Overview
A portion of the personal papers of museum director and architect Sidney Fiske Kimball relating to the study of architectural history. Included in the papers are letters sent and received, manuscripts and typescripts of books and articles pertaining to European and American architecture and architects, and a vast amount of research material (notes, photos, and printed matter) collected by Mr. Kimball.
Dates
- Creation: 1918-1952.
Language of Materials
English
Physical Description
Folder extent is approximate.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use. Please contact Special Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University.
Conditions Governing Use
There are no restrictions imposed on the use of the material beyond the regulations established for consulting University-owned manuscripts.
Extent
5 linear feet36 boxes (520 folders and 4 boxes of 3"×5" cards)
Papers contain subject files, which comprise the largest segment of the collection and include correspondence; manuscript drafts and typescripts of books and articles pertaining to European, especially French, and American architects and architecture; and a considerable amount of research material, such as notes, photographs, and printed material, which was collected by Kimball. The second series includes notes, manuscript drafts and typescripts of books, articles and lectures pertaining to French architecture. The third series consists of 3"x5" card files with bibliographical information on architects, specific architectural works and the history of architectural thought.
[Sidney] Fiske Kimball (museum director and architect)1888-1955:
(See: Nat'l Cyclop. of Amer. Biogr., 47, pp. 660-1)
- 1888Born, Newton, Mass., December 8, 1888.
- 1909A.B., Harvard University
- 1909-10Teaching assistant in fine arts, Harvard University
- 1910-11Architectural study in Europe as Sheldon fellow of Harvard
- 1912M.Arch., Harvard University
- 1912-13Instructor in architecture at University of Illinois
- 1913Married Marie Goebel, Urbana, Ill., June 7, 1913
- 1913-15Instructor in architecture at University of Michigan
- 1915Ph.D., University of Michigan
- 1915-16Assistant professor in architecture at Univ. of Michigan
- 1916-17Sachs research fellowship at Michigan
- 1918-19Assistant professor of fine arts at Univ. of Michigan
- 1919-23Professor and head of department of architecture and fine arts, University of Virginia
- 1919-25Lecturer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- 1921-23Supervising architect of Univ. of Virginia
- 1923Established the Instit. of Fine Arts at New York University
- 1923-25Director of the Instit. of Fine Arts and Morse professor of the literature of the arts of design, New York University; also lecturer at the National Academy of Design, New York City.
- 1924-55Architect for New York University
- 1925-55Director of Philadelphia Museum of Art until his retirement in January, 1955
- 1935-55Member of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission
- 1955Director of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation
- 1955Elected director emeritus of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- 1955Died, Munich, Germany, August 14, 1955.
- 1888
- Born, Newton, Mass., December 8, 1888.
- 1909
- A.B., Harvard University
- 1909-10
- Teaching assistant in fine arts, Harvard University
- 1910-11
- Architectural study in Europe as Sheldon fellow of Harvard
- 1912
- M.Arch., Harvard University
- 1912-13
- Instructor in architecture at University of Illinois
- 1913
- Married Marie Goebel, Urbana, Ill., June 7, 1913
- 1913-15
- Instructor in architecture at University of Michigan
- 1915
- Ph.D., University of Michigan
- 1915-16
- Assistant professor in architecture at Univ. of Michigan
- 1916-17
- Sachs research fellowship at Michigan
- 1918-19
- Assistant professor of fine arts at Univ. of Michigan
- 1919-23
- Professor and head of department of architecture and fine arts, University of Virginia
- 1919-25
- Lecturer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- 1921-23
- Supervising architect of Univ. of Virginia
- 1923
- Established the Instit. of Fine Arts at New York University
- 1923-25
- Director of the Instit. of Fine Arts and Morse professor of the literature of the arts of design, New York University; also lecturer at the National Academy of Design, New York City.
- 1924-55
- Architect for New York University
- 1925-55
- Director of Philadelphia Museum of Art until his retirement in January, 1955
- 1935-55
- Member of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission
- 1955
- Director of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation
- 1955
- Elected director emeritus of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- 1955
- Died, Munich, Germany, August 14, 1955.
Arrangement
Organized into the following three series: I. Subject files; II. Book, article and lecture file; and III. Miscellany [Bibliographic note cards].
Physical Location
Harvard Depository
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Papers bequeathed to Harvard University under the terms of [Sidney] Fiske Kimball's will. Material received: May 15, 1956.
A substantial portion of Mr. Kimball's files remained in Philadelphia. Mr. Coolidge selected only that which was most appropriate for research in architectural history.
- Title
- Kimball, Fiske, 1888-1955. Papers of Sidney Fiske Kimball, 1918-1952: Register.
- Author
- Fine Arts Library, Harvard Library
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- fal00001
Repository Details
Part of the Fine Arts Library Repository
The Fine Arts Library is among the leading libraries in the world for the study of art, architecture, and visual culture from antiquity to the present. Since 1895, FAL has served the needs of the visual arts community at Harvard, providing research and curricular support for all areas in the history of art, architecture, photography, and the decorative arts. FAL's archival collections may be consulted in the Special Collections Study Room by appointment only.
Littauer Center
1805 Cambridge Street
Harvard University North Yard
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-4656
falibref@fas.harvard.edu