TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Historical Sketch
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Restrictions
Index Terms
Administrative Information
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I. Correspondence, 1927-1992
Series II. Equipment and Furnishings, 1927-1959
Series III. George S. Cohen Personal Files, 1927-
1978
Series IV. Photographs/Scrapbooks, 1920-1971
Series V. Tableware (china, crystal, silver, linens), n.d.
Series VI. Realia, 1960 and n.d.
Series VII. Blueprints, 1927-1960 (located in map case
drawer #15)
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| Repository: |
Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston,
Texas
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| Creator: |
Rice University. Cohen
House.
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| Title: |
Rice University Cohen House
records
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| Dates: |
1920-1971
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| Extent: |
10 lin. ft. (13
boxes)
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| Abstract: |
Collection of
blueprints, correspondence, financial records, photographs and more relating to
the design, maintenance and furnishings of the Cohen House Faculty Club. Also
includes samples of dishes and linens used in the original dining room as well
as materials related to the Cohen family.
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| Identification: |
UA
128
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| Language |
Materials are in
English.
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In the 1920’s George S. Cohen, a Houston business man and owner of
Foley’s department store donated $125,000 to Rice University to build a faculty
club in honor of his parents Robert I. and Agnes Cohen. The faculty club was
officially opened at homecoming in November 1927. The building was enlarged in
1958 when the main dining room and terrace were added. The cost of this
renovation, which was also funded by George S. and his wife Esther Cohen, was
$260,000 and brought the size of the building from 7,100 square feet to 13,600
square feet. In 1976 a major renovation took place and in 1980 the Esther M.
Cohen Memorial Garden and the fountain were dedicated. In 1983 the employee
restrooms and locker rooms were renovated and the air-conditioning was updated.
In 1985, crown molding and new wall coverings were added. In 1993 and 1994 more
renovations took place to add wheelchair ramps as well as new club offices and
restrooms. In 2006, further renovations replaced the ceiling in the dining room
and placed early photographs of campus reprinted by Geoff Winningham from the
original glass plate negatives.
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The Cohen House Records collection consists of financial statements,
bills, building specifications, donation and contribution records, and guest
records for the Cohen House faculty club between 1920 and 1970. Also included
in the collection are records of equipment and furnishings transactions,
original pieces of china used in Cohen House, correspondence between George S.
Cohen and various departments and people at Rice University, news clippings,
scrapbooks, and photographs.
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This collection is arranged into the following series:
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Access Restrictions
This material is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Cohen House records, UA 128, must be
obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice
University.
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Subjects (Persons)
Cohen, Agnes
Cohen, Esther
Cohen, George
Cohen, Robert
Subjects (Organizations)
Rice University – Faculty
Club - history.
Rice University – history.
Formats
Blueprints
Correspondence
Newsclippings
Photographs
Return to the Table of Contents
Cohen House Records, 1920-1970, UA 128 Woodson Research Center, Fondren
Library, Rice University
This collection was a gift donated from the Margaret Doyle estate on
January 14, 1986.
