Oscar Stonorov papers, 1912-1978 (bulk 1929-1970)

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Stonorov, Oscar, 1905-
Title
Oscar Stonorov papers
Dates
1912-1978 (bulk 1929-1970) (inclusive)
Quantity
cubic ft. (56 boxes)
Collection Number
04375
Summary
Contains materials documenting Stonorov's career as an architect and city planner.
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

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Oscar [Oskar] Stonorov (1905-1970), an architect and sculptor, emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1929 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 1930s. He was interested throughout his career in public housing and affordable housing for the working classes. His architectural associates included Alfred Kastner, Louis I. Kahn, George Howe, and Frank Haws. In addition to numerous projects in Philadelphia and the northeastern U.S., Stonorov was the designer of the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit which toured the U.S. and major European cities in 1951-1952. He was the principal designer of the United Auto Workers headquarters building in Detroit, Michigan and the UAW's Black Lake Conference Center in Onaway, Michigan. Stonorov and his long-time friend, UAW President Walter Reuther died in a plane crash in 1970 while inspecting the Black Lake construction site.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Oscar Stonorov papers document Stonorov’s career as architect and city planner. Much of the material pertains to architectural and artistic projects including Stonorov’s home (Avon Lea), the Carl Mackley Housing Project, Philadelphia city planning projects, exhibits such as “Frank Lloyd Wright“ and “Better Philadelphia,” and sculptures. Materials include drawings, notes, photographs, reports, and correspondence. The correspondence series chiefly concerns various construction and urban planning projects, but there is personal correspondence as well. There is an alphabetical index for the general correspondence.

The collection also contains speeches, papers, and articles written by Stonorov expressing his views on design and urban planning. In addition there is material from conferences, round tables, interviews, and forums with which Stonorov was involved. Also included are subject and research files and newspaper clippings on Stonorov’s work and colleagues, and biographical material such as resumes, articles about Stonorov, and photographs of him.

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.

Alternative Forms Available

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~79~79.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in six series. Most series are arranged alphabetically except for the correspondence, for which there is an alphabetical index.

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Oscar Stonorov at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Elizabeth and Katrina Stonorov, Frederick Gutheim, Nancy Grace, and Susan Cole between 1971-2005.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Laura Jackson in February 2010.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Architectural Practice Files, 1930-1970Return to Top

Contains information on buildings, city planning, exhibits, and sculptures. It includes photographs, financial data and reports relating to projects.

