Esther McCoy (1904-1989) is remembered best for her pioneering work as an architectural historian, critic, and proponent of Southern California modern architecture of the early to mid-twentieth century. McCoy was interested in both Italian and Mexican architecture as well as the folk art and crafts of Mexico and South America. Although her professional interests ranged from writing fiction to studying the folk architecture and crafts of Mexico, McCoy achieved her most notable success for her numerous articles, books, and exhibitions about Southern California architecture and the architects associated with the modernist movement.
Born in Arkansas in 1904, Esther McCoy grew up in Kansas and attended various schools in the Midwest. In 1926 she left the University of Michigan to launch a writing career in New York, where she moved in avant-garde literary circles and conducted research for Theodore Dreiser. She began writing fiction in New York and continued to write after moving to Los Angeles in 1932, working on short stories, novels, and screenplays. She published numerous short stories between 1929 and 1962, with works appearing in the
During the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s, McCoy participated in the politically radical movements of the period and wrote for leftist publications. Her interest in the lowcost housing projects of modern architects was prompted by one of her articles about slums for
McCoy began writing about architecture in earnest in 1950 as a free-lance contributor to the
In addition to these books, McCoy organized and wrote catalogs for several significant exhibitions focusing on contemporary architects. Her first was the
McCoy received national recognition from the American Institute of Architects for her seminal and prolific work in the field of Southern California modern architectural history and criticism. Her interests, however, were not exclusively bound to California. She traveled the world and was interested in both Italian and Mexican architecture as well as the folk art and crafts of Mexico and South America. She made five extended trips to Italy during the 1950s and 1960s, publishing regularly about the architecture there and curating the exhibition
Esther McCoy died of emphysema on December 30, 1989, at the age of eighty-five. Her last contribution was an essay for the exhibition catalog
The papers of Southern California architectural historian, critic, and writer Esther McCoy measure 44.0 linear feet and date from 1876 to 1990 (bulk 1938-1989). McCoy was interested in both Italian and Mexican architecture as well as the folk art and crafts of Mexico and South America. The collection documents McCoy's career, as well as her family and personal life through biographical material, extensive correspondence, personal and professional writings, project files, Southern California architects' files, clippings and other printed material, a large collection of photographs and slides, and taped interviews of Southern California modern architects.
Biographical and family material consists of awards, resumes, identification documents, and other documentation of McCoy's personal life. Included are a transcript of a 1984 interview of McCoy by Makoto Watanabe and material relating to her friend, Theodore Dreiser.
Correspondence focuses on her personal relationships with family, friends, and lovers, and general correspondence relating primarily to her work as a writer. McCoy's personal correspondence is valuable to researchers who are interested in her personal life, her struggles as a young writer, and the way in which her family, friends, lovers, mentors, and colleagues helped to shape her work and career. As documented in this correspondence, her life offers a glimpse into twentieth-century American social and political history, especially the radical leftist movements of the 1920s and 1930s. Researchers interested in the roots of feminism in the United States should also find these papers useful in documenting the life of a creative and productive woman who was successful in a field then almost entirely dominated by men. Correspondents of note include her husband Berkeley Tobey, lovers Geoffrey Eaton and Albert Robert, writers Ray Bradbury and Theodore Dreiser, and artists and architects, such as Dorothy Grotz, Craig Ellwood, A. Quincy Jones, Hans Hollein, and J. R. Davidson. General correspondence is primarily with researchers, professors, architects, publishers, and professional organizations.
Personal writings include McCoy's diaries, notebooks, and memoirs, and writings by others including friends, lovers, and colleagues. Also included are drafts of McCoy's fictional works, both published and unpublished, including short stories, teleplays, and novels.
The collection contains in-depth documentation of McCoy's pioneering study of the modernist work of twentieth-century architects in Southern California. The bulk of her papers consist of her writing files for books, exhibition catalogs, articles, and lectures on architecture. Because many of the architects about whom McCoy wrote were her contemporaries, she developed personal relationships with several of them through her research and writing. Her writing files include drafts, notes, research material, photographs, and correspondence. McCoy also traveled extensively, particularly in Italy and Mexico, and wrote about architecture, craft, and culture in those countries. Project files document McCoy's other activities related to architectural history, such preservation projects, juries, grants, the Dodge House Preservation Campaign and related film project, her work for the Society of Architectural Historians and the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), and her work at the UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Planning, compiling a slide library and cataloging the Richard Neutra's papers. McCoy also maintained architect files which may contain correspondence, notes, photographs, research material, interview transcripts, about architects and their works. Among these extensive records, the files documenting the careers of R. M. Schindler, Irving Gill, Richard Neutra, and Juan O'Gorman are particularly rich.
Printed material in this collection documents McCoy's career as well as her personal interests. Included are books, clippings, magazines, newsletters, press releases, as well as publications arranged by subject such as architecture, art, Italy, and Mexico. McCoy also collected literary and leftist publications. The small amount of artwork in this collection consists of artwork sent to her by friends, including a drawing of her by Esther Rollo and etchings by various artists including Thomas Worlidge.
There are personal photographs of family and friends and of McCoy at different times in her life, as well as photographs gathered during the course of her research on architecture. Found here are photographs of architects and their works, including a large number depicting the work of Gregory Ain, Luis Barragan, J. R. Davidson, Irving Gill, Bernard Maybeck, Juan O'Gorman, R. M. Schindler, and Raphael Soriano. Many of these photographs were taken by notable architectural photographers Julius Shulman and Marvin Rand. Also found are photographs of architecture designed for the Case Study House program of
Audio and video recordings include a videocassette of McCoy's 80th birthday party and 55 taped interviews with architects, people associated with architectural projects, and artists.
The collection is arranged into 10 series:
Also in the Archives of American Art are eight sound cassettes of a transcribed interview with Esther McCoy conducted by Joseph Giovannini, June 8-November 14, 1987.
The collection was given to the Archives of American Art by Esther McCoy in 1986. Before her death in 1989, McCoy assisted in the organization and identification of the papers. Original pre-print film elements for
Use of original papers requires an appointment. Use of audiovisual recordings without access copies requires advance notice.
This site provides access to the papers of
Many of the sound recordings of interviews were digitized in 2009 and are available for use by appointment. McCoy's film
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
Esther McCoy papers, circa 1876-1990, bulk 1938-1989. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
A generous grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation supported the initial organization and description of the papers in 1993. Additional processing and description was completed by Stephanie Ashley in 2005. The arrangement and finding aid was further refined by Erin Kinhart in 2009-2010 and the collection was fully digitized in 2010-2011 with funding provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art. Motion picture film reels were inspected and re-housed in 2016-2017 with funding provided by the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund.
Material found in this series includes resumes, wills, awards, address books, passports and other official identification, as well as a transcript from an interview of McCoy from 1984. One folder contains biographical statements, publication lists, and resumes for McCoy with related notes and correspondence. Also found is a notebook of a radical writers group, correspondence and legal documentation relating to a property dispute in Santa Monica, California, and documentation regarding McCoy witnessing a raid on the John Reed Club in Los Angeles.
The two folders of material relating to Theodore Dreiser include a transcript of proceedings for his funeral in 1945, Dreiser's pen knife, and two newspaper articles written by McCoy. There is a wallet that presumably belonged to R.M. Schindler and contains Schindler's business cards and fragments from a 1918 calendar with notes.
This series also contains McCoy family documents including genealogy notes, memorabilia, and reports of deaths. Unless the name of another family member is mentioned in the folder title it can be assumed that material found here relates specifically to Esther McCoy, with the exception of a folder of wills, which contains a 1948 letter relating to James L. McCoy's will.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Records are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Address Books
Address Books
Affidavit of McCoy's Christening, Medical Report
Autograph Books, Katie Mae McCoy
Awards
Awards
(oversized items housed in OV 48)
Biographical Statements, Publication List, and Resumes
Business Cards
Certificates Belonging to Berkeley Tobey
Deposition: Esther McCoy vs. Greyhound, Inc.
Documentation, Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.
Documentation and Letters, McCoy's Trip to Europe
Documentation, Raid on Los Angeles John Reed Club
Drivers License, Social Security Card, and Identification Card
Family Genealogy Notes
Family Memorabilia and Printed Material
"Hollywood Writers Radical Group" Notebook
Interview Transcript, Ester McCoy Interviewed by Makoto Watanabe
Items belonging to Clarence McCoy
News Clippings and Papers regarding death of Frank McCoy
Passports
Report of Death, Berkeley Tobey
Request for Birth Certificate, Katie Mae McCoy
R.M. Schindler Wallet and Contents
Santa Monica Residence Problems
Santa Monica Residence Problems
Santa Monica Residence Problems
Theodore Dreiser Material
Theodore Dreiser Material
Wills
This series contains copies of McCoy's outgoing letters and incoming letters focusing on her personal relationships with family, friends, and lovers, and general correspondence relating primarily to her work as a writer.
