[ r i b a m s s - h i s t o r y a n d p r o g r e s s 2]

history and progress 2

First page of a lecture on the Modern Movement by Maxwell Fry, given at the RIBA in 1979

Architectural movements or periods in architectural history, characterised by the adoption of common ideals or the use of particular styles, techniques and materials, may be studied using the Archive. The Modern Movement is particularly well represented, covered by the papers of many pioneering architects of the 1930's, who led the way in the use of new materials and methods. For example, those of Berthold Lubetkin (1901-1990), who records his very personal views on the progress of architecture from the 1930's, and those of Maxwell Fry (1899-1987) and Erno Goldfinger (1902-1987). There are also several collections of material that refer to the Modern Architectural Research Group (MARS) and Congres Internationale des Architectes Moderne (CIAM), groups that led the way in the modern movement and have an enduring influence on modern architecture.

Another major school of thought that had a fundamental influence on design, art and architecture was the Arts and Crafts movement. There are letters and papers by a number of Arts and Crafts architects, which include an out-letter book by Halsey Ricardo (1854-1928); a register of work by C.F.A. Voysey (1857-1941); correspondence by W.R. Lethaby (1857-1931); correspondence and notes by H.S. Goodhart-Rendel (1887-1959); and various papers of Richard Norman Shaw (1831-1912), Edward S. Prior (1852-1932) and Arthur Beresford Pite (1861-1934).

The Archive holds the notes, texts of lectures and articles and research papers of many architectural historians. These include Sir John Summerson (1904-1992), a most influential and highly respected critic, Stephen Welsh (1892-1976), who wrote particularly on Roman Catholic ecclesiastical buildings, and John Hooper Harvey (1911-1997) on English mediaeval architects. Many architects become well-known for their knowledge of history and theory. One example is H.S. Goodhart-Rendel (1887-1959), and the Archive includes not only his office files but also many of his unpublished texts and notes for the Slade Lectures.

Social, economic and political situations can have a great effect on architecture. During wartime, many architects undertake work that combines their professional expertise with activities contributing to the war effort. The Collection includes several archives describing the activities of architects during wartime. Those relating to the Second World War include details of the pioneering Tecton air raid shelter for the London Borough of Finsbury; a project for an evacuation camp by Erno Goldfinger; exhibitions on food, housing, neighbourhood, cinemas and health for the Army Bureau of Current Affairs, also by Goldfinger (including display panels); notes by Eugene Kent on housing for evacuees. Post-war reconstruction and planning is also dealt with extensively in a number of archives.