This collection has no restrictions.
This collection is located on-site.
This collection contains materials relating to Columbia University's buildings and grounds on its three main campuses (Park Place, 49th Street & Madison Avenue and Morningside Heights) as well as other real estate used by the University, such as the Medical Center at 168th Street, Lamont-Doherty, and Baker Field in upper Manhattan. It contains floor plans and correspondence relating to the construction and maintenance of buildings. It also contains information about Columbia University's grounds: gates, walkways, outdoor sculpture, and landscaping. The collection includes maps, press clippings, photographs, and administrative reports. The bulk of the materials consist of specific files of information for buildings on the Morningside Heights campus.
This collection is arranged in four series.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection has no restrictions.
This collection is located on-site.
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Buildings and grounds collection; Box and Folder; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Additions are expected.
A series of binders relating to buildings and grounds for the Morningside Heights campus were transferred from the Slavic Department in February 2000. These binders were compiled by Daniel Feuchtwanger, a Plan Inventory Assistant in Project Management in Facilities Operations from 1982 to 1989, who organized a series of inventories of Avery and Facilities holdings pertaining to Buildings and Grounds. Feuchtwanger worked as an administrative assistant in the Slavic Department from 1990 to 1996 and his records remained there until their transferal to University Archives in 2000.
Other materials found in this collection were collected and organized over time as ready reference files by the University Archives.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Papers processed by Darragh Martin (GSAS 2011) in July 2007.
Addition to the papers processed by Shelley Hayreh (BC 2008) in July 2008.
Finding aid written by Darragh Martin in July 2007.
Additions to the finding aid written by Jocelyn Wilk in July 2008.
2009-10-06 xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Classes were first held at King's College (now Columbia University) in 1754 inside the vestry room of the Trinity Church schoolhouse on lower Broadway. This room housed classes until 1760 when the school moved to a building on Park Place in downtown Manhattan, near the present site of City Hall. Founded by royal charter of King George II of England, King's College was the only institution of collegiate rank in New York at the time. Classes were suspended during the American Revolution in 1776 and the building was used as a barrack and hospital for both British and American troops. When instruction resumed eight years later, King's College changed its name to Columbia, in keeping with the contemporary political climate.
Classes continued in the Park Place campus until 1857, when, to accommodate its continuing expansion, the campus moved to 49th Street and Madison Avenue, occupying a tract of land previously owned by The New York Deaf and Dumb Institution. Surrounded by vacant lots and underdeveloped land, this campus was virtually rural. This location was favored to the alternative: relocating to the remote Botanic Gardens, three miles outside of New York. The forty years at this Madison Avenue campus saw the foundation of the School of Mines and School of Political Science and the inclusion of the College of Physicians and Surgeons as part of Columbia. In 1897, Columbia left the Madison Avenue campus; the following year the Berkeley School bought the land and destroyed most of the buildings.
The University made a third move in 1897, occupying four blocks in the area now known as Morningside Heights, between 116th and 120th Streets and Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway (then known as The Boulevard). This land belonged to the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum, which was owned by the New York City Hospital. Under the leadership of President Seth Low, the architecture firm of McKim, Mead & White was commissioned to design an urban academic village on this site and the asylum's land was forever transformed with the domed Low Memorial Library overlooking a stately collection of Renaissance influenced buildings. The initial phase of construction between 1895 and 1897 saw the erection of Low Library, Schermerhorn Hall, Fayerweather Hall, and University Hall (later demolished).
The expansion of the Morningside Heights campus continued steadily throughout the twentieth century with St. Paul's Chapel, the School of Mines (now Lewisohn Hall) and Hamilton Hall, all constructed between 1903 and 1907. Kent Hall, Philosophy Hall and Avery Hall were constructed between 1909 and 1911; the early 1920s saw the completion of Dodge Hall, John Jay Hall and Pupin Hall. Expansion continued throughout the ensuing decades, with the School of International Affairs completed in 1970 and a large East Campus Housing project developed between 1977 and 1981. The most recent major addition to Morningside Heights' campus is Alfred Lerner Hall, a modern glass structure that replaced Ferris Booth Hall as the student center in 2000.