Container(s) Description Dates
Sub-series 1. Architectural Projects
Contains drawings, notes, reports, plans, photos, clippings, and correspondence for buildings and city planning projects by Stonorov and his architectural firms.
1930-1970
Box Folder
1 1-2
Albany Avenue Area Project (Hartford, CT)
1961
1 3-4
Alley Dwelling Authority Project
1942
1 5
Annapolis
undated
1 6
Apartment House, Typical Outlay of
undated
1 7
Audobon Village Project
1940
1 8-14
Avon Lea (Stonorov Home)
1939-1941
1 15
Bacon, Edmund Home
undated
1 16
Bannockburn Project
circa 1946
1 17
Bloomingdale's Department Store
1941
1 18-20
Camden Housing Project Day Reports
1935-1936
1 21
Carl Mackley, Juniata Park (Hosiery Workers Housing)
1934-1935
2 1-11
Carl Mackley, Juniata Park (Hosiery Workers Housing)
1932-1936
51-52
Carl Mackley, Juniata Park (Hosiery Workers Housing)
1932-1936
Folder
3 1
Carver Court
1944
3 2
Charlestown Elementary School and Playhouse Project
1972
3 3
Chester County Citizen's Housing
1960
3 4
Child of Tomorrow House
1939
3 5
Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) Projects
1934
3 6
Clark, E.A. Project
1951
3 7
Clement T. Branch Village
1940
3 8-9
Container Corporation Project
circa 1946
3 10
Coward Shoe Store
1949
3 11
Crowell House Project
1947-1948
3 12
Defense Housing Project, Camden, N.J.
1940-1943
3 13
Detroit Civic Project
1961
3 14-15
Detroit Defense City Project
1941
3 16
Detroit Leisure Activity Center
1957
3 17
Ecole Nationale Des Beaux Arts
undated
3 18
Forman, Dr. Clark, Living Room
1935
3 19
Gimbel Brothers, Typical Floor Plan
1934
3 20
Gimbel's "Life" House For Family Living
1941-1953
4 1
Gratiot Redevelopment Project
1954
4 2-3
Harman Homes Project
1945-1950
4 4
Hartford, CT renewal program for downtown
1961
4 5
Howard City Project
1933
4 6
India Pavilion (New York World's Fair)
1964-1965
53
India Pavilion (New York World's Fair)
undated
Folder
4 7
Indian Project (Intercontinental Hotels)
1963
4 8
Karlsruhe Baden, Germany Hospital
1929-1930
4 9
Kelly's Oyster House Project
1949
4 10
Lansdale, PA
1963
4 11
Lily Ponds Project
1942
5 1
Lombard Area Redevelopment Plan (Map)
undated
5 2
Lower Marion Township (Map)
1939
5 3
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church
undated
5 4
Martin Residence
1951-1952
5 5-6
Meadville
1930-1935
5 7
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Plans
undated
53
Michigan State Fair
1964
Folder
5 8-9
Miscellaneous Drawings
1940-1954
5 10
Miscellaneous Projects
1940-1948
6 1
Montcalm Farms
1941-1955
6 2
National Capital Park and Planning Commission
1944-1951
6 3
Navy Yard, Philadelphia
1935
6 4
Neurology Department Proposed Plan
undated
6 5
New Britain Housing Project
1938-1939
6 6
New Brunswick, Webb and Knapp
undated
6 7
New York City Penthouse Additions
1934
6 8
New York World's Fair
1939
6 9
Newark, NY Project
1959
53
Newark, NY Project
1959
Folder
6 10
Oak Lane Park
1962
6 11
Palazzo Strozzi Plans
undated
6 12
Park Street Area Project
1961
6 13-14
Patchell Estate Housing Project Plans
1936
6 15
Patterson, NJ Project
1938
6 16
Pease Woodwork Company
circa 1951
6 17-18
Philadelphia City Plan
1949
6 19
Philadelphia Gas Works Company
1936
6 20
Philadelphia Municipal Building
1956
7 1-4
Philadelphia Psychiatric Hospital
1945-1949
7 5
Philadelphia Sport Stadium
1961
53
Philadelphia Sport Stadium
1964
Folder
7 6
Philadelphia Union Health Center
1943
7 7
Philadelphia, University Redevelopment Area, Rolland R. Randall
1952
7 8
Phoenixville Hospital Project
1942
7 9
Phoenixville Housing Corporation
1944
7 10
Plamimetria Piazza Della Republica
undated
8 1
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company Project
1944-1966
8 2
Plaza Apartments (Philadelphia)
1950
8 3
Radbill Oil Company
1945
8 4
Radbill Residence Sketch
1945
8 5
Reinsel Residence
1945
8 6
Ribsam Drawings
undated
8 7
Row House Plans
undated
8 8
Sarah Lawrence College Project
1938-1947
8 9
Schneck Memorial Buildings Dedication
1956
8 10
Sharon, PA Project
1953
8 11
Solar House Project
undated
8 12-13
Solidarity House
1954
8 14
Southside, Hartford, CT
1961
9 1
Southwork Plaza
1963
9 2-3
Soviet Palace Competition
1932
9 4
Spooner House
1937
9 5
Steel-Frame House
1935
9 6
Stephen's College
undated
9 7-8
Strawberry Mansion Project
1964
9 9
Subsistence Housing
1933-1934
9 10
Tennessee Valley Project
1933
52
Tennessee Valley Project
1934
Folder
9 11
Tygart Valley Homestead
1934
9 12
Unidentified Map
undated
9 13
Unitarian Church of Southern New Jersey
1962
9 14
Warden, Mrs. C.A., Interior Room Plans
1931
9 15
Waverly Street
1935
9 16
Western Savings Fund Society Project
1935
9 17
Willow Run Project
1942
9 18-21
Yardville U.S.A. Project (McCall's Backyard Project)
1948-1949
9 22
Yonkers, NY (Map)
undated
9 23
Youth Study Center for Girls
1970
Sub-series 2. Other Projects
Contains drawings, plans, correspondence, and press releases for exhibits curated and sculptures created by Stonorov.
1933-1967
Box Folder
9 24-25
Better Philadelphia (Exhibit)
1946-1947
10 1-3
Better Philadelphia (Exhibit)
1940-1947
10 4
Educational Housing Exhibit
1933-1934
11 1-6
Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit
1949-1960
12 1-9
Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit
1949-1952
55
Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit
1949-1952
Folder
12 10
NCPPC Exhibit, Cororan Gallery
1950
12 11
Science Exhibit, Golden Gate International Expo
1939
12 12
Small Homes Embassy Non-Critical Exhibit
circa 1940
12 13
Stephens College (Fountain Sculpture)
1960-1967
12 14
Walter Reuther Bust
undated
Sub-series 3. Project Photographs
1929-1962
Box Folder
13 1
Annapolis Home (R.L.F.)
undated
13 2
Beaver Falls, PA
undated
13 3-4
Better Philadelphia
1939-1950
13 5
Biological Lab of Highlands Museum
1931
13 6
Camden, N.J.- Westfield Acres
undated
13 7-10
Carl Mackley, Juniata Park (Hosiery Workers Housing)
1935
56
Carl Mackley, Juniata Park (Hosiery Workers Housing) Glass Slides
undated
Folder
13 11
Coward Shoe Store
undated
13 12
Designs by Stonorov
undated
14 1
Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibition
circa 1952
14 2
Finkelstein House
undated
14 3
Karlsruhe, Germany Hospital
1929
14 4
Lake Houses, Stonorov and Willy Boesiger, Architects
1929-1930
56
Lake Houses
undated
Folder
14 5
Low-Cost Housing
undated
14 6
Palazzetto dello Sport
undated
14 7
Sculpture
circa 1960
14 8
Sculpture- Autmaw, Estate, Inverno, Primavera
1962
14 10-13
Steel-Frame House
1935 and undated
14 9
Solar House
undated
15 1
Soviet Palace
1929
15 2-4
Unidentified
undated
56
Unidentified Glass Slides
undated
Sub-series 4. Supporting Materials
1933-1970
Box Folder
15 5
Brochure Notes- Stonorov, Kahn, McAllister, Braik and Rosenfield
undated
15-16
Day Planners
1935-1970
Folder
16 1-6
Financial Information
1933-1967
54
Financial Information
1940-1948
Folder
16 7
Hearing, Commonwealth v. Stonorov
1935
16 8
Lease Agreements
1934-1945
17 1
Miscellaneous Documents
1951-1964
17 2-7
Miscellaneous Notes
1934-1966 and undated
18 1-6
Miscellaneous Notes
undated
19 1-2
Miscellaneous Notes
undated
19
Notebooks
undated
Folder
20 1
News Releases
1934-1969
52
Planning- General Notes
1936-1938
Folder
20 2-5
Reports
undated
52
Slum Clearance Materials
1933-1934
Folder
20 6-10
Work Agreements and Contracts
1934-1959

