Albert Mayer papers, 1926-1980 (bulk 1945-1974)

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Mayer, Albert
Title
Albert Mayer papers
Dates
1926-1980 (bulk 1945-1974) (inclusive)
Quantity
52 cubic ft. (52 boxes)
Collection Number
05548
Summary
Resource files, correspondence, and manuscripts of Albert Mayer, an architect and urban planner interested in the social aspects of planning and development of cities.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid has been made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Albert Mayer (1897-1981), an architect and city planner, co-founded the New York City firm of Mayer and Whittlesey (later Mayer, Whittlesey and Glass) in 1935. Mayer attended Columbia University, but graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in civil engineering in 1919. After spending several years as an engineer, he switched to architecture when he became more interested in the social aspects of design. An advocate of large-scale planned housing projects, he believed that cities should not grow naturally. Mayer was involved in the planning and development of several new cities in the U.S. and abroad. He served as a visiting professor of urban development at Columbia from 1967-1971, and was active in the field as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and as a Director of the National Housing Conference as well as the Regional Plan Association of New York. Mayer's contributions to the field were recognized professionally; he was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and won the Medal of Honor from the New York Chapter, earned the Certificate of Merit of the Municipal Art Society of New York, and the Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection contains files of correspondence, reports, notes, addresses, manuscripts, publications, notebooks, and printed materials related to housing and urban planning; Mayer's working library of housing and planning materials; an index to the files and books; biographical information; and miscellaneous other materials.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are two other known other archival collections created by Albert Mayer at the University of Chicago Library, Department of Special Collections and at the New York Public Library.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Albert Mayer in 1974 and 1975 with accretions in 1977 and 1980.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in May 2011.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Resource filesReturn to Top

