Allen and Kelley Architectural Records Collection

Collection

Identifier: DADA-005

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of architectural records from the office of Allen and Kelley, Architects and Engineers, and its successor, J. Lloyd Allen, architects and engineers. It covers the period 1916-1967. Most of the records are architectural working drawings. Some design studies, renderings, shop drawings, and sets of specifications are included as well.

Series One (catalog nos. 5-1 through 5-86) includes 86 projects by J. Lloyd Allen and John R. Kelley practicing independently, by the Allen and Kelley firm, and by the successor firm. The projects date between 1937 and 1967 and are arranged chronologically.

Series Two (catalog nos. 5-87 through 5-96) consists of drawings for seven buildings by architects not connected with the Allen and Kelley firm: Robert Frost Daggett, Pierre and Wright, Russ and Harrison, McGuire and Shook, Edward D. Pierre, Walter B. Chambers (New York), and Albert Kahn (Detroit). These date from 1916 to the 1940s.

Cataloging of this collection was completed in 1990 with the aid of a grant from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, administered by the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Dates

1916 - 1967

Creator

Kelley, John Robert (Architect, Person)
Allen, Joseph Lloyd (Architect, Person)
Allen & Kelley (Architect, Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Copyright Notice

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Drawings and Documents Archive, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Drawings and Documents Archive.

Biographical Note

Joseph Lloyd Allen (1897-1975) and John Robert Kelley (1902-1991) practiced architecture independently in the mid 1930s before forming the Allen and Kelley firm about 1936 or 1940. The firm was based in Indianapolis. Allen was the more active partner. A graduate of Manual High School in Indianapolis, Allen studied mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and received a degree in architecture from the University of Illinois. He also studied at Butler University and the John Herron Art Institute.

The Allen and Kelley office was at its peak during World War II and for about ten years afterward, employed about 75 architects on defense contracts. Though known largely as industrial architects, Allen and Kelley also designed theaters, other types of commercial buildings, and a series of housing projects. Many of the housing projects were done under F.H.A. auspices between 1946 and 1950. Kelley retired in 1960. Allen continued the business as J. Lloyd Allen, Architects and Engineers until 1967, sometimes in association with Lloyd W. Scholl.

Among those who worked for the firm, in addition to Scholl, were Jon Anderson, Julius Ehlert, George Fink, Walter Petterson, Joe Small, Cheek and Lynch, Charles Lowe, Richard Karl Zimmerly, Ronald Shettleworth, Wanda Lyday, Ernest Fennig, and Don Weir.

Extent

21.6 Cubic Feet (5 flat file drawers, 3 manuscript boxes, 2 OVA boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The Allen and Kelley Architectural Records are arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

The Allen and Kelley Architectural Records were received by Drawings and Documents Archive as a donation from Lloyd W. Scholl in 1978.

Accruals

No additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 1990/5/30 by Andrew R. Seager. Finding aid created 1990/5/30 by Andrew R. Seager, revised 2009/5/20; 2011/12/1 by Carol A. Street.

Subjects

Allen, Joseph Lloyd Subject Source: Local sources
Apartments Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Architecture, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Architecture--Indiana--Indianapolis Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Buildings, commercial Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Chambers, Walter B., 1866-1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Chrysler Corporation Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Daggett, Robert Frost, 1875-1955 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Elevations Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Ford Motor Company Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Houses--Indiana—1910s Subject Source: Local sources
Houses--Indiana—1940s Subject Source: Local sources
Kahn, Albert, 1869-1942 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Kelley, John Robert Subject Source: Local sources
McGuire and Shook Corporation Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Pierre & Wright Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Pierre, Edward D., 1890-1971 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Printed ephemera Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Russ & Harrison, architecture firm Subject Source: Local sources
Store, retail Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Theaters Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Warehouses Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings