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Anne Griswold Tyng Architectural Collection

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2001-049

Scope and Content

The Anne Griswold Tyng Architectural Collection consists of files and drawings that relate to Tyng's work as an architectural designer and theorist. It includes professional writings, drawings, and biographical material. The majority of the collection consists of photocopies of drawings from Tyng's weekend project at Virginia Tech titled "The Creative Experience' held March 1999.

Dates

  • 1969 - 1999

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Biographical Note

Anne Griswold Tyng (July 14, 1920-December 27, 2011) was an architect and professor. She is best known for her three decade collaboration and partnership with Louis I. Kahn. Tyng graduated with a B. Arch from the Radcliffe-Harvard College (1942) and later received her Masters from Harvard Graduate School of Design (1944). She had the unique experience of being at the heart of three architectural movements: "Bauhaus Renaissance" at Harvard, Buckminster Fuller's exploration of innovative geometry and high technology, and Louis Kahn's synthesis of geometry and humanism.

After working at Stonorov and Kahn Architects (1945-1947), Office of Louis I. Kahn FAIA (1947-1974), Anne Giswold Tyng, FAIA (1949-1999), and Louis I. Kahn and Anne G. Tyng Associated Architects (1951-1974) Tyng became a professor. She spent much of her later career teaching architecture at the University of Pennsylvania where she received her PhD in 1975. Tyng is the recipient of numerous honors, has participated in 25 exhibits, published 27 articles, and presented 68 lectures. Tyng's influence on Kahn's work was finally recognized in 2010 when The Institute of Contemporary Art held a retrospective exhibition of her work.

Extent

1.5 Cubic Feet

Abstract

Anne Griswold Tyng was born in 1920 in Lushan, Jiangxi province, China where her parents were living as missionaries, Tyng was an architect, professor, and design theorist best known for her collaborations with Louis I. Kahn. She studied at Radcliffe-Harvard (1942), received her Masters at Harvard Graduate School of Design (1944), and PhD in Architecture from University of Pennsylvania (1975). She specialized in space frame architecture and mathematics. Tyng designed and built the first totally triangulated space-frame house for hollowed out living space. The collection consists of publications, exhibit materials, and biographical material.

Arrangement

The Anne Griswold Tyng Architectural Collection is arranged into four series by material type:

Series I: Artwork

Series II: Biographical Information

Series III: Presentations

Series IV: Professional Writings

Source of Acquisition

The Anne Griswold Tyng Architectural Collection was donated to the International Archive of Women in Architecture at Special Collections in 2000. Additional materials were donated in March 2004.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Anne Griswold Tyng Architectural Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Anne Griswold Tyng Architectural Collection was completed in March 2012.

Title
Anne Griswold Tyng Architectural Collection, 1969-1999
Status
Completed
Author
Kathryn Shackelford, Student Assistant
Date
2012 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308