William H. Short papers

Collection Overview

Repository:

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Archives.

Creator:

Short, William H., 1924-1991.

Title:

William H. Short papers

Call Number:

M0004

Dates:

1949-1968 (bulk 1956-1960)

Volume:

5.5 cubic ft. (6 record center cartons)

Biographical Abstract:

William Hosley Short (WHS), 1924-1991, an American architect, supervised the construction of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (SRGM). Frank Lloyd Wright chose WHS to oversee construction of the SRGM in 1956. WHS's involvement with the SRGM construction project continued until 1960. WHS, a founding partner of Short and Ford Architect, specialized in historic preservation. His major projects include the conversion of Guernsey Hall Condominiums in Princeton and the restoration of Drumthwacket, the New Jersey governor's residence. WHS was a registered architect in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and Florida. He was a Fellow of American Institute of Architects, a Chairman of the New Jersey Society of Architects Historic Resources and Preservation Committee, and a Trustee of the New Jersey Historical Society and the Historical Society of Princeton.

Scope and Content Abstract:

The William H. Short papers span the years 1956-1968 and document the construction of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (SRGM) in New York. The collection includes correspondence, architectural drawings, personal notes, brochures, photographs, negatives, samples of construction materials, construction reports, financial documents, certificates, minutes, and name cards. This collection provides documentation of architectural, financial, administrative, and legal information relating to the construction of SRGM.

Location:

Language:

Collection is primarily in English.

Arrangement:

Organized into seven series: Series 1. General; Series 2. Construction Administration; Series 3. Design; Series 4. Drawings and Specifications; Series 5. Regulatory; Series 6. Facilities Management; Series 7. Annex Building.

Restrictions:

The collection is partially restricted. Financial records (found in Box 101084 and Box 101086) are restricted. For further information, please consult the Manager of the Library and Archives.

Publication Rights:

Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Manager of the Library and Archives.

Preferred Citation:

William H. Short papers. M0004. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Archives, New York, NY.

Subjects:

Architectural drawing.
Construction + architecture--Inspections.
Construction + architecture--Museums.
Interior architecture--New York (State)--New York.
Lighting, Architectural and decorative.
Museum architecture.
Public buildings--New York (N.Y.).
Short, William H., 1924-1991.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959.

Contributors:

Euclid Contracting Corp.
Office of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900-1986.

Related Materials:

Albert E. Thiele records. A0032. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Archives, New York, NY. Frank Lloyd Wright correspondence. A0006. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Archives, New York, NY.

Finding aid prepared by Sang Ae Park in January 2007.

Biographical Note

William Hosley Short (WHS) was born on May 29, 1924 in Warren, Massachusetts to Walter Edwin Short and Mary Allen Hosley Short. WHS received his A.B. from Princeton University in 1949, followed by his M.F.A. in 1952. WHS died of cancer on February 20, 1991.WHS was an architect who supervised the construction of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (SRGM) in New York City, where he started his career. WHS was associated with Holden, McLaughlin & Associates (renamed Holden, Egan & Associates in 1953) from 1952 to 1955 and with Kenneth Kassler Architect from 1955 to 1956. In 1956, Frank Lloyd Wright chose WHS to oversee construction of the SRGM. WHS's involvement with the SRGM construction project continued until 1960, after which he went on to a partnership with Robert Venturi of Philadelphia. WHS was a partner of Venturi & Short Architects from 1960 to 1963. In 1963, WHS left and organized an individual office in Princeton, New Jersey. This practice was renamed Short & Ford in 1974.

WHS was a specialist in historic preservation. His projects relating to historic preservation include the conversion of Guernsey Hall Condominiums in Princeton, New Jersey (1974) for which he was awarded the 1975 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Award of Merit as well as Sandanwede residence in Nantucket, Massachusetts (1976) for which he received the 1978 AIA honor award. In the 1980's, WHS guided the restoration of Drumthwacket, the New Jersey governor's residence. Other principal projects completed by WHS include the Woodrow Wilson School and Library of Princeton University, the Lawrenceville School, and the Nassau Presbyterian Church.