Contains files pertaining to projects undertaken by Mayer and his firm, Mayer, Whittlesey, and Glass. Some files are organized in a system originally designed by Mayer's firm; guides for which can be found in the third series.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
A Program for Planning - Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission
 1968-1969
37
Africa misc.
 1948-1974
4
Agriculture & Food Technology
 1952-1969
50
Apartment & Housing Survey - Little Rock, Arkansas - Maumelle
 1967
50
Arkansas - State Planning Inventory - Sections 1-11
 1962-1964
1
Articles - India
 1936-1945
3
Asia & Oceana misc.
 1948-1966
3
Australia misc.
 1951-1971
37
Austria
 1967-1971
37
Belgian Congo Misc.
 1954-1966
40
Bicentennial Civic Improvement Corporation St. Louis
 1965-1970
37
Blue Hill Suburban Office Park - Rockland County, NY
 1967-1968
34
Brazil misc.
 1955-1971
3
Burma misc.
 1953-1962
33
Canada - Misc.
 1942-1972
34
Caribbean & Central America (Regional)
 1952-1967
1
Catching Up with Housing by Carol Aronovici & Elizabeth McCalmont (cites Mayer)
 1936
39
Cayuga County-Auburn
 1963-1974
3
Ceylon misc.
 1959
3
China (COMMUNIST) misc.
 1953-1961
3
China misc.
 1958-1966
34
Cuba misc.
 1959-1961
36
Denmark
 1952-1966
38
East Harlem
 1947-1974
3
Egypt misc.
 1955-1963
35
England
 1945-1980
36
England
 1947-1970
34
Europe misc.
 1951-1969
49
Fantus Report for Pulaski Co., Ark. Parts I & II
 1966
37
Finland Misc.
 1940, 1970
40
Forrest City, Arkansas
 1967-1968
37
France Misc.
 1960-1972
6
General - Transportation
 1960
37
Germany Misc.
 1932-1972
37
Ghana Misc.
 1960-1963
50
Greenbelt Development Plans
 1942-1966
12
Housing Policy & Legislation - U.S.
 1937-1973
1
In the Minds of Men by Gardner Murphy
 1953
3
Indonesia misc.
 1953-1961
33
International - General (Incl. U.N.)
 1954-1968
33
International - Latin America Misc.
 1955-1966
33
International - Mediterranean Area
 1959
33
International - U.N. Regional
 1958
3
Iran misc.
 1960
2
Israel
 1953-1974
3
Israel
 1951-1975
37
Italy Miscellaneous
 1960-1971
3
Japan Miscellaneous
 1961-1968
37
Kenya
 1961-1974
1
Land Use & Transportation Plan Policies for Action (Mayer planning consultant)
 1970 May
34
Mexico - Economic & Social Develop.
 1933-1961
40
Miami, Florida
 1967-1971
37
Middle East & North Africa Regional (Misc.)
 1949-1971
3
Morocco misc.
 1954-1971
30
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) - Greenbelt towns study
 1936-1969
40
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) - Greenbelt towns study
 1938-1970
36
Netherlands
 1932-1972
50
New Towns and Old Cities by Philip M. Klutznick (draft)
 1966 October 26
6
P&D Highways
 1956-1960
3
Pakistan misc.
 1950-1960
52
Park, Recreation, & Open Space Project of the Tri-State New York Metropolitan Region
 1960
34
Peru misc.
 1950, 1971
3
Philippines misc.
 1948-1959
5
Planning & Development - special topics
 1931-1970
6
Planning & Development - special topics
 1947-1967
22
Planning & Development - U.S. - Community Development
 1946-1972
23
Planning & Development - U.S. - Community Development
 1961-1973
26
Planning & Development - U.S. - County Planning
 1970-1971
28
Planning & Development - U.S. - Defense & Military Planning
 1941-1952
23
Planning & Development - U.S. - Economic & Industrial Planning & Taxes
 1956-1971
12
Planning & Development - U.S. - Housing
 1932-1974
13
Planning & Development - U.S. - Housing
 1931-1974
14
Planning & Development - U.S. - Housing
 1938-1972
15
Planning & Development - U.S. - Housing
 1940-1974
16
Planning & Development - U.S. - Housing
 1961-1973
26
Planning & Development - U.S. - Metropolitan Planning, Misc.
 1963-1966
30
Planning & Development - U.S. - National Planning, Misc.
 undated
28
Planning & Development - U.S. - New Towns, Misc.
 1932-1974
29
Planning & Development - U.S. - New Towns, Misc.
 1935-1972
30
Planning & Development - U.S. - New Towns, Misc.
 1962-1972
28
Planning & Development - U.S. - Planning for Beauty, Misc.
 1955-1969
18
Planning & Development - U.S. - Public Facilities Planning
 1930-1974
19
Planning & Development - U.S. - Public Facilities Planning
 1932-1971
20
Planning & Development - U.S. - Public Facilities Planning
 1945-1972
24
Planning & Development - U.S. - Regional Planning (Resource)
 1936-1972
25
Planning & Development - U.S. - Regional Planning (Resource)
 1938-1974
7
Planning & Development - U.S. - regional
 1937-1975
8
Planning & Development - U.S. - regional
 1945-1974
9
Planning & Development - U.S. - regional
 1938-1973
20
Planning & Development - U.S. - Renewal
 1933-1973
21
Planning & Development - U.S. - Renewal
 1941-1974
22
Planning & Development - U.S. - Renewal
 1931-1972
23
Planning & Development - U.S. - Resource Planning
 1948-1972
26
Planning & Development - U.S. - Social Planning & Social Aspects of Planning
 1960-1970
9
Planning & Development - U.S. - special topics
 1928-1974
10
Planning & Development - U.S. - special topics
 1930-1974
11
Planning & Development - U.S. - special topics
 1932-1975
28
Planning & Development - U.S. - Specialized Planning
 undated
26
Planning & Development - U.S. - State Planning, Misc.
 1926-1974
16
Planning & Development - U.S. - Transportation and Utilities Planning
 1938-1974
17
Planning & Development - U.S. - Transportation and Utilities Planning
 1931-1973
26
Planning & Development - U.S. - Underlying Dynamics of Development
 1964-1971
40
Plans - Typical Apt. Houses High Cost
 undated
34
Puerto Rico misc.
 1947-1968
39
Puerto Rico Urban Renewal & Housing Corporation
 1967-1970
40
Puerto Rico
 1964-1969
1
Regional Plan Association - Community Leadership by Forbes B. Hays
 1965
1
Regional Plan Association - Population, Economic, & Land Use Studies…for the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Survey
 1956
1
Regional Plan Association - The Handling of Metropolitan Problems in Selected Regions
 1958
1
Regional Plan Association misc. printed
 1957, 1959
37
The Region's Growth - Regional Plan Association - A Report of the Second Regional Plan
 1967 May
52
"Re-Housing America" by Henry Wright
 1933 July
4
Resources & Technology
 1936-1973
37
Russia Misc.
 1960-1972
37
S. Africa & the Rhodesias
 1959, 1963
31
Social-Economic-Political - U.S. - Community, Group Action & Participation & Social Adjustment
 1962-1969
32
Social-Economic-Political - U.S. - Economic Conditions
 1958-1972
31
Social-Economic-Political - U.S. - Health, Education, & Culture
 1938-1972
32
Social-Economic-Political - U.S. - International Participation
 1949-1969
31
Social-Economic-Political - U.S. - Politics & Government (incl. Federal)
 1958-1973
32
Social-Economic-Political - U.S. - Politics & Government (incl. Federal)
 1949-1968
31
Social-Economic-Political - U.S. - Social Organization
 1958, 1960
4
Social-Economic-Political
 1946-1971
27
Social-Economic-Political
 1945-1973
2
Sociology, Economic, & Politics materials
 1943-1967
2
Source material - climatology - India
 1950-1958
34
South America misc.
 1946-1966
34
Sweden
 1939-1971
37
Switzerland Misc.
 1931-1972
37
Tanganyika
 1961-1963
2
Texas Engineering Experiment Station reports for Mayer, & Whittlesey - India
 1953 May 7
52
The Handling of Metropolitan Problems in Selected Regions
 1958
3
Tunisia misc.
 1959
3
Turkey misc.
 1956-1961
37
Uganda
 1959-1963
34
Venezuela misc.
 1958-1961
49
Workbook - Committee on the Second Regional Plan
 1966

