Ely Jacques Kahn papers 11015367Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library

This finding aid is made available for public use following the Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons designation.

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-06-09 18:26:19 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.2014-11-19File created.2019-05-20EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration. Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Ely Jacques Kahn papers Kahn, Ely Jacques, 1884-1972 Kahn, Liselotte École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts (France) 11015367 English . /repositories/3/resources/6122 3 manuscript boxes 7.5 print boxes 2 folder 1906-1986 1906-1972 Arrangement

The collection is arranged in six series: Biographical/Background Material, Student Work and Art, Professional Papers, Writings, Photographs and Miscellaneous Ephemera, and Liselotte Kahn papers.

Restrictions on Access

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.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--The collection was donated in six accessions: 1963.001, 1973.012, 1992.03, 1992.011, 1993.016, and 1994.013. A small donation by Jules Stern was added in 2023 (2023.001)

Biographical sketch

Ely Jacques Kahn was one of the most significant architects in New York City in the 20th century, sustaining an active career over more than six decades. Many of his buildings are now New York City landmarks, bearing witness to the sophistication of Art Deco and Moderne styles and the ambitions of the post-World War II building boom.

Biographical sketch

Born in Manhattan, Kahn graduated from Columbia College in 1903 and completed further study in architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1907-08. Returning to New York, Kahn struggled to find work in the wake of the 1907 stock market collapse. Competition for architectural jobs was tough given the growing number of trained architects and Kahn also faced a rising wall of anti-Semitism in the patrician world of New York architecture. In 1914, Kahn took a teaching position at Cornell as a replacement for a French architect unable to return due to the outbreak of World War I. In 1917, he joined the partnership of Buchman and Fox, already an established firm. As part of Buchman & Kahn, he began designing and building successful commercial buildings, profiting from the building boom in the 1910s and 1920s.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers related to the personal and professional life of American architect Ely Jacques Kahn. A small amount of personal papers was transferred from the Arendts Library at Syracuse University in 1992. Additional personal papers, including two large scrapbooks, were donated by Liselotte Kahn, wife of Ely Jacques Kahn, in 1992 and 1993. Also found in this collection are student drawings and an incomplete autobiographical essay, donated to Avery Library by Kahn himself in 1963. Completing the Kahn holdings are personal materials from Ely Jacques Kahn, including drawings done while Kahn was a student at the Ecole de Beaux-Arts in Paris (1907-1908), sketchbooks, diplomas, autographs from fellow students, a typescript of Kahn's autobiography, and scrapbooks containing clippings, photographs, telegrams and other ephemera. Additionally, there is a small holding for Liselotte Kahn within the collection, including her unpublished memoirs, some correspondence, and a watercolor painting. Liselotte Kahn's memoirs describe her childhood in Germany; her marriage to Dr. Ernst Müller and the birth of their sons; Nazi anti-Semitism; their emigration to Greece; her husband's medical practice in Athens; the Italian and German invasion of Greece; their escape to Palestine; and their emigration to and experiences in the United States.

Related Material

Kahn & Jacobs architectural drawings and records, circa 1893-1965, (bulk ca. 1893-1950): Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabum Gift (1978.001)

Related Material

Robert Allan Jacobs papers, 18902-1990s, (bulk 1909-1983): Margot Jacobs Gift (1999.013)

Related Material

[Conceptual cross-section rendering for a multi-use building] / Kahn & Jacobs : Mark Dessauce Gift (2003.005)

Related Material

150 Permanent Dwelling Units and Community House [Lexington Park, M.D. ] / Kahn & Jacobs: Mark Dessauce Gift (2003.005)

Related Material

[2 Park Avenue (New York, N.Y)] : [design for bronze Subway sidewalk sign post] / Buchman & Kahn: Andrew Alpern Gift (2010.005)

Related Material

[Perspective rendering of] Federation Building [New York, N.Y.] / Buchman & Kahn: Catha Rambusch Gift (1994.017)

Preferred Citation

Ely Jacques Kahn papers, 1906-1986, (bulk 1906-1972), Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

Processing Information

This finding aid was produced by Shelley Hayreh, Avery Archivist, in 2014. The scrapbooks were processed by Nicole Richard in 2015.

Restrictions on Use

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.

Restrictions on Use

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.

Architects -- New York (State) Architecture -- Sketch-books Architecture -- Study and teaching Architects -- United States -- Biography Photographs watercolors (paintings) Sketchbooks Autobiographies (literary works) Autographs (manuscripts) Bergdorf Goodman (New York, N.Y.) Series I: Biographical/Background Material/repositories/3/archival_objects/845051"Building Types Study 500: Forty Years of American Architecture as explored in 499 Building Types Studies," Architectural Reocrd (Apr 1977), pp. 117-150/repositories/3/archival_objects/84505721Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Scope and Contents

Includes a letter from Martin Filler to Lisellote Kahn

Diary/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450581933119Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Scope and Contents

Includes India travel correspondence and ephemera

Perpetual Year Book/repositories/3/archival_objects/15130901925-1959311Scope and Contents

A Perennial Diary maintained by Kahn for nearly 35 years.

General

Accession 2023.001 (Donated by Jewel Stern)

École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, Oral History/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450591971 to 1973120Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Scope and Contents

Interview conducted by Richard Chafee in 1971; includes transcript, audio tape and correspondence between Mrs. Kahn and Chafee

Manuscript, Family History/Early Life/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450601962121Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Notes/repositories/3/archival_objects/84506122Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Saylor, Henry H. "Ely Jacques Kahn." Reprint. Architecture, Vol. LXIV (1931 August), pp. 65-70./repositories/3/archival_objects/845062193123Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

The Asphalt Green/repositories/3/archival_objects/845063197924Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Scope and Contents

Seventh Annual Benefit Program and clippings

Tunick, Susan. "A Directory of Signficant Terra Cotta Buildings in New York City." Sites, No. 18 (1986), pp. 58-64./repositories/3/archival_objects/845064198625Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Scope and Contents

Cover: Detail, upper stories of 2 Park Avenue, New York. Ely Jacques Kahn, architect (1927).

