The construction of the Israel Heritage Room (IHR) marked the revival and continuation of the Nationality Rooms project. The IHR was the first room to be built in thirty years, the first to be housed on the third floor, and the first under the supervision of Nationality Rooms Director E. Maxine Bruhns. The twentieth classroom for the Cathedral of Learning, the IHR was in the planning stages for 21 years, and was on the mind of the Pittsburgh Jewish community since 1948 when Israel became a country and qualified by Nationality Rooms Program rules to join the Nationality Council and have their own classroom. Charles Rosenbloom, a prominent member of the Pittsburgh Jewish community and philanthropist, formed the Israel Heritage Room committee in Pittsburgh and its brother committee in Israel. After a hiatus due to the Israeli war with Egypt in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Rosenbloom was joined by Joseph Katz, the new chairman of the committee, and moved into the design, fundraising, and construction stage of the project.
Several years of design issues followed. After a handful of false starts, New York designer Alexander Kaufman was brought in to complete the room design with Martin Chetlin. A first century Israeli stone dwelling was chosen to highlight both the shared heritage of all Jews and the rabbinic tradition of learning and study which would lend itself well to a classroom. Artifacts and replications from that era were picked to decorate the space: a hand-cut stone floor, Capernaum stone bench seating, a lion mosaic, Dura Europos chalkboard panels, a hand carving of the ten commandments, jars, a Capernaum frieze, and a length of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The construction was completed in 1987 and dedicated on November 1st of that year.
The IHR, in accordance with the mission statement for the Nationality and Heritage Room Committees, promotes and represents its culture and traditions through events, performances, lectures, films, and exhibits. They also host scholarships for summer study in Israel for sophomore, junior, and graduate students from the University of Pittsburgh. The IHR is still an active committee and regularly meets to host and promote Jewish events and study abroad for the Pittsburgh community.
The Israel Heritage Room Committee Collection is composed of correspondence, construction reports, invoices, newsletters, research notes, promotional event flyers, timesheets, disbursement requests, financial records, interdepartmental memos, by-laws, design proposals, scholarship applications and reviews, newspaper and magazine publications, scripts, a video contract, photographs, DVDs, and a CD. The collection was originally housed and maintained by the Nationality Rooms Program Office, which handles outreach, promotion, and scholarship opportunities as well as administrative records management on behalf of the members of the Nationality Council.
The collection is arranged by series and subseries. There are six series in total. Series I comprises the first material deposited at the Nationality Rooms office. It richly documents the history, design, and fundraising of the IHR primarily from the 1960s to the 1980s. Series II is composed of records involved with the creation and maintenance of the IHR including: correspondence, construction and financial reports, maintenance memos, design research records and proposals, and disbursement requests from 1964-2009. Series III is composed of administrative records for the running of the Israel Heritage Room program. This includes: by-laws, membership and board member lists, promotional event flyers, newsletters, donations, minutes, in-house program planning, and dues from 1986-2013. Series IV contains publication and contributor information, this includes: event invitations, correspondence, obituaries, video scripts, a contract with AEG, event flyers, speech drafts, photographs, and newspaper and magazine articles from 1964-2013. Series V contains multimedia other than paper that were originally separated but relate to the Israel Heritage Room. This includes photographs, DVDs, and a CD from 1982-1997. Series VI contains architectural files of IHR designs, the bulk from 1982-1986.
Record reproduction was undertaken for newspaper articles, videotapes, DVDs, cassette tapes, and CDs. The newspaper articles were copied on acid-free paper and the originals destroyed. Videotapes were reformatted onto DVDs. All DVDs and CDs were copied twice: once for inclusion to this collection, and once for the Nationality Rooms Program office to retain. Cassette tapes were reformatted onto CDs and were also copied twice for the same reason as above.
Series I. Original Deposit (1991)
Series II. Israel Heritage Room Creation
Series III. Israel Heritage Room Administrative Records
Series IV. Publicity and Contributors
Series V. Other Multimedia
Series VI. Architectural Files
No restrictions.
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
In accordance with preserving activities of each classroom on the Nationality Rooms Council, the Nationality Rooms Program office, located on the 12th floor of the Cathedral of Learning, was the original recipient of the Israel Heritage Room (IHR) material. The collection, including material later received, was transferred to the University Archives in fall 2013.
Deposited by Nationality Rooms Program Office on October 30, 2013.