Series II. Correspondence, 1929-1972Return to Top

Contains professional and personal correspondence

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
34-35 and 57
Alphabetical Index to General Correspondence
undated
Folder
21 1
General Correspondence
1929
21 2
General Correspondence
1930
21 3
General Correspondence
1931
21 4
General Correspondence
1932
21 5
General Correspondence
1933
21 6-9
General Correspondence
1934
22 1-4
General Correspondence
1935
22 5-7
General Correspondence
Jan.-Sept., 1936
23 1
General Correspondence
Oct.-Dec., 1936
23 2-5
General Correspondence
1937
23 6-9
General Correspondence
1938
23 10-12
General Correspondence
Jan.-July, 1939
24 1-5
General Correspondence
Aug.-Dec., 1939
24 6-7
General Correspondence
1940
24 8-9
General Correspondence
Jan.-Sept., 1941
25 1
General Correspondence
Oct.-Dec., 1941
25 2-5
General Correspondence
1942
25 6-7
General Correspondence
Jan.-June, 1943
26 1-2
General Correspondence
July-Dec., 1943
26 3-6
General Correspondence
1944
26 7-8
General Correspondence
Jan.-June, 1945
27 1-2
General Correspondence
July-Dec., 1945
27 3-6
General Correspondence
1946
27 7-9
General Correspondence
Jan.-Sept., 1947
28 1
General Correspondence
Oct.-Dec., 1947
28 2-5
General Correspondence
1948
28 6-9
General Correspondence
1949
28 10
General Correspondence
Jan.-Feb., 1950
29 1-5
General Correspondence
March-Dec., 1950
29 6-13
General Correspondence
Jan.-Aug., 1951
30 1-4
General Correspondence
Sept.-Dec., 1951
30 5-12
General Correspondence
1952
30 13
General Correspondence
1953
31 1
General Correspondence
1954
31 2-3
General Correspondence
1955
31 4
General Correspondence
1956
31 5
General Correspondence
1957
31 6
General Correspondence
1958
31 7
General Correspondence
1959
31 8-9
General Correspondence
1960
31 10-11
General Correspondence
1961
32 1
General Correspondence
1962
32 2-3
General Correspondence
1963
32 4-5
General Correspondence
1964
32 6
General Correspondence
1965
32 7-8
General Correspondence
1966
32 9
General Correspondence
1967
32 10
General Correspondence
1968
32 11
General Correspondence
1969
33 1-5
General Correspondence
1970
33 6-7
General Correspondence
1971-1972
33 8
Telegrams
undated
33 9-10
General Correspondence
undated
36 1
Bauer, Catherine
1934-1940
36 2-8
Grace, Nancy (correspondence to)
1959-1966
37 1-2
Grace, Nancy (correspondence to)
1967-1969
37 3-4
Grace, Nancy (correspondence to)
undated
37 5
Grace, Nancy (photographs from letters)
undated
38 1
Gutheim, Frederick
1933-1954
38 2
Perkins, Frances (Dept. of Labor)
1933-1937
38 3
Reuther, Walter P.
1942-1964
38 4
Wright, Frank Lloyd
1949-1953