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| Series I. Correspondence, 1927-1992 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1 |
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Cohen House financing, 1927-41 |
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2 |
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Agreements |
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3 |
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Building specifications |
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4 |
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Plaque inscription |
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5 |
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Shield/crest—see also Box 13 for photograph of carved
shield
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6 |
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Wood carving—Peter Mansbendel |
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7 |
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Bills, 1927-29 |
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8 |
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Bills and correspondence, 1928-58 |
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9 |
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Bills and accounting, 1932-62 |
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10 |
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Summary, Cohen House bills, 1927-28 |
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11 |
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Financial Statements |
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12 |
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Building alterations |
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13 |
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Gardens |
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14 |
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Sculpture |
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15 |
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Planning Study 1992 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 2 |
1 |
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Sundial |
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2 |
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Donations/Contributions |
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3 |
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Invitations |
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4 |
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Guest Registers, 19297-59, with George Cohen’s handwritten
notes
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5 |
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Guest Registers, 1959-70 |
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6 |
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Guest Registers, 1964-68 |
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| Series II. Equipment and Furnishings, 1927-1959 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 3 |
1 |
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China-Scammell China Co., 1927-54 |
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2 |
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China-Sterling China Co., 1958 |
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3 |
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China orders, 1958-59 |
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4 |
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Linens-Wm. Liddell Co., 1927-58 |
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5 |
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Linens-bills, 1940-48 |
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6 |
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Linens-Walter Mayer & Co., 1958 |
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7 |
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Silverware, 1926-58 |
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8 |
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Silverware, 1954-58 |
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9 |
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Glassware-Libbey & Sterling Glass Co.,
1927-40
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| Box |
Folder |
| 4 |
1 |
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Equipment-Kitchen and Dining Room, 1927-40 |
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2 |
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Equipment-Athletic, 1927-28 |
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3 |
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Furnishings orders, 1927-40 |
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4 |
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Billiard table, 1927 |
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5 |
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Draperies, 1927-36 |
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6 |
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Furniture-Correspondence and bills, 1950-54 |
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7 |
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Furniture-Aladdin Iron Works, 1927 |
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8 |
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Furniture-Cincinnati Wrought Iron Works,
1927-34
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9 |
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Furniture-Newton & Hoit Co., 1927-55 |
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10 |
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Furniture-Englander Spring Bed Co., 1927-28 |
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11 |
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Furniture-Upholstery, 1940-41 |
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12 |
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Fireplace, 1927-28 |
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13 |
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Mirrors, 1927 |
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14 |
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Refrigerator-Iroquois Electric Refrigeration Co.,
1927-28
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15 |
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Replacements, 1932-53 |
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| Series III. George S. Cohen Personal Files, 1927-
1978 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 5 |
1 |
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Correspondence, Rice Institute, 1927-41 |
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2 |
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Correspondence, Friends of Rice, 1930s |
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3 |
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Correspondence, Athletics Department,
1930’s-40’s
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4 |
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Correspondence1960’s |
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5 |
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Rhodes Matter, 1928 |
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6 |
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Newsclips, 1959-1971 |
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7 |
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Newsclips, 1927-1928 |
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8 |
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Newsclips, 1972 |
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9 |
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George Cohen tributes, 1961-1972 |
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10 |
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Robert Cohen tributes, 1934 – see also oversized
materials Box 13 for framed tribute
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11 |
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Robert Cohen memorial books (2), 1934 |
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12 |
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Agnes Cohen death, 1945-46 |
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13 |
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Esther Meyer Cohen memory book, 1978 |
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| Series IV. Photographs/Scrapbooks, 1920-1971 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 6 |
1 |
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Photographs-George S. Cohen, 1927-1969 (includes image of
Cohen signing check for gift to Rice)
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2 |
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Photographs-Cohen rowing, as a young man, ca. 1920?
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3 |
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Photographs-Agnes (Mrs. Robert), George Cohen, 80th
birthday party at Cohen House, 1937, and one undated portrait, possibly 1920s
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4 |
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Photographs-Robert and Agnes Cohen, undated |
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5 |
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Photographs-Family (unidentified) |
