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University of Texas, Alexander Architectural Archive

Joel Warren Barna:

An Inventory of his Records for The See-Through Years, 1984-1994


Collection Summary

Creator: Barna, Joel Warren, 1951-
Title: Joel Warren Barna records, The see-through years,
Dates: 1984-1994
Abstract: Joel Warren Barna served as editor of Texas Architect magazine, the official publication of the Texas Society of Architects, from 1985-1995. Manuscript drafts, proofs, correspondence, research files, papers, photographs, and slides reflect the research and writing of Joel Warren Barna's The see-through years: Creation and destruction in Texas architecture and real estate, 1981-1991. Published in 1992, it was named the architecture "Book of the Year" for 1992 by The New York Times.
Identification: Accession Number: BARNA 2000007
Quantity: 5.6 linear feet of papers, 122 photographs, 71 slides, 44 negatives, and 3 computer disks
Language: Materials are in English.
Repository: Alexander Architectural Archive, The University of Texas at Austin.

Biographical Sketch of Joel Warren Barna

Joel Warren Barna served as editor of Texas Architect magazine, the official publication of the Texas Society of Architects, from 1985-1995. The magazine received several awards during his editorship. He was also executive editor of Cite, the publication of the Rice Design Alliance, from 1982 to 1983 and became the Texas correspondent for Progressive Architecture magazine in 1989. Since 1996 he has been both development officer and press officer for McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin.

Scope and Content of the collection

Manuscript drafts, proofs, correspondence, research files, papers, photographs, and slides reflect the research and writing of Joel Warren Barna's The see-through years: Creation and destruction in Texas architecture and real estate, 1981-1991. Published in 1992, it was named the architecture "Book of the Year" for 1992 by The New York Times.

 

Arrangement

The records are arranged into 2 series: The See-Through Years and Reference and Research Materials.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access is by appointment only to any serious scholar.

Restrictions on Use

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Alexander Architectural Archive's Use Policy.

Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in The University of Texas Online Catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings
Creator (persons):
Barna, Joel Warren, 1951-.
Subjects:
Architecture--Texas.
Document types:
Manuscripts for publication.
Photographs.
Slides.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Joel Warren Barna (1951-) records, The see-through years, c.1992, Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

Processing Information

Papers processed by: Jess Alsobrook, Sara Fuchs, Holly Robertson - INF389f, December 2004; Donna Coates, January 2012

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

 

