conceptual drawing of Fire Station No. 3, William Burd
Board Members
David Doup (President)
Randy Royer (Vice President)
Tom Vujovich (Secretary and Treasurer)
Emily Dill
Steve Forster
Todd Williams
Jason Hatton (ex officio)
Randy Royer (Vice President)
Tom Vujovich (Secretary and Treasurer)
Emily Dill
Steve Forster
Todd Williams
Jason Hatton (ex officio)
- Executive Director, Bartholomew County Public Library
Letter from the Board President
This past year has been significant for the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives in a number of ways. It marks the 50th Anniversary of our founding. The Archives was a strategic partner and presenter of several community projects and exhibits. And, the Archives Board has taken action to ensure CIAA’s future viability and capacity to continue its important work.
In 1967, city planners C. Dean Smith and John West began to collect documents and drawings to form an architectural archive. In a letter to Assistant City Planner John West, dated October 8, 1969, J. Irwin Miller wrote:
I am writing to give my enthusiastic endorsement to your plans for establishing an architectural archive at the Bartholomew County Public Library. The Archives will be an invaluable reference source for the many students of our fine public architecture who regularly visit our community. […] I very much hope that all the distinguished architects who have contributed to making Columbus a showcase of living architecture will join in providing the materials you seek.
I believe Mr. Miller would be pleased with the progress that the Archives has made since 1969. We have expanded our collection, we have increased public programming and exhibits, we have developed strong relationships with our community partners, and we have hired a full-time Archivist. As a result, awareness of and appreciation for the Archives within the community have never been higher.
Interestingly, the "students of our fine public architecture" to whom Mr. Miller referred will soon include the initial class of students from Indiana University seeking a Master of Architecture degree. The Archives will be an invaluable resource for this program and the students who come here to study. As to the "hope that distinguished architects…will join in providing the materials you seek," that work must continue. The passing this year of Gunnar Birkerts, Hugh Hardy, and Fred Koetter — three architects who contributed to our "showcase of living architecture" — should remind us of the importance of our work.
During the year, the CIAA presented several exhibits. Perhaps none defined the architectural significance of Columbus better than the “Avenue of the Architects.” No community can boast as many prominent structures on one street in such a small space. Additionally, CIAA’s participation in Exhibit Columbus represents the importance of the CIAA as a storehouse of ideas and design. Many of the Exhibit Columbus installations benefited from research provided through the CIAA with the excellent assistance of our Archivist, Tricia Gilson.
Finally, we are preparing to culminate the work begun three years ago by then-CIAA President Steve Risting to ensure the continued viability of the Archives and care for its collection. Our goal was to identify an institutional partner with the interest and financial capacity to assume responsibility for the Archives ongoing operations and collection. At the outset, the Archives Board expressed several guiding principles:
In September, the Board voted to approve entering into an agreement with the Bartholomew County Public Library to take the CIAA under its ownership. Details of the agreement are being finalized, and we expect the agreement to be approved prior to year’s end. This is an excellent outcome for the Archives and fits into the expanded vision of the BCPL board.
What was begun 50 years ago continues to serve the community and those visitors who appreciate the architectural legacy of this special place. We can look back with gratitude for all that has been accomplished. More important, we can now look forward in anticipation knowing we have secured a stable future filled with new opportunity.
Tom O. Vujovich
2017 President – CIAA Board of Directors
In 1967, city planners C. Dean Smith and John West began to collect documents and drawings to form an architectural archive. In a letter to Assistant City Planner John West, dated October 8, 1969, J. Irwin Miller wrote:
I am writing to give my enthusiastic endorsement to your plans for establishing an architectural archive at the Bartholomew County Public Library. The Archives will be an invaluable reference source for the many students of our fine public architecture who regularly visit our community. […] I very much hope that all the distinguished architects who have contributed to making Columbus a showcase of living architecture will join in providing the materials you seek.
I believe Mr. Miller would be pleased with the progress that the Archives has made since 1969. We have expanded our collection, we have increased public programming and exhibits, we have developed strong relationships with our community partners, and we have hired a full-time Archivist. As a result, awareness of and appreciation for the Archives within the community have never been higher.
Interestingly, the "students of our fine public architecture" to whom Mr. Miller referred will soon include the initial class of students from Indiana University seeking a Master of Architecture degree. The Archives will be an invaluable resource for this program and the students who come here to study. As to the "hope that distinguished architects…will join in providing the materials you seek," that work must continue. The passing this year of Gunnar Birkerts, Hugh Hardy, and Fred Koetter — three architects who contributed to our "showcase of living architecture" — should remind us of the importance of our work.
During the year, the CIAA presented several exhibits. Perhaps none defined the architectural significance of Columbus better than the “Avenue of the Architects.” No community can boast as many prominent structures on one street in such a small space. Additionally, CIAA’s participation in Exhibit Columbus represents the importance of the CIAA as a storehouse of ideas and design. Many of the Exhibit Columbus installations benefited from research provided through the CIAA with the excellent assistance of our Archivist, Tricia Gilson.
Finally, we are preparing to culminate the work begun three years ago by then-CIAA President Steve Risting to ensure the continued viability of the Archives and care for its collection. Our goal was to identify an institutional partner with the interest and financial capacity to assume responsibility for the Archives ongoing operations and collection. At the outset, the Archives Board expressed several guiding principles:
- The collection should stay in Columbus as a community asset.
- The collection should remain under local control and ownership.
- The collection should be accessible to the public.
- A local board should continue to be responsible for guiding the work and activities of the Archives.
- Full-time professional staff should be maintained.
In September, the Board voted to approve entering into an agreement with the Bartholomew County Public Library to take the CIAA under its ownership. Details of the agreement are being finalized, and we expect the agreement to be approved prior to year’s end. This is an excellent outcome for the Archives and fits into the expanded vision of the BCPL board.
What was begun 50 years ago continues to serve the community and those visitors who appreciate the architectural legacy of this special place. We can look back with gratitude for all that has been accomplished. More important, we can now look forward in anticipation knowing we have secured a stable future filled with new opportunity.
Tom O. Vujovich
2017 President – CIAA Board of Directors