AHJ_ah04375 Inventory of the Oscar Stonorov papers, 1912-1978 (bulk 1929-1970) Stonorov (Oscar) papers Processed by Laura Jackson University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2010

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Laura Jackson February 2010 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Stonorov, Oscar, 1905-1970 Oscar Stonorov papers 1912-1978 (bulk 1929-1970) 04375 28.98 cubic ft. (65 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Contains materials documenting Stonorov's career as an architect and city planner. Arrangement of the Collection

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

 Biography of Oscar Stonorov

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.

 Scope and Content

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.

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

 Copyright Information

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

 Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

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

This material was received from Elizabeth Stonorov, Katrina Stonorov Daly, Frederick Gutheim, Nancy Grace, Susan Cole, Daniel R. Nichols, and Eugene G. Grace from 1971-2024.

The collection was processed by Laura Jackson in February 2010 and updated by Jamie J. Greene in November 2024. This collection was updated by Brittany Heye in February 2026.

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

 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.

 Access Terms Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959 -- Exhibitions. Grace, Nancy. Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959. Gutheim, Frederick Albert, 1908- Kastner, Alfred. Olivetti, Adriano. Reuther, Walter, 1907-1970. Kahn, Louis I., 1901-1974. Kaufmann, Arthur C. Ragghianti, Carlo Ludovico. Robinson, Hilyard R. Haws, J. Frank. Black Lake Conference Center (Onaway, Mich.) International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America|-- buildings. Architecture -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. Architecture -- United States. Architectural practice -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. Architecture -- Designs and plans. Public housing -- United States. Public housing -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. City planning -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. City planning -- United States. Architects -- United States| -- Exhibitions. Aging -- United States. Sculpture, American. Hosiery workers. Architecture -- Exhibitions. Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Buildings, structures, etc. Juniata (Perry County, Pa. : Township) <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Architecture Politics, Government, and Law City Planning Container List Series I. Architectural Practice Files 1930-1970

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

 Sub-series 1. Architectural Projects 1930-1970

Contains drawings, notes, reports, plans, photos, clippings, and correspondence for buildings and city planning projects by Stonorov and his architectural firms.

 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 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 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 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 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 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 9 11 Tygart Valley Homestead 1934 9 12 Unidentified Map undated 9 13 Unitarian Church of Southern New Jersey 1962 58-61Unitarian Universalist Church, Cherry Hill, New Jersey (architectural drawings)1960-1965 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 1933-1967

Contains drawings, plans, correspondence, and press releases for exhibits curated and sculptures created by Stonorov.

 9 24-25 Better Philadelphia (Exhibit) 1946-1947

View Box 9, Folder 24

 10 1-3 Better Philadelphia (Exhibit) 1940-1947 10 4 Educational Housing Exhibit 1933-1934 11 1-6 Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit 1949-1960

View Box 11, Folder 3

 12 1-9 Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit 1949-1952 55 Frank Lloyd Wright Exhibit 1949-1952 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

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 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 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

15 5 Brochure Notes- Stonorov, Kahn, McAllister, Braik and Rosenfield undated 15-16 Day Planners 1935-1970 16 1-6 Financial Information 1933-1967 54 Financial Information 1940-1948 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 20 1 News Releases 1934-1969 52 Planning- General Notes 1936-1938 20 2-5 Reports undated 52 Slum Clearance Materials 1933-1934 20 6-10 Work Agreements and Contracts 1934-1959 Series II. Correspondence 1929-1972

Contains professional and personal correspondence

 34-35 and 57 Alphabetical Index to General Correspondence undated 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 1-5 Grace, Nancy (correspondence to) 1967-1969 63Grace, Nancy (correspondence to)1959-1970 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 1930-1967

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.

 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 1933-1967

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.

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 1912-1971

Sub-series 1. General Files 1912-1970

This sub-series contains information on Stonorov's colleagues, papers and reports written by others, photographs, and research on aging.

 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 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 49 1 Reuther, Walter 1950-1970 Sub-series 2. Newspaper Clippings 1933-1971

Contains newspaper clippings on various subjects, people, and projects by Stonorov.

 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 and 63 Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings 1934-1971 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 1933-1978

50 Articles about Stonorov 1943-1978 51 1-7 Awards and Certificates 1948-1972 51 8-11 Death of Stonorov 1970 51 12 Exhibit on Stonorov 1971 65Magazines - Articles Regarding Stonorov1949, 1954 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 and 62 19 Photographs of Stonorov undated 63-64Photographs: 63Oscar Stonorov (O.S.) photographs - personal and with others1950-1969 63Random photos, Stonorov (Oscar Stonorov, sculpture, buildings, shows/exhibits, friends and family)1945-1970 63Better Phila Exhibit1947-1961 63FLLW show/exhibit1950-1959 63Self- help housing for Society of Friends1952 63Fountain for Phila competitionundated 63Rudolf Serkin sculptureundated 63Mr. Stonorov departing1965 63Westfield, Camden, New Jerseyundated 63Show about OS, Moore College of Art by Alley Friends1970-1971 63The Bathers Fountain, Stephen College since been moved?1967 63Portrait: Oscar Stonorov, by Harris & Ewing-Washington D.C. 1925-1935 63-64Photographs miscellaneous (Oscar Stonorov, sculpture, buildings, shows/exhibits, friends and family)1940-1970 51 20 Registration 1935-1942 51 21 Resumes undated