Series III. Writings and Speeches by Stonorov, 1930-1967Return to Top

Contains speeches and papers presented at various conferences. Also includes published articles written by Stonorov. Folder titles may reflect the paper title or the conference where it was presented.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
38 5
Academy of Music
undated
38 6
"...And Housing"
1938
38 7
Automobile Club of Philadelphia (speech to)
undated
38 8
The Changing Family
undated
38 9
Colonisation of the Unemployed
undated
38 10
The Coming Reconstruction of American Cities
undated
38 11
Faith for Living
undated
38 12
French Housing (speech)
1931
38 13
How Much House for Your Money
1946
38 14
In Honor of Adriano Olivetti (speech)
1960
38 15
Le Corbusier (Seen From America)
1946
38 16
Leisure and the Community Center
undated
38 17
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Architecture (speech)
1950
38 18
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church
undated
38 19
Meaning and Mechanics of the Demonstration Cities Program
undated
38 20
Miscellaneous Speeches
undated
39 1
Neighborhoods for Family Living, (speech)
1949
39 2
Olivier (speech)
undated
39 3
Peace Planning Commission
undated
39 4
Philadelphia and Redevelopment (speeches on)
undated
39 5
Symposium on the Architecture of the City
1959
39 6
Theater and Places of Entertainment
undated
39 7
Urban and Family Living
circa 1955
39 8
World Hospital Congress
1930
39 9-12
Speeches
1932-1967

Series IV. Professional Association Materials, 1933-1967Return to Top

Contains materials relating to international, national, and regional architectural issues with which Stonorov was involved. It includes transcripts from forums and roundtables; minutes, agendas, and proceedings from committees and conferences; materials from professional organizations; and other materials relating to Stonorov's involvement in issues on architecture and city planning.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
39 13
Action Train
1956
39 14-15
American Institute of Architects
1933-1952
40 1-2
Architectural Forum Roundtable
1955-1956
40 3
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
undated
40 4
Baltimore Museum of Arts
1949
40 5
Beaux-Arts Institute of Design
1942-1943
40 6
Beauty for America: Proceedings of the White House Conference on Natural Beauty
1965
40 7
Betty Crocker Magazine of the Air (Radio Interview)
1948
40 8
Bicentennial Conference I
1954
40 9
Buck County Park Board
1958
41 1
CIAM
1945-1951
41 2
Citizens Development Committee
1954
41 3
Colorado College Conference
1967
41 4
Committee on Art Education
1948
41 5
Conference on Area Planning
1948
41 6
Conference on Housing for European Workers
undated
41 7
Conference on Urban Redevelopment
1942
41 8
Congresso Mondiale
1964
41 9
Cooper Union Forum
1962
41 10
Department of Housing and Urban Development
1955-1965
41 11
Discussion of a new role for public housing
1962
41 12
Experimental City Project, University of Minnesota
1966
41 13
Housing
1933-1936
41 14-15
I.C.F.T.U.
1951-1952
41 16
International Olympic Committee in Baden-Baden
1963
42 1-2
Ischia, Italy Conference
1955
42 3
Istituto Nazionale de Urbanistica
1959
42 4
Miscellaneous Forum, untitled
undated
42 5
Miscellaneous- Meeting minutes and professional organizations
1943-1955
42 6
Mutual Ownership Defense Housing Conference
1941
42 7
National Conference on Slum Clearance
1933
42 8
National Housing Conference
1950
42 9
National Housing Center
undated
42 10
National Public Housing Conference
1942
42 11
Pennsylvania Labor Standards Committee
undated
42 12
Pennsylvania Society of Architects
undated
42 13
Philadelphia Housing Association
1943-1962
42 14
Philadelphia Housing Groups
1934-1957
43 1-2
Philadelphia Planning Commission
1947
43 3
Philadelphia Symposium
1957
43 4
Symposium on Civic Design
undated
43 5
Symposium: Urban Renewal (Cleveland)
1961
43 6
Symposium on Use of Operations Research in Urban and Regional Planning (Rome)
1966
43 7
Transportation and the Regional City
1963
43 8
Urban Design Conference
1961

