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Series I: Architectural Drawings
Series X: Art and Artifacts

Max Abramovitz architectural records and papers, 1925-1990

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Series VII: United Nations

The series is arranged into the following subseries: Meeting Minutes, Le Corbusier, Photographs, Printed Materials, Clippings, Additions and Alterations, and Miscellaneous.

The architectural drawings for the United Nations can be found in Series I: Architectural Drawings. Additional photographs and project records can be found in Series II and Series III.

Subseries 1: Meeting Minutes


Box 15 Folder 5 Committee Minutes and Related Documents, 1947-1948

Incomplete file of minutes of the Headquarters Advisory Committee, the AdHoc Committee on Headquarters, and the Board of Design. File also includes proposals, memoranda, and copies of Headquarters Planning Office documents no. 60 and no. 74.


Box 15 Folder 6 MMH Notes on Board of Design, 1947 April 3 - 1947 May 15, undated

Twenty-five pages of brief notes from Board of Design Consultants meetings taken by Harrison & Abramovitz architect, Michael M. Harris. Titled "MMH Notes on Board of Design," the notes that are dated cover meetings held during April and May of 1947. Nine of the pages, however, are undated. The sheets are numbered 9, 15 through 17, 21 through 30, 33, 34 through 36, and 38 through 44 .

Subseries 2: Le Corbusier

The Swiss born French architect Le Corbusier (1887-1965) was a Technical Advisor to the United Nations in 1946 for the site selection process and was a member of the Board of Design Consultants for the UN headquarters in Manhattan in 1947. This subseries contains correspondence to, from, and about Le Corbusier's work on the UN project.


Box 15 Folder 7 Le Corbusier to Wallace K. Harrison, 1935 Dec. 6

Notes of a conversation, offers design services, lists projects he wishes Nelson Rockefeller to fund. ALS. File also includes photocopy with pencil sketch.


Box 15 Folder 8 Note de Le Corbusier Relative a la Construction du Head Quarters de l'U.N., 1947 Jan. 12

Offers services of the CIAM team. TLS


Box 15 Folder 9 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 Jan. 12

Will leave Paris soon to join UN Design Team. TLS


Box 15 Folder 9 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 Jan 15

TLS


Box 15 Folder 10 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 Feb. 24

TLS


Box 15 Folder 11 Robertson, Howard to WKH, 1947 March 26

Two preliminary UN sketches attached to explanatory memorandum. TLS


Box 15 Folder 12 Headquarters Planning Office, Declaration no. 60, 1947 April 15

Le Corbusier's statement on the collaborative nature of the UN design process. ADS (photocopy). File includes English translations (typescript and photocopies), and copies of the French document (mimeograph and negative photocopy).


Box 15 Folder 13 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 April 17


Box 15 Folder 14 Headquarters Planning Office Questionnaire and Document no. 74, [1947 April 21]

Questionnaire, in French, of 24 questions to be answered by the Board of Design Consultants. Typescript. File includes two mimeograph copies of document no. 74, English translation of questionnaire dated April 21, 1947.


Box 15 Folder 15 Le Corbusier to WKH, [1947] April 21

Reunion du 21 Avril - demande de M. Le Corbusier.TLS


Box 15 Folder 16 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 April 21

Requests Hugh Ferriss perspectives of Project 23. TLS with handwritten list and sketch on verso. Includes signed note, pencil on tracing paper


Box 15 Folder 17 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 April 23

Scheduling of meeting to discuss Oscar Niemeyer's project. ALS


Box 15 Folder 18 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 April 24

Request that questionnaire of April 21 be translated by an architect or engineer. TLS. Pencil notation on letter: "Already done - attatched."


Box 15 Folder 19 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 April 28


Box 15 Folder 19 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 April 28

Proposes editorial committee for the architectural report. TLS. File also includes photocopy.


Box 15 Folder 19 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 April 28

Interoffice memorandum. Le Corbusier requests to show his project no. 23 before Oscar Niemeyer shows project 32. TLS. File also includes photocopy.


Box 15 Folder 20 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 April 30

Typed memo signed by Le Corbusier to Harrison from "Le Bureau des Experts-Consultants." He wants to solicit opinions of the buildings' users and proposes a publishing committee composed of a few architects appointed by Harrison. TLS. Memo accompanied by a cover note from Mercedes Laurence to Harrison.


Box 15 Folder 21 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 May 6


Box 15 Folder 22 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 May 7

Cover letter for report of the same date. TLS


Box 15 Folder 22 Nations Unies, Service des Plans de Construction du Siege, Rapport Presente par Mm. Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, Ernest Weissman et Vladimir Bodiansmy [sic] Relatif a l'Amenagement du Project 23-32-K Derive des Projets 23-32, 1947 May 7

Report on scheme 23/32 K. Typescript, signed by the architects.


