(Collection 049) Samuel Yellin, 1885-1940 A Finding Aid for Records, 1912-1981 (bulk 1920-1953), in The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania © 2005 The Architectural Archives of the University of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania Samuel Yellin Collection Finding Aid Archival Description Descriptive Summary Title: Records, 1912-1981 (bulk 1920-1953). Coll. ID: 049. Origin: Samuel Yellin, 1885-1940, metalworker. Extent: Architectural drawings 2355 drawings (1924 originals, 431 prints); Photographs 72 photoprints Boxed files 32 cubic feet. Repository: The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania 102 Meyerson Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6311 (215) 898-8323 Abstract: The Samuel Yellin Collection, containing project files, office records, photographs and drawings, was donated to the Architectural Archives by his granddaughter and successor in the firm, Clare Yellin. The earliest documents in the collection are office ledgers (1912). Project files (1920-1953) include order information, drawing lists, shipping information and correspondence related to nearly 1400 projects. Most of the drawings are for designs by Samuel Yellin, with some by his son and successor Harvey Yellin. The collection does not contain drawings for the final design for each project, which were retained by the firm. Also found in the collection are architectural drawings of numerous architects with whom Yellin worked. Indexes: This collection is included in the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings Project, a searchable database of architectural research materials related to architects and architecture in Philadelphia and surrounding regions: http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org Cataloging: Collection-level records for materials in the Architectural Archives may be found in RLIN Eureka, the union catalogue of members of the Research Libraries Group. The record number for this collection is PAUP02-A0 2 The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania Samuel Yellin Collection Finding Aid Biographical/Historical Sketch Samuel Yellin, one of the most important architectural metalworkers in the United States in the early twentieth century, was born in Galicia, Poland in 1885. He was trained in Europe and traveled there before he immigrated to the United States. Yellin settled in Philadelphia, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was appointed as instructor at the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art, and by 1909 he had established his own shop. Yellin designed and built ironwork for some of the most important American architects of his time, employing well over 200 craft workers at the height of his commercial success just before the Great Depression. He suffered from heart disease for a number of years, and he died at age 55 in 1940. Scope and Content Note This collection was donated to the Architectural Archives by Samuel Yellin's granddaughter and successor in the firm, Clare Yellin. The collection contains project files, office records, photographs and drawings dated from 1912 to 1981. The collection does not contain drawings for the final design for each project, which were retained by the firm. The collection contains materials related to many of Yellin's most important projects. Among projects represented in the collection, the following are particularly well-represented with drawings: Edward Bok Residences and Bok Carillon Tower; Brick Presbyterian Church; Curtis Institute of Music; Equitable Trust Company Building; McKenzie, Voorhees & Gmelin Office; Arthur E. Newbold, Jr. Residence; University of Chicago, Public Administration Building; Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh; Samuel Yellin Residence; Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Federal Reserve Board; Washington Cathedral. The collection contains some materials from the period after Samuel Yellin's death in 1940, when his son, Harvey Yellin, succeeded him in the firm. Series I: Project Files contains order information, drawing lists, shipping information and correspondence related to nearly 1400 projects from 1920 to 1953. Correspondence includes copies (typed) of letters received and carbon copies of letters sent, together with a small amount of original correspondence. Materials in this series remain in the order received, arranged by project. Series II: Office Records comprises records not organized by project by the firm. This series contains financial records, personnel records, shop records, orders, correspondence, etc. Dates range from 1912 to 1981, but none of the document types is continuous through this period. Samuel Yellin personal files are found from 1933 to 1940. After 1940, records continue through 1969, and some through 1981. Materials in Series II have been minimally processed. Although much project information may be found in this series, the researcher must read at length through records and miscellaneous papers, some personal. Series III: Photographs comprises photographs related to a small number of projects, mostly site surveys. Other photographs may be found throughout the collection. Materials in this series remain in the order received, arranged by project. 