The University began expansion plans in 2004 in the Manhattanville area, also named "West Harlem" bordered by 129th to 133rd Streets and between Broadway and 12th Avenue. The proposed construction is expected to provide a total of 6.8 million square feet of space above- and below-grade for teaching, academic research, and civic and commercial activity, as well as below-grade parking and facilities support. This is a multi-phased project with completion expected in 2030.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.
The series includes press clippings, maps, floor plans, pamphlets, correspondence, press releases and drawings/sketches relating to Columbia's first campus location in downtown New York City at Park Place. The Park Place campus is sometimes referred to as the Lower Estate or The Queen's Farm.
Box 1 Folder 1
Columbia's second campus, located at 49th Street and Madison Avenue, is documented by press clippings, maps and publications.
Box 1 Folder 2
This series contains information concerning Columbia's third (and current) campus located in Morningside Heights and is divided into four sub-series.
is comprised of maps, floor plans, press clippings, press releases, correspondence, reports, pamphlets, memoranda, notes, proposals, and brochures relating primarily to the buildings (past, present and proposed but never built) located on the Morningside Heights campus. This series also has files of information concerning campus planning and development, as well as files detailing specific features found on the Morningside Heights campus – such as artwork, sculpture, gates, landscaping, and walkways.
Box 1 Folder 3
Box 1 Folder 4
Box 1 Folder 5
Box 1 Folder 6
Box 1 Folder 7
Box 1 Folder 8
Box 1 Folder 9
Box 1 Folder 10
Box 1 Folder 11
Box 1 Folder 12
Box 1 Folder 13
Box 1 Folder 14
Box 1 Folder 15
Box 1 Folder 16
(Sinclair and Valentine)
Box 1 Folder 17
Box 1 Folder 18
(see also: University Hall and Gymnasium)
Box 1 Folder 19
Box 1 Folder 20
(residence hall)
Box 1 Folder 21
Box 1 Folder 22
Box 25 Folder 1 to 2
Box 25 Folder 3
Box 25 Folder 4
Box 25 Folder 5
Box 25 Folder 6
Box 25 Folder 7
Box 25 Folder 8
Box 25 Folder 9
Box 25 Folder 10
Box 25 Folder 11
Box 1 Folder 23
Box 2 Folder 1
Box 2 Folder 2 to 3
Box 2 Folder 4
Box 2 Folder 5
(see also: Buell Hall/ East Hall; Campus--Morningside Heights; Gatekeeper's Lodge; Faculty Club and South Hall; West Hall)
Box 2 Folder 6
Box 2 Folder 7
Box 2 Folder 8
(see also: Real Estate)
Box 2 Folder 9
(see also: Bloomingdale Asylum)
Box 2 Folder 10
(residence hall)
Box 3 Folder 1
Box 3 Folder 2 to 3
Box 36 Folder 1
Box 36 Folder 2
Box 3 Folder 4 to 6
Box 3 Folder 7
Box 4 Folder 1 to 3
Box 15 Folder 11
Box 15 Folder 12
Box 15 Folder 13
Box 15 Folder 14
Box 4 Folder 4
Box 4 Folder 5
Box 5 Folder 1
Box 5 Folder 2
Box 5 Folder 3
Box 5 Folder 4
Box 5 Folder 5
Box 5 Folder 6
Box 5 Folder 7
Box 5 Folder 8
(see also: Landscaping)
Box 5 Folder 9
Box 5 Folder 10
see also: Ferris Booth Hall)
Box 5 Folder 11
Box 5 Folder 12
Box 6 Folder 1
Box 6 Folder 2