Box 15 Folder 23 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 May 19

Expresses his desire to have a central role in the Project. TLS


Box 15 Folder 24 Le Corbusier to WHK, 1947 May 23

Cover letter for documents he encloses. ALS. Attached is letter from Cobusier to Harrison dated June 4, 1947, reiterating his request made in a postscript on May 19, to preserve model of project 23. TLS


Box 15 Folder 25 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 May 28


Box 15 Folder 26 Note on removal of drawing, [1947 May?]

Unsigned note in pencil on lined paper: Le Corbusier removed drawing from drafting room, re-drew and signed it


Box 15 Folder 27 Le Corbusier to WKH, June 3 1947

Did not receive response to his letter of May 19. Extends dinner invitation. TLS


Box 15 Folder 28 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 Aug. 28

States his contention that he alone should be in charge of UN design. TLS. Attached is a hand drawn copy of a diagram sent with the letter. Diagram illustrates division of responsibilities with Harrison as "architect en chef" and Le Corbusier as "chef d'atelier - mandate par l'UN." File includes negative photocopies


Box 15 Folder 29 Le Corbusier to James Plaut, 1947 Nov 1

Note Annexe from Le Corbusier to Plaut organizer of the "Exposition des 8 Musees" exhibition, explaining the contents of the his UN notebook. Carbon copy in French with handwritten corrections. Hand colored diagram of Aug. 28 is attached. File also contains copies of English translation.


Box 15 Folder 29 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 Nov. 7

Details the history of UN design and his role in the project. Criticizes the current scheme. TLS. File also contains English translation marked "Unofficial translation."


Box 15 Folder 30 Le Corbusier to Trygve Lie, 1947 Nov. 10

Will ask the French government to intervene if he receives no further reply from Harrison. TLS. Attached is a routing slip, dated Nov. 18, 1947, from the Secretary-General to Harrison. Also attached: English translation of letter; a carbon copy of Le Corbusier's Nov. 7 letter to Harrison; a hand colored diagram dated 28 Aout 1947 illustrating his idea as to division of responsiblities; and a carbon copy of Note remise par M. Le Corbusier, dated 3 Novembre 1947.


Box 15 Folder 31 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 Nov. 10

Cover letter enclosing Nov. 19, 1947 letter to Warren Austin. TL (carbon copy).


Box 15 Folder 32 Laurence, Mercedes to WKH, 1947 Nov. 18

Cover memorandum and unofficial translation of Le Corbusier's letter of Nov. 7, 1947. Typescript.


Box 15 Folder 33 Le Corbusier to Warren Austin, 1947 Nov. 19

Letter addressed to Senator Warren Austin, President of the Headquarters Advisory Committee. Advocates use of "brise-soleil" for Secretariat's glass curtain walls. Complains that Harrison is unresponsive to his concerns. TL, 2 copies (carbon copy and photocopy).


Box 15 Folder 34 Le Corbusier to WKH, 1947 Nov. 19

Enclosing a copy of Nov. 19th letter to Senator Austin. Concerned about temperature control. Ink annotation, initialed by Harrison: "Note: Max found Corbusier had stolen from the joint drafting room & traced & put his Corbus name on a joint plan of all the architects." TLS. Attached is translation dated November 10, 1947 copy of Nov. 19 letter to Senator Austin.


Box 15 Folder 35 Plaut, James S. to Harmon H. Goldstone, 1947 Nov. 19

Plaut, Director of the Institute of Modern Art, Boston, to discuss "aspects of the Corbusier matter" with Goldstone of UN Planning Office by phone. TL (carbon copy)


Box 15 Folder 36 Freeze, Pauline to WKH, 1947 Dec. 3

Cover letter enclosing Warren Austin's reply to Le Corbusier. Clipping, Dec. 8, 1948 attached, "Le Corbusier irked at UN." TLS


Box 15 Folder 36 Austin, Warren to Le Corbusier, 1947 Dec. 3

Replies to Le Corbusier that he is unable to intervene in the matter. TL (carbon copy).


Box 15 Folder 37 to 38 Le Corbusier to Warren Austin, 1947 Dec. 4

Informs Senator of lighting and temperature control problems with UN design. TLS. Includes pencil on tracing paper sketch of same date, "le mer neurtralisant, le brise-soleil." . Attached is reply from Austin, Jan. 6, 1948 and cover letter from John C. Ross to Harrison enclosing both documents. Also, Memorandum from Harrison to Michael Harris, Jan. 9, 1948, requesting a meeting to establish "the absolutely scientfic answer to this question." File includes negative photocopies


Box 15 Folder 39 Lie, Trygve to Le Corubsier, 1947 Dec. 8

Lie denies Le Corbusier's request for further involvement in UN project. TL (photocopy).


Box 15 Folder 40 Harrison, Wallace K. to Le Corbusier, 1947 Dec. 9

Assignment of further UN work "is in the hands of the United Nations." Copies sent to Trygve Lie, Senator Austin, and Nelson A. Rockefeller. TL (carbon copy and photocopy). Attached are: copies of letters from Lie (Dec. 8, 1947) and Price (Jan. 15, 1948), and letter to Senator Austin (Nov. 19, 1947).


Box 15 Folder 41 Rockefeller, Nelson A. to Le Corbusier, 1947 Dec. 18

Reply to Le Corbusier's letter of Nov. 10, 1947. States that Harrison's letter answers the questions Le Corbusier raises and he can contribute nothing further to the situation. TL (carbon copy)


Box 15 Folder 42 Price, Byron to Le Corbusier, 1948 Jan. 15

Price responds for Secretary General, Trygve Lie, to earlier letters. Request for further association with UN project is denied. TL, 2 copies (carbon copy and photocopy).


Box 15 Folder 43 Lie, Trygve to WKH, 1948 March 2

Get well wishes, UN loan agreement update. TLS (photocopy).


Box 15 Folder 44 Le Corbusier to Wallace Harrison, 1948 July 19

Informs Harrison of the special edition of Architecture d'aujourd'hui devoted to Le Corbusier, with a section devoted to his UN work. TLS. Inscribed issue of of the magazine is included in the file.


Box 15 Folder 45 Le Corbusier memorandum, 1948 Nov. 28

Memorandum de Le Corbusier relatif a la creation des plans du siege des Nations Unies a New York a l'attention de MM. des Delegues de l'U.N. a l'Assemblee Generale de 1948 a Paris.


Box 15 Folder 45 Le Corbusier to Byron Price, 1948 Dec. 1

Cover note with sketches for attachments establishing his role in the UN plans. Note stamped: Received, Dec. 15 1948, Byron Price, Asst. Secretary-General. TLS (photocopy). Attached is clipping and 1948 memorandum.


Box 15 Folder 46 Hamilton, Thomas J. to WKH, 1948 Dec. 10

Reports on a party at which Le Corburier claims credit for UN design. TLS


Box 15 Folder 47 Lie, Trygve to Robert Schuman, 1948 Dec. 30

Explanation of Le Corbusier's role in the UN project. TL (carbon copy).


Box 15 Folder 48 Lewis, Bernard to WKH, 1950 March 14

Newspaper Guild of New York votes Page One Award to UN Design Committee and Le Corbusier. TL


Box 15 Folder 48 Price, Byron to Bernard Lewis, 1950 March 17

Responds to Lewis' letter of March 14. As Board of Design worked "as a unit" an individual member should not be singled for the Page One Award. TL (carbon copy)


Box 15 Folder 49 Le Corbusier Construction de la nouvelle capitale du Punjab aus Indes, [1950?]

Extract from the Punjab contract. Includes note stating that the plans for the Secretrait are based on his model 23, designed between Jan. 28 and March 15, 1947 before the arrival of the UN "experts".


Box 15 Folder 50 Hauser, E.O. to WKH, 1956 July 5

Informally requests Harrison's personal opinion on Le Corbusier and his UN work for profile article in The Saturday Evening Post. TLS.


Box 15 Folder 50 Harrison, Wallace K. to E.O. Hauser, 1956 July 11

Brief summary of Le Corbusier's involvement with project. TL (photocopy).


Box 15 Folder 50 Hauser, E.O. to WKH, 1956 July 17

Thank you note. ALS


Box 15 Folder 51 Abramovitz commentary, 1973 Nov. 20

MA's reaction to newspaper article in which Le Corbusier claims UN buildings as his own design. File contains 1987 correspondence between MA and Niemeyer regarding schemes 23 and 32. Also included are photographs and clippings.


Box 15 Folder 52 Envelope fragment, 1989

Pencil notation and sketch cut from manila envelope addressed to Max Abramovitz, postmarked 1989.


Box 15 Folder 53 to 54 Clippings

Clippings included in the Le Corbusier files include pages from a document entitled, UN Headquarter Documents Le Corbusier 1946-1946 with inscription to WKH.

Subseries 3: Photographs

Photographs of the architects and of the buildings. All photographs are black and white unless otherwise noted.


Box 16 Folder 2 Party in honor of the Niemeyers and Robertos 1947 March 27 33 photographs measuring 2 5/8 x 2 1/2 inches

Photographs enclosed by orange cardboard wrapper which reads: Architectural Forum, party in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Niemeyer and Mr. and Mrs. Marcelo Roberto, March 27, 1947. Guests' names listed on inside of wrapper.


