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Michigan Society Of Architects Seeks To Discuss FDR, With Reply
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| 1 |
MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS | |
| 2 | January 4, 1939 | |
| 3 |
To the President | |
| 4 | Sir: | |
| 5 | The Michigan Society of Architects in preparation for its Twenty-fifth Annual Convention celebrating its "Silver Anniversary" will issue a special edition of its Weekly Bulletin devoted to Twenty-Five Years of Michigan Architecture and containing photographs and biographical sketches of some seven hundred architects registered in this state. | |
| 6 | While the Society is a state organization, it is affiliated with The American Institute of Architects and its Bulletin is circulated nationally. | |
| 7 | It is our hope to include as a principal feature a rather complete discussion of Our Presidents as Architects, of which there have been two. First, at the beginning of the 19th century Thomas Jefferson did outstanding work, which could be treated in a most interesting way. Then, 138 years later we find our present Chief Executive turning his hand to architecture. | |
| 8 | From this mere suggestion you will be able to see the possibilities of the subject. For instance, while the two Presidents were alike in their interest in the common people, President Jackson's interest in architecture lay in the more monumental types for the wealthy, while president Roosevelt who occupies a family mansion carried his liking for the common people even into his architecture, when he designed a cottage on a corner of his estate so that he could live simply like the people he served. | |
| 9 | The writer is a member of The American Institute of Architects' Committee on Public Information and through their excellent facilities the story would be released to the Associated Press and other news agencies to be circulated in every important newspaper in the country, where it would find great interest, not only among 20,000 architects but those who follow them as their leaders, the entire building industry (second largest in people employed) as well as the vast multitude interested in building, and especially housing. | |
| 10 | I trust that you will believe me when I say that we have no selfish interest in this suggestion and if you agree we would greatly appreciate your cooperation in giving us something of a personal nature that might be published, as well as the loan of reproductions of your sketches and finished drawings by the associate architect, his photograph and biographical sketch suitable for publication. | |
| 11 | An architectural exhibition will be held at the Convention at Hotel Statler in Detroit, March 16-17-18 and possibly you might be willing to loan the originals or reproductions including the perspective rendering for exhibition. | |
| 12 | If these suggestions are at all consistent with your own ideas and the proprieties of your high office, we would be honored to hear from you. | |
| 13 |
Very truly yours, | |
| 14 | January 9, 1939. | |
| 15 | My dear Mr. Hughes: | |
| 16 | The President asks me to thank you for your letter and to suggest that you get in touch with Mr. Henry Toombs either at his office in Atlanta, or at his home in Warm Springs, Georgia. | |
| 17 | Mr. Toombs has been the architect of these cottages, the President drew the original floor plans and elevations, which Mr. Toombs took in hand, improved and developed into architectural drawings. Mr. Toombs also supervised, as architect, the actual construction of the cottages. | |
| 18 | I am sure Mr. Toombs would have no objection to furnishing you with the original plans of these four cottages, if you care to use one or more of them. | |
| 19 | Very sincerely yours, | |
| 20 |
M. A. LeHand | |
| 21 |
Talmage C. Hughes, Esq., | |
