Brenner Danforth Rockwell Records, 1957-2016

1 to 1 of 1 Digital Image shown

See All Right arrow
{'thumbnail': 'https://portal-ccc.s3.amazonaws.com/media/images/artic/85/thumbs/765b197.jpg', 'docId': ['publish', 'images', 'artic', '85', '765b197.xml'], 'profile': '85', 'ark': '765b197', 'inst': 'artic'}
  • IdentificationPUBLIC "-//The Art Institute of Chicago::Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives//TEXT(US::ICA::2006.2::BRENNER DANFORTH ROCKWELL RECORDS 1957-2016 (BULK 1963-1977)//EN)" "ica200602.xml"
  • TitleBrenner Danforth Rockwell Records, 1957-2016 (bulk 1963-1977)
  • PublisherArt Institute of Chicago Archives, Research Center, The Art Institute of Chicago,
  • Language
    • English.
    • English
  • Date
    • 1957-2016
    • (bulk 1963-1977)
  • Physical Description
    • 11 linear feet (24 boxes), 1 oversize portfolio, and flatfile materials
    • Architectural reprographic prints, black and white photographic prints, black and white slides, color photographic prints, color slides, color transparencies, correspondence, drawings, photomechanical prints, printed materials and computer printouts.
  • 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
  • AbstractArchitectural project files, award submissions, correspondence, architectural drawings, photographs, and slides documenting the work of the Chicago architectural partnership of Daniel Brenner, George Danforth, and H.P. Davis "Deever" Rockwell.
  • OriginationBrenner Danforth Rockwell.
  • LocationThe collection is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago Archives’ on-site stacks.

The architectural partnership of Daniel Brenner (1917-1977), George Danforth (b. 1916), and Harry Phillips Davis "Deever" Rockwell (b. 1926) was formed in 1961 in Chicago under the name Brenner Danforth Rockwell, with offices at 646 N. Michigan Avenue.

Daniel Brenner received a B.Arch. degree from Columbia University in 1939 and an M.S. in Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1949 under the tutelage of Mies van der Rohe. Brenner subsequently joined the junior faculty at IIT. From 1958 to 1961, Brenner practiced architecture with Dorothy Turck in Chicago. In 1961, he co-founded Brenner Danforth Rockwell, and was one of the primary designers for the firm. He died in Chicago in 1977.

George Danforth received a B.Arch degree from the Armour Institute of Technology (later the Illinois Institute of Technology) in 1940, and did graduate studies there until 1943. He served as a professor and Chairman of the Department of Architecture at IIT and at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He practiced in the firms of Granger and Bollenbacher, the Office of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and also privately. In 1961, He co-founded Brenner Danforth Rockwell, and worked there until 1978. Although he brought the 1972 J.B. Speed Museum (Louisville, KY) project and other projects to the firm, his time was largely taken up with his teaching career. He continued with the firm (now known as Danforth, Rockwell, Carow) until 1979, and served as a consultant until 1980. He was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1967.

H.P. Davis "Deever" Rockwell received a B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1949, and a B. Arch. degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1957, where he was a student of Daniel Brenner's. Rockwell practiced in the office of Alfred Caldwell, and with Mies van der Rohe. He did most of the landscape design work for Brenner Danforth Rockwell projects, specializing in earth-sheltered design. He was also the principal designer for his own residence, known as the House on a Bluff, in Olympia Fields, IL.

Brenner Danforth Rockwell's best known work was for Chicago museums and other cultural institutions, including three projects for the Lincoln Park Zoo: the Education-Administration Building (Crown-Field Hall), the Great Ape House, and the Penguin-Seabird House. Other notable projects include renovation work for the 30 North LaSalle Building (Old Stock Exchange), the Madlener House (Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts), the Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Design Center in Marina City, and the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The firm received Awards of Merit from the American Institute of Architects for their work on the 30 North LaSalle Building, the Madlener House (Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts), the National Design Center (Marina City) and the Rockwell Residence (House on a Bluff).

This collection includes architectural project files, award submissions, drawings, photographs, and slides. Noteworthy photographers include the Hedrich-Blessing firm and Richard Nickel.

SERIES I: : LINCOLN PARK ZOO, GREAT APE HOUSE, CHICAGO, IL, PROJECT PAPERS. This series is housed in off-site storage; please consult the Archivist for the current retrieval schedule. Divided into the following subseries: Correspondence; arranged alphabetically by correspondent name and then chronologically; Project Papers; arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically; Research - Brochures; arranged by subject and then alphabetically by business name; Research - Other; arranged alphabetically by subject; and Miscellaneous; arranged alphabetically by subject

SERIES II: SPEED, J.B., MUSEUM, LOUISVILLE, KY, PROJECT PAPERS. This series is housed in off-site storage; please consult the Archivist for the current retrieval schedule. Divided into the following subseries: Correspondence; arranged alphabetically by correspondent name and then chronologically; Project Papers; arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically; Research: Brochures, arranged alphabetically by business name; Research: Other; arranged alphabetically by subject; and Miscellaneous; arranged alphabetically by subject.

SERIES III: PROJECT PAPERS, OTHER. This series is housed in off-site storage; please consult the Archivist for the current retrieval schedule. Divided into the following subseries: Architectural Projects; arranged alphabetically by project name and the chronologically; Other Projects; Project Papers; arranged alphabetically by project name.

SERIES IV: PHOTOGRAPHS AND SLIDES. Photographs, slides, photomechanical prints, and transparencies of architectural projects; arranged alphabetically by project name with portraits and people at the end of the series.

SERIES V: DRAWINGS. This series is housed in off-site storage; please consult the Archivist for the current retrieval schedule. Arranged alphabetically by project name.

SERIES VI: NEGATIVES. This series is restricted from patron use. Positive copy prints of all negatives are available.

  • Names
    • Brenner, Daniel, 1917-1977
    • Brenner, Daniel, 1917-1977--Archives
    • Brenner, Daniel, 1917-1977--Correspondence
    • Brenner Danforth Rockwell--Archives
    • Danforth, George
    • Danforth, George--Interviews
    • Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig, 1886-1969--Correspondence
    • Illinois Institute of Technology--Buildings--History--Sources
  • Subject
    • Architecture--United States--20th century--Sources
    • Museum exhibits--United States--History--Sources
    • Architects--Illinois--Chicago--Archives

AL

ALS

AN

ANS

BOX.FF

BDR

c.

Flatf.

HVAC

IIT

n.d.

OP

(A)

TC

TCS

TL

TLS

George Edson Danforth collection, 1944-2005 (Illinois Institute of Technology).

George Edson Danforth collection, 1944-2005 (Illinois Institute of Technology).

George Edson Danforth collection, 1944-2005 (Illinois Institute of Technology).

Photographic negatives in this collection are restricted from patron use, as noted in the series inventories. Positive copy prints of all negatives are available. For more information, please consult the Archivist. The remainder of the 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.

Brenner Danforth Rockwell Records, Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago.

The majority of this collection was a gift from H.P. Davis Rockwell and George Danforth to the Ryerson and Burnham Archives in 2006. Some photographs were transferred from the Richard Nickel Archive in 2012. Other items were donated by Mrs. Jack Witkowsky in February 2009 and Carter Manny.

This collection was processed in 2006 by Kim Krueger and updated by Leni Matthews in 2012 and JT de la Torre in 2018.