INVENTORY OF THE JOHN FITCHEN PAPERS, 1927-1989
Finding aid prepared by Teresa Morales
Getty Research Institute
Research Library
Special Collections and Visual Resources
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California 90049-1688
Phone: (310) 440-7390
Fax: (310) 440-7780
Email Requests: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/library/reference_form.html
URL: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/library/
©1994
J. Paul Getty Trust
INVENTORY OF THE JOHN FITCHEN PAPERS, 1927-1989
Accession no. 910018
Finding aid prepared
by Teresa Morales
Getty Research Institute
Contact Information:
- The Getty Research Institute
- Research Library
- Special Collections and Visual Resources
- 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
- Los Angeles, California 90049-1688
- Phone: (310) 440-7390
- Fax: (310) 440-7780
- Email Requests: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/library/reference_form.html
- URL: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/library/
- Processed by:
- Teresa Morales
- Date
Completed:
-
1994, rev. 2005
- Encoded by:
- Apex Data Systems, with additional coding by Tom Philo
©2005 J. Paul Getty Trust.
Descriptive Summary
Title: John Fitchen papers
Date (inclusive): 1927-1989
Collection number: 910018
Creator:
Fitchen, John
Extent:
4 lin. ft.
(10 boxes)
Repository:
Getty Research Institute
Research Library
Special Collections and Visual Resources
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1688
Abstract: American architect and architectural historian. Most of the research materials relate to three of Fitchen's books:
Construction of Gothic Cathedrals,
The New World Dutch Barn, and
Building Construction Before Mechanization. Other papers include designs, drawings, and sketchbooks, as well as correspondence with numerous architectural historians,
primarily on the subject of medieval architecture.
Language: Collection material in English
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
John Fitchen papers, 1927-1989, Research Library, The Getty Research Institute, Accession number 910018.
Processing History
Teresa Morales processed the collection in 1996.
Biographical/Historical note
John Fitchen, American architectural historian and architect, is the author of several works, among them,
Construction of Gothic cathedrals (1961, 1981),
New World Dutch barn (1968), and
Building construction before mechanization (1986). He attended Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, where he studied with Kenneth John Conant and developed
an abiding interest in medieval construction techniques.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Fitchen papers comprise research materials, manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and reviews for his publications,
especially for his 3 books:
Construction of Gothic cathedrals,
New World Dutch barn, and
Building construction before mechanization. Manuscripts and printed materials document numerous articles and lectures by Fitchen. Other files contain material for unpublished
projects, including his manuscript “Plot, plan and perspective.” Sketches and drawings document Fitchen's designs for bookplates
and buildings, including some done as a student. A sketchbook contains drawings of American Dutch barns. Correspondence with
more than a dozen architectural historians centers largely on the subject of medieval architecture and construction.
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Fitchen, John
Ayasofya Müzesi
Harvard University. Graduate School of Design
Washington Cathedral
Architecture
Architecture, Gothic
Architecture, Gothic—History
Architecture—Historiography
Architecture, Medieval
Architecture, Medieval—History
Building—Europe
Building—Europe—History
Building materials—Europe—History
Barns—Netherlands
Barns—United States
Cathedrals
Cathedrals—Europe
Church architecture
Church architecture—Europe—History
Church architecture—Themes, motives
Church architecture—Designs and plans
Civil engineering
Vaults (Architecture)
Vaults (Architecture), Gothic
Genres and Forms of Materials
Architectural drawings—United States—20th century
Photographs, Original
Photographic prints
Contributors
Bucher, François
Conant, Kenneth John, 1894-
Harvey, John Hooper
Heyman, Jacques
Horn, Walter William, 1908-
Hubka, Thomas C., 1946-
Macaulay, David
McKee, Harley J.
Placzek, Adolf K.
Szarmach, Paul E.
Van Nise, Robert L.
Wachs, William
Titles
Construction of Gothic cathedrals
New World Dutch barn
Building construction before mechanization
Series I.
Research for major publications, ca. 1954-1987,
n.d.
Physical Description:
7 boxes
Scope and Content Note
Primarily research materials, manuscripts, correspondence, printed matter and photographs related to Fitchen's three books:
The construction of Gothic cathedrals (1961, 1981),
The New World Dutch barn (1968), and
Building construction before mechanization (1986).
Box 1, Folder 1-6
Gothic Cathedrals, ca. 1954-1981
Box 1, Folder 1
Research notes, ca. 1954-1959
Box 1, Folder 3
Original drawings for ms, n.d
Box 1, Folder 4
Correspondence with publisher, 1957-1960
Box 1, Folder 5
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1958-1960
Box 1, Folder 6
Reviews & letter in response to both, 1960-1962,
1980
Box 2, Folder 2
Manuscript, appendices, n.d.