Series A:The See-Through Years, 1989-1994

Series Abstract
Computer-printed manuscripts, handwritten notes, and galley proofs document Barna's process of research and writing The See-Through Years. Photographs, proofs, correspondence and contracts record the process of the book's photography, production, and publication, while grant applications and correspondence illustrate Barna's search for funding for the project. Publicity files include news clippings, articles, press releases, and correspondence.
The series is divided into 6 subseries: Drafts and Notes, Galleys, Photography, Proposals and Publication Fees, Grant Funding, and Publicity Files.
A1: Drafts and Notes, 1990-1991
Barna composed The See-Through Years from 1990-1991 on computer. Computer printed manuscript drafts and handwritten notes document the writing and editing process. Barna submitted drafts of his first chapter to colleague Mark Branch, then senior editor of Progressive Architecture, Willard Spiegelman of the Southwest Review; a draft of the entire manuscript was reviewed by Stephen Fox of Rice University. The majority of the files in this subseries originate from a container of unfoldered, unorganized documents and photocopies of articles. The arrangement is by chapter order of The See Through Years.
box folder
1 1-17 Chapter 1: J.R. McConnell Died for Our Sins
box folder
2 1-7 Chapter 1: J.R. McConnell Died for Our Sins
8-10 Chapter 2: Middle Class Houses of the 1980s
11-13 Chapter 3: '80 Middle-Class Workplaces
14 Chapter 4: Schools from the Bottom Up
15-16 Chapter 5: Feeling Better about Medical Buildings
17-18 Chapter 6: Plans and Curses in Downtown Austin
17-18 Chapter 6: Plans and Curses in Downtown Austin
19-20 Chapter 7: Tower Tops in Dallas
21-23 Chapter 8: Public Housing and Welfare
24 Chapter 9: Solana
25-26 Chapter 10: The Dallas Arts District: The Last Ditch
box folder
3 1-3 Chapter 11: Creating More Perfect Landscapes, '80s Style
4 Chapter 12: Saving the Kimbell for Philadelphia
5 Chapter 13: Coda
6 Chapter not identified [Texas transportation]
7 Project lists and plan of attack
8 Project lists and notes
9 Handwritten notes and citations from indexes
A2: Galleys
Barna submitted the final draft of The See-Through Years on disk to the Keystone Press in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. The Keystone Press typeset the draft, producing galley proofs. The galley proofs are mostly undated and are therefore arranged in order of the progressive editorial annotations and alterations to the proofs.
box folder
3 3-13 Galley proofs
box folder
4 1-10 Galley proofs
box folder
5 1-4 Galley proofs
A4: Proposals and Publication Files, 1990-1991
Barna submitted book proposals to Jack Kyle of the University of Texas Press and John Setter of Texas A&M Press before selecting to work with Editor Susan Fernandez at Rice University Press. Materials include drafts of book proposals submitted to these publishers, correspondence, and Barna's contract with Rice University Press as well as schedules, quotes, and receipts regarding the book's typesetting, design, and publication.
box folder
6 1-2 The See Through Years proposal and draft
3 John Setter, Texas A&M Press
4 Rice University Press contract, correspondence, and invoices
5 Correspondence concerning employment
A5: Grant Funding, 1990-1991
The Anchorage Foundation of Texas awarded Barna a grant in 1991 that allowed him to take time away from his editorial duties at Texas Architect to complete The See-Through Years. While the Anchorage Foundation files are not represented in Barna's papers, this subseries documents Barna's preliminary research on grants and his applications to the Graham Foundation in May 1990 and June 1991.
box folder
6 6 Grant information
7 Graham Foundation application, May 1990
8 Texas foundations
9 Graham Foundation application, June 1991
A6: Publicity Files, 1990-1994
This series includes press releases, clippings, photocopies of reviews, correspondence, and awards. A critical success, The See Through Years was favorably reviewed by many Texas and national publications and was named architecture "Book of the Year" by the New York Times on December 27, 1992.
box folder
6 10 Texas Institute of Letters award, 1993
11 John G. Flowers award, 1994
12 Joel Barna's author's sketch in Contemporary Authors, vol. 138, Gale Research
13-16 Correspondence, 1990-1993, undated
17 Events
18 Rice University Press
19-20 Reviews
box
14 Slide presentation (16 35mm slides)
Slides for publicity (4 35mm slides)


 

