William Gehron Papers
Collection Scope
The William Gehron Papers consist primarily of correspondence between Gehron and Carl Milles from 1929-1949. The bulk of the correspondence relates to the Harrisburg projects and includes letters among Pennsylvania state officials, Gehron and Milles. Milles provides the artist’s view while Gehron’s letters are more practical – providing insight into the construction and mechanical processes of building a fountain. Milles’ correspondence also reveals the thought processes behind his work, his philosophical and spiritual views, and notes about life at Cranbrook and key figures on campus at the time.
Also included is a set of photographs, many of which relate to the Harrisburg fountains. These are housed in an oversize box with the collection.
Dates
- 1917 - 2000
Creator
- Gehron, William (Person)
Access
Access to the collection is unrestricted.
Use
Permission to use collection materials must be requested in writing.
History
William Gehron was a New York based architect. In 1929, Gehron visited Stockholm to view Carl Milles’ sculpture and modern Swedish architecture. During his visit he wrote to Milles and asked permission to write an article about him, which was ultimately published in the journal Architecture. This began a lifelong friendship between the two men.
Gehron was instrumental in securing the 1938 commission for Milles of the bronze doors for the Finance Building at Capitol Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a building designed by Gehron. A second commission, for a fountain at Harrisburg, was never realized. [Elisabeth Liden’s “Between Water and Heaven: Carl Milles Search for American Commissions” devotes a chapter to the Harrisburg Fountain sculptures].
Extent
1.7 Linear Feet (1 MS, 1 OS)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
William Gehron was a lifelong friend of Carl Milles from 1929 when he published an article on him in the journal Architecture. Gehron was instrumental in securing the 1938 commission for Milles of the bronze doors for the Finance Building at Capitol Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a building designed by Gehron. The William Gehron Papers consist primarily of correspondence between Gehron and Carl Milles from 1929-1949. The bulk of the correspondence relates to the Harrisburg projects and includes letters among Pennsylvania state officials, Gehron and Milles. It includes a set of photographs, many of which relate to the Harrisburg fountains.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically by incoming and outgoing correspondence, with photographs housed separately in an oversize box.
Additional Access
Architectural drawings are cataloged in the Cranbrook Academy of Art Library catalog.
Acquisition
Gift of Gilbert Seltzer in September 2003; additional material donated by Gilbert Seltzer in February 2012.
Transfers
Four architectural drawings of the fountains by Milles and one of the Finance Building bronze doors have been removed to the drawings collection.
Processing History
Jill Griffiths, 2004; Cheri Y. Gay, 2012.
- Booth, George G. (George Gough), 1864-1949
- Booth, Ellen Warren Scripps, 1863-1948
- Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
- Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974
- Milles, Carl, 1875-1955
- Milles, Olga Granner, 1874-1967
- Saarinen, Eliel, 1873-1950
- Schiwetz, Berthold Tex, 1909-1971
- Sculpture
- Sepeshy, Zoltan, 1898-1974
Creator
- Gehron, William (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the William Gehron Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jill Griffiths
- Date
- 2004
- 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