Weinreb Architectural collection
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.
Dates
- Creation: 1825-1890
- Creation: 1928-1932
Creator
- Weinreb, Ben, 1912-1999 (contributor, Person)
Policies Governing Use and Access
This collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using archival materials. As all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site, advance notice of at least three working days is required for retrieval. Certain items may require additional time for flattening or humidifying before they can be viewed. Access is by appointment only. Please contact the archives' reference staff for further information.
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasions of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person).
The Alexander Architectural Archives operate in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and regulations, providing unrestricted access to university records not covered by state and federal right to privacy acts.
The Alexander Architectural Archives, The University of Texas Libraries, and The University of Texas at Austin, assume no responsibility for infringement of literary property rights and copyright or for liability to any person for defamation or invasion of privacy that results from a researcher's use of collections.
Researchers agree to indemnify and hold harmless The University of Texas at Austin, and their officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of collections held by the libraries. Please alert staff if anything inappropriate is found during research.
Copyright interests in this collection may not have been transferred to the University of Texas. Researchers assume full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply. Additionally, the public use of material must be cited. See citation information below.
Biographical Ben Weinreb
Ben 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.
Partial Extent
14 sketchbooks
Partial Extent
17 drawings
Partial Extent
23 photographs
Language of Materials
English
Swedish
French
German
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.
Other Finding Aids
Unpublished inventory in the Archive.
Acquisition Information
Transferred to the Alexander Architectural Archives from the Harry Ransom Humanitites Research Center, 1990.
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.
Collection Processors
Drawings and other materials processed by: Rebecca Romanchuk, November 2003. Revisions by Donna Coates, April 2010.
Subject
- Weinreb, Ben, 1912-1999 (contributor, Person)
- Adams, Maurice B. (contributor, Person)
- Barry, Edward M. (contributor, Person)
- Léon Chatenay (contributor, Person)
- Darbyshire, H.A. (contributor, Person)
- Hardy, E.J.F. (contributor, Person)
- Harvey, J. D. M. (John Dean Monroe), b., 1895 (contributor, Person)
- Hellicar, Evelyn Arthur, 1862-1929 (contributor, Person)
- Hill, Oliver (contributor, Person)
- Kinder, Charles (contributor, Person)
- Owen, F.D. (contributor, Person)
- Karl Rossi (contributor, Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Weinreb Architectural collection
- Date
- 2003
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Alexander Architectural Archives Repository
University of Texas Libraries
101 E. 21st Street
Austin Texas 78712 United States
(512) 495-4621
apl-aaa@lib.utexas.edu