Series B: Reference and Research Materials for The See-Through Years, 1984-1994

Series Abstract
The items in this series contain reference and research materials that Barna compiled during his tenure as editor of Texas Architect and while researching The See-Through Years. Materials include photographs, handwritten notes, interviews, and annotated articles, some of which were written by Barna himself for Texas Architect and other publications such as Architecture, Cite, and Progressive Architecture. These articles often evolved into chapters of his book. Most of these files contain clippings and notes about particular architectural projects within the state of Texas and broader topical subjects, such as public housing or office environments. Also included are notes from conferences, symposia, and presentations.
The series is divided into 7 subseries: Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston/Galveston, San Antonio, Topical, and Writings, Presentations, Conferences and Symposia.
B1: Austin, Texas
box folder
7 1 Austin Convention Center
2 Austin Nature Center
3 Capitol Expansion and Restoration Project
4 Downtown [Austin]
5 Laguna Gloria
6 Lamar Tower [unbuilt]
7 Las Manitas Avenue Cafe
8 Texas Parks and Wildlife
9 Waller Creek Plaza
B2: Corpus Christi, Texas
box folder
7 10 Architectural guide for historic Corpus Christi, 1980
11 Corpus Christi City Hall
11 Eammanuel Chapel at the Corpus Christi Cathedral
B3: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
box folder
7 12 AIA [American Iinstitute of Architects] Affordable Housing Committee
13 Dallas, clippings
14 DART [Dallas Area Rapid Transit] rail proposal (includes 6 b/w and 6 color photographs)
box
14 DART downtown transitway mall (1 color photograph)
box folder
7 15 DART rail plan, clippings
16 Design District
17 Destroyed neighborhoods [Dallas]
18 Downtown Dallas Architecture Guide
19 Downtown [Dallas] mall
20 Downtown [Dallas] master plan, 1989-1990
21 "Downtown" speech
22 Dallas skyline story, 1989
23 Pratt's "Visions for Dallas" plan, 1990
24 Herman Miller Showroom, The Crescent
25 Infomart
box folder
8 1 Marlene and Morton Meyerson house
2-4 Morton H. Myerson Symphony Center
box
14 Morton H. Myerson Symphony Center (4 35mm slides)
box folder
8 5 Museum of Art [Dallas]
6 Shape of American City forum, University of Texas at Austin, March 1991
7 Texas Commerce Bank
8 Frito Lay Headquarters, Irving
9 Las Colinas
10-18 Solana
box folder
9 1 Alliance Airport proposal [Fort Worth]
2 Kimball Art Museum Expansion
3 Sundance Square and City Center
4 Tarrant County Civil Courts Building, Richard Haas mural
B4: Houston/Galveston, Texas
box folder
9 5 Galveston, clippings
6-7 Moody Gardens
10 Houston, clippings (1 b/w photograph)
11 Brown Convention Center
12 Century Development Corporation
13 Churches [Houston]
14 Churches, Landry and Landry interview
box
14 Conoco headquarters (10 35 mm slides)
box folder
9 15 Destroyed neighborhoods [Houston]
16 Development and planning [Houston]
17 "El Mercado del Sol: Pioneering Redevelopment Solutions in Houston"
18 Founders Park, Freedman's Town
19 Habitat for Humanity, Carl Umland interview
20 Memorial Northwest Hospital (includes 1 color photograph)
21 Houston Neighborhood Housing Services
box folder
10 1 Innova, Houston Decorative Center
2 Manned Flight Visitors Center
3 Menil Collection
4 Methodist Hospital, Dunn Tower
5 Rice University, building projects
6 Scattered-sites housing
7 Transportation: Dacoma Transit Authority
8 Transportation: Metropolitan Transit Authority
9 Transportation: Regional Mobility Plan
10 University of Houston, Architecture Building
11 University of Houston, Space Station Architecture
box folder
11 1 University of Houston, Space Station Architecture
2 Wortham Theater Center
box
14 Wortham Theater Center (4 35 mm slides)
B5: San Antonio, Texas
box folder
11 3 San Antonio, clippings
4 Criminal Justice Center
5-7 Lucile Halsell Conservatory, San Antonio Botanical Center
8 San Antonio Museum of Art
B6: Topical
box folder
11 9 American Institute of Architects list of fellows, 1986
10 Appadurai, Arjun, "Introduction: Commodities and the Politics of Value"
11 Bellman, Beryl Larry, The Language of Secrecy
12 BNR Research Facility (includes 1 black and white print)
13 Corporate interiors
14 Philip Crosby Associates, Inc.
15 Furniture by Texas architects
16 Douglas Harvey, writings
17 Sandy Heck's suggestions re: Architectural league of New York
box folder
12 1 Mark Hewitt course material
2 High speed rail proposal, clippings
3 House and condo plans and features
4 House Research Organization reports, 1990, 1991
5 Housing, Builder, 1981-1983, 1988
6 International City Design Competition, 1989
7 Jail boom
8 Market housing
9 New American Home Builder demo homes (36 color photographs)
10 "New American Homes [Texas]", clippings from Builder
11 Offices campuses
12 Office design for production
13 Office environments
14 Office Vacancy Index of the United States, December 31, 1987
15 Antoine Predock
box folder
13 1 Public housing
2 SOM [Skidmore Owings and Merrill] projects in Texas
3 Texas Mainstreet Project
4 United Way statistics
box
14 Paul Young Ranch, 1987, Laredo, Texas (6 sheets photostats)
B7: Writings, Presentations, Conferences and Symposia
box folder
13 5 Community Development Corporation, "CDCs, A New Force in Public Housing," 1991
6 "Condes Exhibition," ca. 1987
7 "A Downturn in Commercial Office Building Still Has Its Highlight," 1986
8 "Richard Keating Interview," 1987
9 "Money and Building in the 1980s," 1991
10 American Planning Association speech, 1986
11 Art Libraries Society of North America speech, Dallas, 1987
12 Houston Museum Symposium, March 25, 1988
13 Rice Design Alliance seminar, January 24, 1991
14 Society of Architectural Historians speech, 1993
box
14 Society of Architectural Historians speech, 1993 (26 35 mm slides)
box folder
13 15 Columbia University Symposium: "Who Builds the City," March 4, 1996
box
14 Columbia University Symposium (9 35 mm slides)