Claire Falkenstein papers, circa 1914-1997, bulk 1940-1990

Commission files document nearly all of Falkenstein's public and private large-scale projects and often contain a visual record of the work, as well as correspondence, design notes, contracts, and expense reports. The files are arranged by general commission files, followed by individual projects, both public and private. The general commission files contain documentation on requests for commission work that was not completed, commission submissions that were not accepted, and publicity material.

Individual commission project files provide rich documentation on Falkenstein's many commissioned art works, with particular emphasis on the World War II murals; Peggy Guggenheim gates in Venice; the screens, windows and doors at St. Basils Church in Los Angeles; the fountain at California Federal Savings and Loan; and sculptures at California State University, University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California. These detailed files include correspondence, contracts, expense estimates and reports, invoices, designs, sketches, and photographs.

The bulk of the photographs of commissions are found in the Photograph series. Also, most of Falkenstein's jewelry design commissions are found in the Personal and Business Records series. Additional correspondence and other materials related to commissions are found in the Correspondence series and Personal and Business Records.

The files are arranged first by general commissions in chronological order and then alphabetically by individual commissions. Within each folder, contents are arranged chronologically by date.