The biographical and personal material within the collection includes biographical and genealogical material, personal correspondence and a few items of sentimental value. The correspondence is truly personal, often with family members or close friends reporting on matters of family interest. A bound set of Bonisteel's diary, "From Day to Day," covering the years 1918 to 1971, is located in Box 14.
The Biographical and Personal series, 1933-1988 (1 linear foot), contains Griffin's curriculum vitae, biographical and bibliographical information submitted to various publications, a set of appointment calendars, and other personal information. Of particular note are the folders of newspaper clippings, which provide a comprehensive record of press coverage of Griffin and selected articles on the field of archaeology during his career.
The Biographical and Personal Materials series contains articles and correspondence. Also included are other personal papers relating to the purchase of a lot, and the settling of his estate after his death. In 1972, Merle Hanson, a doctoral candidate in the School of Music, requested Viola Mattern's and Shirley Smith's permission to base his dissertation on Professor Mattern's career, and his proposal is included here.
The Biographical and Professional Series (0.5 linear feet, 1942-1990), although limited in quantity, is the portion of the collection that offers the widest overview of Muschenheim's life and work. Researchers will find fairly detailed material useful for becoming familiar with accomplishments at various stages of his career. Particularly valuable are the files regarding nomination for Fellowship, American Institute of Architects. Nomination materials include comprehensive biographical statistics (to 1961); descriptions of achievements in design work, exhibitions and jury participation; detailed data regarding publications; and achievements related to initiatives in education. Also important is a file with material about Peter Behrens and his school in Vienna, Austria, where Muschenheim was immersed in modern theory from 1925 to 1929. Additionally, the series includes a folder with various "lists of work," created at different times for different purposes and a transcription of an interview conducted by the Oral History Research Office of Columbia University in 1987 (a copy of the finding aid, "The William Muschenheim Architectural Drawings and Papers, 1902-1990," Avery Library, Columbia University, is also included in the series). A folder containing obituaries is an excellent source for studying how Muschenheim's career was assessed at the time of his death in 1990.
The Biographical/autobiographical material series consists of autobiographical reminiscences written by Spencer in 1959 and 1973, also accumulated clippings, personnel documents, two transcribed interviews, and other items containing biographical information.
Biographical/background information (2 folders) is an artificially created series of information regarding JS's professional activities. Included is correspondence regarding his appointment to the University of Michigan in 1921, a vita, and a memorial booklet published after his death.