The series is organized into three subseries:
This subseries contains correspondence between McCoy and her parents, James L. and Katie Mae McCoy, and between her brothers Clarence, William, John, and Frank, sister Ruth McCoy Hahn, and various other family members. Files for some of the family members represented here, including James L. McCoy, also contain business papers documenting activities such as the family lumber business. The folder of correspondence between various family members includes letters from Esther McCoy.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Folders are arranged alphabetically; within folders, material is chronological. If letters are strictly from the sender to a particular person, it is indicated in the folder title e.g. Katie Mae McCoy to Esther McCoy.
Hahn, Ruth McCoy, to James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Clarence, to Esther McCoy
McCoy, Clarence, to James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with Ruth McCoy Hahn
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with Ruth McCoy Hahn
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with Ruth McCoy Hahn
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Esther, correspondence with James L. and Katie Mae McCoy
McCoy, Frank, to Esther McCoy
McCoy, Frank, Personal and Business Correspondence
McCoy, James L., Personal and Business Correspondence
McCoy, James L., Personal and Business Correspondence
McCoy, James L., Personal and Business Correspondence
McCoy, John, to Esther McCoy
McCoy, Julia Stephens, to Frank McCoy
McCoy, William, to Esther McCoy
Various Family Members
Various Family Members
Various Family Members
This subseries contains personal correspondence between McCoy and her friends, lovers, and colleagues. The letters concern McCoy's personal and love relationships, her views on politics, culture, and the literary world, and her struggles as a writer.
Correspondence between McCoy and lovers, including Geoffrey Eaton, John Mitchell, John Vick, Albert Robert (also known as "Timmie"), and her husband, Berkeley Tobey, is especially well represented. Much of the extensive correspondence between McCoy and Albert Robert is undated. A few letters between McCoy and her lovers include photographs.
There is also significant correspondence with fellow writers, including Theodore Dreiser, Ray Bradbury, Millen Brand, John Collier, John Cowper Powys, and historian Lewis Mumford. Correspondence with Ray Bradbury includes discussions of theater, art and architecture. Letters from Helen Dreiser include Dreiser's opinions on manuscripts written by McCoy. Theodore Dreiser's letters provide insight into the research assignments McCoy carried out for Dreiser and his opinions of her writing. The letters include the typescript of a poem, possibly written by Dreiser. William A. Swanberg, who wrote a book on Dreiser, sought McCoy's opinions and impressions of the author, and their correspondence includes many observations and theories concerning Dreiser's personal life. Also of note is extensive correspondence between McCoy and her close friend Katheryn (Kay) Metz.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Folders are arranged alphabetically; within folders, material is chronological.
Babb, Dorothy
Bradbury, Ray
Brand, Millen and Helen
Collier, John and Harriet
Darrow, Clarence, to Geoffrey Eaton
Dreiser, Helen
Dreiser, Theodore
Dreiser, Theodore
Dreiser, Theodore
Dreiser, Theodore
Dreiser, Theodore
Dreiser, Theodore, Undated Letters
Dreiser, Vera
Durden, Jim
Eaton, Geoffrey
Eaton, Geoffrey
Eaton, Geoffrey
Eaton, Geoffrey
Eaton, Geoffrey
Eaton, Geoffrey
Eaton, Geoffrey, Undated Letters
Eaton, Geoffrey, Undated Letters
Evans, Jean
Evans, Jean
Grainger, Boyne (Bonnie)
Grotz, Dorothy, Paul and Stefan
Hanson, Ruth
Hanson, Ruth
Hunt, Nolya
Hunt, Nolya
Hunt, Nolya
Kahn, Gordon
Kahn, Gordon
Kahn, Gordon
Kuifer, John
Lee, Cora Vernon, Regarding Lee's Estate
Metz, Kathryn (Kay)
Metz, Kathryn (Kay)
Metz, Kathryn (Kay)
Metz, Kathryn (Kay)
Metz, Kathryn (Kay)
Metz, Kathryn (Kay)
Metz, Kathryn (Kay)
Metz, Kathryn (Kay)
Mitchell, John
Mitchell, John
Mitchell, John
Mitchell, John, Undated Letters
Mitchell, John, Undated Letters
Mitchell, John, Undated Letters
Mitchell, John, Personal and Business Correspondence
Mumford, Lewis
Powys, John Cowper
Read, Allan
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Undated Letters
Robert, Albert, Photographs found with Letters to Esther McCoy
Robert, Albert, Personal and Business Correspondence
Spence, Andy and Sique
Swanberg, William A.
Tobey, Berkeley
Tobey, Berkeley
Tobey, Berkeley
Tobey, Berkeley
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
Tobey, Berkeley, Personal and Business Correspondence
University of Pennsylvania (regarding her donation of Dreiser's letters)
Van der Velde, Edward
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John
Vick, John, Undated Letters
Weigel, Henrietta
This subseries primarily contains letters concerning McCoy's career in architectural history and criticism. Her career in fiction writing is covered to a lesser degree. Among the correspondents are researchers, writers, professors, architects, art professionals, publishers, and professional associations. Topics covered include research and writing projects, Los Angeles area preservation and restoration projects, and grant projects.
Major correspondents in this series include the American Institute of Architects, the Graham Foundation, City of Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Board,
See Appendix for a list of selected correspondents from Series 2.3.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Material is arranged chronologically. The bulk of McCoy's correspondence with architects is arranged in Series 6: Architect Files. Additional correspondence pertaining to specific projects can be found in Series 4: Architectural Writings and in Series 5: Project Files. Correspondence in this series complements the files found in these other series and they should be consulted together for a better understanding of McCoy's career.
General Correspondence
General Correspondence
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General Correspondence
General Correspondence
General Correspondence
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated Correspondence, A-Z
Undated and Unidentified Correspondence
This series contains writings not directly relating to McCoy's career as an architectural historian and critic. Included are scattered diaries, drafts of her personal memoirs, and numerous notebooks. Also found are drafts of published and unpublished works of fiction written by McCoy, and writings by McCoy's friends and colleagues.
The series is organized into five subseries:
This series contains six diaries belonging to Esther McCoy as well as two travel diaries belonging to her mother, Katie Mae McCoy. Esther McCoy's "Sophomore Days" volumes contain journal entries and mementos from her 1919 school year. Two diaries document her time at Central College for Women (1920) and Baker University (1922-1924), and a diary from 1926 records her first year in New York City. Also found is a personal journal documenting her 1972 trip to Europe.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Diary, "Sophomore Days, Volume 1,"
Diary, "Sophomore Days, Book 3,"
Diary
Diary
Diary
"Journal: 1972 Trip to London, Paris, Vienna, Venice, Milan,"
"Diary of European Tour," Katie Mae McCoy
"Diary of Alaskan Trip," Katie Mae McCoy
Found here are notebooks kept by McCoy throughout her professional career. The notebooks consist of travel itineraries, travel notes, notes about architecture and folk art seen during trips, notes on interviews with architects, notes about architects and buildings, notes for articles, and other miscellaneous jottings and writings. The notebooks are difficult to decipher, as most were handwritten in pencil.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Because many notebooks are not dated and do not appear to have subject headings, they are arranged in rough chronological order.
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Notebooks
Loose Pages from Notebooks
This series contains autobiographical writings by Esther McCoy documenting various moments in her life. Many of these writings are in a short story format and were given a title by McCoy. Subjects covered in her memoirs, some of which were published, include her mother, childhood, and living in New York and Malibu. Also of note is the piece of writing titled "Geoff/Bo: Paris" describing her time in Paris in 1928 and her relationship with Geoffrey Eaton, and the story "Happy Birthday RMS" about working for architect R. M. Schindler. A folder of manuscripts about Theodore Dreiser contains drafts of three manuscripts relating to Helen and Theodore Dreiser and other literary figures McCoy knew in New York during the 1920s and 1930s. One titled manuscript about Dreiser, "Outward Journey" (1946-1947), can also be found in this subseries.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.