Box 3, Folder 1-3
Dutch Barns, 1963-1975,
n.d.
Box 3, Folder 3
Correspondence after publication, 1965-1975
Box 4, Folder 1-6
Papers & photographs: Dutch Barns, ca. 1963-1986,
n.d.
Box 4, Folder 1
Sketches. See also drawings of American barns in sketchbook, Box 9., 1963
Box 4, Folder 2
Miscellaneous photos (negatives placed in cold storage, box 10), n.d.
Box 4, Folder 3
Miscellaneous plates, n.d.
Box 4, Folder 4
Photographs for Netherlandish barns, 1982-1986,
n.d.
Box 4, Folder 5
Illustrations for manuscript, n.d.
Box 4, Folder 6
Photo mechanicals for manuscript, 1964
Box 5, Folder 1-4
Papers & photographs: Building Construction, ca. 1954-1985
Box 6, Folder 1-4
Papers & photographs, ca. 1984-1987,
n.d.
Box 6, Folder 1
Illustrations (n.b., post-its), n.d.
Box 6, Folder 2
Illustrations (n.b., post-its,), n.d.
Box 6, Folder 3
Reviews, correspondence, ca. 1987
Box 10
Negatives (2), pulled from Box 4, f.4, 1982-1986,
n.d.
Series II.
Student work, manuscripts, lectures, drawings, ca. 1927-1989,
Physical Description:
2 boxes
Scope and Content Note
Series comprises papers related to Fitchen's publications (other than those referenced in Series I), his lectures, student
work at Harvard, and drawings and designs.
Box 7, Folder 1-31
Papers: Lectures, manuscripts, offprints, correspondence
Box 7, Folder 1
“Premier of Baseball,” 1989; lecture
Box 7, Folder 2
“English vs. French Vaulting,” 1985; lecture
Box 7, Folder 3
“Visual Impact of the Gothic Cathedral,” lecture, 1979
Box 7, Folder 4
Building Cheops' Pyramid,
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians (JSAH) 1978
Box 7, Folder 5
“Early Timber Framed Construction in America,” lecture, 1972
Box 7, Folder 6
“New World Dutch Barn,” lecture, 1971
Box 7, Folder 7
Why Not Fountains in Winter? 1970
Box 7, Folder 8
Vitas, grant applications, etc; 1967-1985
Box 7, Folder 9
“New York State Dutch Barns,” lecture, 1965
Box 7, Folder 10
Architecture, the Optimistic Art,
AIA Journal proofs1964
Box 7, Folder 11
“Masonry Techniques of the Middle Ages,” lecture, 1963
Box 7, Folder 12
Untitled miscellaneous articles, 1961
Box 7, Folder 13
Erection of French Gothic Nave Vaults, Gazette offprint, 1960
Box 7, Folder 14
Plot, Plan and Perspective, manuscript, 1959
Box 7, Folder 15
Changing Face of the Riviera, 1959
Box 7, Folder 16
An Old House of Laminated, Solid Wood Walls,
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians (JSAH) 1957
Box 7, Folder 17
Comment on Flying Buttresses, Gazette offprint, 1955
Box 7, Folder 18
Draftsman to Architect, manuscript, 1951-1952
Box 7, Folder 19
Architectural Subject Matter,
1949
Box 7, Folder 20
Introduction to Art, manuscript, 1937
Box 7, Folder 21
Student drawings, Harvard, 1927-1928
Box 7, Folder 24
Principles of Architectural Construction
Box 7, Folder 25
Notes on Female Architecture
Box 7, Folder 27
"Here Once Stood a House," manuscript,
Box 7, Folder 28
"First Book on the Moon," manuscript
Box 7, Folder 29
Dealing with the Inexplicable
Box 7, Folder 30
Miscellaneous designs & drawings by Fitchen
Scope and Content Note
See also Box 9 for sketchbook.
Box 9*
Fitchen sketchbook, n.d.
Scope and Content Note
Includes measured sketches, most showing the construction of American Dutch barns.
Series III.
Correspondence, ca. 1954-1984
Physical Description:
1 box
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence between Fitchen and other architectural historians, primarily dealing with the structure of medieval buildings.
Letters include discussions of work in progress and critiques of publications.
Box 8, Folder 4
George Collins, 1964-1968
Box 8, Folder 5
Kenneth Conant, 1955-1962
Box 8, Folder 6
James M. Fitch, 1956,
1970
Box 8, Folder 8
Jacques Heyman, 1965-1971
Box 8, Folder 11
Lewis C. Jones, 1963-1967
Box 8, Folder 12
Christine Kaplan, 1977,
1984
Box 8, Folder 16
Paul E. Szarmach, 1976,
1981
Box 8, Folder 17
Robert L. Van Nise, 1963-1978
Box 8, Folder 18
William C. Wachs, 1962-1972
