Histories of each building from their conception, design, construction, and daily use are contained in drawings and documents utilized between clients, architects, and contractors to communicate ideas and information.

These records are documentation of an irretrievable past - the histories of buildings that have been demolished or never built; data that can facilitate preservation or adaptive reuse; resources that facilitate an understanding of our surroundings.

You will also find :
> Blueprints
> Sketches
> Construction documents
> Architects' letters
> Photographs
> Models
> Magazine articles
> Board minutes
> Videotapes

The mission of the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives is to collect, conserve, preserve, and promote the use of records that document the architecture, engineering, and arts associated with the built environment of Columbus, Indiana and Bartholomew County

Over fifty architect archives can be found
in the archives, including :

> Eliel Saarinen
> Eero Saarinen
> Dan Kiley
> John Warnecke
> Harry Weese
> I.M. Pei
> Cesar Pelli
> James Polshek
> Richard Meier
> Robert Venturi
> Kevin Roche
> Romaldo Giurgola

We are a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization, so, we depend significantly on those who are generous enough to give of their time and their resources.

Should you want to help, we would welcome your phone call to discuss working with :

COLLECTIONS DEVELOPMENT
Organizing, maintaining, etc.

COMMUNITY LIAISON
Working with those in the community who have materials they are considering donating to the collection, etc.


Volunteers will be trained to accession drawings and documents. Others will be needed for occasional mailings, symposiums and exhibits. Etc.

Our financial resources are very limited...

DONATION LEVELS
>> $1,000 : Pillar
>> $1,500 : Arch
>> $1,200 : Gable
>> $1,100 : Entry
>> $1,525 : Brick

If making a donation, please make checks payable to :
The Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives
c/o Bartholomew County Public Library
536 Fifth Street
Columbus, IN 47201

Click the image above to open a PDF form you can use
to make a gift to the archives

Access to CIAA's collections does not constitute permission to publish, reproduce, exhibit, broadcast, or electronically disseminate any materials found in the collections.

CIAA may in some cases provide reproductions of materials for visitors. Any reproductions made are for personal research only and will be contingent on disclosure of purpose. CIAA's decision to allow reproductions of archival materials does not constitute permission to publish, reproduce, exhibit, broadcast, or disseminate (including in electronic formats) these materials.

Permission to publish, reproduce, exhibit, broadcast, or disseminate, including in electronic formats, must be obtained by separate agreement with the CIAA or with the copyright holder (in cases where CIAA is not the copyright holder). Visitors to the archives are responsible for observing all U.S. and international copyright regulations.

Debra Baker
>>Appt. by Bartholomew County Historical Society
Orwic Johnson
>>Appt. by Bartholomew County Historical Society
Lynn Bigley, President
>>Appt. by Visitors Center
Nolan Bingham
>>Appt. by Visitors Center
Rhonda Bolner
>>Appt. by Mayor, City of Columbus
Pat Bush
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
Jacque Chambers
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
Emily Dill
>>Appt. by Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus
Gary Felsten
>>Appt. by Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus
Jay Howard, Interim Vice Chancellor IUPUC
>>Appt. by Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus
Paul Bippen
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
Gadigeshkumar C. Hurli
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
Owen Hungerford
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
John Lemley
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
Dan Perry
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
Lynn Lucas
>>Exec. Director, Visitors Center
Dave McKinney
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
Sue Wilgus
>>Appt. by CIAA Board
Annette Blount
>>Appt. by Bartholomew County Public Library
Elizabeth Monette, Secretary
>>Appt. by Bartholomew County Public Library
Jim Paris
>>Appt. by Bartholomew County Commissioners
Beth Booth Poore
>>Exec. Dir., Barth. Co. Public Library

> Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus
> Bartholomew County Historical Society
> County Commissioners
> Columbus Area Visitors Center
> Bartholomew County Public Library
> Mayor’s Office

Over 2,000 sets of drawing (totaling over 20,000 pages!) have been surveyed and entered into a computer database

Sub-committees have worked on funding strategies, policies, and publicity

New materials for the archives have been searched for and secured

A deed of gift has been developed

This web site!

ISMF AND CUMMINS FOUNDATION
AWARDS ARCHIVES $100,000 GRANT

The Cummins Foundation has awarded a grant of $100,000 a year for three years to establish an endowment fund for CIAA. The Irwin Sweeney Miller Foundation has granted CIAA a $350,000 (challenge) grant to create a $1 million fund.