Box 6 Folder 3
Box 6 Folder 4
Box 6 Folder 5
Box 6 Folder 6
Box 6 Folder 7
Box 6 Folder 8
Box 6 Folder 9
(compiled for 250th Anniversary in 2003)
Box 6 Folder 10
Box 6 Folder 11
Box 6 Folder 12
Box 36 Folder 3
Box 6 Folder 13
Box 6 Folder 14
Box 6 Folder 15
(see also: Greene Jerome Hall Law School, International Affairs Building)
Box 7 Folder 15
Box 7 Folder 1
Box 24
Box 7 Folder 2
Box 7 Folder 3
Box 7 Folder 4
Box 7 Folder 5 to 6
(earlier known as Biological Sciences Building)
Box 34 Folder 9
Box 7 Folder 7
Box 7 Folder 8
(see also: Carman Hall)
Box 7 Folder 9
(see also: Low Plaza)
Box 7 Folder 10
Box 7 Folder 11
Box 7 Folder 12
(see also: Low Plaza)
Box 7 Folder 13
Box 7 Folder 14
Box 8 Folder 1
(includes Garfield Powell Memorial Fund, see also: Hamilton Hall)
Box 8 Folder 2
(see also: Bloomingdale Asylum)
Box 8 Folder 3
(see also: College Walk; Statues and Sculpture, Outdoor--Pylons)
Box 8 Folder 4
(see also: Gates)
Box 8 Folder 5
Box 8 Folder 6
Box 8 Folder 7
(see also: East Campus Academic Buildings Complex)
Box 8 Folder 8
Box 8 Folder 9
Box 8 Folder 10
Box 8 Folder 11 to 12
Box 28 Folder 6
Box 28 Folder 7
Box 9 Folder 1
Box 9 Folder 2
(see also: Real Estate)
Box 9 Folder 3
Box 9 Folder 4
see also: Garfield Powell Memorial Room)
Box 9 Folder 5
Box 37 Folder 4
Box 9 Folder 6
Box 9 Folder 7
Box 9 Folder 8
(see also: Center for Chemical Research, Havemeyer Addition)
Box 38 Folder 35
Box 9 Folder 9
Box 9 Folder 10
Box 9 Folder 11
Box 9 Folder 12
(see also: East Campus Academic Buildings Complex)
Box 10 Folder 1
Box 10 Folder 2
Box 10 Folder 3
Box 10 Folder 4
Box 10 Folder 5
Box 10 Folder 6
Box 10 Folder 7
Box 10 Folder 8
Box 10 Folder 9
Box 10 Folder 10
Box 10 Folder 11
Box 10 Folder 12
Box 10 Folder 13
Box 10 Folder 14
Box 10 Folder 15
(see also: Ferris Booth Hall)
Box 37 Folder 2
Box 10 Folder 16
Box 11 Folder 1 to 3
Box 11 Folder 4
Box 11 Folder 5
Box 11 Folder 6
Box 11 Folder 7
Box 11 Folder 8
(see also: Flagpoles; Fountains; Statues and Sculpture, Outdoor--Alma Mater)
Box 11 Folder 9
Box 11 Folder 10
Box 11 Folder 11
Box 11 Folder 12
Box 11 Folder 13
Box 11 Folder 14
Box 11 Folder 15
Box 11 Folder 16
Box 30 Folder 1
Box 26 Folder 1 to 2
Box 26 Folder 3
Box 26 Folder 4 to 7
Box 26 Folder 8
Box 27 Folder 1
Box 27 Folder 2
Box 27 Folder 3
Box 27 Folder 4
Box 27 Folder 5
Box 27 Folder 6
Box 27 Folder 7
Box 27 Folder 8
Box 27 Folder 9 to 10
Box 29 Folder 1
Box 29 Folder 2 to 3
Box 11 Folder 17
Box 11 Folder 18
Box 11 Folder 19
Box 12 Folder 1
Box 37 Folder 1
Box 12 Folder 1a
Box 12 Folder 2
Box 12 Folder 3
Box 12 Folder 4
Box 32 Folder 1
Box 12 Folder 5
Box 12 Folder 6
Box 12 Folder 7
Box 12 Folder 8
Box 12 Folder 9
Box 12 Folder 10
Box 12 Folder 11
Box 12 Folder 12
Box 31 Folder 1
Box 31 Folder 2
Box 31 Folder 3
Box 31 Folder 4
Box 31 Folder 5
Box 31 Folder 6
Box 31 Folder 7
Box 12 Folder 13
Box 12 Folder 14
Box 32 Folder 2
Box 32 Folder 3
Box 36 Folder 4
Materials collected by Chauncey Olinger about the creation and dedication of the Rabi Memorial Room. Donated Fall 2022.