[About Her Mother]
[Abraham Christopher Columbus III]
[Annie the Dog]
"Auction at Four-Ten" ("Daga at Four-Ten")
"The Dream,"
"Driving in England,"
"Family Eating: 1919" and "Family Reading: 1919,"
"Geoff/Bo: Paris,"
"Happy Birthday RMS,"
[Malibu in the 1930s]
"My Life in the Arts,"
"My Summer in the Museum of Modern Art,"
[New York in the 1920s]
"Outward Journey,"
"A Pail of Roasting Ears,"
"Patchin Place,"
"Reading," ("How to Read")
"Robert Venturi: To Whom it May Concern,"
"Story of Jean,"
[Theodore Dreiser,]
Loose Notes on 1974 Presidential Impeachment
Notes and Fragments Writings for Memoirs
Fictional works found in this subseries include drafts of novels, short stories, and teleplays written by McCoy. A folder of stories submitted to H.L. Mencken includes introductions endorsing the stories by Theodore Dreiser and Edgar Lee Masters with related correspondence. Many of the short stories in this subseries were published in literary magazines and journals, and files may contain correspondence regarding publication and related notes. Of note is a series of files for McCoy's short story,
The life of a California architect forms the basis for drafts of three novels,
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Works of Fiction are arranged by title. In some cases McCoy used more than one title for a developing story, and alternative titles are provided in parentheses. Numbers were assigned to drafts to facilitate research and do not necessarily indicate that the drafts were written sequentially according to the numbers. Though an effort has been made to ensure that related papers are filed together, most of the drafts are undated, and it is impossible to be sure when, and in what order, they were written. Date spans for folders may indicate the date writing began and/or the date of publication and sale. Where possible, these dates have been taken from notations on the manuscripts or from information provided on publication lists.
Records of Published and Unpublished Writings (incomplete)
Stories Submitted to H.L. Mencken
[Brasilia] (Fragments)
Poetry
Untitled Writings, Fragments, and Notes
Untitled Writings, Fragments, and Notes
This series contains writings, some in draft form, by McCoy's friends and colleagues. Included are several pieces of writing about architecture, urban planning, and design. Of note are two essays about Esther McCoy written by architect Denise Scott Brown, and writings by architects Evans Woollen, Yona Friedman, and Paul Sterling Hoag. Also found are short stories written by McCoy's lovers, John Mitchell and Albert Robert, including a story by Albert Robert as "Pierre St. Clement," and unidentified writings not written by McCoy.
This subseries has been partially scanned.
Files are arranged alphabetically by author.
Denise Scott Brown, "Knowing Esther McCoy" and "Esther McCoy and The Second Generation,"
J. K. Cruz, "Pressure at Their Respective Crises Zones" ("The Variances")
Jean Evans, "Three Studies in Conflict,"
Jean Evans, "The Golden Years (Introduction),"
Yona Friedman, "A Research Program for a Scientific Method of Planning,"
Cecil Gray, "Chameleon's Dish,"
Paul Sterling Hoag, "Wisdom From the Doheny's Back Hall,"
Gabriel Garcia Maroto, "Popular Architecture in Mexico,"
Mrs. J. L. McCoy, "A Fictionalized Story of the Book of Philemon,"
John Mitchell, Various Writings
John Mitchell, Various Writings
John Mitchell, Various Writings
Paul B. Ohannesian, "Letters from Pauline Schindler: 1969-1977,"
Albert Eide Parr, "Paths of Dispersal and Encounter in the City,"
Albert Robert, "Temporary Gentlemen,"
Stephen Spender, "I Think Continually?,"
Pierre St. Clement (Albert Robert), "Heroism and Other Magic,"
Eleanor Walker, "The Nineteen Forty-Niners of Malibu Hills,"
Evans Woollen, "Towards an Architecture of Process,"
Unidentified Authors, Miscellaneous Writings
McCoy published numerous articles, essays, books, and exhibition catalogs about modern architecture. She also lectured extensively on this subject. This subseries contains records of her research for, and publication of, these writings and lectures. Found here is correspondence relating to her research; drafts; financial records; printed material including publicity for, and reviews of, her work; research material; and related photographs.
The series is arranged as 5 subseries:
Esther McCoy wrote and published six books on architecture, and contributed writings for several other book projects during her career. This subseries contains records of these writing projects. Files for books written by McCoy may consist of correspondence, draft versions, notes, research material, financial records, photographs, and publicity and reviews. Correspondence may include original correspondence between McCoy and the architects who were the subject of her work; correspondence with publishers and others relating to her work; and copies of correspondence that McCoy used for research. For example, files for her book
This series also contains records of McCoy's work on other book projects, such as writing essays for
The bulk of this subseries has been scanned. Photographs by Julius Shulman and Marvin Rand and other select folders have not been scanned.
Titles of works are arranged alphabetically and individual files are also arranged alphabetically. McCoy's books
Photograph of Publications (Books)
Drafts
Project Documents
Acknowledgements and Introduction
Captions and Credits
Correspondence (photocopies)
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Drafts and Notes, Irving Gill
Drafts and Notes, Irving Gill
Drafts and Notes, Irving Gill
Drafts and Notes, Irving Gill
Drafts and Notes, Irving Gill
Drafts and Notes, Irving Gill
Drafts and Notes, Bernard Maybeck
Drafts and Notes, Bernard Maybeck
Drafts and Notes, Bernard Maybeck
Drafts and Notes, Bernard Maybeck
Drafts and Notes, Bernard Maybeck
Drafts and Notes, R. M. Schindler
Drafts and Notes, R. M. Schindler
Drafts and Notes, R. M. Schindler
Drafts and Notes, R. M. Schindler
Drafts and Notes, R. M. Schindler
Financial Records
Notes, Greene and Greene
Photographs, Irving Gill
Photographs, Bernard Maybeck
Publicity and Reviews
Research Material, Irving Gill
Research Material, Bernard Maybeck
Symposium and Home Tour
Correspondence
Foreword
Illustrations
Interview Transcripts
Introduction
Notes
Notes
Bibliography
Correspondence
Draft Fragments
Drafts, First Edition
Drafts, Second Edition
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Photographs
Publicity and Reviews
Correspondence
Drafts and Notes
Drafts and Notes
Drafts and Notes
Printed Material
Bibliography, Captions, and Index
Bibliography, Captions, and Index
Building Plans used in Book
Corrections to Galleys
Correspondence, General
Correspondence, General
Correspondence, General
Correspondence, General
Correspondence, Gregory Ain
Correspondence, J. R. Davidson
Correspondence, Harwell Harris
Correspondence, Harwell Harris
Correspondence, Harwell Harris
Drafts, Gregory Ain
Drafts, Gregory Ain
Drafts, Gregory Ain
Drafts, Gregory Ain
Drafts, Gregory Ain
Drafts, Gregory Ain
Drafts, Gregory Ain
Drafts, J. R. Davidson
Drafts, J. R. Davidson
Drafts, J. R. Davidson
Drafts, J. R. Davidson
Drafts, Harwell Harris
Drafts, Harwell Harris
Drafts, Harwell Harris
Drafts, Harwell Harris
Drafts, Harwell Harris
Drafts, Harwell Harris
Drafts, Raphael Soriano
Drafts, Raphael Soriano
Financial Records
Notes and Research Material, Gregory Ain
Notes and Research Material, Gregory Ain
Notes and Research Material, Gregory Ain
Notes and Research Material, J. R. Davidson
Notes and Research Material, J. R. Davidson
Notes and Research Material, J. R. Davidson
Notes and Research Material, J. R. Davidson
Notes and Research Material, General
Notes and Research Material, General
Notes and Research Material, Harwell Harris
Notes and Research Material, Harwell Harris
Notes and Research Material, Harwell Harris
Notes and Research Material, Harwell Harris
Notes and Research Material, Harwell Harris
Notes and Research Material, Raphael Soriano
Notes and Research Material, Raphael Soriano
Publicity and Reviews
Acknowledgements and Bibliography
Article, "Letters Between R. M. Schindler and Richard Neutra, 1914-1924" by Esther McCoy
Article, "Letters Between R. M. Schindler and Richard Neutra, 1914-1924" by Esther McCoy
Article, "Letters Between R. M. Schindler and Richard Neutra, 1914-1924" by Esther McCoy
Article, "Letters Between R. M. Schindler and Richard Neutra, 1914-1924" by Esther McCoy
Correspondence, General
Correspondence, Philip and David Lovell (photocopies)
Correspondence, Erich Mendelsohn (photocopies)
Correspondence, Pauline Schindler (photocopies)
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler (photocopies)
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler (photocopies)
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler (photocopies)
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler correspondence with Richard Neutra (photocopies)
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler correspondence with Richard Neutra (photocopies)
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler correspondence with Richard Neutra (photocopies)
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler correspondence with Richard Neutra, Typescripts
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler correspondence with Richard Neutra, Typescripts
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler correspondence with Richard Neutra, Typescripts
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler correspondence with Richard Neutra, Typescripts
Correspondence, R. M. Schindler correspondence with Richard Neutra, Typescripts
Correspondence, Frank Lloyd Wright re: Barnsdall House (photocopies)
Correspondence, Frank Lloyd Wright re: Barnsdall House (photocopies)
Correspondence, Frank Lloyd Wright re: Barnsdall House (photocopies)
Correspondence, Frank Lloyd Wright re: Barnsdall House (photocopies)
Draft One
Draft Two
Draft Fragments
Essay, "Taliesin in 1919" by Pauline Schindler
Foreword
Introduction
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Photographs and Captions
Photographs and Captions
Photographs and Captions
Photographs and Captions
Photographs and Captions
Photographs and Captions
Photographs and Captions
Publicity and Reviews
This subseries contains records of McCoy's work on several exhibition catalogs. McCoy worked on major museum exhibitions about architecture, such as
The bulk of this subseries has been scanned. Photographs by Julius Shulman and Marvin Rand and other select folders have not been scanned.