WHS was a registered architect in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and Florida. He was a Fellow of American Institute of Architects, a Chairman of the New Jersey Society of Architects Historic Resources and Preservation Committee, and a Trustee of the New Jersey Historical Society and the Historical Society of Princeton.

Chronology

	1924	Born on May 29 in Warren, Massachusetts.
	1943-1946	Served at United States Army Air Forces.
	1949	Received A.B. from Princeton University.
	1952	Received M.F.A. from Princeton University.
	1952-1955	Joined Holden, McLaughlin & Associates in New York (renamed Holden, Egan & Associates in 1953).
	1955-1956	Joined Kenneth Kassler Architect in New Jersey.
	1956-1960	Supervised Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum construction in New York.
	1960-1963	Established Venturi & Short Architects in Pennsylvania.
	1963-1991	Established William H. Short Architect in New Jersey (renamed Short & Ford Architects in 1974).
	1970-1985	Served as a member of Historic Sites Committee in New Jersey.
	1974	Worked on Guernsey Hall Condominiums in New Jersey.
	1975	Awarded American Institute of Architects Award of Merit.
	1976	Worked on Sandanwede Residence in Massachusetts.
	1978	Awarded American Institute of Architects honor award.
	1980	Worked on Woodrow Wilson School and Library of Princeton University in New Jersey.
	1981	Worked on restoration of Drumthwacket, the New Jersey governor's residence in New Jersey.
	1983-1991	Served as an adviser to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
	1985-1990	Worked on Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.
	1987-1991	Served as a trustee of the New Jersey Historical Society.
	1988	Worked on Nassau Presbyterian Church in New Jersey.
	1991	Served as a chairman of the New Jersey Society of Architects Historical Resources and Preservation Committee.
	1991	Served as a trustee of the Historical Society of Princeton.
	1991	Died of cancer.

Bibliography

"William Hosley Short." Marquis Who's Who TM. Marquis Who's Who, 2006. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2006.

"Philadelphia Architects and Buildings." 2003. Short, William Hosley (1924-1991). Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Architects and Buidings. http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org

New York Times. 1991. "William H. Short, 66, New Jersey Architect" February 22, B6.

Scope and Content Note

The William H. Short papers span the years 1956-1968 and document the construction of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (SRGM) in New York. The collection includes correspondence, architectural drawings, personal notes, brochures, photographs, negatives, samples of construction materials, construction reports, financial documents, certificates, minutes, and name cards. The collection provides documentation of architectural, financial, administrative, and legal information relating to the construction of SRGM.

The collection is arranged into seven series: General; Construction Administration; Design; Drawings and Specifications; Regulatory; Facilities Management; and Annex Building. Series 1. General provides information on the SRGM construction decision making process including both incoming and outgoing correspondence between the Frank Lloyd Wright office and other contractors. It also provides information on the opening of the SRGM. Series 2. Construction Administration includes information on construction process, including documentation of contractors and financial records. Series 3. Design provides documentation of interior and exterior design of the SRGM. Series 4. Drawings and Specification includes architectural drawings and specifications on the SRGM. Series 5. Regulatory covers documentation of government regulations and inspections on the SRGM construction. Series 6. Facilities Management includes documentation of facilities management and security of the SRGM. Series 7. Annex Building documents the design and planning for the annex through incoming and outgoing correspondence, a project binder, and a specifications book.

The collection includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence between the Frank Lloyd Wright office and other contractors. This correspondence reflects the decision-making process of the SRGM construction. Also included are Short's hand-written notes, which show interim drawings of the base plan and facilities design, and calculations on budget and cost. The collection does not cover the design of interiors and exteriors in their entirety, but provides detailed construction progress information and records of contractors.

