Mies in America Research Collection

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Part of

• Collection: Mies in America Research Collection, 1957-2002

People

• Phyllis Lambert (archive creator)

Title

Mies in America Research Collection

Dates of creation

1957-2002

Form

• archives

Level of archival description

Collection 172

Extent and Medium

• 10.38 l.m. of textual materials
• 4564 photographic material(s)
• 39 reprographic copy(ies)
• 14 digital file(s)
• 11 audio cassette(s)
• 10 ephemera
• 6 VHS(s)
• 5 Betacam(s)
• 1 drawing(s)

Scope and Content

The Mies in America Research Collection documents an exhibition and publication project produced by Curator and Architectural Historian, Phyllis Lambert (1927-), and associated researchers between 1996-2002. The project explored German-born architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's (1886-1969) contributions to the American architectural landscape following his immigration from Germany to Chicago in 1938. The resulting book, a collaboration between the Canadian Centre for Architecture and the Whitney Museum of American Art, was published in 2001. The exhibition ran from 2001-2002 with stops at the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), the Canadian Centre for Architecture, (Montreal), and the Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago). The Mies in America research collection consists of correspondence, research, and administrative, manuscript, and curatorial files created by Phyllis Lambert and the project team for the book and exhibition project Mies in America, originally housed in the Mies research office at the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Throughout the process, the team of researchers consulted previously unstudied material on Mies van der Rhoe from major repositories across North America, including drawings, collages, photographs, project documents, letters, and extensive interviews , which are represented in photocopy throughout the collection to document the research activities as well as curatorial choices and manuscript development. Subsequent curatorial decisions based on this research are detailed through notes, correspondence, manuscript drafts, and object lists as the book and exhibition projects took shape. Original annotations, edits, and comments made by Phyllis Lambert and her research associates are present throughout. The administrative activities of the research team are also documented through correspondence, research assistant assignments, research trips, and photography requests. Files from the assistant curator (Cammie McAtee), and research assistants (primarily Elspeth Cowell, Nathalie Senecal, and Deborah Miller) are integrated throughout the collection.

Reference Number

AP172

Arrangement

The collection was arranged in 2003 by Elspeth Cowell, who acted as research assistant for the Mies in America project. This original order is based on how the collection was accessed and developed by the research team. During processing from 2024-2025, the original order was maintained, with the only change being a re-ordering from largest to smallest in terms of volume of materials. Series 1. Research (formerly series C) Series 2. Book development (formerly series D) Series 3. Exhibition development (formerly series A) Series 4. Research administration (formerly series B)

Administrative history

Mies in America was an exhibition and publication produced by Curator Phyllis Lambert (1927-) and associated researchers between 1996-2002. The resulting book, a collaboration between the Canadian Centre for Architecture and the Whitney Museum of American Art, was published in 2001 by Harry N. Abrams Inc. Publishers. The exhibition ran from 2001-2002 with stops at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (21 June to September 23 2001), the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal (17 October 2001 to 20 January 2022), and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (16 February to 26 May 2002). The exhibition and book explored Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s (1886-1969) contributions to the American architectural landscape following his immigration to Chicago in 1938. The exhibition and book follow the German born architect’s transition as a thought leader at the Bauhaus to a visionary at the Illinois Institute of Technology as he embarked on a highly productive second era in his career. Both the exhibition and the book project follow van der Rohe’s transformation and impact on the architecture of the Americas in the thirty years that followed his immigration touching on van der Rohe’s technological innovations, art collection, and pedagogical activities.

Conditions governing access

• The CCA collection is open to everyone. We only ask that you reach out to us at ref@cca.qc.ca and make an appointment in advance so we have the time to properly prepare your resources.

Conditions governing reproduction

• For copyright information or permission to reproduce material from the fonds, please contact the CCA (reproductions@cca.qc.ca).

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

• Transfer from Mies in America Research office circa 2003.

Custodial history

The materials in this collection were created by Phyllis Lambert and the Mies in America project team, originally housed in the Mies research office at the Canadian Centre for Architecture. The files were transferred from the research office to the vaults of the Canadian Centre for Architecture where they remained until processing. 4 containers (materials in AP172.S2.0018 to AP172.S2.0021) were added to the fonds that were initially trasnferred to CCA institutional archives.

Archivist's note

• Between 2003-2010 an original inventory and survey was completed by Elspeth Cowell. This fonds was processed by Hannah Deskin, archivist for Phyllis Lambert, between 2024-2025 using inventories and surveys created by Elspeth Cowell in 2003. Phyllis Lambert was consulted throughout the process and provided insight into the project and its activities. Some materials were rehoused for preservation purposes, and materials were described down to the file level.

Language of material

English, French, German