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Walter Hickey Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 2016-05

Collection Scope

The Walter Hickey Papers document his personal and professional life, primarily his years working and studying at the University of Michigan and Cranbrook Academy of Art. These years are captured in his correspondence, writings, artwork, architectural drawings, and collected Cranbrook publications. Architectural drawings are largely undated and range from small plans to large watercolor presentation drawings.

Dates

  • 1926 - 2007
  • Majority of material found within 1929 - 1938

Creator

Access

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

Use

Permission to use collection materials must be requested in writing.

History

Walter Preston Hickey was born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 8, 1908. He attended schools in Highland Park (Detroit) and Ann Arbor, before attending the University of Michigan for five years where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. Hickey was among the first staff members of the Cranbrook Architectural Office between 1926-1930. After one year working with architects Albert Kahn and Thomas Tanner, he applied to study architectural design with instruction in city planning at Cranbrook Academy of Art (CAA) in September 1932. He wrote an article about his thesis which was published in the Michigan Society of Architects Journal in January 1938.

On March 1, 1934, Hickey received a $10 prize from Loja Saarinen for design No. 13 in the Cranbrook Academy of Art Rug Competition. He completed his CAA thesis in February 1937, focusing on city planning of the Detroit waterfront, the purpose for which was both to study with Eliel Saarinen and to submit his suggested layout to the city of Detroit.

After leaving Cranbrook Hickey worked for Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls for six months and then for Clair W. Ditchy and Associates from Spring 1936-February 1938. During 1938, he worked for Hugh T. Keyes and the Federal Housing Administration, before returning to work with Eliel and Eero Saarinen on the Kleinhans Music Hall project. He also completed private architectural designs for residences, including work on Ralph Rapson's Hoey vacation home in Metamora, MI.

Hickey married Cranbrook Librarian Jane Viola Shepherd on April 22, 1937.

Extent

4.6 Linear Feet (1 MS, 2 OS, 5 OS folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Walter Preston Hickey (b. 1908, Detroit, MI) was one of the first staff members of the Cranbrook Architectural Office between 1926-1930. A University of Michigan College of Architecture graduate, he studied architecture and city planning with Eliel Saarinen at Cranbrook Academy of Art (1932-1937), completing his thesis on the Detroit waterfront. Hickey worked with noted architects Albert Kahn, Ralph Rapson, and Eliel and Eero Saarinen as well as the firms Smith, Hinchman & Grylls and Clair W. Ditchy & Assoc. during his early career. His work with the Saarinens was for the Kleinhans Music Hall project. The Walter Hickey Papers document his personal and professional life, primarily his years working and studying at the University of Michigan and Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Arrangement

The papers are arranged according to size and format. Folders in Box 1 are arranged alphabetically by record type and folder items are arranged chronologically. The architectural drawings are arranged chronologically, numbered sequentially, and then foldered by size.

Acquisition

Gift of Barb Weeks and Mary Granata in 2016.

Related Materials

Cranbrook Architectural Office Records (1989-01) Cranbrook Photograph Collection (2020-03) Cranbrook Architectural Drawing Collection (1993-10)

Transfers

21 oversized architectural drawings and 1 folder of photographs are housed separately.

Processing History

Processed by Laura MacNewman, September 2021.

Title
Guide to the Walter Hickey Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid by Laura MacNewman.
Date
2021-09-16
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Edition statement
Resource record created by Laura MacNewman

Repository Details

Part of the Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research Repository

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