Roland Gommel Roessner collection

A resume, published articles, brochures, magazines, slides, and architectural drawings highlight both the academic and architectural design careers of Roland Gommel Roessner. A History of Austin Architects and Architecture: 1934-1986 and one unidentified photograph are also contained in this record group.

The brochures demonstrate Roessner's participation in state-wide exhibits and academic programs at the University of Texas School of Architecture. One firm brochure of the Oaks Apartments concludes this series. Magazines (1954-1987, with gaps) illustrate Roessner's residential work in Austin. The bulk of the material consists of 35 mm slides of private residences, apartments, businesses, and some floor plans which Roessner designed. The images are identified using the resident owner's name; they are not dated (see series list). Roessner disposed of most of his older drawings by returning them to his clients. The collection does include architectural drawings for three Austin residences designed by Roessner.

Roessner's most extensive written work, Architect Client: An Experiment in Computer-Augmented Teaching of Architecture Management (ca. 1968) was co-authored by Thomas E. Burke, a research associate at the College of Business Administration at the University of Texas at Austin. The publication contains the results of a project, begun in 1965, focusing on the development of a computer program to introduce prospective clients to the various phases and decisions related to residential design and construction.

Added to the collection in December 1992: Series H contains the contents of seventeen scrapbooks. The material was removed from the scrapbooks and photo albums and rehoused in mylar sleeves and acid free folders. Six of the notebooks contained portfolios from different stages of Roessner's career (1955-1983), highlighting an assortment of projects. Three albums contained clippings, photographs and contest entry forms concerning design awards which Roessner won.

Two albums were dedicated to the Roland Gommel Roessner Centennial Professorship in Architecture which was established in 1983. Photographs were from the luncheon held in his honor; clippings, letters and brochures give further information about the award. Two notebooks contained photographs of Roessner's early work (1935-1942); most of the buildings are unidentified. Two notebooks were filled with newspaper and magazine clippings (1946-1980). One notebook was dedicated solely to the RGK Foundation Building. One scrapbook contained a varied assortment of photographs of people.