Series Descriptions

Series 1. General, 1949-1960, 0.75 cubic ft. (0.75 record center carton)

Summary: Series 1. General contains correspondence, business cards of visitors and callers, papers on the opening of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (SRGM), personal papers of William H. Short (WHS), and waivers of site visitors. The series dates from 1949 to 1960. The incoming and outgoing correspondence, which pertains to the museum construction, is from WHS, G.H. Eastern, Leon M. Labes, William W. Peters, James Johnson Sweeney, Anthony Vernon, Peter Loggin, Frank Lloyd Wright, contractors including Euclid and Gasman Plumbing & Heating Corporation, and a construction consultant, Krey and Hunt. The correspondence also includes information on public affairs of the SRGM. It is important to note that negatives, drawings, postcards, and photocopies of articles are included with correspondence. The bulk of correspondences consists of office copies, but some are original hand-written copies. Museum opening includes invitation list, publicity, facts and figures of museum, opening brochure, personal hand-written notes, and newspaper clippings. Personal papers of WHS include personal copies of correspondence and drawings pertaining to the museum construction, photos of WHS, and hand-written notes on cost. Waivers from site visitors are original signed documents pertaining to the admission to the site and the responsibility of potential accidents.

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Series 2. Construction Administration, 1956-1960, 2.25 cubic ft. (2.25 record center cartons)

Summary: Series 2. Construction Administration contains information on the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum construction: construction progress; contractors; and financial records. This series covers: change orders; construction daily reports; extra work orders; jobs; punch list; shop drawings; contractors including Bolt Beranek and Newman, Euclid, Fassler Iron Works, Gasman Plumbing & Heating, Krey and Hunt, and Lovell and Belcher; bills; and process payments. It includes correspondence, contracts, reports, drawings, index, minutes, copies of ledgers, bills, and receipts. Construction daily reports contain information about the construction site: work done; materials delivered; materials or men needed; visitors; remarks; and men at work. Extra work order correspondence only covers order numbers 18 through 49. Contractors include contracts, correspondence on the construction, brochures, samples, claims, and payment documents. Brochures and photographs were mostly sent from contractors as a sample of their products or service. All financial records are restricted.

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Series 3. Design, 1956-1960, 1.25 cubic ft. (1.25 record center cartons)

Summary: Series 3. Design contains information on the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum design. This series provides information on the building's exteriors, amenities, fixtures, furniture, finishes, hardware, and interior decorations. It includes correspondence, drawings, brochures, samples, photographs, name cards, and hand-written notes.

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Series 4. Drawings and Specifications, 1956-1959, 0.25 cubic ft. (0.25 record center carton)

Summary: Series 4. Drawings and Specifications contains architectural drawings and construction specifications for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. This series provides architectural drawings, documentations of mock ups, and specifications. Architectural drawings, exchanged among contractors and the Frank Lloyd Wright office, are either base plans or of facilities designs. It includes correspondence, drawings, specifications, and hand-written notes.

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Series 5. Regulatory, 1955-1960, 0.25 cubic ft. (0.25 record center carton)

Summary: Series 5. Regulatory contains information on government regulations for and inspections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum construction. This series provides legal information including certificate of occupancy, inspection reports of NYC Department of Buildings, and substantial completion letters. Certificates are original, and include signatures of interested parties. Incoming and outgoing correspondence, drawings, certificate, inspection reports, and hand-written notes are also included.

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Series 6. Facilities Management, 1957-1960, 0.25 cubic ft. (0.25 record center carton)

Summary: Series 6. Facilities Management contains information on management and security of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's facilities. This series provides information on the management of facilities for the conservation department and the photography department, as well as the security of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. It includes incoming and outgoing correspondence, drawings, newspaper clippings, photographs, brochure, and hand-written notes.

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Series 7. Annex Building, 1956-1968, bulk 1966-1968, 0.5 cubic ft. (0.5 record center carton)

Summary: Series 7. Annex Building contains information on planning of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s annex in the late 1960s. It includes incoming and outgoing correspondence; a project binder which contains brochures, drawings, and hand-written notes; and specifications books.