Files are grouped alphabetically by exhibition title.
Catalog
Drafts
Drafts
Notes and Research Material
Correspondence
Drafts
Drafts
Notes
Project Description
Publicity and Reviews
Video, "The Case Study House Program, 1945-1966,"
Catalog and Printed Material
Correspondence
Correspondence
Drafts and Notes
Drafts and Notes
Exhibition Arrangements
Photographs
Checklist Documents
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Drafts
Drafts
Exhibition Arrangements
Fabric Samples
Notes
Photographs
Research Material
Reviews
Reviews
Correspondence and Exhibition Planning Documents
Drafts
Notes
Photographs
Printed Material
Catalog
Correspondence
Drafts
Exhibition Arrangements
Catalog
Correspondence
Drafts and Exhibition Arrangements
Drafts and Exhibition Arrangements
Report on Theft
Correspondence
Drafts
Notes
Photographs
Printed Material
Acknowledgements and Captions
Blueprints, Ignazio Gardella
Catalog
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Financial Records
Notebooks
Notebooks
Notebooks
Notes
Notes
Proposals
Publicity
Research Material, Franco Albini
Research Material, General
Research Material, Angelo Mangiarotti
Research Material, Gino Valle
This subseries documents McCoy's work for journals, magazines, and newspapers, including publications for which she was a contributing editor, such as
McCoy also worked for nearly two decades as a free lance writer for the
Of note are articles on young architects written for
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Titles of publications found in this subseries are arranged alphabetically, and individual articles are arranged chronologically by publication date. The exact publication date, when known, is given in parentheses.
Correspondence
Correspondence
"Architecture in Mexico" (August 1951)
"The New University City of Mexico" (August 1952)
"The Bradbury Building" (April 1953)
"The Bradbury Building" (April 1953)
"Notes on Greene and Greene" (July 1953)
"Four Houses of the '20s by R. M. Schindler, Architect" (September 1953)
"R. M. Schindler 1890-1953" (May 1954)
"Weaving by Saul Borisov" (June 1954)
"Pier Luigi Nervi - Concrete Sections from Two New Stadiums" (September 1956)
"Concrete Shell Forms - Felix Candela" (May 1957)
"Tribute to Sardinia" (November 1962)
"William Morris, Designer, Craftsman, Victorian" (March 1963)
"William Morris, Designer, Craftsman, Victorian" (March 1963)
"Italian Designs" (May 1963)
"Mosaics of Juan O'Gorman" (February 1964)
"West Coast Architects II: William Wilson Wurster" (July 1964)
"West Coast Architects III: Victor Gruen" (October 1964)
"Pure Research,"
"West Coast Architects V: John Lautner" (August 1965)
"Young Architects: The Small Office" (February-March, 1966)
"Young Architects: The Small Office" (February-March, 1966)
"Young Architects: The Small Office" (February-March, 1966)
"Young Architects: The Small Office" (February-March, 1966)
[Death of Susan Jonas,]
"Gregory Ain" (Winter 1981)
"The Greenhouse" (Spring 1982)
"The Death of Juan O'Gorman" (Spring 1982)
"Garrett Eckbo: The Early Years" (Fall 1982)
"Retrospect: Bruce Goff" (Summer 1983)
"John Entenza" (Winter 1984)
"J. R. Davidson" (May 1977)
"A Walk with Lutah Riggs" (July 1979)
"Obituary: A. Quincy Jones: 1913-1979" (September 1979)
"Gio Ponti: 1891-1979" (November 1979)
"Konrad Wachsman: 1901-1980" (January 1981)
"Ray Eames" (October 1988)
Article on Craig Ellwood
"Case Study House #17" (1956, April 8)
"Candela Exhibition" (1957, April 28)
"Los Angeles: A Private Proving Ground" (1980, February 6)
"Then and Now" (1952, December 14)
"House With Sloping Walls,"
"Who Starts a Style?" (1953, July 19)
"Northwest Roundup,"
"Northwest Roundup,"
"Northwest Roundup,"
"Northwest Roundup,"
"La Jolla's First Architect" (1954, March 28)
"60 Years of Architectural Progress Hailed by AIA" (1954, August 29)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (J. R. Davidson, 1954, November 21)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (Gregory Ain, 1955, January 2)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (Thornton Abell, 1955, May 1)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (John Lautner, 1955, May 16)
"Great Maya Builders of Yucatan" (September 1955)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (Irving Gill, 1955, November 6)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (George Russell, 1955, November 20)
"Bolton Hall,"
"The Subject of the Researches is Man" (1956, January 22)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons, 1956, February 19)
"California Landscaping No. 1" (1956, February 26)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (Richard Neutra, 1956, March 18)
"California Landscaping No. 2" (1956, May 13)
"Salute to AIA, Well Earned" (1956, May 13)
"What I Believe? A Statement of Architectural Principles" (Milton Sessions, 1956, November 18)
"Roots of California Contemporary Architecture,"
"California Landscaping No. 9" (1957, April 21)
"Italy Boasts Finest Greek Marble" (1958, February 2)
"Where to Look for Arts and Crafts on Travels Abroad" (1958, April 2)
"In Sardinia Design is Ruled by Spontaneity" (1958, October 14)
"In Sardinia Design is Ruled by Spontaneity" (1958, October 14)
"In Sardinia Design is Ruled by Spontaneity" (1958, October 14)
"The War and Ensenada" (1958, November 16)
Various Articles on Italian Crafts
"Those Crazy Domes" (1959, February 22)
"Room for 2 Million in the Hills" (1959, March 18)
"Italy's Marble" (1959, November 1)
"Italy's Marble" (1959, November 1)
"Brasilia" (1959, November 22), Correspondence
"Brasilia" (1959, November 22), Notes and Research Material
"Brasilia" (1959, November 22), Photographs
"Brasilia" (1959, November 22), Photographs
"The Time Kendall Tried to Build a Modern House" (1960, March 20)
"Chess in Cuernavaca" (1960, July 31)
"Wanted: Architect (preferably a dead one)" (1960, August 21)
"Israeli Craft: A Fusion of Many Cultures" (1960, October 9 and 1961, June 4)
"Israeli Craft: A Fusion of Many Cultures" (1960, October 9 and 1961, June 4)
"Israeli Craft: A Fusion of Many Cultures" (1960, October 9 and 1961, June 4)
"Flying off the Handle at International Airport" (1962, October 14)
"Santa Monica's Inspiration Point - It's at End of the Line" (1962, October 28)
"Megastructures for Megalopoli" (1967, January 15)
"Richard Neutra" (1968, February 11)
"Architecture in California: 1868-1968,"
Various Articles
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
(Includes general correspondence with editor, Bruno Alfieri)
"Buildings in the United States, 1966-1967" (1967-1968, v. 4)
"Buildings in the United States, 1966-1967" (1967-1968, v. 4)
"Buildings in the United States, 1966-1967" (1967-1968, v. 4)
"R. M. Schindler" (1968, v. 5)
Documents used for
"17 Miles Between Mesa and Apache Junction" (1974, v. 8)
"Two Grangers in Three Acts,"
"Kirk House on Finn Hill, Seattle,"
"Gregory Ain's Mar Vista Project for Veterans,"
"Kumler House, Phoenix, Arizona,"
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Financial Records
General Notes
"Owens Valley Study,"
"Central City" (March 1970)
"Who's Hurting Here" (July 1971)
"Designing for a Dry Climate" (1971, n. 8)
"Toward the G Intensity Silhouette,"
"Toward the G Intensity Silhouette,"
"Performing Arts Building, UC Santa Cruz,"
"St. Paul's Cathedral" (January 1972)
"Gamble House" (November 1972)
Article on Charles Moore and Christopher Alexander
"Hearst Castle" (January 1973)
"Scottsdale" (March 1973)
"Interior Design: The Charles Eames Office, An Affection for Objects" (August 1973)
"Interior Design: The Charles Eames Office, An Affection for Objects" (August 1973)
"Interior Design: The Charles Eames Office, An Affection for Objects" (August 1973)
"Interior Design: The Charles Eames Office, An Affection for Objects" (August 1973)
"Interior Design: The Charles Eames Office, An Affection for Objects" (August 1973)
"High Tech Images" (February 1974)
"Report from Guanajuato" (September 1974)
"Before the Silvers" (1976, n. 10)
"Pacific Design Center" (October 1976)
"Annenberg Building" (March 1977)
"Everyman's Casa" (July 1978)
"Something to Wrap the Herring In" (February 1986)
"Frank Gehry" (October 1986)
"Second Guessing Schindler" (1989, n. 4)
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
Various Articles
UCLA Alumni Magazine, "The New North Campus, 1966-1967,"
Correspondence
Correspondence
Drafts
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
This subseries contains many of the lectures given by McCoy at museums, galleries, universities, colleges, and architecture societies. Some of the lectures are for classes that McCoy taught at the University of California (Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz) between 1965 and 1975. Others are exhibition and gallery lectures for the shows that she curated. Also included are lectures and talks she gave regarding her publications and tours. Files may consist of drafts of lectures, notes, and related printed material. One lecture, "Schindler in California" was released by Pidgeon Audio Visual as part of a series of talks about architecture. Included are a sound cassette of the lecture by McCoy and series of 24 slides. This subseries also includes two files of schedules and notes for house tours that McCoy led for various organizations.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
