Alumaglass Corporation

Alumaglass Corporation, based in New Orleans, was a custom aluminum fabrication business that was very popular with the city's modernist architects. Albert Ledner, Nathaniel C. Curtis, Jr. and Arthur Davis all ordered products from the company, and Alumaglass used the architects' award-winning projects in its advertisements.

The Automotive Life Insurance Building (4140 Canal Street; 1963) was one such project (above). Designed by Curtis & Davis, the office building was the recipient of multiple national and regional awards. Alumaglass used the building's image in its August 1964 Louisiana Architect promotion.

Alumaglass also fabricated Albert Ledner's circular windows that pivoted along the horizontal. These were used in the buildings he designed for the National Maritime Union in Manhattan, New York (1963-67).

Image above:  Louisiana Architect (August 1964): p. 11. Louisiana Research Collection, Special Collections Division, Tulane University Libraries.

Bungalow Elements

The Southeastern Architectural Archive retains a large collection of building trade catalogs that provides examples of bungalow plans, millwork, interior designs, wallpaper, paint samples and garden features.  Local millwork suppliers included the National Sash & Door Company, the Hortman Company and the Lafayette Sash & Door Company.

Images above:  Bungalow Balusters, Doors, Porch Rails and Windows from National Sash and Door Company. Sash Door Blind and General Millwork. New Orleans, 1919.

Bungalow Brackets, Rafter Ends from Lafayette Sash and Door Factory. Standard Miniature Millwork Design Book. Lafayette, Louisiana, 1928.


Both publications are from the SEAA's Architectural Trade Catalogs, Collection 89.

NEW EXHIBIT: BUNGALOWS

The Southeastern Architectural Archive’s Bungalows exhibit is the first such to focus on Gulf Coast  vernacular bungalow and cottage architecture.  Issues of stylistic and typological adaptation, sustainability and climate-specific design are highlighted with the use of original architectural drawings, historic photographs, building trade catalogs, material samples and subdivision surveys. The focus of the exhibit is on regional innovation and adaptation.

The exhibit draws on the holdings of the Southeastern Architectural Archive, the Garden Library of the New Orleans Town Gardeners, the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive, the Louisiana Research Collection and the Tulane Legacy Collection.  The exhibit includes architectural drawings recently conserved with the generous support of the Marjorie Peirce Geiser and John Geiser, Jr. Fund for the Southeastern Architectural Archive and the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library’s Preservation Unit.

Co-curated by Keli Rylance and Kevin Williams, BUNGALOWS  opens 16 May  in the Southeastern Architectural Archive (SEAA) and runs through 20 May 2015.  The SEAA is located at 6801 Freret Street/300 Jones Hall, on Tulane University’s campus.  Hours are 9-12 and 1-5 Mondays-Fridays. Admission is free.

Above:

Martin Shepard, architect.  Bungalow for Miss Celia [Cecilia] Dunn. 
Claiborne Avenue. New Orleans, LA.
Pencil and colored pencil on tracing paper.  29 May 1915.
Martin Shepard Office Records.

The 1915 construction of the South Claiborne Avenue streetcar line encouraged speculative house building. Times-Picayune writer Flo Field proclaimed, “A cow moos softly in the sunshine. There will be blackberries—maybe—in the hedges in May. Well, it is a great chance for the bungalow!”

Shepard developed this plan for Marks Isaacs milliner Cecilia Dunn.

de Montluzin Building

With the former Knights of Pythias Temple (corner Loyola and Gravier) in the Central Business District unsheathed, it seemed a good time to bring out this presentation rendering of its modernized form as developed by New Orleans architects George J. Riehl and R.E.E. de Montluzin. Benson & Riehl's Saratoga Building (1956) may be seen along the left edge of the drawing, and Shaw & Metz's 225 Baronne Street (1963) appears on the right.

It is worth mentioning that Riehl's presentation renderings can be particularly spectacular. He worked as an architectural draftsman for Weiss, Dreyfous and Seifeth before entering into partnership with former Emile Weil, Inc. partner, Herbert A. Benson. The Southeastern Architectural Archive retains Riehl's rendering of a proposed rebuilding of the French Opera House that is especially noteworthy.

Image above:  George J. Riehl and R.E.E. de Montluzin. de Montluzin Building/Chitwood Construction Company. Photograph of rendering. Undated. Benson and Riehl Office Records, Southeastern Architectural Archive, Special Collections Division, Tulane University Libraries.

The NOLA Bungalow Debate

In 1913, New Orleans architects Nathaniel C. Curtis, Sr. (1881-1953) and Morgan D.E. Hite (1882-1959) debated regarding the suitability of bungalow architecture to New Orleans. Curtis argued that the New England colonial style worked best for the region, while Hite championed the bungalow. Read excerpts from their Times-Picayune opinion pieces here.

Mid-Century Louisiana

The Southeastern Architectural Archive (SEAA) and the Tulane Digital Library (TUDL) recently completed an exciting digitization project.

The new digital collection consists of gelatin silver prints made by New Orleans photographer Howard 'Cole' Coleman (1883-1969) and donated to Tulane University in memory of his wife, Thelma Hecht Coleman.

As a commercial photographer, Coleman specialized in local subjects developed in series. The collection includes photographs and corresponding negatives of visiting celebrities, jazz musicians, notable structures, festival culture, restaurants, wildlife and foreign trade operations. Coleman took an interest in documenting the same subjects over the course of time, photographing buildings before and after renovations or other significant changes. He used the same approach with his commercial Mardi Gras images, situating his camera in two locations along major parade routes to systematically photograph passing float processions. Gallier Hall (545 St. Charles Street) and the Keller-Zander building (814 Canal Street) typically form the backdrop to his these images.

Learn more about/see the collection......

URL:  http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/collection/id/106

Image above: Howard C. Coleman. 238-240 Royal Street. Betty Picone’s Drinkatorium. Building also known as Conway’s Corner. Circa 1955-1958. Structure demolished 1963. Thelma Hecht Coleman Memorial Collection, Southeastern Architectural Archive, Special Collections Division, Tulane University Libraries.

Curt Teich Postcard Archives

The Curt Teich Postcard Archives is available through the Illinois Digital Archives portal. Curt Teich (1877-1974) was a German immigrant printer who settled in Chicago, Illinois and became the world's largest producer of advertising postcards, including his Curteich-Art Colortone prints.

The digital collection includes nearly 2000 postcard images of southeastern U.S. States, with some 200 images of greater metropolitan New Orleans.

We came across this 1940's postcard depicting New Orleans architect Rathbone DeBuys' Howard Flint Ink Company building, which was erected in 1932 by the Hortman-Salmen Company at 1041 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway. The structure is still standing, operating as World Ship Supply Incorporated.

Image above:  [Rathbone DeBuys, architect]. Factory of the Howard Flint Ink Company. Chicago: C.T. Art Colortone, 1940s. Courtesy Curt Teich Postcard Archives via the Illinois Digital Archives.