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Archival Collections Portal > Avery Drawings & Archives Collections > Finding Aid: Abraham W. Geller architectural records and papers
Abraham W. Geller architectural records and papers,
1915-1999
(bulk 1940-1990s)
Preferred Citation
Abraham W. Geller architectural records and papers, 1915-1999 (bulk 1940-1990s), Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.
COinS Metadata
available (e.g., for Zotero).
Summary Information
At a Glance
| CLIO record: | View CLIO record |
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| Creator(s): | Geller, Abraham W. |
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| Title: | Abraham W. Geller architectural records and papers,
1915-1999
(bulk 1940-1990s)
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| Physical description: | approx. 50 linear feet of papers; approx. 4850 photographs; approx. 11,250 drawings; (44 archives boxes, 18 manuscript boxes, 10 portfolio boxes, 6 card file boxes, 116 tube boxes, 8 flatfile drawers, rolls)
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| Language(s): |
In English.
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| Access: |
The bulk of this collection is stored in Columbia University Libraries' off-site storage facility. Materials will be recalled by request. 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 and to make an appointment, please call (212) 854-4110 or email avery-drawings@libraries.columbia.edu.
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Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is made up of four series:
Return to top Description
Scope and Content
This large collection documents in great detail the architectural
projects of Abraham Geller and his colleagues throughout the United
States and abroad, spanning the 1940s through the 1990s. Types of
projects represented include retirement homes, recreational facilities,
medical centers, private residences and prototype dwellings for large
residential developments, urban renewal projects, and offices.
Among the projects with substantial documentation are the Cinema I & II theaters
(Manhattan); the Aaron Davis Hall at City College (Manhattan); many commissions
for the Health Insurance Plan of New York throughout the five boroughs; the E.
Dent Lackey Plaza in Niagara Falls; and the Henry Ittleson Center for Child Research
(Bronx). Working overseas, major projects also include extensive buildings for the
Investors Overseas Service (France, Germany and Switzerland); and for the Intercoastal
Resources Commission in the Carribean.
Geller's activities in professional associations
and organizations, his numerous awards and recognitions, and his relationships with
many artists are also well documented in other series. This collection is especially
rich in drawings and images of his projects as well as detailed daily records of the
business side of architectural commissions. Additionally, there are numerous research
and reference materials related to project types. Lastly, Geller took a great interest
in the promotion of his projects and practice, which is reflected in a significant amount
of public relations material in his collection.
Return to top Using the Collection
Access Restrictions
 The bulk of this collection is stored in Columbia University Libraries' off-site storage facility. Materials will be recalled by request. 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 and to make an appointment, please call (212) 854-4110 or email avery-drawings@libraries.columbia.edu.
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.
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
Abraham W. Geller architectural records and papers, 1915-1999 (bulk 1940-1990s), Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.
For Further InformationFor more information about using the collections and conducting research in the Department of Drawings & Archives, please see our FAQ. Return to top About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives; machine readable finding
aid created by Columbia University Libraries Digital Library Program Division
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Annemarie van Roesselin 2005 and 2009. Shelley Hayreh edited and published the finding aid for the collection in 2014.
Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT conversion October 11, 2010
Finding aid written in English.
CLIO ID: 7321779 View CLIO record Return to top Index Terms
The names and terms listed below are represented in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a consortial/union catalog offered by OCLC that allows users to search the holdings of multiple archives and libraries. All links open new windows.
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Return to top History / Biographical Note
Biography
Abraham William Geller
(1912-1995) was born in Romania and emigrated to New York City in 1920. After graduating from
Brooklyn Technical High School, he studied architecture first at Cornell University from 1932-1936
and then at New York University, from which he graduated in 1938. Geller served in the United States
Army from 1942 to 1945. Geller's early training included positions at the firms of William Lescaze,
Shreve Lamb & Harmon and Gropius & Breuer. In 1946 he partnered with George Nemeny and Basil Yurchenko
to form Nemeny and Geller Associates. In 1950 he opened his own practice, Abraham W. Geller & Associates,
Architects and Planners, the firm for which he would remain the principal architect throughout his career. He was
also joined by his wife, Marion Geller, an interior designer, in his office. Geller and his firms won numerous
awards and professional honors. Geller was named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1972, and
in 1985 he was awarded the Medal of Honor from the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects'
highest professional honor. Introducing a retrospective exhibit of his own work in 1995 Geller observed "It
is obvious from the work exhibited here that I am not a specialist. Further, I do not believe that the practice
of architecture requires specialization. I believe that each project has its own unique logic, requires careful
research, and has a possible solution that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing." Geller died in 1995
in New York City, at the age of 83.
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