Main entry:

Cohen, Jean-Louis, creator

Title & Author:

Jean-Louis Cohen fonds, 1968-2023

Description:

143,342 digital files (517.39 GB)

Restrictions:

Please contact ref@cca.qc.ca to make an appointment to access this collection

Notes:
This fonds contains records that document Nazi genocide, anti-Semitism, violence, and anti-Black racism. Consulting this finding aid and the archival materials within this fonds may cause harm. The processing archivist tried her best to flag harmful material in the scope and content notes of this finding aid. Although, given the amount of material in this fonds and the biases of the processing archivist, harmful materials have been missed or not identified and are present in this fonds without warning. Please take care when consulting this finding aid and the records in this fonds, and seek support from resources that you trust when necessary. Further, out of respect for Cohen’s family’s wishes and a sense of responsibility to the individuals documented in the records [1], the processing archivist has removed sensitive personal records from this fonds. Yet, again, due to the quantity of records in this fonds, and the processing archivist’s limited perspective and knowledge, some personal records may have been unintentionally retained (especially among the digital records). If you do come across records that document sensitive personal information or relationships, please let the CCA team know so that we can work with all stakeholders to determine the best way forward with preservation and access. Additionally, please keep in mind that this finding aid is intended to be iterative, and evolve as researchers interact with the records in this fonds and their descriptions. If you encounter harmful or sensitive personal material, or have ideas about how to improve or expand this finding aid, please contact the CCA team (ref@cca.qc.ca). We are committed to working collaboratively to continue to grow this finding aid. Reference: [1]. Caswell, M., & Cifor, M. (2016). From Human Rights to Feminist Ethics: Radical Empathy in the Archives. Archivaria, 81, 23-43. Retrieved from https://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/article/view/13557.
Physical Characteristics / Technical Requirements: Due to the way the digital files in the 2023 donation were transferred onto their hard drive, many file titles contained extra Unicode character symbols. These characters were removed by the processing archivist as part of the digital preservation process. Further, extensions were added to any files with missing file extensions based on Pronom recommendations. These actions may have resulted in inaccurate timestamps for some folders within the digital files; however, the timestamps of individual documents have not been changed. Unfortunately, the CCA’s digital preservation tools require the transliteration of non-Latin scripts in file titles. Users can access the original file titles through the file tree in the metadata folder of the AIP.
When citing the collection as a whole, use the citation: Jean-Louis Cohen fonds, Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal. When citing specific collection material, please refer to the object’s specific credit line.
For copyright information or permission to reproduce material from the fonds, please contact the CCA (reproductions@cca.qc.ca)
In 2019, the CCA purchased a collection of photographs by Robert Mallet-Stevens from Cohen. See items PH2019:0002:001-245 in the CCA’s Photography collection. The Cité de l’architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris, France also holds a fonds with related records. The fonds Jean-Louis Cohen (1949-2023) et Monique Eleb (1945-2023) : fonds documentaire sur Casablanca (445 IFA) at the Cité d’architecture contains material collected by Cohen and Eleb for their publication Casablanca : mythes et figures d'une aventure urbaine (see project series AP210.S1.SS1.1998.PR01 in this fonds for more details). The finding aid for the fonds at the Cité d'architecture can be accessed through this link: https://archiwebture.citedelarchitecture.fr/ark:/43435/910972 Finally, note that as Cohen was affiliated with various institutes, universities, and organisations over the course of his career, his work may also be documented in the archives of these institutions.
Mainly in English, French, Italian, German, and Russian, but also in Spanish, Czech, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese
Prior to being donated to the CCA, the records in Cohen’s 2019 donations, were stored at his home in Ardèche, France. After Cohen’s death in 2023, the CCA received donations from his family in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The 2023 and 2025 donations came from his homes in Paris and Ardèche in France and were packed by family members and the CCA’s Director of Collections, Martien de Vletter. The 2024 donation came from Cohen’s apartment in New York City, USA and his office at the Institute of Fine Arts (IFA) at New York University. These records were packed by a family member and the CCA’s Curator of Books Viveca Pattison Robichaud.

Summary:

The Jean-Louis Cohen fonds, 1968-2023, documents the projects and activities of historian, curator, professor, and architect Jean-Louis Cohen (1949-2023). Cohen’s research focus was largely modern architecture and transnational architectural exchange, particularly between and among the United States, Europe, and the former Soviet Union in the 20th century. Through physical and digital records, this fonds documents his academic, publishing, and curatorial work along with his professional activities within architectural research and heritage organizations, as well as his architectural practice.

