Architecture
Document Actions
Architecture
From skyscrapers to bungalows, the Charles F. Murphy Architectural Study Center at the Chicago History Museum has one of the nation's largest collections of architectural working drawings, as well as manuscript materials, photographs, architectural models, and building fragments.
Architectural Drawings
Architectural drawings in the collection date from the 1870s to the present. The vast majority of drawings are working drawings on drafting linen or tracing paper, but the collection also contains design sketches and rendered presentation drawings. Major collections include:
- Holabird & Roche and Holabird & Root, 1885-1940
- Harry Weese Associates, 1952-78
- C.F. Murphy & Associates
- Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
- Rapp & Rapp
- John Lloyd Wright
- Francis Barry Byrne
- Mary Ann Crawford
- John Reed Fugard, Thielbar & Fugard, and Fugard & Knapp
- Alfred Alschuler and Friedman, Alschuler & Sincere
- Graceland Cemetery
Manuscript Materials
Where possible, the entire archives of architectural firms, not just individual drawings or projects, have been collected, including the business papers of architectural, engineering, and real estate development firms. Artifacts include job files, correspondence, ledgers, field notes, and more.
Models and Building Fragments
Approximately fifty architectural models are also in our collection. Some are highly finished presentation models, others are crude constructions used by the architects to explore design possibilities. Fragments of buildings that have been demolished or remodeled are also collected to document the built environment.
Photographs
The Museum's architectural collection also contains a number of photographs. These usually accompany a collection of drawings from an architectural firm.
Research
Architectural collections are available to researchers by appointment only. All drawings are cataloged and cross-referenced by the name of the architect or architectural firm on the drawings; we cannot locate collection items by street address.
The staff also welcomes written and telephone requests for information about materials in the collection.
Online Resources
The Research Center has many resources for exploring architectural history.