Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434) 560 Drillfield Drive Newman Library, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 Business Number: 540-231-6308 specref@vt.edu URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
Sherrie A. Bowser, updated by Shu Pan
Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.2013.023
Title
Dorothee Stelzer King Architectural Collection 1950-2018
Quantity
6.48 Cubic Feet, 5 boxes; 6 oversize folders
Creator
King, Dorothée
Language
Material is in English and German.
Abstract
Born in Berlin, Germany. Dorothee Stelzer King is an architect and professor who has practiced in Germany, the United States,
and the Bahamas. The collection consists of material (drawings, presentation boards, photographs, and printed material) created
and accumulated by King as a student and during her professional career. Some examples include: her award-winning student
project of creating a flexible and transportable exhibition hall and her project work for the Government of the Bahamas. Materials
in this collection range in date from 1950-2008.
Permission to publish material from Dorothee Stelzer King Architectural Collection must be obtained from Special Collections,
Virginia Tech.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Dorothee Stelzer King Architectural
Collection Ms2013-023, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Acquisition Information
The Dorothee Stelzer King Architectural Collection was donated to Special Collections in December 2008.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Dorothee Stelzer King Architectural Collection was completed in May 2013.
Additional donations processed in September 2021.
Born in Berlin, Germany. King is an architect and professor who has practiced in Germany, the United States, and the Bahamas.
She graduated from the Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste (HBK) with the title 'Diplom Architect HBK Berlin' in 1962. Upon graduating
from HBK she worked for two years (1962-1964) in the architectural office of Dipl. Ing. Hilde Westrom , one of the few independently working women architects in Berlin. King would go on to receive the Airlift Memorial Scholarship
and Fulbright Travel Grant allowing her to study under Louis I. Kahn in his Master Studio at the University of Pennsylvania
(1965-1967). Her experiences with Kahn would greatly influence her own style of teaching at the Pratt Institute School of
Architecture (1969-1981) and other organizations.
King and her husband, fellow architect Douglas King, were offered the opportunity to work as architects with the Government
of the Bahamas in Nassau (1981-1985). There she primarily worked on projects for the Ministries of Health and Housing including:
public rental units with a senior citizen complex, design for a high school library in Cooperstown, and as project architect
and head construction supervisor for the Bahamas Nursing School. 1985-1991 saw King commuting between New York, Nassau, and
Florida as she finished supervising the Bahamas Nursing School and partnered with her husband on a design-build company called
Kingston Homes in West Palm Beach, Florida. Shortly after returning to New York full-time (1991) King began teaching at several
New York institutions and public schools within the city (1993-2008).
The collection consists of material created and accumulated by King during the course of her days as a student and her professional
career. This material primarily comprises drawings, presentation boards, photographs, and printed material related to various
design projects undertaken by King during the time period 1957 to 1988. Also included within the collection is a detailed
biographical narrative written by King describing the trajectory of her career and a family history and genealogy titled "From the Basilius, Gersdorff and Horn Families to the King, Kruppa and Stelzer Families ", also written by King.
This subseries consists of Dorothee S. King's personal documents, school reports, drawings, and notes on projects relating
to her at Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste (HBK) and the University of Pennsylvania.
box-folder 1 folder: 1
Biographical narrative
2008
box-folder 1 folder: 2
Certificates, Awards, Diplomas, etc.
1950-1976
box-folder 1 folder: 3
Family history and genealogy, "From the Basilius, Gersdorff and Horn Families to the King, Kruppa and Stelzer Families ", written by Dorothee Stelzer King
2007
box-folder 1 folder: 4
Photograph, Dorothee S. King
c.1980
box-folder 1 folder: 5
Scholarships [applications, correspondence, award, and recommendations]
1964
Student Projects
1957-1974
box-folder 1 folder: 6 oversize folder: 3
Austellungbau Variabel-Tranportabel [Exhibition Hall Flexible -Transportable], HDK Berlin
1962
Scope and Content
Materials present include a project description, 2 model photographs, 1 set of photographic reductions of the model, 1 set
of slides of the drawings and model, along with a publication "ars viva 62" featuring the project. Drawings include: 7 original
ink drawings on board and transparent paper and 2 blueprints.
oversize folder: 3
Ferienhaus in Muggelheim [vacation cottage]
1957
Scope and Content
2 original ink drawings on board and transparent paper.
oversize folder: 3
Reihenhaus [rowhouses]
1958
Scope and Content
9 original ink drawings in transparent paper.
oversize folder: 3
Trauerhalle/Kapelle [chapel]
1959
Scope and Content
7 original ink drawings on transparent paper.
