Abstract:
Collection of materials from former Dean of the State University of New York at Buffalo's School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Harold L. Cohen and his wife Mary D. Cohen. Includes extensive project files (sketches, reports, designs, photographs), business and professional correspondence, publications, personal papers, exhibits and exhibit plans, and audio/visual materials.
Copyright:
Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and University Archives before requesting photocopies and/or publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Once permission is obtained, most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
Scope and Content:
Collection of materials from former Dean of the State University of New York at Buffalo's School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Harold L. Cohen and his wife Mary D. Cohen. Includes extensive project files (sketches, reports, designs, and photographs), business and professional correspondence, publications, personal papers, exhibits and exhibit plans, and audio/visual materials.The Harold L. and Mary D. Cohen papers were largely maintained, organized, and described by Mary Cohen. Much of her organization and description was maintained. As such, users may need to consult multiple series and/or subseries for complete coverage of a topic.Bibliographic records document the Cohen’s professional work complementary to that completed for their main employers, and include writings on and by the Cohens, lectures, teachings, awards and honors, conferences, portfolios, publicity, and exhibits (each its own subseries). The Cohen’s prolific writings on design and education are well-documented and cover the expanse of their professional life.School of Architecture records consists of two subseries: A to Z files and Courses and Lectures. Files includes calendars, correspondence, schedules, public relations materials, photographs, appointment paperwork, retirement papers, lecture notes, course materials, and publications. See also "HLC correspondence" in Series III for more correspondence relating to HLC's position as Dean of SAED.Series III. Correspondence contains personal and professional correspondence with contemporaries and colleagues in the world of design, notably Serge Chermayeff, Magda Cordell, Leonard Farb, and Misch Kohn. Series also contains Mary D. Cohen's letters for friends and family documenting the more than fifty countries in as many years that they have visited (personal and professional), travel itineraries, photographs, and notes.Professional Work, Series IV, documents the main professional lives of the Cohens and is the largest series in the collection. Topics include various research and development projects for Health in Housing (a collaborating World Health Organization center); exhibits and research for the Buffalo Museum of Science; research and publications for the Institute of Behavioral Research; various projects and designs for the City of Buffalo, New York; and materials regarding Harold Cohen as Chairman of the Department of Design at Southern Illinois University. A small amount of material pertains to R. Buckminster Fuller. Note: Research notebooks and diaries are located in Series V, folders 31.19-22.Biographical records contain calendars, curriculum vitae, passports, schooling, and property records relating to Harold and Mary Cohen; Harold Cohen naval service, notes, and research notebooks and diaries.Series VI mainly contains photographs related to the Cohen's professional work; a small amount concern family. Some photographs have corresponding negatives and are noted as such.Slides, Series VII, offers comprehensive coverage for Harold and Mary Cohen's professional work across six decades. Most folders include identification on the slide itself, on a slide identification list, and/or on notes provided by Mary Cohen. Note: From 2013-2014, the University Archivist conducted a series of oral histories (see Series VIII) with the Cohens. Slides were often used as prompts for discussion of specific projects, their origination, and importance.The last series, Audio/Visual includes DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, master broadcast VHS tapes, reel to reel film, audio cassettes, super 8 film, 3.5 inch floppy discs, 8 mm film, and 35 mm film. Topics include exhibits, memorials, travel, and professional work that was completed for Health in Housing, Institute for Behavioral Research, Museum of Science, University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Southern Illinois University and others.
Arrangement:
This collection is organized in eight series: I. Bibliographic 1949-2013II. School of Architecture and Environmental Design, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1974-2003III. Correspondence 1952-2014IV. Professional Work 1949-2018V. Biographical 1939-2013VI. Photographs, 1950-2013VII. Slides, 1950-2012VIII. Audio/Visual 1950-2014
Restrictions:
The Harold L. and Mary D. Cohen papers are open for research.Privacy protected information (including but not limited to certain educational, medical, financial, criminal, attorney-client, and/or personnel records) may be revealed during use of archival collections, particularly in collections that are unprocessed or have been minimally processed. Researchers agree to make no notes or other recordation of privacy protected information if found within the archival collections, and further agree not to publish, publicize, or disclose such information to any other party for any purpose if found within the archival collections.
Restrictions:
Access to digital material provided via the University Archives’ Digital Archives online repository.
Beginning Date (Creation):
1939
Ending Date (Creation):
2018