A Guide to the Department of Education, School Buildings Service, Architectural drawings and plans, 1920-1970

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Virginia Dept. of Education, School Buildings Service, Architectural drawings and plans, 1920-1970. Accession 28487. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Virginia Dept. of Education, School Buildings Service, Architectural drawings and plans, 1920-1970. Accession 28487. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This accession consists of original pencil on tracing paper architectural drawings and plans, renderings and prints for both urban and rural schools in Virginia from 1920-1970. The collection is arranged into three series: Series I. Localities, which consists of drawings for specific schools in those locations; Series II. Renderings/Photographs, which consists of architectural renderings and photographs of school buildings, including the original schools on the particular site, as well as newly constructed schools; Series III. Standard Plans, which consists of standardized plans for various types of school buildings and related structures; and Series IV. Drawings on Microfilm Only, which consists of a variety of school drawings and plans for which the Library of Virginia does not hold the originals.

The majority of these plans were designed by in-house architects, however, some outside professionals were utilized. While most are standard designs, aesthetic additions were made to individual buildings to suit the architectural character of the locality or municipality. Many of the structures represented were new construction undertaken as a result of education reforms in the first half of the 20th century.

Contains drawings for specific schools in various Virginia localities.

Consists of architectural renderings and photographs of school buildings. These include the original schools on the particular site, as well as newly constructed schools.

Consists of standardized plans for various types of school buildings and related structures.

Contains a variety of school drawings and plans for which the Library of Virginia does not hold the originals. This material is available only on microfilm.

Biographical / historical:

Originally commissioned to ensure that requirements for light, air, sanitation, and fire safety established in the 1919 Code of Virginia were met, the Division of School Buildings gradually assumed the responsibility of designing or accepting plans for newly consolidated and reformed schools. Though slight modifications to the plans could be made to conform to each region's aesthetic preference, the basic plan, designed to positively affect the educational experience of the students, came from the Division of School Buildings.

As a matter of form, school designs and plans are submitted to The Department of Education's Facilities Management Division today, though the individual localities themselves choose and approve designs for their schools.

Acquisition information:
Transferred from the Department of Education School Buildings Service, Richmond, Virginia, 19 November 1974.
Arrangement:
  • Series I. Localities
  • Series II. Renderings/Photographs
  • Series III. Standard Plans
  • Series IV. Drawings on Microfilm Only

Arranged alphabetically by locality.

Folders 1-L-1 through 3-R-16 can be found on Miscellaneous Reel 1832.

Folders 3-R-17 through 6-L-10 can be found on Miscellaneous Reel 1833.

Folders 6-L-11 through 7-R-7 can be found on Miscellaneous Reel 1834.

Folders 7-R-8 through 9-R-4 can be found on Miscellaneous Reel 1835.

Folders 9-R-5 through 10-L-17 can be found on Miscellaneous Reel 1836.

Folders 10-L-18 through 13-L-12 can be found on Miscellaneous Reel 1837, excluding folders 12-L-9 and 12-R-1 which were not filmed.

There is no particular method of arrangement.

There is no particular method of arrangement.

All drawings in box 10 within Series III. can be found on Miscellaneous Reel 1837.

The drawings found in boxes 11-13 are not on film.

There is no particular method of arrangement.

Physical description:
Consists of approximately 3600 sheets of mostly pencil on paper with some blueprints, Diazo prints, photographs, and color renderings.