California Polytechnic, "Architecture in Transition,"
Columbia University, "Architecture in the West as a Cottage Industry,"
House Tours, Schedules and Notes
House Tours, Schedules and Notes
La Jolla, "Post Modern,"
Lecture on Brasilia
Lecture on Frank Lloyd Wright
Lecture on "Italian Modern,"
Lecture on "Library Use,"
Lecture on Modern Architecture
Lectures on R. M. Schindler
Lecture on "Schindler in California,"
Lecture on Tony Lumsden
Lecture Tour, "Case Study Houses,"
Lecture Tour, "Case Study Houses,"
Lecture Tours, "The Second Generation,"
Lecture Tours, "The Second Generation,"
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, "The Architecture of R. M. Schindler,"
Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Lecture on Museums
National Trust for Historic Preservation, "The Architecture of Irving Gill,"
Rice Design Alliance, Lecture on Five California Architects
San Diego Museum of Art, "Gill's Birthday,"
Santa Barbara Museum, "The Modern Tradition in Southern California,"
Southern California Institute of Architecture, "Schindler,"
University of California Extension, "The American Home as a Work of Art,"
University of California Extension, "Fantasy and Reality in Italian Design,"
"Ain,"
"Case Study Houses,"
"The Colloquium: From Vienna to Los Angeles,"
Lecture on R. M. Schindler
"Maybeck and Gill,"
"Mexican Architecture,"
"Richard Neutra and the Second Generation Moderns in Southern California,"
University of California, Santa Barbara, Lecture on Case Study Houses
University of California, Santa Barbara, "The Office of R. M. Schindler,"
University of California, Santa Barbara, "Roots of Modern Architecture,"
University of California, Santa Barbara, "Roots of Modern Architecture,"
University of California, Santa Barbara, "Roots of Modern Architecture,"
University of California, Santa Barbara, "Roots of Modern Architecture,"
University of California, Santa Barbara, "Roots of Modern Architecture,"
University of California, Santa Barbara, "The Building as Environment Shaper,"
University of California, Santa Cruz, "Observing Architecture,"
University of California, Santa Cruz, "Observing Architecture,"
University of Southern California, "The Forties,"
University of Southern California, "Landscape Architecture in the Urban Scene,"
University of Southern California, "Memorial for Wachsman,"
Women's Building, "Conversation with Lutah Maria Riggs, FAIA,"
This subseries contains other architectural writings and research notes written by McCoy that were either unpublished or for which the publication information is unknown. Found here are writings arranged by title and by subject. Titled writings include essays about her colleagues John Entenza and Julius Shulman. Subject files include writings about architecture, creativity, and Italian and Mexican architecture and culture. Also included here are notes and handwritten transcripts of an interview of architect Louis Kahn, conducted by McCoy in 1964. A recording of this interview is available in Series 10: Audio and Video Recordings. Additional material in this subseries includes book reviews written by McCoy and other unidentified writings and notes.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Book Reviews
Miscellaneous Unidentified Writings and Notes
"Architecture West,"
"Bethlehem Baptist Church Story,"
"Broadway Plaza,"
"Bunker Hill,"
"Derwin Ranch,"
"Edward Weston,"
"Heth Wharton,"
"Interview with Wayne Williams on Color,"
"John Entenza,"
"Julius Shulman,"
"LA, LA" Book Proposal
"Los Angeles Slums,"
"Pallladio of Vicenza,"
"Ranch House: Sugar Bush Hill,"
"Report to the Board,"
"Richard Lechner House: Studio City,"
"Suave Fruits from Mexico,"
"Thoughts on the Eye,"
"Watts Towers,"
"Wiltern Theatre,"
Architecture
Architecture
Creativity
Italian Architecture and Culture
Louis Kahn Interview
Mexico's University City (Ciudad Universitaria)
Mexican Architecture and Culture
Mexican Architecture and Culture
Mexican Architecture and Culture
Mexican Gardens and Nurseries
New Mexico
This series contains McCoy's files on architecture-related projects. Included are records of her participation on juries; applications for grants; work for the Society of Architectural Historians and the Historic American Buildings Survey; and her various projects at the UCLA, School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Also found are files documenting her work on preservation projects, most notably the Dodge House Preservation Campaign.
The series is arranged as 8 subseries:
Found here are documents regarding the campaign to preserve the architecturally significant Dodge House, built by Irving Gill. Preservation efforts began in 1963 and continued until the house was demolished in 1970. Esther McCoy was very active in the preservation efforts, serving on the Citizen's Committee for the Dodge House and a Dodge House Special Committee of the American Institute of Architects. This subseries includes various committee documents, clippings and other printed material, correspondence, and notes and writings by McCoy regarding the preservation efforts. In 1965 McCoy produced a film,
The bulk of this subseries has been scanned. Photographs taken by Julius Shulman and Marvin Rand have not been scanned.
Researchers should note that additional records about the Dodge House can be found in Series 5.3: Historic American Buildings Survey.
Clippings
Committee Documents
Correspondence
Correspondence
Color Sound Answer Print
Correspondence
Lab records for A+B rolls are also found.
Financial Records
Financial Records
Photographs for Film
Photographs for Film
Scripts
Scripts
Floor Plans
Notes and Writings
Notes and Writings
Printed Material
This group of files contains correspondence, applications, proposals, and financial documents regarding McCoy's various grant projects. Included is documentation for grants awarded and not awarded. Several of these grants funded McCoy's travel, research, and writing projects.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Files are arranged alphabetically. Researchers should note that additional correspondence regarding grants may be found in Series 2.3: General Correspondence.
American Institute of Architects, Brunner Scholarship
American Institute of Architects, Rehmann Scholarship
Ford Foundation Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Huntington Hartford Foundation Fellowship
MacDowell Colony
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
Support Material for Unidentified Grants
This subseries contains material regarding Esther McCoy's work for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documenting significant Southern California architecture. Found here is correspondence regarding her work on the project, miscellaneous records such as meeting agendas, meeting minutes, financial documents, and HABS reports, and general project notes written by McCoy. The bulk of this subseries consists of project files for each of the buildings that she surveyed. Included in these files are survey worksheets and reports, notes, research material about the property, and floor plans.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Files are arranged alphabetically.
Correspondence
Correspondence
Miscellaneous Records
Miscellaneous Records
Notes
Notes
Outline and Notes for HABS Book
Barnsdall Park
Bradbury Building
Bullock's Wilshire
Dodge House
Ennis House
Horatio West Court
Los Angeles Central Library
Lovell Beach House
Miltimore House
Pueblo Ribera Court
Richfield Building
Richfield Building
Samuel Freeman House
Schindler House
Schindler House
Schindler House
Sowden House
Storer House
U. S. Customs House
Veterans Administration Center
This subseries contains files documenting McCoy's participation in award juries for architectural design. Most of these award programs were sponsored by chapters of the American Institute of Architects. Files may contain reports, notes, press releases, photographs of work by entrants, and correspondence. A few files contain only photographs of works entered into the competition.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Files are arranged chronologically.
American Institute of Architects Comprehensive Architectural Competition (Photographs)
American Institute of Architects Honor Awards
American Institute of Architects Awards Program, Southern California Chapter
American Institute of Architects Awards Program, San Diego Chapter
American Institute of Architects Awards Program, Southern California Chapter (Photographs)
Unidentified Design Competition
Beverly Hills Civic Center Design Competition
Beverly Hills Civic Center Design Competition
This subseries contains documentation about the "L. A. Art Index," a project coordinated in 1980 by California State University, Long Beach, to compile an index of artists and art groups (including architects and photographers) working in Los Angeles in the 1930s. Esther McCoy conducted research and compiled information for this project. Found here are correspondence, a portion of a draft index (stops at Gh-), and the "Master File" containing photocopies of a card file used for the index.
