Main Version | Raw XML File (22k)
University of Texas, Alexander Architectural Archive

Weinreb Architectural collection:

An Inventory of its Materials, 1825-1890, 1928-1932


Collection Summary

Creator Weinreb, Ben, 1912-1999
Title: Weinreb Architectural collection
Dates: 1825-1890, 1928-1932
Abstract: Sketchbooks of drawings and plans, architectural drawings, lithographs and other reproductions of largely European architecture constitute the Weinreb Architectural collection, a group of materials that represents a small selection of the inventory of London antiquarian architectural bookseller Ben Weinreb (1912-1999). The sketchbooks especially document architects' visits to important examples of European architecture in the mid- to late-19th century to sketch and study their styles and forms; four of these sketchbooks were executed by British architect Evelyn A. Hellicar. Other sketchbooks are of plans for residences, churches, and a hotel of the same period. The majority of the unbound original architectural drawings are presentation drawings of designs by Oliver Hill, RIBA, executed by J.D.M. Harvey. Reproductions in the collection consist mainly of late-19th century lithographic views of port cities in Sweden, Italy, and France.
Identification: WEI Accession number: 1990019
Quantity: 14 albums of sketches and drawings, 17 sheets of drawings, 22 lithographs, 1 photograph
Language: Materials are in English, Swedish, French, and German.
Repository: Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.

Scope and Content of the collection

Sketchbooks of drawings and plans, architectural drawings, lithographs and other reproductions of largely European architecture constitute the Weinreb Architectural collection, a group of materials that represents a small selection of the inventory of London antiquarian architectural bookseller Ben Weinreb (1912-1999). The sketchbooks especially document architects' visits to important examples of European architecture in the mid- to late-19th century to sketch and study their styles and forms; four of these sketchbooks were executed by British architect Evelyn A. Hellicar. Other sketchbooks are of plans for residences, churches, and a hotel of the same period. The majority of the unbound original architectural drawings are presentation drawings of designs by Oliver Hill, RIBA, executed by J.D.M. Harvey. Reproductions in the collection consist mainly of late-19th century lithographic views of port cities in Sweden, Italy, and France.

Weinreb was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire on February 5, 1912 and worked in bookstores and the theater in his youth. He began to specialize in architectural books in the 1950s and opened his first regular shop across from the British Museum in 1960. He sold his entire stock to the University of Texas in 1968 but continued as a book and print dealer for a short time. He collaborated with Christopher Hibbert to compile The London Encyclopedia (1983), a reference book of that city's history and culture, and provided text to accompany his son Matthew Weinreb's photographs for London Architecture (1993). Weinreb's sixty inventory catalogues are still used as important reference works to architectural publications. He died in Henton, Somerset on April 3, 1999.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access is by appointment only to any serious scholar. Rolled materials must be flattened before viewing. A three-day advance notice is required to flatten rolled materials. Portions of this collection are not processed and may not be accessible.

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

Creator (persons)
Weinreb, Ben, 1912-1999
Subjects (Persons)
Adams, Maurice B.
Barry, Edward M.
Chatenay, Léon
Darbyshire, H.A.
Hardy, E.J.F.
Harvey, J. D. M. (John Dean Monroe), b. 1895
Hellicar, Evelyn Arthur, 1862-1929
Hill, Oliver
Kinder, Charles
Owen, F.D.
Rossi, Karl Ivanovich (1775-1849)
Subjects
Architecture--England--19th century.
Architecture--Italy--19th century.
Architecture--France--19th century.
Architecture--Holland--19th century.
Architecture--Belgium--19th century.
Architecture--Germany--19th century.
Architecture--Sweden.
Places
England
Italy
Sweden
France
Germany
Document types
Architectural drawings
Lithographs
Sketchbooks

Related Material

Ben Weinreb Collection of Architectural Drawings, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University of Texas at Austin.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Weinreb Architectural collection, Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

Acquisition Information

Transferred to the Alexander Architectural Archive from the Harry Ransom Humanitites Research Center, 1990.

Processing Information

Drawings and other materials processed by: Rebecca Romanchuk, November 2003. Revisions by Donna Coates, April 2010.

Other Finding Aids

Unpublished inventory in the Archive.

Selected references to works by Ben Weinreb

B. Weinreb Architectural Books Ltd. The Weinreb catalogues: an annotated index. London: Paul Breman Ltd., 1969.

Collector's Institute. Second annual meeting, November 22, 1969. Austin, Tex., 1969. (includes address by Ben Weinreb)

Weinreb, Ben. No. 4 Parton Street: the history of a left-wing bookshop. London: Camden Historical Society, 1985.

Weinreb, Ben and Hibbert, Christopher, Eds. The London Encyclopedia. London: Macmillan, 1983.

Weinreb, Matthew, with commentary by Ben Weinreb. London Architecture: features and facades. London: Phaidon Press, 1993.

