Archives of American Art
Antonin Heythum papers
Heythum, Antonin, 1901-1954
AAA.heytanto
Archival Resource Key
4.1 Linear feet
circa 1928-1954
The papers of scenographer, graphic designer, architect, and furniture designer Antonin Heythum measure 4.1 linear feet and date from circa 1928-1954. They illustrate his career through biographical materials, writings, exhibition files, and printed and photographic material.
This collection is in English, French, and German.
Biographical / Historical
Antonin Heythum (1901-1954) was a scenographer, graphic designer, architect, and furniture designer who worked primarily in New York and Central Europe.
He was born in Most, Austria-Hungary, then the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. In 1924 he studied architecture, civil engineering, and ship construction at the Czech Technical University in Prague. He joined the Devětsil art association and participated in the beginning of the Liberated Theater where he worked as a scenographer from 1924-1925. In 1932 he worked with Evžen Linhart to design a house in Na Ostrohu in a colony of houses in Osada Baba, Prague.
Heythum participated in many exhibition installations. In 1933 in Prague, he created a national glass exhibition and he worked on pavilions at the World Exhibition in Brussels. In 1938 he participated in the New York World's Fair and San Francisco Bay expositions and after the beginning of World War Two remained in the United States where he wrote a book with his wife on exhibition management titled Design for Use (1944). Heythum also founded the Industrial Design Department at the California Institute of Technology and was the head of Industrial Design at Syracuse University from 1946 to his death. He also taught at Columbia University and was a consultant for the firm of Norman Bel Geddes.
Heythum died on January 10, 1954 in the town of Rottach in southern Bavaria.
Arrangement
This collection consists of six series.
- Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1935-1948 (.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
- Series 2: Writings , circa 1941-1946 (.6 Linear feet: Box 1, OV 7)
- Series 3: Exhibition Files, circa 1928-1944 (1.6 Linear feet: Boxes 1-3)
- Series 4: Teaching Files, circa 1938-1952 (.2 Linear feet: Box 3)
- Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1933-1954 (1.1 Linear feet: Boxes 3-5, OV 8)
- Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1928-1944 (.5 Linear feet: Boxes 4 and 6)
Scope and Contents
The Antonin Heythum papers measure 4.1 linear feet and date from circa 1928-1954. Biographical materials include the birth certificate for Heythum's daughter Jan Antonin Columbus Heythum and miscellaneous correspondence. Writings includes draft manuscripts for two books by Heythum and his wife, Charlotta, Design for Use and Packaging Design Considerations. Typescripts of essays by Robert M. Hutchins concerning education and World War Two and a typescript titled "Industrial Design" by Donald Dohner are also included.
Exhibition files contains letters, photographs, and printed material for the International Exposition in Brno, Czechoslovakia, (1928), the Paris Exposition (1937), the San Francisco Bay Exposition (1939), the Swiss Exposition in Zurich (1939), the New York World's Fair (1939-1940), the exposition in Rome (1942), and the Cleveland International Exposition (1944). Teaching files contains materials relating to Heythum's classes at the California Institute of Technology and Syracuse University as well as a folder regarding designs created by Heythum for Gladding McBean.
Printed material includes exhibition catalogs and various publications surrounding industrial design, as well as news clippings and oversize posters. Photographic material includes photographs of the Czechoslovakian countryside, people, museums and exhibitions. Also included are photographs of industrial design materials, projects, and classes.
Conditions Governing Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Antonin Heythum papers were donated in 1985 by Arthur Pulos who received the papers from Charlotta Heythum in 1956.
Preferred Citation
Antonin Heythum papers, circa 1928-1954, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
This collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared, by Allessandra Liberati in 2023.
Industrial design
Exhibitions
Furniture designers -- New York (State)
Graphic designers
Set designers -- New York (State)
Heythum, Charlotta, ca. 1900-
New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)
Biographical Material
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
.1 Linear feet
Box 1
circa 1935-1948
Scope and Contents
Biographical material includes the birth certificate for Heythum's daughter Jan Antonin Columbus Heythum and miscellaneous correspondence, including a letter from Jacques Lambert concerning the Czechoslovakian pavilion at the Exposition de Bruxelles.