Box 16 Folder 3 Photographs of architects: engineers', architects with model. 1947 2 photos

Meeting at Marguery Hotel, Board of Design members examine model.


Box 16 Folder 4 Photographs of architects, [1947 April 18] 2 photographs

Architects at 30th Board of Design meeting


Box 16 Folder 5 Architects and Headquarters Advisory Committee, 1947 4 photos

Spring 1947 party at Architectural League, for UN Board of Design; Le Corbusier; and Headquarters Advisory Committee meeting.


Box 16 Folder 6 Architects, dedication, and rendering, 1947, 1949, n.d. 4 photographs

Architects with models; President Truman at the cornerstone dedication; and rendering of an early scheme.


Box 16 Folder 7 United Nations, 1955 Oct 24 1 photo

Exterior view.


Box 16 Folder 8 United Nations, n.d 2 negatives

Exterior views.


Box 16 Folder 9 Trusteeship Council Chamber, n.d 2 photos, 2 col. slides

Interior views.


Oversize 6 Folder 1 UN interior and plan, n.d. 2 photos

Subseries 4: Printed Materials


Oversize 6 Folder 2 Plan for permanent world capitol at Flushing Meadow Park / New York City Mayor's Committee on Plan and Scope. New York : The Committee, 1946.

3 copies


Box 16 Folder 10 Report of the Headquarters Commission to the second part of the first session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Lake Success, NY : United Nations, Oct. 1946.


Box 16 Folder 11 to 17 Report to the General Assembly of the United Nations by the Secretary-General on the permanent headquarters of the United Nations. Lake Success, NY : United Nations, July 1947.

File contains 2 copies of the report in English and copies in the 4 other official UN languages: French Chinese, Russian, and Spanish.


Box 16 Folder 18 Permanent headquarters of the United Nations : plan of revised scheme, addendum 3 to document A/311 [S.l. : s.n., Sept. 8,1947].


Oversize 6 Folder 3 Perspective design studies of the permanent headquarters of the United Nations. (Addendum 2 to Document A/311). [S.l. : s.n., 1947?]

2 copies


Box 16 Folder 19 Planning the permanent headquarters of the United Nations: a short summary, 1948. Lake Success, N.Y. : United Nations, 1948.


Box 16 Folder 20 to 21 United Nations permanent headquarters: corner-stone ceremony, New York City, 24 October 1949; plenary meeting of the General Assembly. Lake Success, N.Y. : United Nations, 1948.

2 copies.


Box 16 Folder 22 United Nations General Assembly budget estimates for the financial year 1970: headquarters accomodation, A/C.5/1246 /Add.1. [New York : United Nations], Nov. 13, 1969.


Box 16 Folder 23 United Nations: a pictorial book. Boston : Colourpicture Publishers, [19--]

Subseries 5: Clippings


Box 17 Folder 1 Clippings, 1946


Box 17 Folder 2 to 5 Clippings, 1947


Box 17 Folder 6 Clippings, 1948


Box 17 Folder 7 to 8 Clippings, 1949


Box 17 Folder 9 to 11 Clippings, 1950


Box 17 Folder 12 to 14 Clippings, 1952


Box 17 Folder 15 Clippings, 1961


Box 17 Folder 16 Clippings, 1962


Box 17 Folder 17 to 18 Clippings, undated

Subseries 6: Additions and Alterations


Box 17 Folder 19 North Delegates and Employee Lounges 1952, 1978, 1980, n.d

Product literature, samples and photos.


Box 17 Folder 20 Dining facilities: food service program, 1979

Report of Cini Grissom, food service consultant, on the program for the Secretariat.


Box 17 Folder 21 Dining facilities: Food service consultant's billings 1978-1979, 1982- 1985


Box 17 Folder 22 Dining facilities: Exhaust problems 1982


Box 18 Folder 1 Dining facilities: Vibration problems 1980, 1982-1983


Box 18 Folder 2 Dining facilities: Photos of architectural drawings, n.d 14 photos


Oversize 6 Folder 4 Dining facilities: negatives of architectural drawings, n.d 4 negatives

Subseries 7: Miscellaneous


Box 18 Folder 3 Proposed architectural exhibit 1986, [1990]-1991

Correspondence and project proposal for a UN architectural exhibit.


Box 18 Folder 4 Barbara Hepworth correspondence 1961-1962

Copies of correspondence between Hepworth and Ralph Bunche from WKH's files regarding sculptural commission.


Oversize 6 Folder 5 Turner Construction advertisement 1952

UN ad titled: Building for a New World. Note on verso: This is an old magazine ad printed in 1952. It is custom matted and ready to frame in a standard size 14 x 18 inch frame.