Series V. Subject Files, 1912-1971Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Sub-series 1. General Files
This sub-series contains information on Stonorov's colleagues, papers and reports written by others, photographs, and research on aging.
1912-1970
Box Folder
43 9
Bauer Wurster, Catherine
1968
43 10
Exhibition of Organic Architecture
circa 1951
43 11
George Howe and Associates
1940-1945
43-44
Papers and Reports
1933-1967
45
Photographs- Andre Lucrat Hotel
undated
44-45
Photographs- Buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright
1912-1951 and undated
Folder
46 1
Photographs- Cornu, Andre
undated
46 2
Photographs- Dunn, James C.
undated
46 3
Photographs- Sculptures
undated
46 4
Photographs- Thom McAn Store
undated
46 5
Photographs- Unidentified Negatives
undated
46 6
Photographs- Unidentified Photographs
undated
46 7
Photographs- Valley Forge Hospital
undated
46 8
Photographs- Wright, Frank Lloyd
undated
54
Zi Club Model
undated
46-47
Publications
1932-1962
47-48
Research on Aging
1959-1964
Folder
49 1
Reuther, Walter
1950-1970
Sub-series 2. Newspaper Clippings
Contains newspaper clippings on various subjects, people, and projects by Stonorov.
1933-1971
Box Folder
49 2
Apartment Buildings by Oscar Stonorov
1967
49 3
"The Bathers" Fountain
1967
49 4
Bronze Sculpture for Stonorov and Haw Firm
1965
49 5
"The Builder" Bronze Statue
1953-1954
49 6
Bullitt Clippings
1943
49 7
Carl Mackley Houses (Hosiery Workers Apartments)
1933-1934
49 8
City Planning Clippings
1948-1961
49 9
Defense Housing Clippings
1942
49 10
Gimbels Store
1947
49 11
House Designs by Stonorov
1947-1956
49 12
Mayfair Site
1941
49 13
Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings
1934-1969
49 14
Oak Lane Park/ Hopkinson House
1962
49 15
Philadelphia Sports Stadium
1965
49 16
Walter Reuther
1948
49 17-18
Walter Reuther, Death of
1970
50 1
Solar House Clippings
1947
50 2
Solidarity House
1951-1954
50 3
Statues in Washington DC
undated
50 4
Steel Frame House
1935-1947
50 5-6
Tuscan Girl Fountain
1965-1971
50 7
University of Connecticut Law School
undated
50 8-9
Wright, Frank Lloyd
1938-1951

Series VI. Biographical Materials, 1933-1978Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
50
Articles about Stonorov
1943-1978
Folder
51 1-7
Awards and Certificates
1948-1972
51 8-11
Death of Stonorov
1970
51 12
Exhibit on Stonorov
1971
51 13
Marriage of Oscar Stonorov
undated
51 14
Memberships
1933-1941
51 15-17
Memorial Service Notes
1970
51 18
Personal Data
undated
51 19
Photographs of Stonorov
undated
51 20
Registration
1935-1942
51 21
Resumes
undated

Additional Container ListsReturn to Top

The American Heritage Center is in the process of converting its older container lists to a more accessible format. This link is to an older version of a container list.

Container(s) Description

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Aging -- United States.
  • Architects -- United States| -- Exhibitions.
  • Architectural practice -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
  • Architecture -- Designs and plans.
  • Architecture -- Exhibitions.
  • Architecture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
  • Architecture -- United States.
  • City planning -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
  • City planning -- United States.
  • Hosiery workers.
  • Public housing -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
  • Public housing -- United States.
  • Sculpture, American.

Personal Names

  • Grace, Nancy.
  • Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959 -- Exhibitions.

Corporate Names

  • Black Lake Conference Center (Onaway, Mich.)
  • International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America|-- buildings.

Geographical Names

  • Juniata (Perry County, Pa. : Township)
  • Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Kahn, Louis I., 1901-1974.
    • Kastner, Alfred.
    • Kaufmann, Arthur C.
    • Olivetti, Adriano.
    • Ragghianti, Carlo Ludovico.
    • Robinson, Hilyard R.
    • Gutheim, Frederick Albert, 1908-
    • Haws, J. Frank.
    • Reuther, Walter, 1907-1970.
    • Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959.