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Church of Cristo Rey - Award for outstanding architectural design,, 1972.

 File — Box: 20

Scope and Content

From the Collection: The John Gaw Meem Papers contain correspondence, news clippings, articles, reports, accounting files, appointment books, job books, sketch books, certificates and awards. The collection contains records of Meem's professional life throughout his career and retirement, 1914-1983, as well as later correspondence regarding the collection and articles written about Meem and his associates. Some family correspondence is included as well.

Professional work is represented by records of various Meem firms such as John Gaw Meem, Hugo Zehner and Associates; Meem, Zehner, Holien and Associates; Meem, Holien, Buckley and Associates, and work with his original partner, Cassius McCormick. Records of professional associations include the New Mexico Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Historic American Buildings Survey, and the Old Santa Fe Association. Materials relating to other Santa Fe historic preservation groups and preservation of New Mexico mission churches is also included.

Almost all documents in the collection are in English, with a few letters written in Spanish.

The John Gaw Meem Papers is divided into 9 series:

Series I: Alphabetical Correspondence and Subject Files, 1916-1992 - Personal and professional correspondence written and received by John Gaw Meem throughout his career and after retirement. This series contains news clippings and articles on various topics, as well as minutes and reports from the numerous organizations with which John Gaw Meem was involved, including: American Institute of Architects, Historic American Buildings Survey, Old Santa Fe Association, and Opera Association of New Mexico. (Boxes 1-12)

Series II: Chronological Correspondence, 1932-1983 - Correspondence filed in chronological order from 1932-1983. (Boxes 13-14)

Series III: Accounting Files, 1926-1975 - Account books containing financial information from 1926-1975. Series includes: tax returns, business and personal account ledgers, Acoma business account, cash journals, payroll journals and job cost records. (Boxes 14-17)

Series IV: Job Books - Three job books (Box 17)

Series V: Sketch Books - Two books with detail sketches and site sketches (Box 17)

Series VI: Appointment Books, 1931-1956 - Appointment Books for years 1931-1942 for John Gaw Meem. Hugo Zehner appointment books for years 1943-1956. (Box 18)

Series VII: Oversize Materials - Awards, Certificates and Diplomas; Posters, Drawings, Plans and Newspapers. (Box 19-22)

Series VIII: Index Cards - Index cards listing HABS buildings, also alphabetical and numerical indexes for design jobs. (Boxes 23-24)

Series IX: Audiotapes - Speech by Meem and interviews with Meem, former employees, and associates. (Box 25)

Dates

  • 1972.

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 25 boxes (26 cu. ft.)

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451