Robert Schweitzer papers

Collection

Identifier: 018.RS

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Robert Schweitzer papers holds materials related to his work teaching historic preservation and architectural history at Eastern Michigan University, as well as the publication of his two books America’s Favorite Homes: Mail-Order Catalogues as a Guide to Popular Early 20th-Century Homes, and Bungalow Colors - Exteriors. The collection is divided into two record groups: Professional Practice, and Scholarship and Publications.

The Professional Practice records group contains documents related to Schweitzer's instruction at EMU. It is arranged in two series: Instruction Materials, and Student Work. Instruction Materials is organized by course number and includes syllabi, blank exams, and correspondence with students about projects. There is a reading packet from one of the courses, and an instructor's manual for another course.

The Student Work series contains examples of student papers from 1981 through 2010. The papers cover a wide variety of architectural styles, and are particularly strong in representation of architecture in Southeast Michigan including specifically Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, and Detroit among other nearby locations. In addition to local interest, there are papers that describe architectural trends across the United States as well as some international examples. The papers are listed by title.

The Scholarship and Publications record group includes materials related to the publication of Schweitzer's architecture books. It is further divided into series by book title: America’s Favorite Homes, and Bungalow Colors: Exteriors. It also includes a Reference series.

America's Favorite Homes contains visual materials. There are photographs that have been labeled by the printing company, as well as proofs and plates.

Bungalow Colors: Exteriors includes the sub-series Drafts and Research, Images, and Correspondence. Drafts and Research contains multiple chapter drafts and revisions, as well as full book drafts. Images holds photographs, illustrations, and photograph permissions. Correspondence includes emails with publisher Gibbs-Smith, and other miscellaneous emails.

The Reference series contains correspondence from someone who attended one of Schweitzer's lectures and inquired about a house in Rogers Heights, Maryland; a paper written by Rodney Douglas Parker "The California Bungalow and the Tyrolean Chalet: The Ill-fated Life of an American Vernacular;" and a historical tour map of Royal Oak, Michigan.

Dates

1981 - 2010

Creator

Schweitzer, Robert A. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to visiting the the University Archives.

Box 1 / Folder 20 Contains 3 1/4" floppy discs; and Box 16 / Folder 27 Contains a CD that provides an electronic copy of the printed materials. Both require specialized hardware to view.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials in Box 4 / Folder 9 and in Box 5 / Folder 15 cannot be duplicated without the consent of Robert Schweitzer which can be obtained through the University Archivist.

Biographical note

Robert A. Schweitzer began teaching courses on historic preservation and architectural history at Eastern Michigan University in 1979. Prior to that, he received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and M.A. from Wayne State University where he studied American History. In addition to serving as Adjunct Professor at Eastern Michigan University, he has worked in administration at the University of Michigan, and is a historic housing consultant. He is the author of two books, Bungalow Colors - Exteriors written in 2002, and America’s Favorite Homes: Mail-Order Catalogues as a Guide to Popular Early 20th-Century Homes written in 1990. He has also written many articles for publications such as Cottages & Bungalows, Arts & Crafts Home, and Victorian Homes Magazine.

Extent

9.9 Linear Feet (3 record center cartons, 14 archives boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Robert Schweitzer papers encompass materials related to his work teaching as an adjunct in the Historic Preservation graduate program at Eastern Michigan University. The collection includes student papers on preservation and architectural history, many of which contain photographs, slides, or photographic negatives. There are also instructional materials such as syllabi, exams, and an instructor's manual. In addition to papers related to coursework, the collection includes visual materials related to publishing Schweitzer's book America’s Favorite Homes: Mail-Order Catalogues as a Guide to Popular Early 20th-Century Homes, as well as images, drafts, and correspondence from the publishing process for his book, Bungalow Colors - Exteriors.