Series II: Student Work and Art/repositories/3/archival_objects/845052École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, Lithograph/repositories/3/archival_objects/84506543Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, Student drawings/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450661907 to 191011 to 2Scope and Contents

Accession 1963.001

Scope and Contents

33 sheets : graphite on paper ; 28.0 x 21.0 cm. (11 x 8 1/4 in.)

Other Finding Aids

Project-level record

Ink Drawing/repositories/3/archival_objects/84506746Scope and Contents

Accession 1994.013

Sketchbook/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450681907215Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Sketches and sketchbooks/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450691906, 1971-2216Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Scope and Contents

22 ink sketches, ca. 1971-1972, mostly New York City buildings and other architectural details

Scope and Contents

11 sketchbook, ca. 28 pp. Paris, [1906?]

Scope and Contents

1 sketchbook, 23 leaves, [Paris, 190?]

Watercolor/repositories/3/archival_objects/845070197247Scope and Contents

Accession 1994.013

Series III: Professional Papers/repositories/3/archival_objects/845053"Modern Architecture Symposium (MAS 1964): The Decade 1929-1939." Reprint. Journal of the Society of Architecutral Historians, Vol. XXIV (Mar 1965), pp. 3-96./repositories/3/archival_objects/84507126Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Bergdorf Goodman, Promotional Booklet/repositories/3/archival_objects/84507227Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Columbia College Council/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450731954 to 1957122Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Scope and Contents

Press release, minutes and memorandums

Correspondence (Jewel Stern Donation)/repositories/3/archival_objects/15130921927-1932128Scope and Contents

2 letters: M.A. Mikkelsen (editor of The Architectural Record) to Kahn regarding 2 Park Avenue (July 8, 1927); Kahn to Honorable James J. Walker recommending William H. Gompert as Tenement House COmmissioner (May 3, 1932)

General

Accession 2023.001 (Donated by Jewel Stern)

Correspondence/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450741954 to 1957123Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Correspondence, Kahn & Jacob Staff/repositories/3/archival_objects/84507528Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Correspondence, Press of Case Western Reserve University/repositories/3/archival_objects/84507629Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Correspondence, Watercolors/repositories/3/archival_objects/845077210Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. Promotional Booklet/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450781957211Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Scope and Contents

(Real estate firm)

Kahn & Jacob, partnership agreements/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450791940 to 1943212Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Kahn & Jacobs, financial statements/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450801957 to 1961213Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

School of Industrial Arts/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450811955 to 1956124Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Travel, Itinerary and Information for Asia Tour/repositories/3/archival_objects/845082214Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Series IV: Writings/repositories/3/archival_objects/845054Autobiography/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450831970 to 197213 to 18Scope and Contents

Accession 1973.012

Scope and Contents

Manuscript with annotations

Kahn, Ely Jacques. "American Office Practice." Reprint. The Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Vol. 64 (Sept 1957), pp. 443-451./repositories/3/archival_objects/8450841957217Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Scope and Contents

Paper read at RIBA, June 4, 1957.

Kahn, Ely Jacques. "Tall Buildings in New York." Reprint. RIBA Journal, Vol. 62, No. 12 (Oct 1960), pp. 451-456./repositories/3/archival_objects/845085218Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Scope and Contents

Talk given at RIBA, June 2, 1960.

Kahn, Ely Jacques. "The Modern European Shop and Store." Reprint. Architectural Forum, Vol. L (June 1929), pp. 788-804./repositories/3/archival_objects/8450861929219Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Kahn, Ely Jacques. "This Modernism." T-Square Club Journal, Vol. 1 (Sept 1931), p.5./repositories/3/archival_objects/8450871931220Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Manuscript, Speeches/repositories/3/archival_objects/845088125Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Manuscript, Store Design/repositories/3/archival_objects/845089126Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Published Articles/repositories/3/archival_objects/8450901957, 1963127Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.011

Series V: Photographs and Ephemera/repositories/3/archival_objects/845055Other Finding Aids

For page-level description of the scrapbooks found in this series, please see thisdownloadable inventory

Clippings, General/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509141Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Ephemera/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509235Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Photo, Academic Class Portrait/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509342Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Photo, Academic Class Portraits/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509445Scope and Contents

Accession 1994.013

Photographs, Built Works/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509536Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Photographs, Personal/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509637Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Photographs, Personal/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509738Scope and Contents

Accession 1994.013

Scrapbook, Volume I/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509856Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.003

Scope and Contents

See link under the series heading for a downloadable inventory of the scrapbooks.

Scrapbook, Volume II/repositories/3/archival_objects/84509978Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.003

Scope and Contents

See link under the series heading for a downloadable inventory of the scrapbooks.

Scrapbook, Volume III/repositories/3/archival_objects/84510091011Scope and Contents

Accession 1992.003

Scope and Contents

See link under the series heading for a downloadable inventory of the scrapbooks.

Scrapbook, Volume IV/repositories/3/archival_objects/84510131 to 4Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Scope and Contents

See link under the series heading for a downloadable inventory of the scrapbooks.

Series VI: Liselotte Kahn papers/repositories/3/archival_objects/845056"Memoirs of Lieslotte Kahn"/repositories/3/archival_objects/8451021970310Scope and Contents

Accession 1994.013

Correspondence/repositories/3/archival_objects/84510339Scope and Contents

Accession 1993.016

Watercolor/repositories/3/archival_objects/845104198044Scope and Contents

Accession 1994.013