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6 |
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Photographs-Cohen House, laying of cornerstone,
1927
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7 |
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Photographs-Cohen House improvements / construction,
1958-1971
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8 |
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Photographs-Cohen House exterior in snow,
1950s
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9 |
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Photographs-Cohen House interior, 1961 |
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10 |
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Photographs-Cohen House fountain construction |
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11 |
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Photographs-Cohen House gardens (including fountain and
sundial), 1961
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12 |
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Photographs-Cohen House events, 1961 party, 1934 garden
party, 1937 80th birthday luncheon for Mrs. Cohen
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13 |
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Photographs-Rice campus, 1966 |
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14 |
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Photographs (large folder)-Robert Cohen |
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15 |
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Photographs (large folder)-Caricatures, M/M George
Cohen
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16-19 |
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Photographs (large folder)-Cohen House, laying of
cornerstone
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20 |
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Photographs (large folder)-Cohen House
exterior
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21 |
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Photographs (large folder)-Cohen House
interior
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22 |
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Photographs (large folder)-Cohen House gardens |
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23 |
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Photographs (large folder)-Cohen House sundial |
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24 |
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Photographs (large folder)-Cohen House
fountain
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Two scrapbooks of congratulatory messages on Cohen House
Dedication, 1927-28
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| Box |
Folder |
| 13 |
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Photo album, “The Cohen House Gardens” |
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Scrapbook with news clippings, letters, photos, 1927-29
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| Series V. Tableware (china, crystal, silver, linens), n.d.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 7 |
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China pattern: Blue band with Cohen House crest-Lamberton
China
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1 dinner plate |
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2 salad plates |
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1 bread & butter plate |
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1 demitasse cup |
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1 match holder |
| Box |
Folder |
| 7 |
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China pattern: Floral border with Cohen House
crest-Scammell’s Trenton China
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1 dinner plate |
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2 demitasse cups |
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1 coffee cup |
| Box |
Folder |
| 7 |
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China pattern: smooth blank with Cohen House
crest
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2 dinner plates |
| Box |
Folder |
| 7 |
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1 glass dessert plate with Cohen House crest |
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4 everyday drinking glasses, various shapes, with Cohen
House crest
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Folder |
| 8 |
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Crystal with Cohen House crest: 1 champagne glass, 1 water
goblet
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| Box |
Folder |
| 9 |
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Crystal with Cohen House crest: 1 water goblet |
| Box |
Folder |
| 10 |
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Crystal with Cohen House crest: 2 seafood cocktail
glasses
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| Box |
Folder |
| 11 |
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Linens |
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Tablecloth (large ivory) with Cohen House
insignia
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Tablecloth (beige and white) with Cohen House
insignia
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Napkins, 12, (ivory) with Cohen House
insignia
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| Box |
Folder |
| 11 |
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Silver |
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3 Cohen House serving spoons |
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1 Cohen House relish fork |
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1 Cohen House knife |
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1 Cohen House fork |
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1 set sample silver- serving spoon, 2 soup spoons,
knife, fork, teaspoon, dessert fork, butter knife
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4 dies for stamping sterling silverware with Cohen House
crest
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| Series VI. Realia, 1960 and n.d. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 12 |
- |
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Plaque: “Cohen House, Gardens, November 15, 1960” Original
tile from Cohen House terrace (before alterations) False binding for
The Campanile
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| Series VII. Blueprints, 1927-1960 (located in map case
drawer #15) |
| Box |
Folder |
| dr 15 |
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Cohen House, n.d.(ca. 1927), sheets 1-13; William Ward
Watkin, Architect
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Addition to Cohen House, n.d., sheets 1-4 (3 copies);
Robert F. White and Associates
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Landscape plans-planting plan, Oct. 17, 1960, Robert F.
White and Associates
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Landscape plans-planting plan, Jan. 12, 1960, Robert F.
White and Associates
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Additions to Cohen House, Feb. 27, 1958, sheets 1-10;
Lloyd and Morgan, Architects
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Illuminated fountain set of 4 plans, Feb, 26, 1960 (2
copies); Establissements Houdry, Architects
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Filter details and design of the pumping station for
Illuminated fountain, March 4, 1960; Establissements Houdry, Architects
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Illuminated fountain set of 5 plans (reverse image);
Establissements Houdry, Architects
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Fountain effects diagram (3 copies total, 1 reverse
image); Establissements Houdry, Architects
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Study for garden wall at Cohen House, July 24, 1959;
Robert F. White and Associates
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Additions to Cohen House, inside elevations showing stone
plaques and memorial stone; Lloyd and Morgan, Architects
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Illuminated fountain pencil design, September 26, 1956;
Establissements Houdry, Architects
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Cohen House gardens sketch, n.d. (2 copies, 1 pencil
sketch, 1 paper)
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Addition to Cohen House, detail of cabinets in kitchen,
n.d.; W. W. Watkin, Architect
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Addition to Cohen House, layout for equipment in new
kitchen, n.d.; W. W. Watkin, Architect
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Addition to Cohen House, detail of recess for kitchen
range, n.d.; W. W. Watkin, Architect
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Lighting and electrical layout, Cohen House luminous
fountain. n.d. (3 copies total, 2 copies not identified) Brown and Root, Inc.
Engineers, Inc. Constructors
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Foundation Plan for garden wall-Cohen House, December 15,
1959; Brown and Engineers and Constructors
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Pumps and piping, Cohen House luminous fountain, April 25,
1960 (2 copies); Brown and Root, Inc. Engineers and Constructors
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