Box 12 Folder 15
Box 12 Folder 16
(see also: Statues and Sculpture, Outdoor)
Box 13 Folder 1
Box 13 Folder 2
Box 13 Folder 3
Box 13 Folder 4
Box 13 Folder 5 to 6
Box 35 Folder 1
Box 35 Folder 2 to 5
Box 35 Folder 6
Box 13 Folder 7
Box 34 Folder 10
Box 34 Folder 11
Box 13 Folder 8
Box 13 Folder 9
Box 13 Folder 10
Box 13 Folder 11
Box 13 Folder 12
Box 13 Folder 13
(see also: Campus--Morningside Heights--Campus Planning)
Box 32 Folder 4
Box 32 Folder 5
Box 32 Folder 6
Box 32 Folder 7
Box 33 Folder 1
Box 33 Folder 2
Box 13 Folder 14
Box 13 Folder 15
Box 13 Folder 16
Box 13 Folder 17
Box 13 Folder 18
(see also: Low Plaza)
Box 13 Folder 19
(see also: Revson Plaza)
Box 13 Folder 20
Box 13 Folder 21
Box 13 Folder 22
Box 13 Folder 23
Box 13 Folder 24
Box 13 Folder 25
Box 13 Folder 26
(see also: Revson Plaza)
Box 14 Folder 1
(see also: Gates)
Box 14 Folder 2
Box 14 Folder 3
Box 14 Folder 4
Box 14 Folder 5
Box 14 Folder 6
(see also: Ferris Booth Hall, Lerner Hall)
Box 14 Folder 7
Box 14 Folder 8
Box 33 Folder 4
Box 33 Folder 5
Box 14 Folder 9
Box 14 Folder 10
Box 15 Folder 1
Box 34 Folder 1
Box 34 Folder 2
Box 34 Folder 3
Box 34 Folder 4
Box 34 Folder 5
Box 15 Folder 2
Box 15 Folder 3
Box 15 Folder 4
Box 15 Folder 5
Box 15 Folder 6
(see also: Bloomingdale Asylum)
Box 15 Folder 7
Box 15 Folder 8
Box 15 Folder 9
Box 15 Folder 10
is primarily photocopies of correspondence to and from university president Seth Low discussing the planning and development of Columbia's Morningside Heights campus. Correspondence is mainly with the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, who designed this campus, but also includes some letters between President Low, Columbia administrators and architecture professors. There is also one file of correspondence, again primarily photocopied, from President Low's successors discussing aspects of continued campus development.
Box 16 Folder 1 to 2
Box 16 Folder 3
Box 28 Folder 1
Box 28 Folder 2
Box 28 Folder 3
Box 28 Folder 4
Box 32 Folder 8
Box 32 Folder 9
Box 32 Folder 10
Box 33 Folder 3
Box 34 Folder 6 to 8
consists of photocopied maps of Columbia University's various campuses and real estate holdings (e.g. Reid Hall in Paris, France and Camp Columbia in Connecticut) as collected by the Facilities Department. Also include maps detailing the surrounding neighborhood in Morningside Heights. Floor plans are original and arranged by building name for a particular year. Both maps and floor plans were removed from the binders in which they were originally kept.
Box 16 Folder 4 to 5
Box 29 Folder 4 to 6
Box 33 Folder 6
Box 33 Folder 7
Box 17 Folder 1 to 4
was created by assorted university officials regarding buildings and campus planning, as well as reports created by Daniel Feuchtwanger for his Facilities project. Many of these reports contain specific information about various buildings owned by Columbia and there is a very useful report detailing the names and inscriptions found throughout campus buildings.