The bulk of this subseries has been scanned. Draft files have not been scanned.
Correspondence
"L. A. Art Index," A-B
"L. A. Art Index," C-G (stops at Gh-)
"Master File," A-D
"Master File," E-K
"Master File," L-R
"Master File," S-Z
This subseries contains scattered documentation of McCoy's architectural preservation projects independent of her work on the Historic American Buildings Survey or the Dodge House preservation campaign. Files for each property may include notes, legal documents, reports written by McCoy or others, photographs, news clippings, and correspondence.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Files are arranged alphabetically.
Baker Residence Addition, La Jolla, California
Derby House, Glendale, California
Egyptian Village Café, Glendale, California
George H. Scripps Building, La Jolla, California
Laurelwood Apartments, Los Angeles, California
St. Paul's Cathedral, Los Angeles, California
Miscellaneous Preservation Documents
This subseries documents McCoy's membership in the Society of Architectural Historians. Included are drafts of three presentations that McCoy gave at annual meetings, her correspondence with the organization, and documentation for two meetings in England, including program schedules, tour notes, and printed material. Also found are general organizational records for the society including reports, newsletters, minutes, and member lists. McCoy was a member of the SAH Tour Committee, and found here are several tour itineraries for the Southern California region.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Files are arranged alphabetically.
Annual Meeting Presentation, "The Growth of Cubism in the Work of R. M. Schindler,"
Annual Meeting Presentation, "Charles Rennie Mackintosh,"
Annual Meeting Presentation, "J. R. Davidson Houses: 1937-1946,"
Annual Meeting Presentation, "J. R. Davidson Houses: 1937-1946,"
Correspondence
Correspondence
England Meeting and Tour Records
Organizational Records
Organizational Records
Tour Itineraries
Esther McCoy was a lecturer at the UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Planning from 1965 to 1969. The school was established just a year earlier, and she took an active role in the development of a program curriculum, architecture library, and slide library. This subseries documents her many activities at the school. Included are correspondence, employment records, general notes, and library committee reports. Also found is documentation of her work to establish a slide library, including reports, notes, and inventories. McCoy also oversaw the organization and cataloging of the Richard Neutra Archive, which had been donated to UCLA. Found here is correspondence regarding the project, a microfilm inventory, and collection descriptions. This subseries also contains four files of McCoy's teaching materials, such as lecture notes and course outlines. Researchers should note that McCoy's teaching materials from other Universities can be found in Series 4.4: Lectures.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety.
Files are arranged alphabetically.
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
Employment Records
Library Committee Reports
Miscellaneous Notes
Correspondence
Financial Material
Inventories and Notes
Inventories and Notes
"List of Items and Description on Microfilm,"
"Register of the Neutra Collection,"
Slide Library, Inventory and Notes
Slide Library, Inventory and Notes
Slide Library, Plan for Organization
Slide Library, Reports
Teaching Materials
Teaching Materials
Teaching Materials
Teaching Materials
This series contains McCoy's research files on individual architects and their projects. Files may include correspondence, research material, photographs of the architects and their works, writings, interview transcripts and notes, blueprints, and printed material. Writings found here include writings by McCoy and writings by the architects. Of note is a draft memoir written by Konrad Wachsman and an essay on architecture in Mexico by Juan O'Gorman. This series also contains a large amount of material about R. M. Schindler, including statements by other architects about Schindler, and a two volume "Book of Documents" created by Schindler, containing copies of his biographical and professional records.
The bulk of this series has been scanned. Photographs taken by Julius Shulman have not been scanned.
The files are arranged alphabetically by name of architect. While this series contains scattered writings and notes by McCoy, the bulk of her writings about these architects can be found in Series 4: Architectural Writings. Additional photographs of works by these architects can be found in Series 9: Photographs and Slides.
Correspondence
Floor Plans
Research Material
Birkerts, Gunnar
Botteiger, Peggy
Candela, Felix
Candela, Felix
Cetto, Max
Ciampi, Mario
Coate, Roland
Craiker, Chris
Interview Transcript
Photographs
Printed Material
Correspondence
Notes and Research Material
Correspondence
Notes and Writings
Notes and Writings
Research Material
Goff, Bruce
Grey, Elmer
Correspondence
Correspondence
Research Material
Harris, Murry
Harris, Murry
Lautner, John
Le Corbusier
Maybeck, Bernard
Moore, Charles
Myers, Barton
Correspondence
Correspondence
Photographs
Research Material
Clippings
Clippings
Correspondence
Correspondence
Correspondence
"The Degeneration of Architecture in Mexico Today" by Juan O'Gorman
Notes and Writings
Otto, Frei
Correspondence
Correspondence
Notes and Writings
Research Material
Correspondence
Correspondence
Research Material
Correspondence
Correspondence
Photographs
Research Material
Correspondence
Correspondence
Notes and Research Material
Richards, Sim Bruce
Correspondence
Correspondence
Exhibition Documents
Notes, General
Notes, General
Notes, Gregory Ain Interview regarding Schindler
Notes, "Talk with the Lovells,"
Photographs
Research Material, Book of Documents, vol. I
Research Material, Book of Documents, vol. II
Research Material, General
Research Material, General
Research Material, General
Research Material, General
Statements by Other Architects Regarding Schindler
Writings, [About Working for Schindler,]
Writings, "Schindler House Restoration,"
Writings, Unidentified Draft Fragments
Correspondence
Photographs
Sorkin, Michael
Stenger, A. D.
Sullivan, Louis
Correspondence
Correspondence
Notes and Writings
Notes and Writings
Research Material
Research Material
Research Material
Victor Gruen Associates
Victor Gruen Associates
Victor Gruen Associates
Wachsman, Konrad
Wachsman, Konrad
Wachsman, Konrad
Wachsman, Konrad
Notes and Research Material
Notes and Research Material
Photographs
Correspondence
"Eric Wright Conversation,"
Notes and Writings
Notes and Writings
Research Material
This series contains a large amount of printed material of interest to and collected by McCoy, much of it documenting her professional activities. Found here are books, clippings, magazines, postcards, newsletters, press releases, and publications by subject. News clippings include articles about McCoy, articles written by McCoy, articles about architecture not written by McCoy, and other miscellaneous subjects. Architecture, art, and literary magazines found here often include articles written by McCoy. Additionally, she collected leftist magazines such as
Portions of this series has been scanned. Items not directly relating to McCoy's career as a writer and architectural historian have not been scanned.
This series has been arranged alphabetically by type of item followed by an alphabetical arrangement of subject files. Items within each folder are arranged chronologically. Researchers should note that additional printed materials, especially clippings, are also found in Series 4: Architectural Writings, Series 5: Projects, and Series 6: Architect Files.
Clippings, About Architecture (Not written by McCoy)
Clippings, About Architecture (Not written by McCoy)
Clippings, About Architecture (Not written by McCoy)
Clippings, About Architecture (Not written by McCoy)
Clippings, About Esther McCoy
Clippings, About Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Clippings, Writings by Esther McCoy
Miscellaneous Architecture Magazines
Miscellaneous Literary Magazines
Newsletters
Press Releases
Architecture and Urban Design
Architecture and Urban Design
Architecture and Urban Design
Architecture and Urban Design
Architecture and Urban Design
Architecture and Urban Design
Architecture and Urban Design
California (Historical and Cultural Landmarks)
California (Historical and Cultural Landmarks)
California (Historical and Cultural Landmarks)
Cast Iron
Southern California Institute of Architecture
This series contains several minor prints and drawings collected by McCoy. Many of the drawings are by unidentified artists. Of note are a drawing of Esther McCoy by Esther Rollo, ink drawings by Forrest Wilson, and etchings which McCoy purchased, including several by Thomas Worlidge.
This series has been scanned in its entirety.
Items are arranged alphabetically by folder heading.
Artwork sent to Esther McCoy
Decorative Paper
Drawing of Esther McCoy by Esther Rollo
Drawings by Forrest Wilson
Drawings by Unidentified Artists
Etching by A. Brunet-Debaines
Etching by Albrecht Durer
Etching by S. Le Clerc
Etchings by Thomas Worlidge
Etchings by Thomas Worlidge
Etchings by Thomas Worlidge
Etchings by Thomas Worlidge
Etchings by Thomas Worlidge
Etching by Unidentified Artist
Reproductions of Artwork by Hardy Hanson
Most of the photographs arranged in this series are of architects, architecture, and related research subjects, and were taken by McCoy and others in support of her numerous articles, books, and exhibitions. Also included are McCoy's personal and family photographs. In addition, there are approximately 3,600 slides used by McCoy in her numerous lectures and talks.