Birth Certificate, Jan Antonin Columbus Heythum
Archival Resource Key
1946, Oct. 12
1
1
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
circa 1935-1948
1
2
Writings
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
.6 Linear feet
Box 1, OV 7
circa 1941-1946
Scope and Contents
Writings includes draft manuscripts for books by Heythum and his wife, Charlotta, Design for Use and Packaging Design Considerations. Typescripts of essays by Robert M. Hutchins concerning education and World War Two and a typescript titled "Industrial Design" by Donald Dohner are also included.
by Antonin and Charlotta Heythum
Archival Resource Key
Design for Use (1944)
Archival Resource Key
Manuscripts of Chapters
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
3
Outline
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
4
Book Layout
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
5
List of Illustrations
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
6
Illustrations
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
7
Captions
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
7
Packaging Design Considerations (1946)
Archival Resource Key
Rough Draft
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
8
Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
9-10
Illustrations
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
11
Bibliography
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1942
1
12
Rough Draft, Chapter on Designing Technique
Archival Resource Key
circa 1946
1
13
Rough Draft, Chapter on Graphic Design
Archival Resource Key
circa 1946
1
14
Illustrations, Chapter on Graphic Design
Archival Resource Key
circa 1946
1
15
Notes, Design and Display Design
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1946
1
16
by Robert M. Hutchins
Archival Resource Key
"Education at War"
Archival Resource Key
1942, Mar. 25
1
17
"Ethics, Politics, and Education"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941
1
18
"Fortitude and Temperance"
Archival Resource Key
1942, June 19
1
19
"The Outlook for Education"
Archival Resource Key
1941, Mar. 4
1
20
"The University of Chicago and the Bachelor's Degree"
Archival Resource Key
1942, May 2
1
21
"Industrial Design" by Donald Dohner
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941
1
22
Exhibition Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1.6 Linear feet
Boxes 1-3
circa 1928-1944
Scope and Contents
Exhibition files contains letters, photographs, and printed material for the International Exposition in Brno, Czechoslovakia, (1928), the Paris Exposition (1937), the San Francisco Bay Exposition (1939), the Swiss Exposition in Zurich (1939), the New York World's Fair (1939-1940), the exposition in Rome (1942), and the Cleveland International Exposition (1944).
Exposition of Contemporary Culture (1928), Brno, Czechoslovakia
Archival Resource Key
circa 1928
1
23
Paris Exposition (1937)
Archival Resource Key
Aeronatique, Allemusne, Algerie, Alimentation, Aluminum, Architectrs Diplomès, Architecture Privee, Argentine, Asbeste, Australia
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
24
Centre Artisinal, Cologne
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
25
Eauset Forêt, Egypte, Elègance et de la Parure, Enseignement, Espagne, Amerika
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
26
Internationale, Irak, Japan
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
27
Lumiere, Luminaire, Luxemburg, Lyons, Norvege, Nessle
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
28
Siam, Savoie, Securite, Solidante, Suede, Suisse
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
29
Temps Nouveaus, Thermalisme, Tissus, Tourisme, Travail, Union Sud-Africane, USSR
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
30
Venezuela, Yugoslavie
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
31
Miscellaneous Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
32
Printed Materials
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937
1
33
San Francisco Bay Exposition (1939)
Archival Resource Key
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
1
34
Brazil, California, Czechoslovakia
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
1
35
Federal Building
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
1
36
Fine Arts Palace, Floriculture, France
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
1
37
Italy, Japan, Pacific House, Petroleum
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
1
38
Redwood Empire Building, San Francisco, Treasure Island, Wire
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
1
39
Photographs of Fairgrounds
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
1
40
Printed Materials
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
1
41-42
Zurich, Swiss Exposition (1939)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939
2
1
New York World's Fair (1939-1940)
Archival Resource Key
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1939, Aug. 4
2
2
Project Proposal
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
3
Typescript of Talk by Architect Robert D. Kohn
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
4
Photographs of Fairgrounds
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
5
American Art, American Telephone and Telegraph, Argentina, Borden Company, Britain
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
6
Canada, Carrier Corporation, Chemical and Plastics, Chile, Chrysler, Consolidated Edison
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
7
Czechoslovakia Pavilion
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
8
Denmark, Distilled Spirit, Dominican Republic, Electrical Utilities, Equador
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
9
Federal Building (United States Building)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
