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Mies van der Rohe stamp covers, 1982

 Collection
Identifier: 006.06.07

Three cancelled stamp covers commemorating First Day of Issue stamps in a series on architecture. Image on stamp on these covers is of S. R. Crown Hall in recognition of the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed campus of Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Cancellation dated Sept. 30, 1982. Cover also includes an image of Mies and reproduction of his signature. Artifact. Also included is two copies each of three additional items: a one-page biography of Mies; a one-page flier with photo of Crown Hall interior; an envelope (which contained the materials) with depiction of campus and reading "Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Architect, 1886 - 1969/Commemorative Stamp Issued September 30, 1982, Washington, D.C".

Dates

  • Creation: 1982

Creator

Language of Materials

Records are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Available for Research

Collection Size

2 Items

Biographical Note

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) was recruited to the Armour Institute of Technology, Chicago in 1938. Mies was given the title Professor of Architecture and Director of the Architectural Curriculum. Following the merger of Armour with Lewis Institute (another Chicago technical college) to create Illinois Institute of Technology in 1940, Mies held the same position and titles at IIT. He became Professor of Architecture and Director of the Architecture Department in 1949 after a reorganization of the curriculum. Upon a further reorganization of the Architecture Department in 1951, his title was changed to Professor of Architecture and Director of the Department of Architecture and City Planning. After his retirement in Sept. 1958, Mies continued as Emeritus Professor of Architecture until his death. Mies received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from John F. Kennedy in July 1963, the Gold Medal from the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in June 1966, and the Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from IIT, also in June 1966. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1968. Mies developed the IIT campus master plan in 1941 and designed ca. 20 buildings on university's campus, including the first classroom building on the campus, Alumni Memorial Hall. Other Mies buildings on campus include Perlstein Hall, the Commons, Carr Memorial Chapel, and the world-renowned S. R. Crown Hall. Mies also had a private architectural practice in Chicago during his tenure at IIT. After his retirement from IIT in 195, he moved his private practice to New York City.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Formerly 2002.014

Appraisal

Items are significant for their pristine condition and relationship to Mies and Crown Hall.

Related Material

2001.042 S. R. Crown Hall Collection, 1999.024 S. R. Crown Hall Collection, 1998.183 S. R. Crown Hall Collection, Mies Collections

Processor

Catherine Bruck, University Archivist 5/15/2002

Part of the Paul V. Galvin Library. University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
35 West 33rd Street
Chicago IL 60616
(312) 567-5993

Paul V. Galvin Library

35 West 33rd Street | Chicago, IL | 60616
312.567.6847 library@iit.edu