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AIA Archives—Your Professional Heritage

The resources in the AIA Archives richly document the development of the architecture profession in the United States. Beginning with the minutes of the first meeting of the American Institute of Architects on February 23, 1857, the AIA Archives preserves the records of the AIA’s activities as an organization—the voice of its member architects for more than 150 years.

Gaining access to the archives is as easy as contacting the archivist. The archivist is your personal guide to the wide range of materials held in the collection.

Scope of Collection

The AIA Archives is the official repository of material produced by the Institute's national component in its day-to-day activities. It documents AIA policies, programs, organization, administration, positions, and publications. Among the most-requested materials in the archives are member records and honors and awards records. Best examples of recent FAIA submissions are available online. Photographs and artifacts also form part of the archival collection. Selected out-of-print AIA publications are available digitally online through the Architect’s Knowledge Resource.

The AIA Archives does not include architectural drawings or the papers of individual architects and firms. Past donations of drawings and papers to the AIA are now held by the American Architectural Foundation.

In addition to AIA records, the archives also holds materials from the American Institution of Architects, 1836-1838, and the extant records of the Western Association of Architects, 1884-1889.

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