Illinois Society of Architects records

  • Creator Names Illinois Society of Architects.
  • Title Illinois Society of Architects records [manuscript], 1872-1999, bulk 1901-1985.
  • Physical description
    • 15 linear ft. (27 boxes, 3 volumes, 4 card drawers) (1978.0249 ATms).
    • 1 oversize folder. (Membership certificate).
    • 8.5 linear ft. (11 boxes) (2005.0044 MSS Lot I).
    • 19 boxes. (Unprocessed 1985.0831 accn.).
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • Advance appointment required to view materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center (to make an appointment please email us at research@chicagohistory.org).
    • Box 32 folder 3 and Box 33 folders 1-16 are closed to researchers.
    • Unprocessed portions in collection. Contact research@chicagohistory.org for access to unprocessed portions. Staff will typically respond to your inquiry within two weeks. However, due to the high volume of inquiries and depending upon the nature of your request additional time may be required to respond. Please note that not all material will be available for researcher access due to condition, location, staff availability, confidentiality and/or other factors. Scheduling an appointment to view available material may require several additional weeks.
  • Collection summary
    • Correspondence, minutes, membership records, reports, legislative bills, legal briefs, contracts, and newsclippings of the Illinois Society of Architects (ISA) concerning its work for professionalization, licensing, and regulation of architects and for the establishment of standards for workmanship, materials, and specifications in the lumber trade, building trades, and engineering, as well as service as a consultant to state and local governments on building codes and fire codes. Includes correspondence of administrator and financial secretary Herman L. Palmer, other society administrators, and correspondence with the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and with the American Specification Institute.
    • As administrator of the society's headquarters and financial secretary from June 1914 until his death in 1948, H.L. Palmer's personal papers occasionally are interspersed with the General correspondence (in Series 5); constitute the "General papers" of the American Specification Institute (in Series 6) of which he was an officer; and form two folders of correspondence and other papers in the Topical Files (in Series 7).
    • The 2005.0044 accession to the collection contains financial records, membership and officer records, correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, documents related to society publications, events, and the ISA's 100th anniversary. Series 14 contains items that relate to efforts made by the ISA to influence state licensing and regulation of architects, structural engineers and professional engineers, and include instances of rivalries between the professional organizations that represent these groups. Items in Series 15 relate to the society's responses to political influence in building regulation by state and local governments, and to public concerns about unsafe construction.
  • Biographical or Historical Note Organization of architects that worked for professionalization, licensing, and regulation of architects; founded 1897 as Chicago Architects' Business Association; name changed in 1914 to Illinois Society of Architects (I.S.A.); in 1999 merged into the Association of Licensed Architects.
  • Acquisition information Gift of the Illinois Society of Architects (1978.0249; 1985.0831; 2005.0044).
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Illinois Society of Architects collection of visual materials (2005.0044.2-6). Copies of the American Specification Institute's constitution, by-laws, and specification bulletins, volumes 1-4 (1923-1931) of the Specification Record, volumes of the ISA's Handbook for Architects and Builders, copies of the ISA's Monthly Bulletin, as well as pamphlets, periodicals, articles, and maps were separated form the manuscript collection so they can be cataloged with publications at Chicago History Museum, Research Center.
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available online for part of collection.
  • Names
    • Illinois Society of Architects Archives.
    • Chicago Architects' Business Association.
    • Palmer, Herman Lewis, d. 1948.
    • Smykal, Richard J. box 17 folders 8-9.
    • Wheelock, Harry Bergen, 1861-1934.
    • American Institute of Architects. Chicago Chapter.
    • American Specification Institute.
    • Freemasons. Cregier Lodge, No. 643 (Chicago, Ill.) box 16 folder 10
    • Iroquois Theater (Chicago, Ill.) Fire, 1903. box 8 folder 12
    • Palmer, Herman Lewis, d. 1948.
    • Wheelock, Harry Bergen, 1861-1934.
    • American Institute of Architects. Chicago Chapter.
    • American Specification Institute.
    • Chicago Architects' Business Association.
  • Subjects
    • Architects Illinois Biography.
    • Architects Illinois Societies, etc.
    • Architects Professional ethics Illinois Chicago.
    • Architectural firms Illinois 19th century.
    • Architectural firms Illinois 20th century.
    • Building materials.
    • Building trades Illinois.
    • Building trades Illinois Chicago.
    • Building laws Illinois.
    • Building laws Illinois Chicago.
    • Fire prevention Illinois Chicago. especially box 8 folder 12
    • Freemasonry Illinois Chicago 20th century. box 16 folder 10
    • Specifications United States Societies, etc.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Buildings, structures, etc. 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Buildings, structures, etc. 20th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 19th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Commerce 20th century.
    • Illinois Commerce 19th century.
    • Illinois Commerce 20th century.
  • Genre
    • Account books. aat
    • Biography. aat
    • Correspondence. aat
    • Directories. aat
    • Handbooks, manuals, etc. aat
    • Ledgers. aat
    • Membership lists. aat
    • Reports. aat
    • Specifications. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/1979/78-249.htm