George Collins papers, 1838-1986, bulk 1949-1986
Filter Online content
Collection context
- Creator:
- Collins, George R. (George Roseborough), 1917-1993, Mili͡utin, N. A (Nikolaĭ Aleksandrovich), 1889-1942, and Sprague, Arthur Colby, 1895-1991
- Extent:
- 13 linear feet
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
This collection is composed primarily of correspondence, course material, writings, notes, photographs, slides, and audio tapes. Much of the material pertains to Collins' career as a professor at Columbia University. There is also a bulk of material regarding to the 1962, 1964, and 1966 Modern Architecture Symposiums held at Columbia University, as well as the publication of N.A. Miliutin's Sotsgorod: The Problem of building Socialist Cities, which was translated from Russian to English by Arthur Sprague. The basis for the series and subseries order was developed from Collins' own groupings. For the majority of the collection, Collins' folder titles have been maintained and the material has been arranged chronologically.
- Biographical / historical:
-
George R. Collins was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 2, 1917. After graduating from Newton High School, in Newtonville, Massachusetts, Collins went on to study art history at Princeton University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1942. During World War II Collins volunteered with the American Field Service and earned four battle stars while serving with British forces. After the conclusion of the war Collins served for two years as deputy director and later director of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Displaced Persons Centers in Bremen and Kassel-Mattenberg, Germany. In 1950, Collins married Christiane Crasemann, his future collaborater for the 1965 translation of Camillo Sitte's The Birth of Modern City Planning.
When Collins returned to the United States he began working as a teaching instructor at Columbia University in the City of New York, where he would continue to teach for the next forty years. In 1962 Collins was tenured as a full professor in the school's department of Art History and Archaeology. Considered the foremost Gaudi scholar in the United States, Collins wrote, edited, translated, and contributed to many significant works on Antonio Gaudi including Antonio Gaudi, which was published in 1960 and was the first book in English on Gaudi's work. Collin's research work extended beyond Gaudi and he wrote on numerous topics including the Guastavino Brothers' tile-vaulting system, Art Nouveau, city planning, Soviet architecture and planning, and modern architecture. For his scholarly work, Collins was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship as well as numerous grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and the American Council of Learned Societies.
George Collins died in Falmouth, MA in 1993.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
- Terms of access:
-
Columbia University is providing access to the materials in the Library's collections solely for noncommercial educational and research purposes. The unauthorized use, including, but not limited to, publication of the materials without the prior written permission of Columbia University is strictly prohibited. All inquiries regarding permission to publish should be submitted in writing to the Director, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For additional guidance, see Columbia University Libraries' publication policy.
In addition to permission from Columbia University, permission of the copyright owner (if not Columbia University) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distributions, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the persons desiring to publish the item. Columbia University makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.
- Preferred citation:
-
George Collins papers, 1838-1986, (bulk 1949-1986), Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers are encouraged to request materials at least one month in advance. You will receive an email from the department within 2-3 business days confirming your request and currently available appointment times. Requests are limited to 8 boxes per day (or equivalent), with a maximum of 5 boxes for off-site materials, 5 folders of drawings, or 5 rolls or tube boxes.
- Contact:
- avery-drawings@columbia.edu