Biographical note:

Jean-Louis Cohen (July 20, 1949-August 7, 2023) was a historian, curator, professor, and architect. While his research interests were wide-ranging, his work was primarily concerned with modern architecture and transnational architectural exchange, particularly between and among the United States, Europe, and the former Soviet Union in the 20th century. Born in Paris, France, Cohen obtained his architecture degree (Architecte diplômé par le gouvernement) in 1973 from the Unité Pédagogique d’Architecture n°6 in Paris (known as l’École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Paris-La Villette at time of writing this finding aid) [1]. He continued his studies at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris, where he received his Diplôme d’Études Approfondies (DEA) in 1982, doctorate degree in 1985, and Habilitation à diriger des recherches (HDR) in 1992.During his fifty-year career, Cohen published more than 60 books, led more than 12 research programs, wrote over 250 articles, organised or participated in dozens of conferences, and contributed to numerous collective works and catalogues. Among his publications and research programs are: “La coupure entre architectes et intellectuels, ou les enseignements de l'italophilie” (1976-1980); Le Corbusier et la mystique de l'URSS, théories et projets pour Moscou 1928-1936 (1987); “Les relations franco-allemandes 1940-1950 et leurs effets sur l'architecture et la forme urbaine” with Hartmut Frank (1986-1989); Des fortifs au périf, Paris, les seuils de la ville with André Lortie (1992); Américanisme et modernité, l'idéal américain dans l'architecture ed., with Hubert Damisch (1993); Casablanca: mythes et figures d'une aventure urbaine with Monique Eleb (1998); Architecture en uniforme ; projeter et construire pour la seconde guerre mondiale (2011); L’architecture au futur depuis 1889 (2012); Frank Gehry, Catalogue Raisonné of the Drawings (2020); and Building a new New World: Amerikanizm in Russian Architecture (2020). Cohen and Monique Eleb (1945-2023), a professor of psychology and sociology as well as an architectural scholar, were married for a time and collaborated on several books, research programs, and articles together. Cohen also curated dozens of exhibitions at museums and institutes across Europe, in Morocco, the United States, Canada, and China. Selected exhibitions include: Scènes de la vie future : l'architecture européenne et la tentation de l'Amérique, 1893-1960 (1995); Casablanca, naissance d'une ville moderne en sol africain with Monique Eleb (1999); The Lost Vanguard: Soviet Modernist architecture, 1922-1932 (2007); Interférences / Interferenzen : architecture - Allemagne - France with Hartmut Frank (2013); and Paris Moderne 1914-1945: Architecture, Design, Film with Pascal Mory and Catherine Örmen (2023). Cohen’s teaching appointments included positions at the École d'Architecture Paris-Villemin (1983-1996), the Institut français d'urbanisme, Université de Paris 8 (1996-2005), Princeton University (2006-2023); and the Collège de France (2014-2021). From 1994 until his passing in 2023, Cohen was the Sheldon H. Solow Professor in the History of Architecture at the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. As part of his teaching activities, Cohen supervised dozens of doctoral dissertations and HDR theses at universities throughout Europe and the United States. Additionally, Cohen held positions and undertook projects at institutes, government ministries, universities, and museums across Europe, the United States, and Canada. In France, Cohen was at the Institut de l'Environnement in Paris from 1973-1976. He later served as the head of the Secrétariat de la Recherche Architecturale (SRA) for the French ministère de l’Urbanisme et du Logement from 1979-1982. From 1998-2003, Cohen was simultaneously director of the Institut français d’architecture (1998-2003) and the Musée des monuments français (1999-2003). During this time, he was also responsible for the creation of the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine, an architecture museum in Paris which opened in 2007. Cohen also served on the boards of several publishers and organisations, including Casabella, the Fondation Le Corbusier, the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA), and the CCA among others. At the CCA, Cohen served on the Comité de selection du Centre d’étude from 1997-2005, was part of the Conseil d’administration from 1998-2014 and was part of the Comité des programmes et des archives from 2008 until his passing (he served as president of this committee in 2014). In addition to his research, writing, curatorial work, and teaching, Cohen also practiced architecture. He led, or was involved in, several architectural projects, many of which were related to heritage preservation efforts in France and Morocco. Reference: [1]. L’école en un clic. (n.d.). L'École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Paris-La Villette (ENSAPLV). Retrieved August 26, 2025 from https://www.paris-lavillette.archi.fr/lecole-en-un-clic/.

Resources:
Finding aid

Subject:

Architecture France.
Architecture Soviet Union.
Architecture United States.
Architecture Morocco.
Architecture, French colonial.
Architectural historians.
Architecture Europe History 20th century.
Architecture, Modern 20th century.
Architecture URSS.
Architecture États-Unis.
Architecture Maroc.
Historiens de l'architecture.
Architecture 20e siècle.
architectural historians.

Form/genre:

fonds (collections)

Added entries:

Jean-Louis Cohen archive

Holdings:

Location: Library archives collection 320854
Call No.: AP210
Copy: 1
Status: Available