Title: American Institute of Architects. Wisconsin Chapter: Records
Inclusive Dates: 1899, 1926-1957

Creator:

• American Institute of Architects. Wisconsin Chapter

Call Number: Mss 37

Quantity: 0.8 c.f. (2 archives boxes)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Records of a professional association of Wisconsin architects including secretary's and treasurer's correspondence, board meeting minutes, reports, membership lists, newsletters, and financial records. The correspondence documents the founding of the organization in 1899 and the consolidation of the Madison Chapter into the Wisconsin Chapter in 1938. The materials include the organization's news bulletin (1947-1957) and reports and plans for the proposed Milwaukee Civic Center (1948-1949).

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00037

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In 1899, the American Institute of Architects helped to form what was known as the Wisconsin Chapter at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This group adopted the national organization's objectives as its own: “to organize and unite in fellowship the architects of the U.S.; to combine their efforts so as to promote the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession; to advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education, training and practice and to make the profession an ever increasing service to society.”

Membership in the organization was open to any competent architect (or architectural teacher) who was a citizen of the United States and who would subscribe to and follow the “Standards of Professional Practice.” In 1938, The Wisconsin Chapter at Milwaukee absorbed the Madison Chapter; but in 1949 this combined organization ceased to exist under the name of The Wisconsin Chapter. Instead, a new state organization became known as the Wisconsin Architects Association, and this also became a chapter of the American Institute of Architects. It was made up of members of the former Wisconsin Chapter and the former State Association of Wisconsin Architects, the latter having also disbanded in 1949.

The records contained in the two boxes of this collection are concerned with the Wisconsin Chapter until its dissolution in 1949, and then with the Wisconsin Architects Association after its formation that same year, both groups being chapters of the American Institute of Architects. The contents list below shows these divisions.

Correspondence in the collection is chiefly that of the secretary and treasurer of each of the two groups. The majority of letters concern the granting of memberships, and informing members as to acts which may be considered to be beneath the standards of the American Institute of Architects. Noteworthy items include letters of Glenn Brown, representing the national Institute, urging incorporation of the Wisconsin Chapter in 1899; and letters pertaining to the consolidation of the Madison Chapter with the Wisconsin Chapter in 1938. Also present are minutes of board meetings, monthly meetings, reports, membership lists and financial records. Volumes 1 and 2 deal with receipts and disbursements, 1926-1939, of the Wisconsin Chapter; and Volume 3 is the banking account record, 1949-1951, of the Wisconsin Architects Association. The organization's mimeographed News Bulletins cover the years 1947-1957.

Contained in the first folder in Box 2 are papers relating to the development of Milwaukee's Civic Center. These include a few letters, proposals, plans, and reports, all for the years 1948 and 1949.

State Association of Wisconsin Architects Records (Mss 36) contains related records.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Mrs. Ruth Hill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 3, 1960.

Processing Information

Processed by F. Gerald Ham's archives class, Summer 1968, and Margaret Hafstad, February 4, 1969.

	Series: Records of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   1	1899, 1932, 1937-1939
Box   1 Folder   2	1940-1949
	Minutes of Executive Board Meetings
Box   1 Folder   3	1937-1943
Box   1 Folder   4	1944-1948
Box   1 Folder   5	1934-1948
Box   1 Folder   6	Committee reports, irregular
Box   1 Folder   7	Annual reports, 1938-1941, 1944, 1948
Box   1 Folder   8	Membership lists, 1917, 1939, 1946-1949
Box   1 Folder   9	Financial statements, 1946-1949
Box   1 Folder   10	News Bulletins, 1947-1957 (incl. Wisconsin Architects Association)
	Series: Records of the Wisconsin Architects Association of the American Institute of Architects	⇧
Box   1 Folder   11	Organizational meeting, June 24, 1949; constitution; by-laws; membership list, , 1950
Box   1 Folder   12	Correspondence, 1950-1951
Box   1 Folder   13	Miscellaneous reports and minutes, 1949-1953
Box   2 Folder   1	Papers relating to the design of the Milwaukee Civic Center, 1948-1949
	Treasurer's book, receipts and disbursements
Box   2 Volume   1	1926-1934
Box   2 Volume   2	1931-1939
Box   2 Volume   3	Account book, banking, 1949-1951