Aline and Eero Saarinen papers, 1906-1977

Correspondence consists of letters exchanged with Aline Saarinen's literary agent, publisher, scholars, friends and relatives of White, and others, as well as responses to her inquiry about Stanford White published in The New York Times. Correspondence concerns book ideas, research inquiries, her struggles with the work, and related matters. Correspondents include: Bernice Cozzens, Random House, Wayne Andrews, Mrs. Lawrence Grant White (White's daughter-in-law), Welles Bosworth, R. W. G. Vail, Francis Brown, Edward Fowles, Van Wyck Brooks, and Evelyn Nesbit.

Correspondence is typically arranged chronologically, except for the extended correspondence with her literary agent which is arranged in its own file.

Notebooks contain Aline Saarinen's notes on various topics related to Stanford White gathered in the course of her research. Individual notebooks were removed from their original binders at some previous point, and are arranged alphabetically according to subject.

Writings include drafts and manuscripts of chapters for Saarinen's planned biography on White and her article on White for Life Magazine. Also found are scattered research notes, an outline of the planned biography, and various writings on White and architecture by others.

Original material includes certain scattered papers of Bessie White and Stanford White, and scattered office "files" of the architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, which were presumably accumulated by Aline Saarinen in the course of her research. Also found is a microfilm reel of the correspondence of Richard Grant White (approximately 25 letters) and Stanford White (1 letter) held by the Huntington Art Library.

The papers belonging to Bessie White consist of correspondence from her father-in-law, Richard Grant White; scrapbooks on the Washington Centennial and White's Washington Art, and on the Thaw Murder Trial; and written reminiscences of White. The papers belonging to Stanford White consist of lists, notes, and other documents. The McKim, Mead and White documents include memoranda and correspondence; files consisting of correspondence, contracts estimates, and descriptions for various projects (extensive documentation for the Whitelaw Reid residence can be found); and a record book.

Printed material collected by Aline Saarinen in the course of her research consists primarily of clippings and publications with articles on White, his buildings, and certain people associated with him. Also found is miscellaneous printed material on the Garden City Hotel, Newport, RI, and architecture.

Photographs include ones of Stanford White and his family, his clients, Anne, Louise, and Robert Cheney, and his one-time mistress, Evelyn Nesbit; and ones of buildings and residences designed by White or McKim, Mead and White, many of which were photographed by Wayne Andrews. Also found are photographs of interiors and slides and negatives of certain photographs of buildings and residences.

Included are reproductions and negatives of architectural drawings for various buildings and residences, which date from 1884 to 1903, designed by White or McKim, Mead and White.