Series I was inventoried and arranged by Linda Hartman in 1991, shortly after the Nationalty Rooms Program office received the collection by the Israel Heritage Room committee. Subsequent additons to the collection were processed by Emily Reed, Nationality Rooms Archivist Intern, from August to October 2013. She created the finding aid to the overall collection. Maintaining any original order to the collection became difficult due to the movement of “active” files to “storage” files within the Nationality Rooms Program office.
Digital reproductions of the photographs from the collection are available
online. Video and audio materials in the Israel Heritage Room Collection have copies located in the Nationality Rooms Program office. Videotapes were converted to DVD, cassette tapes were converted to CDs and the originals discarded.
Architectural files are located in flat file storage (Map-case 30, Drawer 2, Folder 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
Equipment in the Archives Service Center is required for DVD and CD playback.
Israel Heritage Room Committee Collection, 1929-2013, UA.40.13, University Archives, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Series I. Original Deposit (1991), 1929-1990
Scope and Content Notes
This original deposit was initially inventoried and arranged in 1991. It contains the most substantive material documenting the history, design, and fundraising of the IHR during the 1960s-1980s.
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Subseries 1. History |
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Subseries 2. Correspondence, |
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Subseries 3. Design and Concept, 1966-1986 |
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In oversize file 8.15.10: blueprints of 123-124.In oversize file 8.15.10: blueprints of 123-124.
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In oversize file 8.15.10: blueprints.
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Subseries 4. Design—Toker, 1980-1983 |
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In oversize file 8.15.10: furniture sketches.
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Subseries 5. Design—Chetlin, 1982-1989 |
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In oversize file 8.15.10: Perli Pelzig IHC perspective.
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| Folder | | Draft, June 1984 | 22 |
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In oversize file 8.15.10: blueprints.
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In oversize file 8.15.10: sketches of the door panels and window arches.
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In oversize file 8.15.10: sketches of the mosaic and frieze.
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Subseries 6. Fundraising, 1981-1989 |
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| Folder | | January 1989 and undated | 4 |
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Subseries 7. Donor Book, n.d. |
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Subseries 8. Construction Blueprints n.d. |
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In oversize file 8.15.10: floor plans and blueprints.
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Subseries 9. Construction Minutes, 1986-1987 |
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Subseries 10. Dedication, 1987 |
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Subseries 11. Furnishings, 1988-1990 |
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Subseries 12. Publicity, n.d. |
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Subseries 13. Newsletter, n.d. |
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Subseries 14. Supporting Documents, 1970-1988
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains obituaries, “Specifications for Israel Heritage Rooms 336-337” spiral-bound, historical reports, “Expressions of Jewish-American Life” spiral-bound curriculum guide and data file, program brochures, E. Maxine Bruhn’s handwritten notes, and five envelopes of photographs (mostly undated). The photographs have been digitally copied and are also located here: URL.
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| Folder | | Histories and other supporting documentation, 1970-1984 | 15 |
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| Folder | | Histories and other supporting documentation, 1986-1988 | 16 |
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| Folder | | Specifications, 1986 | 17 |
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The Ancient Synagogue of Beth Alpha by Eleazor Sukenik, 1932 | 18 |
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Experssions of Jewish American Life 1980 | 19 |
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| Folder | | Daniel Kafri Catalog | 20 |
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| Folder | | Louis Kahn article, 1972 | 21 |
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| Folder | | Nationality Rooms Directors Notes | 53-54 |
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| Object | | Photographs n.d. | 1-5 |
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Series II. Israel Heritage Room Creation, 1971-2009
Scope and Content Notes
This series contains information about the proposal, planning, design, construction, expenses, and maintenance of the Israel Heritage Room.
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Subseries 1. Proposal, 1972-1988
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains correspondence about the Women’s Committee and their assistance, the building fund, and development. Also included are policy statements, pamphlets, progress reports, summaries of design, and a newsletter calling for members for the IHR.
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Subseries 2. Planning, 1971-1985
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains sketches, concept reports and reviews, architectural graphics, Israel trip logs, and correspondence about the design committee and budget. Because of concern for provenance, some dates of the folders in this subseries are a bit mixed together from previous filing.
