IAWA Executive Board of Advisors

Meeting: December 12, 2000
3:00 p.m. in 201 Cowgill Hall Architecture Conference Room, Virginia Tech

Present: Marcia Feuerstein, Donna Dunay, Humberto Rodriguez-Camilloni, Gerrianne Schaad, Mitzi Vernon, and Frank Weiner.

Invited Guests: Milka Bliznakov and Erin Gertz.

Absent: Brian Katen, Paul Knox and Eileen Hitchingham.

Call to Order:

Chair Marcia Feuerstein called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m.

Agenda Items:

1. Approval of November 14th Meeting Minutes: Mitzi Vernon so moved, Donna Dunay seconded the motion and the agenda was approved with corrections.
2. Marcia Feuerstein mentioned that the Annual Meeting Minutes have been augmented per the comments by Tony Wrenn.
3. Program Development: Marcia Feuerstein stated that Judy Graham and David Brugh were unable to attend the meeting as had been originally planned. Marcia felt the group should continue the discussion on program development when they attend our next meeting. The Chair asked Gerrianne Schaad and Mitzi Vernon to lead the next meeting. Concerning program development, Mitzi felt it was important to establish priorities. Milka Bliznakov observed that this is already stated in the IAWA brochure.
4. The Chair invited discussion regarding program development and needs.
   1. Salaries and separate positions for:
      1. Full time archivist dedicated solely to the IAWA, whose annual salary would be approximately $55,000 - $60,000. (Gerrianne Schaad)
      2. IAWA Director (Mitzi Vernon).
   2. Education: Research Grants
      1. Grants for archival research at the IAWA: $1,000 each for two scholars annually. Bert Rodriguez suggested that the research grant require a seminar or lecture by the visiting scholar. Marcia Feuerstein suggested that we establish two prizes: one for a person at the beginnings of their research and another for someone who is completing research.
      2. Graduate assistantships. (Donna Dunay noted that this is in our brochure.)
   3. Research Center:
      1. Location: a separate facility or housed within a facility for Special Collections or other unique archives owned by Virginia Tech. Mitzi Vernon wondered if the new Fine Arts Center might include the IAWA. Donna Dunay added that other additions to Newman Library might be appropriate.
      2. Entirely separate from the library as a stand-alone reused or new facility
   4. Summary: Mitzi Vernon summarized three categories of funding:
      1. Scholar/residency - possibly attached to the Milka Bliznakov prize
      2. Program enrichment fund,
      3. Building center fund - for storing and exhibiting.
   5. Building the Collection:
      1. The Archive as a university research center with its own research agenda. (Feuerstein) Bliznakov stressed that space should not be the main issue. It is necessary to create a critical mass of collections in the Archive.
      2. Collections: Mitzi Vernon asked about the availability of pre-1925 collections. Gerrianne Schaad stated that older work is difficult to find and that the former curator discouraged archives that did not fall within the IAWA's specific time periods. However, Schaad stated, the Archive should continue to collect work from contemporary architects. Marcia Feuerstein included Anne Tyng as a source for names and Donna Dunay proposed that 15 minutes of each meeting is devoted to this subject.
      3. Publicity and Calls for Work: Frank Weiner and Bert Rodriguez suggested that an annual call for work be submitted for inclusion in the "opportunities" section of the ACSA newsletter. Marcia Feuerstein noted that an announcement about the Milka Prize and new advisors to the IAWA was submitted to the ACSA newsletter. Other suggestions included acquiring work from all Virginia Tech graduates from CAUS and Marcia Feuerstein suggested that the College begin an Architecture Archive, which would include all students.
      4. Frank Weiner suggested that a major exhibition of the entire collection be developed for a major museum (such as the women's or building museums in the D.C. area) This could occur for the 20th anniversary of the IAWA. He offered to research possible grant possibilities and venues.
5. Collection Development and Associated Programs: Marcia Feuerstein distributed a copy of the Collection Development Policy reminding all about the upcoming vote.
6. Treasurer's Report: Bert Rodriguez-Camilloni reported the total endowment account is $30,285.12. Marcia Feuerstein compiled a rough draft of expenses from the previous year. Additions to the total must include IAWA Graduate Assistant, architectural administrative assistance (Erin Gertz), as well as other assistance (work study students, copy editor, etc.).
7. Appraisal Research Update: Milka Bliznakov reported on her ongoing research related to the appraisal of architectural drawings in various regions of the United States and Canada. She stated that she would be sharing her research with Tony Wrenn. Marcia Feuerstein reported Tony Wrenn's concerns where he underscored that he is not qualified to appraise the collection. Only a professional appraiser is qualified.
8. Nominations: Mitzi asked the schedules and procedures were for nominations. Mitzi Vernon, Marcia Feuerstein, and Brian Katen will meet about this in January.
9. Letterhead: corrections and reprinting are necessary.
10. Mid-Year Meeting: Donna Dunay will check on Alexandria Housing.

Marcia Feuerstein called for a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:45 p.m. Donna Dunay so moved, and Mitzi Vernon seconded the motion.

Minutes recorded by Erin Gertz, reviewed and corrected by Marcia Feuerstein, 8 February 2001.

Send questions or comments to:
IAWA Archivist, University Libraries
Virginia Tech, P.O. Box 90001,
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001