Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Walter Gropius/G. Preston Frazer Papers, Ms1992-052, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Walter Gropius/G. Preston Frazer Papers were donated to Special Collections in 1992. Additional negatives and contact sheets were donated in 2014.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Walter Gropius/G. Preston Frazer Papers commenced and was completed in 1992. Additional description was completed in October 2009 and October 2014.

Biographical Note

Walter Gropius (1883-1969) was a renowned German-American architect; director of the Bauhaus from 1919 to 1928 and Chair of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design from 1938 to 1952.

G. (George) Preston Frazer was born in Davidson, Tennessee, February 4, 1908, to George Augustine and Sadie (Warner) Frazer. He received a BA in Liberal Arts from the Virginia Military Institute in 1929. In 1935, he completed a BS in Engineering at the University of Hawaii, and in 1937, a Masters of Architecture at Harvard University. During World War II, he served with the Second Armored Division in Europe and North Africa. He remained in the Army Reserves until 1968. From 1939 to 1940 and from 1946 to 1974, he taught in the Art Department of Virginia Tech. Following his retirement, Frazer continued to support Virginia Tech, which continues to be among the many institutions to display donations of his work. Frazer died at his home in Catawba, North Carolina, on September 10, 2003.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains correspondence, mostly from Mrs. Walter Gropius to G. Preston Frazier, as well as photographs of the Walter Gropius bust at Virginia Tech and events surrounding the dedication. The collection also contains publications and clippings about Gropius and his work.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by material type.

Separated Material

A bronze bust of Walter Gropius is located at the School of VIsual Arts gallery in the Armory building on campus.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Gropius, Walter, 1883-1969
• University History
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. College of Architecture (1974-1978)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. College of Architecture and Urban Studies (1978-2022)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute. College of Architecture

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Walter Gropius/G. Preston Frazer Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).