Edgar Newman Papers, 1863-1977

  • IdentificationPUBLIC "-//The Art Institute of Chicago::Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives//TEXT(US::ICA::2012.01::EDGAR NEWMAN PAPERS, 1863-1977 (bulk 1863-1977))//EN" "ica201201.xml"
  • TitleNewman, Edgar, Papers, 1863-1977 (bulk 1863-1977)
  • PublisherArt Institute of Chicago Archives, Research Center, The Art Institute of Chicago,
  • Language
    • English.
    • English
  • Date
    • 1863-1977
    • (bulk 1863-1977)
  • Physical Description
    • 3.25 linear feet (1 box), 1 portfolio and flatfile materials
    • Printed papers, correspondence, architectural drawings, black and white and color photographic prints.
  • RepositoryRyerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago 111 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60603-6110 archives@artic.edu https://www.artic.edu/archival-collections
  • AbstractDesign drawings and photographs of architect Edgar Newman's Chicago residential projects, mainly of his own residence in Norwood Park. Correspondence consists mainly of marital congratulations and condolences on Newman's death. Family photographs, post-mortem, and genealogical information is also included. Printed materials, newspaper clippings, and receipts that cover both Newman's personal life and architectural career.
  • OriginationNewman, Edgar M., 1863-1940.
  • LocationThe collection is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago Archives’ on-site stacks.

Architect Edgar Melchior Newman was born in 1863 in Indiana, where his father owned a furniture factory. In his 20s he began his architectural profession in Chicago with the Firm of Adler and Sullivan, where he worked on the Auditorium Theater and worked alongside Frank Lloyd Wright. Newman is often associated with the Prairie School and Arts and Crafts schools of architecture and, accordingly, a substantial amount of his work were residential projects in the Craftsman bungalow style. In 1892 he established his own architecture firm in Chicago. One of his first projects was the Kranz Candy Store on State Street. While he was most known for his residential work in the northern suburbs of Chicago, he also worked on non-residential projects such as the Auditorium Building and Theater, Immaculate Conception School, and the Chinese Government buildings at the World's Columbian Exposition. In 1903 Newman became the president of the Illinois Association of Architects. Newman's own home--built in the northern Chicago neighborhood called Norwood where the majority of Newman's residential projects were located--was completed in 1917. Newman died March 1940.

This collection is comprised of two series that document Edgar Newman's family life, professional practice, and death. Series I consists mainly of design drawings and photographs of Newman's own residence, 5745 Newark Avenue, Chicago, IL. This series also has photographs, newspaper clippings, and design drawings for five of Newman's residential projects built in the northern Chicago neighborhood, Norwood Park.

Series II is chiefly composed of condolences after Newman's death and family photographs. There is also a correspondence collection of congratulations for Newman's marriage as well as legal paperwork and receipts regarding the construction of Newman's residence.

SERIES I: PROJECT PAPERS. Two subseries: Projects, A-Z; and Multiple Projects.

SERIES II: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL. Six subseries: Photos, Correspondence, Legal and Financial, Biographical and Genealogical Information, Post-Mortem, Printed Matter. All correspondence is arranged chronologically.

  • NamesNewman, Edgar M., 1863-1940.
  • Subject
    • Architecture--Illinois--Chicago--History--20th century--Sources.
    • Architectural drawing--Illinois--Chicago--20th century--Sources.
    • Architects--Illinois--Chicago--Archives.
    • Architecture--Designs and plans--Illinois--Chicago--History--Sources.
    • Architecture, Domestic--Illinois--Chicago--History--Sources.

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This collection may be accessed by users in the Reading Room of the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at The Art Institute of Chicago. Collections maintained on-site are available for patron use without prior arrangement or appointment. Collections maintained in off-site storage will be retrieved with advance notification; please consult the Archivist for the current retrieval schedule. For further information, consult https://www.artic.edu/archival-collections/contact-usage-and-faq.

The Art Institute of Chicago is providing access to the materials in the Archives’ 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 the Art Institute is strictly prohibited. All inquiries regarding permission to publish should be submitted in writing to the Director, Art Institute of Chicago Archives. In addition to permission from the Art Institute, permission of the copyright owner (if not the Art Institute) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distribution, 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. The Art Institute makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.

Edgar Newman Papers, Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago.

The collection was a gift from Susan Mathews to the Ryerson and Burnham Archives in 2003.

This collection was processed by Kathelijne Zadrozny in 2012.