10
Finland
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
11
Firestone Building
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
12
Florida, Foods Building
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
13
Ford Motor Company
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
14
France
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
15
General Motors
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
16
Glass Center Building
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
17
Goodrich Company, Greece, Home Building Center, Hungary, Iceland
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
18
Ireland
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
19
Italy
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
20
Japan
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
21
League of Nations
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
22
Maine, Masterpieces of Art, Marines, Metals Hall
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
23
Netherlands, New Jersey, Norway, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
24
Palestine, Peru, Petroleum Building, Poland
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
25
Portugal
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
26
Railroads Building, Romania, Standard Brands Building, Steel Building
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
27
Sweden
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
28
Switzerland
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
29
Telephone Building, Town of Tomorrow, USSR
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
30
Venezuela
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
31
Virginia, YMCA, Yugoslavia
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
32
Work Progress Administration (WPA)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
33
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940
2
34
Guidebooks
Archival Resource Key
circa 1936-1940
2
35
Guidebooks
Archival Resource Key
circa 1936-1940
3
1-4
Rome Exposition (1942)
Archival Resource Key
Photographs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942
3
5
Printed Material
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942
3
6-7
Czech Participation, Cleveland International Exhibition (1944)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1944
3
8
Teaching Files
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
.2 Linear feet
Box 3
circa 1938-1952
Scope and Contents
Teaching files contains materials relating to Heythum's classes at the California Institute of Technology and Syracuse University as well as a folder regarding designs created by Heythum for Gladding McBean.
California Institute of Technology
Archival Resource Key
Classroom Work and Research
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1945
3
9
Department of Industrial Design
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1943
3
10
Reports, Budgets and Projects
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1945
3
11
Student Projects and Assignments
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1945
3
12
Gladding McBean, Blueprints by Heythum
Archival Resource Key
circa 1943-1944
3
13
Syracuse University
Archival Resource Key
Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
circa 1949-1952
3
14
Student Projects
Archival Resource Key
circa 1938
3
15
Printed Material
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
1.1 Linear feet
Boxes 3-5, OV 8
circa 1933-1954
Scope and Contents
Printed material includes exhibition catalogs and various publications surrounding industrial design, as well as news clippings and oversize posters.
Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939-1951
3
16-18
Syracuse University
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948-1953
3
19
Industrial Design Pamphlets
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1943
3
20
News Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937-1952
3
21
News Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1937-1952
5
2-8
Posters
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940-1954
8
Publications on Industrial Design
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939-1952
3
22-27
Publications on Industrial Design
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939-1952
5
1
Miscellaneous Printed Material
Archival Resource Key
circa 1933-1950
4
1-3
Photographic Material
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
.5 Linear feet
Boxes 4 and 6
circa 1928-1944
Scope and Contents
Photographic material includes photographs of the Czechoslovakian countryside, people, museums and exhibitions. Also Included are photographs of Industrial Design materials, projects, and classes.
Czechoslovakia
Archival Resource Key
circa 1928
4
4
Industrial Design
Archival Resource Key
Designs by Heythum
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
4
5
Automobiles, Student Work
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
4
6
Beds and Chairs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
4
7
Clocks
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
4
8
Display Equipment and Accessories
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
4
9
Drinking Vessels
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1944
4
10
Exhibition Design
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1944
6
1-2
Fireplace Grate Designs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
6
3
Handles
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
6
4
Lamps
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
6
5
Packaging Design
Archival Resource Key
circa 1941-1944
6
6
Soap Dispenser, Radio, Street Lamp
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1944
6
7
Syracuse University Campus
Archival Resource Key
circa 1935-1939
6
8