Arrangement: Alphabetical

Folder List

Series 1. General, 1949-1960, 0.75 cubic ft. (0.75 record center carton)

Box	Folder	Title		Date
		Business Cards
101082	1		Callers	undated
101082	2		Site Visitors	undated
		Correspondence: Incoming and Outgoing
101082, 101086	3-13, 1-10		General (21 folders)	1957-1960
101082	14		Eastern, G.H.	1959-1960
101082	15		Labes, Leon M.	1956-1959
101082	16		Peters, William Wesley (Frank Lloyd Wight Foundation)	1956-1960
101082	17-20		Public Affairs (4 folders)	1957-1960
101082	21		Site Visitors	1957-1960
101082	22-27		Sweeney, James Johnson (6 folders)	1949-1954,1957-1960
101082	28		Vernon, Anthony and Peter Loggin	1959-1960
101082, 101086	29-30, 11		Wright, Frank Lloyd (3 folders)	1956-1959
101082, 101086	31-32, 12	Museum Opening (3 folders)		1959
101082, 101086	33, 13	Personal Files of William H. Short (2 folders)		1956-1960
101082	34	Waivers for Site Visitors		1957-1958

Series 2. Construction Administration, 1956-1960, 2.25 cubic ft. (2.25 record center cartons)

Box	Folder	Title			Date
		Construction Progress
			Changes
101082	35			Approved (No Extra Cost)	1957-1959
101082, 101086	36, 14			Change Bulletins (2 folders)	1957-1958
101082	37			Change Order Index	1957-1959
101082, 101083, 101086	38-48, 1-12, 15-27			Change Orders 1-36 (36 folders)	1956-1959
101083, 101086	13, 28			Rejected (2 folders)	1957-1959
			Construction Daily Reports
101083	14-19			General (6 folders)	1956-1959
101083	20			Correspondence	1956-1959
			Extra Work Orders
101083, 101086	21-23, 29			General (4 folders)	1957-1959
101083, 101086	24-25, 30			Correspondence Index, E18-E49 (3 folders)	1959-1960
			Jobs
101083, 101086	26, 31			Authorized / In process (2 folders)	1959-1960
101083, 101086	27, 32			Minutes of Job Meetings (2 folders)	1956-1959
101083	28			Pending for Decision	1959-1960
101083, 101086	29, 33		Punch List (2 folders)		1958-1959
101083, 101086	30-37, 34-37		Shop Drawings: Transmittal Letters (12 folders)		1956-1960
		Contractors
101083, 101086	38, 38		Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc. (2 folders)		1958-1960
			Euclid
101083, 101086	39, 39			Contracts (2 folders)	1956
101083	40			Correspondence	1958
101084, 101086	1, 40			Delay Claims (2 folders)	1957-1959
101084, 101086	2, 41			Final Payment and Claims (2 folders)	1959-1960
101084	3			General Payment	1959-1960
101084, 101086	4, 42			Revised Agreements (2 folders)	1958
101084, 101086	5, 43		Fassler Iron Works (2 folders)		1959-1960
			Gasman Plumbing and Heating Corporation
101084, 101086	6, 44			General (2 folders)	1958-1960
101084, 101086	7-10, 45-46			Plans and Specifications (6 folders)	1956-1957
101084, 101086	11-14, 47		Krey and Hunt (5 folders)		1957-1960
101084	15		Lovell and Belcher		1959
101084, 101086	16-17, 48-49		Other Contractors (4 folders)		1956-1959
		Financial
101084	18-20		Bills (3 folders) (Restricted)		1957-1960
101084	21		Personnel (Restricted)		1957-1960
101084, 101086	22-25, 50-53		Process Payments (8 folders) (Restricted)		1956-1959

Series 3. Design, 1956-1960, 1.25 cubic ft. (1.25 record center cartons)

