Archive Record
Metadata
Title |
Wareham DeLair Architects project records |
Collection |
Wareham DeLair Architects Collection |
Object Name |
Manuscript |
Scope & Content |
This collection contains a variety of documents relating to the projects of the architectural firm, Wareham DeLair. Although the firm was in practice for the entirety of the 20th century, the majority of the documents in this collection are from the 1950s through the early 2000s. Materials in this collection include project plans, correspondence, notes, estimates, contracts, drawings, articles, manuals, appointment books, photographs, and slides. |
Call Number |
MS 13-001 |
Catalog Number |
12919 |
Creator |
Wareham DeLair Architects |
Year Range from |
1955 |
Year Range to |
2008 |
Dates of Creation |
1955-2008 |
Digital File |
Container listing and printable finding aid at this link. |
Extent of Description |
66 record boxes, 4 photo boxes, 4 slide boxes, 1 card catalog box, 530 files of architectural drawings [101 cubic feet] |
Admin/Biographical History |
The firm of Wareham DeLair was originally founded in 1897 by William Coulter in Saranac Lake, NY. Coulter came to the Adirondacks at a time when large private camps were being established by the wealthy throughout the park. As a result, Coulter designed many of these camps and the firm became the leading designer of Adirondack rustic camp architecture. Coulter was later joined in practice by Max Westhoff, and the firm became Coulter & Westhoff. After Coulter died in 1907, Westhoff practiced solo until William Distin became his partner shortly before World War I. After the war, the firm continued under Distin's name for many years until Arthur Wareham joined him in 1950. The firm then became Distin & Wareham until Distin's death in 1970. Around this time Ronald DeLair joined as partner, bringing the firm to its final name, Wareham DeLair. Eventually Wareham retired, and DeLair was the principal architect until the firm ended in 2011. Although the firm was famous for its Adirondack rustic buildings, it was also a general architectural practice. They designed projects ranging from churches to ordinary commercial and government buildings. The firm also worked on project proposals for the Adirondack Museum (now Experience) when it was being built. |
System of arrangement |
The collection is arranged into seven series: Series 1: Architectural Projects Series 2: Project Manuals Series 3: Appointment/Calendar books Series 4: Miscellaneous Office Documents (Project Specifications and Bills) Series 5: Photographs, Slides, Card Catalog Box Series 6: Architectural Drawings: William L. Coulter through Distin and Wareham Series 7: Architectural Drawings: Wareham DeLair Series Description Series 1: Architectural Projects, 1960-2007. Boxes 1-50. This series includes the firm's projects arranged alphabetically by name. The materials are mostly correspondence, project notes, plans, estimates, contracts, drawings, and articles. Series 2: Project Manuals, 1975-2007. Boxes 51-58. This series mostly consists of various project manuals arranged by year, and master plans for individual projects. There is a typed box listing for Series 2 located in Box 51. Series 3: Appointment Books, 1968-2007. Boxes 59-61. Included in this series are appointment/calendar books kept by the architects at the firm. They are labeled by their year. Series 4: Miscellaneous Office Documents, 1955-2008. Boxes 62-66. This series consists of various project specifications and office bills. They are arranged by year. Series 5: Photographs, Slides, and Card Catalog Box This series includes 4 boxes of photographs and slides from various projects, 4 boxes of only transparency slides, and one card catalog box. Boxes 2,3, and 4 of the photograph boxes each contain a listing of the project names. Series 6: Architectural Drawings: William L. Coulter through Distin and Wareham This series is mainly comprised of architectural drawings from the early 1900s to the late 1950s, starting with architectural drawings from the founder of the architectural firm, William L. Coulter, who began designing Adirondack architecture in 1896. The company experienced numerous name changes and had several different lead architects; by the late 1950's the company operated under the moniker Distin and Wareham, Architects Series 7: Architectural Drawings: Wareham DeLair This series is comprised of architectural drawings primarily from the 1970s to the early 2000s, when the firm was organized as Wareham DeLair Architects. The architectural drawings that precede the 1970s are oftentimes drawings from earlier construction completed by the firm. Some of these earlier drawings can also be found in Series 6. |
Notes |
Container listing at and printable finding aid at this link. |
Search Terms |
Adirondack Park (N.Y.)--History.; Architects.; Architecture, Domestic--Designs and plans.; Architecture--New York (State)--Adirondack Mountains.; Architecture.; Wareham DeLair Architects.; |
Access Conditions |
Access to any materials in this collection dating from 1970-2008 is restricted until the death of the donor. |
Copyrights |
Fair use copy permitted for research, study, or investigational purposes citing the Adirondack Experience. Any other use requires written permission. Preferred Citation: Wareham DeLair Architects Records, MS 13-001, Adirondack Experience Library, Blue Mountain Lake, NY |
Archivist's Notes |
Description and arrangement of this collection was made possible in part by a grant from the Documentary Heritage Program of the New York State Archives, a program of the State Education Department. |
Related units of description |
For other materials relating to Wareham DeLair, see the Adirondack Experience database online at http://adirondack.pastperfectonline.com/. For items associated with this collection search for Object ID: 12919. Many projects listed below in Series 1 have corresponding drawings in Series 6 and/or 7. |