3 The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania Samuel Yellin Collection Finding Aid Series IV: Drawings comprises original drawings, blueprints and some photostats. Archives staff have identified and arranged the vast majority of the drawings by project. Most of the drawings are for designs by Samuel Yellin. Twenty drawings are the work of his son and successor, Harvey Yellin. Also found are drawings and blueprints from architects with whom Yellin worked. This series contains original drawings of: Frederick L. Ackerman; Harry R. Allen; Appleton & Stearns; Barber & McMurry; Baskerville & Lambert; Dwight James Baum; Baumann & Baumann; Roger H. Bullard; Felix A. Burton; Carrère & Hastings; Chatten & Hammond; Childs & Smith; Cram & Ferguson; Crombie & Stanton; Delano & Aldrich; Delano & Aldrich and Charles H. Higgins; Marc Eidlitz & Son; Frederick G. Frost; Cass Gilbert; Edward F. Hoffman, Jr.; George Howe; Howell & Thomas; Johnson, Kaufmann & Coate; Jas. MacKenzie, Jr.; Stanley Matthews: Elzner & Anderson; Hunter McDonnell; Mellor, Meigs & Howe; R. Brognard Okie; Ritter & Shay; George Washington Smith; Stearns & Brophy; Thompson, Holmes & Converse; Trowbridge & Ackerman; Voorhees, Gmelin & Walker; Wyeth & King; Zantzinger, Borie & Medary. This series contains blueprints or photostats of: Frederick L. Ackerman; Donn Barber; Barber & McMurry; Bissell & Sinkler; Buckler & Fenhagen; Roger H. Bullard; Felix A. Burton; Childs & Smith; Cram & Ferguson; Paul P. Cret; Day & Klauder; Delano & Aldrich; Robert O. Derrick; Wilson Eyre & McIlvaine; Robert D. Farquhar; Frohman, Robb & Little; B. G. Goodhue; Gordon & Kaelber; Alvin E. Harley; Fred A. Henderich; Howell & Thomas; Benno Janssen; Janssen & Cocken; Karcher & Smith; Kessler & Schilinger; H. T. Lindeberg; E. L. Lutyens; Mellor, Meigs & Howe; Robert R. McGoodwin; McKenzie, Voorhees & Gmelin; Perkins, Fellows & Hamilton; Peterson & Johnson; Charles A. Platt; Price & McLanahan; George W. Ritchie; James Gamble Rogers; Henry W. Rowe; Charles S. Schneider; Geo. R. Thompson; Horace Trumbauer; Ferruccio Vitale; Harry Leslie Walker; Walker & Gillette; Warren & Wetmore; Ralph E. White; York & Sawyer; Zantzinger, Borie & Medary; Carl A. Ziegler. Notable among blueprints are 11 architectural drawings by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the British Embassy in Washington, DC. No Yellin project documents are found for this project, and it may be surmised that he did not make any ironwork for the Embassy. Additional project details and holdings information may be obtained from the Architectural Archives. Project information is available only for materials arranged by project in the collection. Project information is not available for any materials in Series II: Office Records. Project information is not available for "Shop Progress Reports" (listing a number of different jobs with the contemporary status of each), which remain scattered (as received) through Series I and Series II. 4 The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania Samuel Yellin Collection Finding Aid Series Overview I. Project Files II. Office Records A. Journals and Ledgers B. Mixed Files 1. Estimates and Orders 2. Correspondence and Miscellaneous 3. X-Number Files 4. Correspondence and Miscellaneous 5. Samuel Yellin - Personal 6. General Files After 1940 7. Records Post 1940 8. Clippings III. Photographs IV. Drawings A. Small Drawings B. Standard-sized Drawings C. Oversized Drawings 5 The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania Samuel Yellin Collection Finding Aid Access Points for Indexing (Controlled Vocabulary) Yellin, Samuel, 1885-1940 NAF Yellin, Harvey Z. (Harvey Zachary), 1918-1985 not NAF Ackerman, Frederick Lee, 1878-1950. NAF Allen, Harry R., d. 1947 (NAF) Appleton & Stearns Barber & McMurry Baskerville & Lambert Baum, Dwight James, 1886-1939 Baumann and Baumann Bullard, Roger H. Burton, Felix A. Carrère & Hastings Chatten & Hammond Childs & Smith Cram and Ferguson Crombie & Stanton Delano & Aldrich Delano & Aldrich and Charles H. Higgins Marc Eidlitz & Son Frost, Frederick G., 1876-1966 Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934 Hoffman, Edward F. (Edward Fenno), 1888-1971 Howe, George, 1886-1955 Howell & Thomas Johnson, Kaufmann & Coate MacKenzie, Jas., Jr. Matthews, Stanley Elzner & Anderson McDonnell, Hunter Mellor, Meigs & Howe Okie, R. Brognard (Richardson Brognard), 1875-1945 Ritter &