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Subseries 3. Design, 1979-1990
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains examples of Hebrew text, pictures of the IHR before construction, concept designs for furniture and inscriptions, design proposals, floor plans, correspondence, guidelines for development, design submissions, and research articles. Folder 1 contains a spiral-bound report titled: Program for The Israel Room of the University of Pittsburgh. Folder 2 contains a folder full of research. Folder 2 contains a foldered preliminary concept presentation. Folder 4 contains a binder about the design of the IHR. Because of concern for provenance, some dates for the folders in this series are out of order due to previous filing.
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Subseries 4. Construction, 1982-1992
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains room book orders, invoices, reviews of construction, research, service requests, progress reports, and correspondence to Anatoly Lendel about his furniture designs and about suggestions and specifications. A Construction Account is included in this subseries which has already been previous assembled and maintained in a large binder. The Construction Account maintains funding, construction expenses, bond reports, finance reports, contract sheets, a contractor’s application for payment, change order forms, invoices, disbursement requests, and memos. Because of concern for provenance, some dates for folders in this series are out of order due to previous filing.
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| Box | Folder | | Construction Account, 1987-1991 | 3 | 1-4 |
These materials used to be housed together in a binder titled: Construction Account.
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Subseries 5. Expenses, 1980-1996
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains two groups of expense reports. The first three folders, general expenses, were loose-leaf and had to be arranged. The other folders were already filed in order and contain more specific groupings than the first three folders. The first group contains papers about construction costs, invoices, time sheets, disbursement requests, reports on state of endowments, and correspondence. The second group contains papers about expense reports, financial reports, disbursement request, cash reports for construction, invoices, completion certificates, and correspondence with hired persons. Because of concern for provenance, some dates in the second group overlap due to previous filing.
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| Box | Folder | | General Expenses, 1980-1996 | 4 | 1 |
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| Folder | | General Expenses, 1988-1989 | 2 |
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| Folder | | General Expenses, 1989-1996 | 3 |
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| Folder | | Expenses for Artwork, 1985 | 4 |
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| Folder | | Expenses for Office and Agency, 1987-1988 | 5 |
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| Folder | | Expenses for Office and Agency, 1988-1989 | 6 |
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| Folder | | Expenses and Financial Reports, 1986-1987 | 7 |
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| Folder | | Expenses for Construction, 1981-1990 | 8 |
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| Folder | | Expenses for Construction, 1987 | 9-10 |
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| Box | Folder | | Expenses for Construction, 1988-1989 | 5 | 1 |
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| Folder | | Expenses for Construction, 1989-1990 | 2 |
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Subseries 6. Maintenance, 1984-2009
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains correspondence regarding IHR maintenance, invoices, and reports about photographs, cushions, books, and lights.
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Series III. Israel Heritage Room Administrative Record, 1971-2013
Scope and Content Notes
This series contains administration records for the Israel Heritage Room (IHR) and the Israel Heritage Council (IHC). These records include subjects about by-laws, IHC membership, IHC meetings, creation of the Book of Donors, minutes, fundraising, donations, dues, awarded scholarships, and room events.
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Subseries 1. By-laws, 1991-2002 |
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Subseries 2. 1988-2005
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains membership lists, election of new board members, and correspondence.IHC Meetings,
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| Folder | | Board and Members, 1988-2005 | 5 |
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Subseries 3. IHC Meetings, 1990-2009
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains annual membership meeting flyers and other flyers, printing requests for flyers, featured speakers, executive committee information, and correspondence about meetings.
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Subseries 4. Book of Donors, 1987-1989
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains book bindery information, leather samples, rough drafts, a cover design, invoices, and correspondence.
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Subseries 5. Minutes, 1971-2002 |
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Subseries 6. Fundraising, 1981-2011
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains newsletters, forms and flyers, cards, letters, and reports of artifact sales. The first folder was previously filed and exclusively contains information about the Children’s Campaign for fundraising. This includes: flyers, letters, correspondence, curriculum reports, surveys, and bulletins.
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| Folder | | The Children’s Campaign, 1986-1987 | 5 |
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Subseries 7. Donations, 1981-2013
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains correspondence, checks and newspaper articles about donations.
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Subseries 8. Dues, 1988-2005 |
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Subseries 9. Scholarships, 1980-2013
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains letters from scholarship winners, applications, newspaper articles about scholarships, photographs, reviews of trips, Codicil of Golomb, and correspondence about winners. The second folder of the subseries was previous filed and contains papers and a folder about the scholarship winners, therefore the content was not rearranged.
