Chicago Architects Oral History Project
The Chicago Architects Oral History Project (CAOHP) was established in 1983 under the auspices of the Art Institute’s Department of Architecture to record the life experiences of architects who shaped the physical environment in Chicago and surrounding communities. It was intended to not only fill an existing void in the literature but also to go beyond the facts to explore motivations and influences, behind-the-scenes stories, and personal reflections. This collection of oral histories contains comprehensive life-review documents as well as shorter, focused interviews. These narratives explore the development of Chicago’s architecture and planning from the early 1900s to the present day.
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Artists Oral History Archive
This archive contains over 200 oral histories and interviews of predominantly Chicago-based artists and designers drawn from three collections. The 70+: Chicago Visual Artist Oral History Archive, collected by Linda L. Kramer and Sandra Binion between 2010 and 2013, explores diverse aspects of the personal and professional lives of these Chicago visual artists. The New Bauhaus/Institute of Design interview project, made possible by a generous grant from the Moholy-Nagy Foundation, was initiated in preparation for the exhibition Taken by Design: Photographs from the Institute of Design, 1937–1971 (David Travis and Elizabeth Siegel, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2002). The Kit Schwartz Archive is currently in process and available to researchers by appointment only.
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For image rights and reproductions of works of art from the museum’s curatorial collections, you must review this information and contact Art Resource accordingly. The Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archive does not manage such requests and cannot provide information or guidance regarding any such inquiries.
For information regarding our archival collections, please contact the Archives via our Contact and Application for Access form.
