The building/Paul Philippe Cret records, 1919-1931 (predominantly 1919-1921) | WorldCat.org (original) (raw)

Summary:These records, dating from Cret's tenure as architect of the Detroit Institute of Arts, consist primarily of correspondence and relate exclusively to the design and construction of the building. Of particular interest is the correspondence between Cret and Clyde H. Burroughs, secretary of the Arts Commission; Albert Kahn, commissioner and nationally known Detroit architect; Bryant & Detwiler, general builders and William R. Valentiner, museum director. The correspondence reveals an almost daily concern for details of construction progress and reflects the complexities of funding and carrying through a major architectural project. The records also document the development of original design features of the museum plan, described by Cret in 1923 as the "mingling of exhibits" of various media, the harmonizing of each room's architecture with its contents, the sequential arrangement of the collections and the provision of space for relaxation and social activities. William Valentiner's contribution to the design arrangement of the galleries is of a particular interest in this context. Other records relating to Paul P. Cret and the Detroit Institute of Arts project can be found at the original architecture firm (H2L2), located in Philadelphia, PA and the Rare Book Library, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Additional information also may be found in the records of Clyde Burroughs, William Valentiner and the audio-visual section of the Museum Archives of The Detroit Institute of Arts. The Graphic Arts department maintains a file of architectural drawings of the building by Cret, Zantzinger, Borie and Medary