(proposed)
Box 25 Folder 12
Box 25 Folder 13
Box 18 Folder 2
Box 28 Folder 5
Box 18 Folder 3
Box 18 Folder 4 to 5
Box 18 Folder 6 to 7
Box 19 Folder 1
Box 19 Folder 2 to 5
Box 32 Folder 11
Series V contains press clippings, pamphlets, brochures, press releases, maps, correspondence, and floor plans relating to properties (past and present) held by Columbia University but not located at the Park Place, Madison Avenue or Morningside Heights campuses. Properties included in this series include the Medical School complex in Washington Heights, Baker Field, Arden House, Nevis Laboratories, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Campus, and Rockefeller Center. This series also includes files regarding general facilities topics such as rent, energy, recycling, and facilities management.
Box 20 Folder 1
Box 20 Folder 2
Box 20 Folder 3
Box 20 Folder 4
Box 20 Folder 5
Box 20 Folder 6
Box 20 Folder 7
Box 20 Folder 8
Box 20 Folder 9
Box 20 Folder 10
Box 21 Folder 1
Box 21 Folder 2
Box 21 Folder 3
Box 21 Folder 4
Box 21 Folder 5
Box 21 Folder 6
Box 21 Folder 7
Box 37 Folder 3
Box 21 Folder 8
Box 37 Folder 5
Box 34 Folder 12
Box 21 Folder 9
Box 21 Folder 10
Box 22 Folder 1 to 2
Box 22 Folder 3
Box 22 Folder 4
Box 22 Folder 5
Box 22 Folder 6
Box 23 Folder 1
Box 23 Folder 2
Box 23 Folder 3
Box 23 Folder 4
Box 38 Folder 1
(t.l.s. 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 2
(t.l.s. 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 3
(t.l.s. 1 p. and encl.)
Box 38 Folder 4
(t.l.s. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 5
(t.l.s. 1 p. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 6
(a.l.s. 4 pp.)
Box 38 Folder 7
(a.l.s. 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 8
(a.l.s. 2 pp.)
Box 38 Folder 9
(a.l.s. 2 pp.)
Box 38 Folder 10
(t.l.s. 1 p. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 11
(t.l.s. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 12
(a.l.s. 4 pp.)
Box 38 Folder 13
(t.l.s. 1 p. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 14
(a.l.s. 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 15
(t.l.s. 1 p. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 16
(t.l.s. 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 17
(t.l.s. 1 p. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 18
(t.l.s. 1 p. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 19
(a.l.s. 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 20
(t.l.s. 2 pp.)
Box 38 Folder 21
(t.l.s. 1 p. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 22
(t.l.s. 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 23
(t.l.s. 1 p. (carbon))
Box 38 Folder 24
(ms. doc. draft photostat 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 25
(ms. doc. draft photostat 2 pp.)
Box 38 Folder 26
(6 leaves photostat, original in New York State Library, Albany)
Box 38 Folder 27
(4 ms. leaves photostat, original in New York State Library)
Box 38 Folder 35
(2 ms. leaves photostat, original in New York State Library)
Box 38 Folder 28
(ms. doc. 4 pp. photostat)
Box 38 Folder 29
(ms. leaves 22)
Box 38 Folder 30
(ms. doc. 1 p.)
Box 38 Folder 31
(ms. doc. 7 pp., signed G.G. Van Wagenen, Treasurer)
Box 38 Folder 32
(17 ms. leaves)
Box 38 Folder 33
(ms. doc. 21 pp.)
Box 38 Folder 34
(Compiled by John B. Pine; typescript, 170 pp.)
Box 23 Folder 5
Box 23 Folder 6
Box 23 Folder 7
Box 23 Folder 8
(including Department of Buildings and Grounds)
Box 23 Folder 9
Box 23 Folder 10
Box 23 Folder 11
Box 23 Folder 12
Box 23 Folder 13