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

 

Series A: Sketchbooks, 1838-1932

Series Abstract
This series consists of 11 sketchbooks or albums created by architects to compile their study drawings of architecture of various European countries, or as workbooks for their own designs.
box
1 Sketchbook of measured house sketches and outdoor scenes in pencil, c.1932
Sketchbooks of buildings in Normandy, Belgium, Holland, and England by Evelyn A. Hellicar, RIBA, in pen, pencil and watercolor, many with measurements and notes, 1883-1887
Note: sketchbook cover label appears within brackets.
31 drawings of buildings in Normandy [Normandy (2), Vol. 5], 1883
23 drawings of buildings in England and Normandy [Normandy (3), Vol. 6], 1883
23 drawings of buildings in Belgium [Belgium, Vol. 7], 1884
17 drawings of buildings in Holland [Holland, Vol. 10], 1887
box
2 Sketchbook of 193 drawings and engravings of views, buildings, and details in Holland, Switzerland, France, Belgium and the Rhineland by an unknown architect, in pen, pencil and colored wash, 1838-1857
Album of 181 sketches in pencil by Sir Edward M. Barry (1830-1880; architect of the present-day Covent Garden) of architectural details of churches and other buildings in England, Holland, France, Germany, and Italy, 1848-1873
box
3 Album and sketchbook by Maurice B. Adams (1849-1933) of 143 drawings of English houses and churches, in pen and pencil, c.1874-1889
box
4 Sketchbook of 23 drawings by an unknown architect of architectural details in ink wash, n.d.
Album of sketches by E.J.F. Hardy of churches in France in ink, pencil, and watercolor, 1844
box
5 Album of 44 drawings of Italian architecture and details attributed to H.A. Darbyshire ( -1899), in pen, pencil, and watercolor, 1848


 

Series B: Drawings, 1825-1928

Series Abstract
This series consists of original architectural drawings, including three albums of plans for residences, churches, and a hotel, dating from the mid- to late-19th century, and six presentation drawings of early 20th century designs by Oliver Hill, RIBA, of residences in England, France, Ireland, and Rhodesia, three of which were drawn by J.D.M. Harvey. The remainder of drawings in this series are unidentified residential designs and details, and perspective studies, all dating from the 19th century.
box
4 Album of 58 plans for residences in England by Clarke and Northcott, Builders, and others, in pen and watercolor, c.1844-1845
box
6 Album of 51 designs for Italian churches and residences attributed to Karl Ivanovich Rossi (1775-1849) according to note in front of album, in pen and wash, 18??
box
7 Album of 9 plans for "Hotel de Mr. Alleon", Léon Chatenay, architect, in ink and wash, 1863
Project number:
Project name: Residence, Hurtwood Estate.
Date on drawings: 1928
Primary archt/firm: Oliver Hill (1887-1968)
Collaborators:
Note: drawn by J.D.M. Harvey
Street address:
City:
County: Surrey
State/Province:
Country: England
Project number:
Project name: Shanes Castle, south front.
Date on drawings:
Primary archt/firm: Oliver Hill (1887-1968)
Collaborators:
Note: drawn by J.D.M. Harvey
Street address:
City:
County: Antrim
State/Province:
Country: Ireland
Project number:
Project name: Residence, front and back exterior views, inner courtyard view.
Date on drawings:
Primary archt/firm: Oliver Hill (1887-1968)
Collaborators:
Client: De Forrest, Baron
Street address:
City: Biarritz
County:
State/Province:
Country: France
Project number:
Project name: Rhodesian ranch house, charter estate for Lords Salisbury, De La Warr, and Hudson.
Date on drawings:
Primary archt/firm: Oliver Hill (1887-1968)
Collaborators:
Note: drawn by J.D.M. Harvey
De La Warr, Lord
Hudson, Lord
Salisbury, Lord
Street address:
City:
County:
State/Province:
Country: Rhodesia
Project number:
Project name: Building with privy; cistern house; window details.
Date on drawings: 1856
Primary archt/firm: Q. Nichols; J. Crosby.
Collaborators:
Street address:
City:
County:
State/Province:
Country:
Project number:
Project name: Perpective studies, ink and wash.
Date on drawings: 1825-1827
Primary archt/firm: Charles Kinder
Collaborators:
Street address:
City:
County:
State/Province:
Country:
Project number:
Project name: Interior entrance and staircase, ink and wash.
Date on drawings: 18??
Primary archt/firm:
Collaborators:
Street address:
City:
County:
State/Province:
Country:
Project number:
Project name: Unidentified drawing room interior, pencil sketch.
Date on drawings:
Primary archt/firm:
Collaborators:
Street address:
City:
County:
State/Province:
Country:
Project number:
Project name: Unidentified fireplace mantel design, pencil sketch.
Date on drawings:
Primary archt/firm:
Collaborators:
Street address:
City:
County:
State/Province:
Country:


 

Series C: Lithographs and other reproductions, 1852-c.1900

Series Abstract
The bulk of this series consists of late-19th century lithographic views of port cities in Sweden, Italy, and France. Also present are drawings reproduced in late-19th century periodicals of Torpa Slott (Torpa Palace) in Sweden and of the White House in Washington, D.C. A lithograph of an example of Flemish architecture and a photograph of the construction or renovation of a commercial building in an unidentified U.S. city complete this series.
Project name: Lithographic views of port cities in Sweden, Italy, and France
Date on drawings: c.1879
Project name: Lithograph of an example of Flemish architecture
Date on drawings: 1852
Project name: Photograph of five story building in U.S. city block, under construction or renovation
Date on drawings: c.1900
Project name: Torpa Slott (Torpa Palace).
Date on drawings:
City: Torpa
County: Vestergötland
Country: Sweden
Project name: White House (U.S. Executive Mansion), views and plans from Architecture and Building, vol. XIII, no.23, December 6, 1890.
Date on drawings: 1890
Primary archt/firm: F.D. Owen
Street address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
City: Washington, D.C.
Country: U.S.