John Gaw Meem Job Files
Collection
Identifier: MSS-790-BC
Scope and Content
The John Gaw Meem Job Files contain professional correspondence, proposals, specifications, bids, memos, contracts, contractor accounts, progress notes, change orders, schematics, soil analysis, photographs, certificates of payment, and other information pertaining to the administration of Meem's architectural projects. 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. Most jobs represented in the collection are located in New Mexico, primarily, in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, with many jobs at the University of New Mexico.
Dates
- 1925-1960
Creator
- Meem, John Gaw, 1894-1983 (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
®JOHN GAW MEEM
The United States Patent and Trademark office registered JOHN GAW MEEM as a trademark for any commercial use of the name related to John Gaw Meem's "archtiectural plans and drawings of architectural works and architectural details." Trademark number 2,225,118.
Biographical Information
John Gaw Meem, 1894-1983, is one of New Mexico's most renowned architects. Perhaps more than any other individual, John Gaw Meem is responsible for the conservation, development and propagation of the Southwestern regional architectural style. He was born in Pelota, Brazil of American parents. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1915 with a Bachelor of Science. In 1920 he contracted tuberculosis and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in order to recover. While bedridden at Sunmount Sanatorium, he developed an interest in architecture. When he was sufficiently recovered, he went to Denver where he worked in the office of Fisher & Fisher and studied at the Atelier Denver, a Beaux Arts Institute studio. In 1924 he opened an office in Santa Fe and practiced architecture continuously until his retirement in 1960.
Meem was a leading advocate of Spanish-Pueblo style architecture and designed new buildings in a soft adobe style that reflected New Mexico's rich cultural heritage. He was involved in historic preservation throughout his life, collecting a significant number of Historic American Buildings Survey photographs, now housed in the pictorial collections at the Center for Southwest Research, Zimmerman Library. John Gaw Meem was the leading architect for the University of New Mexico from 1933 to 1959, designing some 40 buildings on the campus that lend to its Southwestern atmosphere. In 1975, Meem donated his collection of plans, drawings, models, photographs, and office papers to the University of New Mexico library. These form the basis of the John Gaw Meem Archives of Southwestern Architecture, which houses collections of records from a number of New Mexico architects and their firms.
Meem died in Santa Fe on August 4, 1983.
Meem was a leading advocate of Spanish-Pueblo style architecture and designed new buildings in a soft adobe style that reflected New Mexico's rich cultural heritage. He was involved in historic preservation throughout his life, collecting a significant number of Historic American Buildings Survey photographs, now housed in the pictorial collections at the Center for Southwest Research, Zimmerman Library. John Gaw Meem was the leading architect for the University of New Mexico from 1933 to 1959, designing some 40 buildings on the campus that lend to its Southwestern atmosphere. In 1975, Meem donated his collection of plans, drawings, models, photographs, and office papers to the University of New Mexico library. These form the basis of the John Gaw Meem Archives of Southwestern Architecture, which houses collections of records from a number of New Mexico architects and their firms.
Meem died in Santa Fe on August 4, 1983.
Extent
64 Boxes (64 cu. ft.)
Abstract
This collection contains John Gaw Meem's files pertaining to his architectural projects, predominantly in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM, 1925-1960. Files consist of correspondence, proposals, specifications, bids, contracts, contractor accounts, progress notes, change orders, schematics, soil analysis, photographs, and certificates of payment.
Arrangement
Boxes are arranged by Job Number. Finding aid is arranged by geographic locale.
- Architects
- Architecture -- New Mexico
- Buildings -- New Mexico
- Historic American Buildings Survey
- Historic buildings -- New Mexico
- Historic preservation -- New Mexico
- John Gaw Meem (firm)
- John Gaw Meem, Hugo Zehner and Associates
- McCormick, Cassius
- Meem, Holien, Buckley and Associates
- Meem, Zehner, Holien and Associates
- Project files
Creator
- Meem, John Gaw, 1894-1983 (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid of the John Gaw Meem Job Files, 1925-1960
- Status
- Approved
- Author
- Processed by Ellen Evans-Colburn
- Date
- ©2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
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
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