Guide to the McKim, Mead & White Architectural Records at the New York Historical Society

Please note: The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library at the New-York Historical Society is closed temporarily to researchers due to construction of a new wing.

The McKim, Mead and White Architectural Record Collection at the New York Historical Society constitutes the main archival repository of the firm's records. Material in the collections ranges from ca. 1875 to 1950.

The collection consists of more than 61,000 architectural drawings, including ink on linen, blueprints, and other media; 1,500 photographs, including prints and glass and film negatives; 700 boxes of correspondence and specifications; 54 ledgers, including 17 bill books (1878-1947), 10 cash books (1894-1944), 8 contract books (1903-1930), and 9 journals (1882-1942); 30 photo albums and scrapbooks; and more than 300 original line drawings made to illustrate A Monograph of the Works of McKim, Mead and White, 1879-1915 (all numbers are approximate). The material contains extensive documentation of the firm's operations and of individual buildings, although most information about the firm's early years can be found in the photograph albums, clippings scrapbooks, and financial ledgers.

Columbia University Archives has numerous collections related to the McKim, Mead & White Morningside Campus. They have created a helpful guide to their collections which include the Buildings & Grounds Collection, photographic collections, and Columbia University Department of Facilities Management architectural drawings.

Guide to Buildings & Grounds Collections at Columbia University Archives