The series is arranged as 6 subseries:
Found here are photographs of McCoy, her family, and friends. Included are many portraits and snapshots of McCoy, as a child and adult, as well as snapshots of her with her sister Ruth, other family members, her husband Berkeley Tobey, and various friends. Also found are photographs of McCoy and Tobey family members, dating back to the 1870s. Most photographs of family and friends are unidentified. Included are photographs of her colleague and editor of
This subseries also includes three photograph albums. One album contains photographs of McCoy from the age of 12 to 16, her sister Ruth, and childhood friends and family. The other two albums document awards dinners honoring McCoy. The Vesta Awards album also serves as a guest book for the event and includes photographs of each guest and brief handwritten notes to McCoy.
This subseries has been scanned in its entirety except for negatives.
Photographs of Esther McCoy
Photographs of Esther McCoy
Photographs of Esther McCoy
Photographs of Esther McCoy
Photographs of Esther McCoy
Photographs of Esther McCoy
Photographs of Esther McCoy
Photographs of Esther McCoy
Photographs of Esther McCoy by Deborah Sussman
Photographs of Esther McCoy by Deborah Sussman
Esther McCoy School Photographs
Photographs of Esther McCoy with Family and Friends
Photographs of Esther McCoy with Family and Friends
Photographs of Esther McCoy with Family and Friends
Photographs of Esther McCoy with Family and Friends
Photographs of Esther McCoy with Family and Friends
Photographs of Esther McCoy with Berkeley Tobey
Photographs of Berkeley Tobey
Photographs of Esther McCoy's Sister, Ruth
Photographs of the McCoy Family
Photographs of the McCoy Family
Photographs of the McCoy Family
Photographs of the McCoy Family
Photographs of the McCoy Family
Photographs of the McCoy Family
Photographs of the Tobey Family
Photographs of Family and Friends
Photographs of Family and Friends
Photographs of Family and Friends
Photographs of Family and Friends
Photographs of Family and Friends
Photographs of Family and Friends
Photographs of Friends
Photographs of Friends
Photographs of John Entenza
Photographs of Esther McCoy's 80th Birthday Party
Photographs of Esther McCoy's 80th Birthday Party
Photographs of Esther McCoy's 80th Birthday Party
Photographs of Coffeyville Lumber Co.
Photographs of J. E. McCoy General Store
Photographs of McCoy Family Houses
Photographs of Frank McCoy's Funeral
Photographs of Marguerite Wildenhain at Pond Farm
Travel Snapshots
Photographs of Long Beach Earthquake and Santa Monica Flood Damage
Loose Pages from an Album
Album
Schindler House Dinner Honoring Esther McCoy
Vesta Awards (Dismantled)
Vesta Awards, Loose Items
Miscellaneous and Unidentified Photographs
Copyprints of Negatives
Copyprints of Negatives
Found here are photographs of works by architects, which McCoy compiled for her books, exhibition catalogs, articles, and other professional projects. Photographs primarily depict architecture by Southern California architects, but also including works by architects working elsewhere in the United States, Italy, and Mexico. Some of these photographs also document architecture by young architects working in the U.S. during the mid-1960s. Photographs depict various interior and exterior views, construction, and occasionally found are photographs of the architect. A large number of photographs found here depict the work of Gregory Ain, Luis Barragan, J. R. Davidson, Irving Gill, Bernard Maybeck, Juan O'Gorman, R. M. Schindler, and Raphael Soriano. Photographs were taken by Esther McCoy, prominent architectural photographers Marvin Rand and Julius Shulman, and many others.
The bulk of this subseries has been scanned. Photographs taken by Julius Shulman and Marvin Rand have not been scanned and are noted in the folder heading.
Files are arranged alphabetically by name of architect; works by that architect are arranged chronologically by construction date. Date of construction is included in parentheses when it is known. When only one or two photographs represent the work of an architect, it was placed in a file of "Miscellaneous Architects, A-Z." Researchers should note that additional photographs of architects and architecture can be found in Series 4: Architectural Writings, Series 5: Projects, and Series 6: Architect Files.
Abell, Thornton, Unidentified House
Photographs of Gregory Ain
Edwards House (1936)
Ernst House (1937)
Scharlin House (1937)
Dunsmuir Flats (1937-1938)
Becker House (1938)
Vorkapinch House (1938)
Community Homes, Reseda (1945-1949)
Avenel Cooperative Housing (1948)
Mar Vista Housing (1948)
Miller House (1948)
Museum of Modern Art, Women's Home Companion Exhibition House (1950)
Various Projects
Various Projects
Various Projects
Various Projects
Unidentified Projects
Artigas, Francisco, Various Projects
Barnes, Edward Larrabee, Hallmark House
Photographs of Luis Barragan
Barragan House (1947-1948)
Photographs by Elizabeth Timberlawn and Armando Salas Portugal. The Barragan Foundation owns complete rights to all photographs by Armando Salas Portugal related to the oeuvre of Luis Barragan.
Jardines del Pedregal (includes Alfred Ortega House)
Photographs by Elizabeth Timberlawn and Armando Salas Portugal. The Barragan Foundation owns complete rights to all photographs by Armando Salas Portugal related to the oeuvre of Luis Barragan.
Prieto Lopez House
Photographs by Armando Salas Portugal. The Barragan Foundation owns complete rights to all photographs by Armando Salas Portugal related to the oeuvre of Luis Barragan.
Birkerts, Gunnar, Tougaloo College (1965)
Birkerts, Gunnar, Various Projects
Blair, Donald and Saul Zaik, Salishan Village
Blake, Pater and Alan Chapman, Beach House
Blake, Peter and Julian Neski, Martinez House (1957)
C. F. Murphy Associates, Blue-Cross Blue-Shield Building, Chicago
C. F. Murphy Associates, Chicago Civic Center (1965)
Inglesia de la Virgen Milagrosa (1954)
Chapel Coyoacou
Various Projects
Various Projects
Cetto, Max, Cetto House, Jardines del Pedregal (1949)
Cetto, Max, Various Projects
Cheval, Ferdinand, Le Palais Idéal (1923)
Ciampi, Mario J., Various Projects
Corbett, Mario, Unidentified House
Photographs of J. R. and Greta Davidson
Pfeifferling House (1919)
Pfeifferling House (1919)
Hi-Hat Restaurant (1929)
Hotel Shoreland (1937)
Maitland House (1937)
Stothart House (1937)
Stothart House (1937)
Gretna Green Apartments (1940)
Thomas Mann House (1941)
Vigeveno House (1941)
Jokl House (1958)
"House of the Book,"
Various Projects
Unidentified projects
De la Lama, Victor, House
Del Moral, Enrique, Del Moral House
Eggers, Henry, Unidentified House
Ellwood, Craig, Various Projects
Franzen, Ulrich and Associates, Various Projects
Fuller, R. Buckminster, Dome, 1967 World Exhibition
Gehry, Frank O., Various Projects
Photographs of Irving Gill
Photographs of Irving Gill
McKenzie House (1898)
Birckhead House (1901-1902)
Ellen Mason House (1901-1902)
Louis B. McCagg House (1901-1902)
"Wildacre" Olmstead House (1901-1902)
3928 3rd Avenue (circa 1908)
Darst Flats (1908)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (1908)
St. James Chapel (1908)
Wilson Acton Hotel (1908)
Bishop's School (1909-1916)
Bishop's School (1909-1916)
Fountain, San Diego (1909)
Miltimore House (1911)
Riverside Portland Cement Co. (1911)
Thompson House (1912)
Women's Club (1913)
Community House and Playground, La Jolla (1914)
Dodge House (1916)
Dodge House (1916)
Dodge House, Demolition Photographs
Ellen Scripps House (1916)
City Hall, Oceanside (1929)
Fire House and Police Station, Oceanside (1929)
Navada Street School (1931)
Rancho Barona Chapel (1933)
7th Street House
Various Projects
Various Projects
Various Projects
Various Projects
Various Projects
Goldfinger, Myron Henry, House on Long Beach Island, NJ
Goodhue, Bertram, Balboa Park Buildings (1914)
Grace, Harrison, Grace Bros. Farm, Texarkana
Photographs of Charles and Henry Greene
Irwin House (1906)
R. R. Blacker House (1907)
D. B. Gamble House (1908)
Various Projects
Gregotti, Vittorio, Industrial Building
Gregotti, Vittorio, La Rinascente Department Store
Jones, A. Quincy, Various Projects
Fellowship Park House (1935)
Havens House (1940)
Various Projects
Various Projects
Various Projects
Koenig, Pierre, Photographs of Pierre Koenig
Koenig, Pierre, Various Projects
Lautner, John, Photographs of John Lautner
Lautner, John, Various Projects
Le Corbusier, Visual Arts Center, Harvard University
Lopez-Bermudez, "$1500 House,"
Lustig, Alvin, Accessory Shop
Madaleno, Juan Sordo, Various Projects
Maiden, Rowan, Nepenthe Restaurant
Mariscal, Nicolas, House
Martinez, Ramon Torres, House
Photographs of Bernard Maybeck
Hearst Hall (1899)
Wyntoon on McCloud River (1902)
Unitarian Church, Paolo Alto (1906)
Lawson House (1907)