CIAA will have a campaign LEGACY OF 100 to match the challenge grant with 100 contributors during fall 2007 and 2008. Donors of over $2,500 will be honored on a plaque which will be in the Columbus Area Visitors Center.

“Providing the CIAA with professional staff into the future is the goal of the endowment fund,” said Lynn Bigley, President of the CIAA board. “The legacy of Modern architecture present in Columbus since 1941 can be shared with generations to come.”


DIGITIZATION GRANT AWARDED

Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives has partnered with the IUPUC Library for a grant from the IN State Library Digitization Project to digitize five projects for the IN State Digital Library.

The projects are:
> Mill Race Park
> The Columbus Learning Center
> Central Middle School
> The Bartholomew Consolidated School
> Corporation Administration building
> Columbus Regional Hospital.

“Plans, program outlines, construction photos, historic photos and designs will tell the story of these community projects for others to learn from,” says Emily Dill, IUPUC Librarian and CIAA board member who is the project chair.

Tony Costello, FAIA, Irving Distinguished Professor of Architecture at Ball State University (retired) is writing a lesson plan on Central Middle School as part of the grant. The $9,971 grant will also purchase a lap top computer and scanner/printer for the CIAA office at the Bartholomew County Public Library. The digital program will also appear as a link on the CIAA web site and the IUPUI digital site.

IUPUI is performing the digitizing services and hosting the records.


CIAC PROPOSES NHL EXPANSION

In 2000, The National Parks Service designated six of Columbus’ Modern buildings as National Historic Landmarks
(NHL) as part of a Multiple Property Listing. This work was sponsored by Preserve to Enjoy.

CIAA proposes to expand the NHL district by revising the criteria applicable ten years ago to extend the qualifying year of 1965. In the event that can be accomplished, additional properties can be nominated.

Louis Joyner, architect and historic preservationist, who worked with Laura Thayer, John Kinsella, Meg Storrow, and
Jeff Baker on the first designation has been contracted by CIAA to develop rationale for revised registration criteria and file appropriate documentation. The Indiana Divison of Historic Preservation will be asked for consultation.

Less than three years after organizing, the Archives hired a Director/Archivist who started August, 2007. “Providing residents, design students, researchers, and professionals daily hours Monday through Friday at the Bartholomew County Public Library where the archives are located will add significantly to the services available,” said CIAA President Lynn Bigley.

AARON SPELBRING, the Director/Archivist, received a BS in History from Indiana State University and a Masters of Science in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, TX. He has been serving as Archivist and Reference Librarian at Radford University, Radford, VA, for three years. The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts awarded CIAA a scholarship for Mr. Spelbring to attend the Architectural Records Symposium: Managing
and Preserving Design Records in Chicago, IL in July.

The initial years for the position are being supported by grants from the Heritage Fund - the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, the Elizabeth R. and Walter C. Nugent Foundation, the Carl Marshall Reeves and
Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation, the Columbus Area Visitors Center membership fund, and individual donors.

Continue acquiring collections, photos, oral histories

Develop long-range plans for facilities, staff, and clientele access to the archives

Apply for grants to assist in building and preserving the collection

Develop plans for exhibits and educational opportunities

Idea to create archives comes from the Library Associates

First letter sent to architects asking for materials

Materials move to library

Library Trustees approve the establishment of an Architectural Archives as a reference collection

Jim Paris appointed Archives Chairman

Alan Lathrop, Archivist at U of Minnesota advises on future direction

Peggy Ann Charipar begins to organize archives materials

Lathrop returns and provides further recommendations

Lynn Bigley joins Archives Committee and proposes a survey and collection project to take place summer 2004

Brad Cook, Indiana University Archives Photograph Curator, begins surveying current collection (June)

Group restructured to current organization membership (Oct.)

The Archives Committee officially becomes the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives (CIAA)

Certified as 501(c)3 tax-exempt by IRS

"Reflections on Architecture" exhibit at Columbus Museum of Art and Design, IUPUC, and Ball State University

First annual meeting of CIAA (January)

Web site launched

Completed Three Year Business Plan

Secured Local Foundation Grants for Hiring Director/Archivist

Rented 3,300 square feet additional storage space off site

Hired Director/Archivist, to begin August 1

Installed exhibits for "Preserving the Past," > "Educating the Present," and "Planning the Future"

Hosted IN/KY AIA Annual Meeting with AIA/CIAA 150 Symposium Oct. 12-14

Received IN State Library Digitization grant for digitizing five architectural projects