Series II. CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Contains correspondence with organizations and individuals.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
41
A
 1950-1974
42
B-C
 1949-1974
43
C-K
 1951-1974
44
K-M
 1937-1973
45
M-N
 1948-1976
46
N-R
 1949-1975
47
R-T
 1947-1974
48
U-Z
 1958-1973
52
Correspondence removed from publications
 1938-1968, undated

Series III. Manuscripts & personalReturn to Top

Contains original works by Mayer including published articles, speeches, lectures, biographical information, and documents pertaining to various work projects.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
52
4 Papers on Housing Design (featuring "What's the Matter with Our Site Plans" by Mayer)
 1942 September
49
A. M. Library Index: International, India, Planning & Housing, Miscellaneous
 undated
49
Albert Mayer Series - Projects & Special Interests (bound)
 undated
49
Albert Mayer Series - Projects & Special Interests
 undated
1
Architectural Record articles by Mayer
 1964-1965, 1969
49
Article and Report
 1964, 1968
51
Articles by Mayer
 1934-1970
49
Biographical & Miscellaneous
 1962-1975
52
Book: Cities in the Motor Age (cites Mayer)
 1959
52
Book: Life for Dead Spaces, The Development of the Lavanburg Commons (cites Mayer)
 1963
52
Book: Town and Country Planning and Housing (with foreword by Mayer)
 1971
52
Citizens' Housing Council of New York Reports & Recommendations
 1938 June
49
Commendations & Publicity
 1944-1967
49
"Culture for the Sub-Cities" Albert Mayer interviewed by Dick Elman
 undated
52
Elm Haven case study - consulting architect
 1942 July
37
Fifth Ruberoid Architectural Design Competition Awards
 circa 1963
52
Hearing held before the Joint Committee on Washington Metropolitan Problems Mass Transportation Survey & Plan (featuring statement by Mayer)
 1959 November 9
49
Job Numbers
 circa 1934-1967
1
Journal of Housing issues with letters from Mayer
 1964, 1969
49
Journals
 1962, 1967
50
Library -- Index & Instructions
 undated
49
Manuscripts, talks, & other works by Mayer
 1943-1971
51
Manuscripts, talks, & other works by Mayer
 1934-1971
51
Mayer file information
 circa 1975
51
Memoranda to John R. Searles, Parts I-III The New Syracuse Dynamism
 1962-1963
49
Miscellaneous
 1963-1974
52
"New Homes for a New Deal" by Mayer, Henry Wright, & Lewis Mumford
 undated
52
Preliminary Report & Recommendations of the Committee on City Planning & Zoning
 1938 June
52
Proceedings -Housing & Building in Hot-Humid & Hot-Dry Climates (featuring Mayer)
 1952 November
51
Publications & lectures
 1944-1971
51
Published articles
 1940-1968
52
Report & Recommendations of the Committee on Rehousing of Tenants of the Citizens' Council of New York
 1938 June
51
Reviews of Albert Mayer's "The Urgent Future,"
 1938-1968
50
Source files (2)
 undated
49
Source files (bound)
 undated
52
Special Summer Program in City & Regional Planning session notes (featuring session by Mayer)
 1964
51
Speeches & publications
 1950-1969
52
Symposium proceedings: Man's Role in Changing the Face of the Earth (featuring Mayer)
 1956
52
The Housing Yearbook 1967 featuring article by Mayer: "The Urgent Need for New Towns,"
 1967

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architects and community.
  • Architecture.
  • City planning.
  • Greenbelts.
  • Housing development.
  • Housing policy -- United States.
  • Housing.
  • New towns.
  • Planned communities.

Corporate Names

  • Mayer, Whittlesey and Glass.

Occupations

  • Architects and housing developers.

Processed by Kathryn Brooks
2011"

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