First Church of Christ Scientists (1910-1912)
First Church of Christ Scientists (1910-1912)
Chick House (1913)
Palace of Fine Arts (1913-1915)
Marx Greene House (1916)
Bingham House (1917)
Packard Agencies (1926-1929)
Earle C. Anthony House (1927)
Various Projects
Various Projects
Various Projects
McCue and Associates, Chevron Research Laboratory
Photographs of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Museum of Fine Arts Houston (1958)
Seagram Building (1958)
Ron Bacardi Administration Building (1961)
Redevelopment Project
Unidentified Administration Building
Miller, Leroy R., House
Morgan, William, Various Projects
Morrison, Manuel Rosen, Various Projects
Nervi, Pier, Various Projects
Nervi, Pier, Various Projects
Lovell House (1929)
Bailey House (1946)
Various Projects
Photographs of Juan O'Gorman
O'Gorman House (1951)
O'Gorman House (1951)
O'Gorman House (1951)
O'Gorman House (1951)
O'Gorman House (1951)
Central Library, University of Mexico (1952)
Central Library, University of Mexico (1952)
Primary School
Taxco Mural
Communications Building, University of Mexico
Various Projects
Otto, Frei, German Pavilion at Expo 67
Palladio, Andrea, Various Projects
Palladio, Andrea, Various Projects
Pani, Mario, Various Projects
Photographs of Cesar Pelli
San Bernardino City Hall (1972)
Various Projects
Piano, Renzo and Richard Rogers, Various Projects
Platt, Anthony C., Penn State Project
Polshek, James, Research Laboratory in Japan
Polshek, James, Various Projects
Ponti, Gio, Various Projects
Rapson, Ralph, Tyrone Guthrie Theatre
Revell, Viljo, Apartment House, Helsinki (1962)
Ricci, Leonardo, "Birth of a Village in an Underdeveloped Area,"
Ricci, Leonardo, Various Projects
Safdie, Moshe, Habitat 67
Sant'Elia, Antonio, Various Projects
Sartoris, Alberto, Various Projects
Hampden Club (1916-1917)
Kings Road House (1921-1922)
Pueblo Ribera Court (1923)
Gibling House (1926)
Lovell Beach House (1925-1926)
Wolfe House (1928)
Gisela Bernati Cabin (1937)
Rodakiewicz House (1937)
Rodakiewicz House (1937)
Daugherty House (Sugarbush Hill) (1945)
Kallis House (1946)
Various Projects
Various Projects
Various Projects
Sedletsky, Marcel, Various Projects
Photographs of Raphael Soriano
Eichler House (1955)
Adolph's Office Building and Research Laboratory (1958)
McCauley House (1959)
Cooke House (1961)
San Francisco Tower (1969)
Various Projects
Various Projects
Tigerman, Stanley, Instant City Project
Wong, Worley K. and John Campbell, Various Projects
Wright, Frank Lloyd, Various Projects
Wright, Lloyd, Various Projects
Wyman, George, Bradbury Building (1893)
Miscellaneous Architects, A-Z (Includes portraits of architects)
Miscellaneous Architects, A-Z (Includes portraits of architects)
Unidentified Architect, Church
Unidentified Architect, Supermarket, San Olona Vittore, Italy
Unidentified Photographs of Architects and Architecture
Found here are photographs of architecture designed for the Case Study House program. McCoy researched and wrote about this program extensively, and researchers should note that additional photographs of these houses can be found within her writing files in Series 4 for both her book,
Portions of this subseries have been scanned. Photographs taken by Julius Shulman and Marvin Rand have not been scanned and are noted in the folder heading.
Photographs are arranged alphabetically by architect and then by project number.
Abell, Thornton, Case Study House #7
Buff, Straub and Hensman, Case Study House #20
Davidson, J. R., Case Study Houses #1, #11, #15
Eames, Charles, Case Study House #8
Eames, Charles and Eero Saarinen, Case Study House #9
Ellwood, Craig, Case Study House#16
Ellwood, Craig, Case Study House #17
Ellwood, Craig, Case Study House #18
Jones and Emmons, Case Study House #24
Killingsworth, Brady, and Smith, Case Study House #23
Killingsworth, Brady, and Smith, Case Study Hosue #25
Knorr, Don, Case Study House #19
Koenig, Pierre, Case Study House #21
Koenig, Pierre, Case Study House #22
Neutra, Richard, Case Study Houses #6, #13
Neutra, Richard, Case Study House #20
Nomland, Kemper and Kemper Jr., Case Study House #10
Smith, R. Whitney, Case Study Houses #5, #12
Soriano, Raphael, Case Study House 1950
Soriano, Raphael, Case Study House 1950
Spaulding, Sumner, and John Rex, Case Study House #2
Walker, Rodney, Case Study Houses #16, #17, #18
Wurster, William W. and Theodore Bernardi, Case Study House #3
This subseries consists of exhibition photographs, the bulk of which document the 1967 exhibition "Ten Italian Architects" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Photograph documentation of this exhibition includes installation views and photographs used for the exhibition catalog. Other photographs related to this exhibition are arranged by name of architect. Not all of the photographs found here were used in the catalog. Researchers should note that additional documentation of this exhibition catalog, written by McCoy, can be found among her architectural writings in Series 4.2: Exhibition Catalogs. Additional files in this subseries include installation views of an exhibition of work by Antoni Gaudi and copies of photographs used in three other exhibitions.
The bulk of this subseries has been scanned.
Installation Views
Photographs for Exhibition Catalog
Architect, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Architect, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Architect, B. B. P. R. (Belgiojoso, Peressutti, and Rogers) (2 folders)
Architect, B. B. P. R. (Belgiojoso, Peressutti, and Rogers) (2 folders)
Architect, Giancarlo de Carlo
Architect, Ignazio Gardella
Architect, Angelo Mangiarotti
Architect, Angelo Mangiarotti
Architect, Giovanni Michelucci
Architect, Alberto Rosselli
Architect, Gino Valle
Architect, Vittoriano Vigano
Miscellaneous Photographs
Museum of Modern Art, "Architecture of Antoni Gaudi,"
Found here are photographs which were primarily compiled by McCoy as research photographs during her work as a writer. Many of these photographs were taken to accompany her series of travel articles written for the Los Angeles Times. Files are arranged by subject, and often document craft and architecture in various countries such as Italy, Mexico, Brazil, and Israel. Also found are files of photographs documenting California architectural history. Researchers should note that related photographs may be found among McCoy's architectural writings in Series 4.
The bulk of this subseries has been scanned.
Files are arranged alphabetically by subject.
Art Deco in Los Angeles
Brazil
Brussels World's Fair
California Architectural History
Colorado
France
Ghana
Guatemala
Israel
Architecture and Design
Basketry
Ceramics
Ceramics
Ceramics
Furniture
Furniture
Furniture
Glass
Glass
Handbags
Ivrea (Olivetti Company)
Marble
Marble
People and Landscapes
People and Landscapes
People and Landscapes
People and Landscapes
Piedmont Castles
Sculpture
Textiles
Wood Crafts
Cuernavaca
Folk Architecture
Folk Architecture
Folk Architecture
Furniture and Crafts
Furniture and Crafts
University of Mexico, Campus
University of Mexico, Estadio Olimpico
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Norwegian Crafts
San Diego Architecture
Shrines of Nigeria
Triennale of Milan 1957
Triennale of Milan 1957
Triennale of Milan 1957
Unidentified Architecture
Unidentified Architecture
Found her are approximately 3,600 slides of examples of architects' works collected by Esther McCoy over the course of her career. Most slides included a handwritten label.
This subseries has not been scanned.
Slides are arranged either by architect's name or geographic location (U.S. state or country).
Found here are interview recordings, commercially produced music recordings, and a videocassette of Esther McCoy's 80th birthday party. Interview recordings include taped, untranscribed interviews with architects, people associated with architectural projects, and artists. Recordings were made either on sound tape reels (3 in., 1/4 in. tape) or sound cassettes. All interviews were conducted by Esther McCoy, unless otherwise noted, as part of her research for magazine articles and books, including many interviews from 1964 and 1965 which were used for her article, "Young Architects: The Small Office," published in
All of the sound tape reels have been digitized by the Archives of American Art for reference use. Some duplicate cassettes have also been created for reference use. All items listed are original recordings unless otherwise indicated in the item heading.
Interview recordings are arranged in rough alphabetical order by interviewee. Where different subjects were taped on the same reel, they are listed together in order to reflect the physical arrangement of the interviews on the reels.
(Interview conducted and tape produced by Bethlehem Steel)