Box	Folder	Title			Date
		Exterior
101084, 101086	26-27, 54		Artwork: Tile Letters and Drawings (3 folders)		undated, 1958-1960
			Cocoon
101084, 101086	28-29, 55			General (3 folders)	1957-1960
101086	56			Hollingshead Color Samples: Brochure	1958
101084	30		Flagpole		1959-1960
			Landscaping
101084, 101086	31, 57			General (2 folders)	1957-1959
101086	58			Plans	undated
101084, 101086	32, 59		Medallion (2 folders)		1958-1960
101084, 101086	33, 60		Scaffolding (2 folders)		1958-1960
101084, 101086	34, 61		Sidewalks (2 folders)		1958-1959
101084, 101086	35, 62		Snow Melting System (2 folders)		1958
		Interior
101084	36		Acoustical Ceiling		1959-1960
101084, 101086	37, 63		Auditorium Sound System		1958-1960
101084	38		Bathrooms		1957, 1959
			Cabinet Works
101084, 101086	39, 64			General (2 folders)	1958-1960
101084	40			Payment	1959-1960
			Cafe
101084, 101086	41, 65			Furniture (2 folders)	1959
101084, 101086	42-45, 66-67			Kitchen (6 folders)	1957-1960
101084	46			Restoration	undated
101084	47		Door Hardware Schedule		1956-1959
101084	48		Elevators		1957-1959
101084	49		Exhibition Space		1960
101085, 101086	1, 68		Flooring (2 folders)		1958-1960
101085, 101086	2, 69		Fountains and Pools (2 folders)		1959- 1960
101085, 101086	3, 70		Furniture and Fixtures (2 folders)		1958-1959
101085, 101086	4, 71		Handrails (2 folders)		1959-1960
101085	5		Hardware		1959
101085	6		Library		1958
101085, 101086	7-8, 72		Lighting: Fixtures and Plans (3 folders)		1958-1960
101085	9		Mail Room		1959
101085, 101086	10, 73		Projection Equipment (2 folders)		1958-1959
101085	11		Projection Room Plans		undated
101085, 101086	12, 74		Spray Booth (2 folders)		1958-1960
101085, 101086	13-14, 75-76		Telephone (4 folders)		1958-1959

Series 4. Drawings and Specifications, 1956-1959, 0.25 cubic ft. (0.25 record center carton)

Box	Folder	Title		Date
101086	77-78	Architectural Drawings (2 folders)		undated, 1957-1959
101085, 101087	15, 1	Mock ups (2 folders)		1958-1959
		Specifications
101085	16-18		Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (3 folders)	1956
101085, 101087	19, 2		William H. Short's Copy (2 folders)	1956
101085	20		Subcontractors	1956-1959

Series 5. Regulatory, 1955-1960, 0.25 cubic ft. (0.25 record center carton)

Box	Folder	Title		Date
101085, 101087	21, 3	Certificate of Occupancy (2 folders)		1959
101085, 101087	22, 4	Inspections (2 folders)		1957-1959
		NYC Department of Buildings
101085, 101087	23-24, 5-6		General (4 folders)	1955-1960
101085, 101087	25, 7-8		Concrete Report (3 folders)	1957, 1959
101085	26		Publications	1955, 1958, 1959
101085, 101087	27, 9		Shop Drawings (2 folders)	1957-1960
101085, 101087	28, 10	Substantial Completion Letters (2 folders)		1959

Series 6. Facilities Management, 1957-1960, 0.25 cubic ft. (0.25 record center carton)

Box	Folder	Title		Date
		Client Department
101085, 101087	29, 11		Conservation Department (2 folders)	1958-1959
101085, 101087	30, 12		Photography Department (2 folders)	1957-1959
101085	31	Maintenance		1958-1959
		Security
101085, 101087	32, 13		General (2 folders)	1959
101085, 101087	33, 14		Correspondence (2 folders)	1959-1960

Series 7. Annex Building, 1956-1968, bulk 1966-1968, 0.5 cubic ft. (0.5 record center carton)

Box	Folder	Title		Date
		Correspondence
101085, 101087	34, 15		Incoming (2 folders)	1964-1968
101085	35		Outgoing	1966-1968
101087	16		Miscellaneous	1959, 1966-1968
101085, 101087	36-46, 17-20	Project Binder (15 folders)		1956-1957, 1966-1968
101085	47	Specifications Addendums		1966 June-October
101085	48	Specifications for Annex		1966 May