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Subseries 10. Room Events, 1987-2013
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains papers about the Room Dedication, holiday decorating, community service tours, children’s school programs, and anniversary events.
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Series IV. Publicity and Contributors, 1964-2013
Scope and Content Notes
This series contains records about the publicity of the IHR and its major contributors. This includes mostly publication records, correspondence, newspaper articles, and speech drafts.
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Subseries 1. IHC Video, 1996-1998
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains A&E contracts, invoices, newspaper articles about the IHC video, ordering forms, flyers and advertisements, the video script, a photo list, DVD packaging design, and correspondence.
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Subseries 2. Publications, 1972-2013
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains publications about the IHC. This includes magazine articles (the
Hadassah Magazine, The
B’nai B’rith IJM, and the
Pitt Magazine), newspaper articles (the
Jewish Chronicle,
Pitt News,
Destination Guide,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
Details, and
Excelsior), newsletters (the
Nationality Rooms Newsletter,
Executive Board News,
Jewish Studies Newsletter, and
Israel Heritage Room Newsletter), pamphlets, and correspondence. Articles range from news releases, promotion, notes to the editor, and photographs. Because of previous filing, some dates are mixed.
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Subseries 3. Public Events, 1980-2013
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains manuscripts about public events hosted by or related to the IHC. This includes: flyers promoting choir performances, lectures, book signings, holiday parties, botanical garden shows, Israel’s 50th Anniversary, folk dancing, workshops, an Israel Consul visit, and the 44th International Cabaret Ball.
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Subseries 4. Contributors, 1964-2012
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains papers relating to important members and contributors to the IHC. This includes correspondence, newspaper articles, obituaries and condolences, speeches, other publications, wedding anniversary invitations, and photographs. Notable names include: Doris Binstock, the B’nai B’rith Women of Pittsburgh, Gertrude Caplan, Sorlee and Martin Chetlin, Marcella and Wilfred Finegold, Margie and Jerry Goldberg, Joseph Katz, Alexander Lowenthal, Eva Mars, Samuel McCullogh, Albert Raizman, and Margery Weiner.
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Series V. Multimedia, 1982-1997
Scope and Content Notes
This series contains a variety of records, from photographs, DVDs, a CD, and Kodachrome slides.
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Subseries 1. Photographs, ca. 1980- ca. 2000
Scope and Content Notes
Selected photographs within the collection were digitized and available
online.
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Photographs #1-14
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Photographs #15-58
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Photographs #59-85
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| Box | Folder | | ca. 1980-1996 | 3 | 5 |
Photographs #86-139
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Photographs #140-208
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| Folder | | ca. 1980-ca. 2000 | 7 |
Photographs #209-259, including 7 negative
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Subseries 2. DVDs, 1987-1996
Scope and Content Notes
These DVDs were copied in October 2013. One copy of each remains in the Nationality Rooms Program office, another copy is included in this collection. DVD 2 was reformatted from VHS.
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| Box | Disk | | “Seeking Ancient Roots”, 1996 | 10 | 1 |
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| Disk | | “Israel Heritage Room Dedication”, 1987 | 2 |
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| Disk | | “Interview with Martin Chetlin”, 2009 | 3 |
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| Disk | | E. Maxine Bruhns Interview on the Israel Room July 1991 | 4 |
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Subseries 3. CD, 1994
Scope and Content Notes
A CD was made in 1997 from the IHR audio tour recorded in 1994. The recording is in English and voiced by E. Maxine Bruhns. This copy was burned in October 2013. The original CD remains in the Nationality Rooms Program office.
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| Disk | | “IHR Audio Tour”, 1994 | 5 |
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Subseries 4. Kodachrome Slides, circa 1990s
Scope and Content Notes
This subseries contains two kodachrome slides of the completed IHR.
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Series VI. Architectural Files, 1980-1986
Scope and Content Notes
This collection contains architectural files. These files are oversized and located separately from the rest of the collection in Map-case 30, Drawer 2, Folder 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
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| Map-case | Folder | | Toker Designs, 1980 | 30-2 | 1 |
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| Folder | | Pelzig Designs, 1983 | 2 |
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| Folder | | Chetlin and Kaufman Designs, 1984 | 3 |
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| Folder | | Chetlin and Kaufman Designs, 1984-1986 | 4 |
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| Folder | | Pelzig Designs, 1983 | 5 |
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| Folder | | Kaufman Designs, 1983 | 6 |
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