen.
Section B contains two cubic feet of professional and project correspondence for precast and decorative concrete or plasticine mold work between 1955 and 1972. This section is arranged alphabetically by the architect for the project, or the company Kreier was contracted through, like Eastern Schokcrete. Thought these projects are mainly for architectural commissions, Kreier also did molded plastic work for amusement parks and decoration. A few of these projects are represented including the Lusse Brothers – Bumper cars, and the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
Section C documents Kreier's historic conservation work for the University of Pennsylvania completed between 1989 and 1999. This work mainly compromises stone analysis, repair and infill for College Hall, Logan Hall, the Furness library steps and plaza and the Perelman Quadrangle. Also in this section are records related to a cast stone window repair at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.
Series III contains research and the patents for two patents by Kreier: House molding system and Gel Coat system. Records include the drafts and research for the patents, as well as patent search with copies of related patents. Kreier also applied and received patents in several international countries, which is also documented in this series.
Series V contains project photography for work created by Kreier Organizations between 1950 and 1972. Most of the photography are photoprints, there are few slides or negatives. A particular highlight are the print layouts and tear sheets created to advertise the companies work. There is a sheet for most of the completed projects by Kreier Organizations between 1960 and 1970, these sheets give the architect's name, the building contractor's name, locations, and date. The sheets also contain a description of the work completed by Kreier Organizations along with photography of the work. In some of the sheets, there is a detailed description of the work process.
Physical Description67 Folder(s)
6 Photographic Print(s)
26 Photographic Print(s)
1 Sheet(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Negative(s)
2 Photographic Print(s)
14 Photographic Print(s)
9 Photographic Print(s)
16 Photographic Print(s)
4 Photographic Print(s)
7 Photographic Print(s)
5 Photographic Print(s)
1 Photographic Print(s)
12 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
7 Photographic Print(s)
2 Photographic Print(s)
2 Photographic Print(s)
2 Photographic Print(s)
6 Photographic Print(s)
8 Photographic Print(s)
4 Photographic Print(s)
2 Photographic Print(s)
4 Photographic Print(s)
7 Photographic Print(s)
10 Photographic Negative(s)
7 Photographic Print(s)
13 Photographic Print(s)
22 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
4 Photographic Print(s)
4 Photographic Print(s)
12 Photographic Print(s)
8 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
1 Photographic Print(s)
8 Photographic Print(s)
2 Photographic Print(s)
5 Photographic Print(s)
2 Photographic Print(s)
10 Photographic Print(s)
17 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
4 Photographic Print(s)
6 Photographic Print(s)
8 Photographic Print(s)
1 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
5 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
2 Sheet(s)
15 Photographic Print(s)
28 Photographic Print(s)
19 Photographic Print(s)
64 Photographic Print(s)
12 Photographic Print(s)
16 Photographic Print(s)
3 Photographic Print(s)
16 Photographic Print(s)
20 Photographic Print(s)
11 Photographic Print(s)
6 Photographic Print(s)
8 Photographic Print(s)
1 Photographic Print(s)
17 Photographic Print(s)
81 Photographic Print(s)
5 Photographic Print(s)
22 Photographic Print(s)
2 Photographic Print(s)
7 Photographic Print(s)
1 Item(s)plasticine12 Inches in diameter
1 Item(s)plaster14 x 20 inches
1 Item(s)plaster mounted on wood23.75 x 4 inches
1 Item(s)plaster11.5 x 7.5 inches
1 Item(s)plasticine8.5 x 8.5 inches