box-folder 1 folder: 7
Various Projects, HDK Berlin
1960-1962
box-folder 5 folder: 1
Portfolio of Design Projects: Allen Lane Arts Center and a Monastery at a Desert Site in Arizona
1965
box-folder 5 folder: 2
Loose Leaf Notebook with Course Notes
1973-1974
box-folder 5 folder: 3
Sketches and Notebooks Related to Course Work With Edmund Bacon and Other Works at University of Pennsylvania,
1965
box-folder 5 folder: 4
Notebooks, Sketchbooks, and Sketches
1965
box-folder 5 folder: 5
2 Original Pencil Travel Sketches
1965
box-folder 3 folder: 1
Notes for the final Oral Presentation for the Professional Degree "Diploma Architect HBK Berlin
1962
box-folder 3 folder: 2
Note books from Classwork in History of Architecture at Hochschule der Kuenste, Berlin (Architecture School)
1962
box-folder 3 folder: 3
Presentation at Hochschule der Kuenste, Berlin (Architecture School) on Eygpt: History, the country, Myths, Architecture,
Temples, the Nile, Pyramids, and Interrelationships.
1962
box-folder 3 folder: 4
Airlift Memorial Scholarship: Letters of Recommendation
1963German.
box-folder 3 folder: 5
Materials related to a course work with Edmund Bacon on Priene
Blue print copy at 1/4" scale of detailed furniture and equipment layouts for main lecture hall, library, and commons
oversize folder: 6
Blue print copy at actual drawing size of the architectural drawings: title sheet plus A-1 thru A-35
oversize folder: 6
Hand colored blue print copy showing landscaping at actual drawing size of architectural drawing A-1: Site and Location Plan
oversize folder: 6
Maps and land drawings
oversize folder: 4
Original presentation drawings - ink on vellum
oversize folder: 4
Pencil and ink sketches and line drawings used to prepare the final presentation drawings
oversize folder: 1
Photo-static copies at 1/2 original drawings scale of the architectural drawings A-1 thru A-35
box-folder 1 folder: 12
Landscape
1986-1987
box-folder 1 folder: 13
Material and color samples, light fixture schedule, signage, room finishes
1985-1987
box-folder 1 folder: 14
Memorandums and Correspondence
1982-1987
box 2
Model, study model in chipboard
box-folder 1 folder: 15
Opening ceremony
June 16, 1987
box-folder 1 folder: 16
Opening program and press clippings
1986-1987
box-folder 1 folder: 17
Overall program, office management, building program, list of drawings
1981-1984
Photographs
1985-1988
box-folder 1 folder: 18
Negatives, completed building and opening ceremony
1987-1988
oversize folder: 1
Negatives, original presentation drawings
box-folder 1 folder: 19
Photographs of completed project
1985-1987
box-folder 1 folder: 20-24
Progress photographs (5 folders)
January 1986-April 1987
oversize folder: 2
Cottage on Rose Island, Bahamas
1988
Scope and Content
2 hand colored presentation drawings on prints.
3 original construction drawings, pencil on vellum.
Daylite Apartments Physical Survey and Proposal, Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
1980
box-folder 1 folder: 25
Project report
May 1980
Library and Administrative Building Coopers Town High School, Abaco, Bahamas
1983
box-folder 1 folder: 26
Project description
1983
oversize folder: 5
Drawings: blue print copy at actual drawing size of the architectural drawings: title sheet plus drawings 1-13
oversize folder: 2
Drawings: pencil on vellum Drawing 2 showing preliminary plan layout, elevations and sections at 1/8"= 1'-0"
oversize folder: 2
Townhouse Renovation, King Residence, New York, NY
1971
Scope and Content
2 hand colored original presentation drawings on board.
Sutton Street Public Rental Housing Grants Town Urban Improvement Project, Nassau, Bahamas
1983
box-folder 1 folder: 27
Project description
1983
oversize folder: 5
Drawings: blue print copy at actual drawing size of prototype 3 bedroom and 4 bedroom townhouse units -- drawings 1-11.
oversize folder: 5
Drawings: blue print copy at actual drawings size of Sutton Street Public rental units - site plan and sanitary waste plan.
[Note: this project utilizes the prototype 3 and 4 bedroom townhouse units above.]
oversize folder: 2
Drawings: pencil line axonometric drawings on yellow tracing paper and vellum of Sutton Street public rental units
box-folder 1 folder: 28
Nassau, Bahamas Ministry of Housing Specifications
Tusculum Plantation, New Providence, Bahamas Illustrations - Recorded and Drawn by Dorothee Stelzer King
Figure Number Followed by Subject and Description
1.1 Map of the Bahamas
1.2 Map of New Providence; Tusculum is located on the northwest coastline
3.1 Map pre-dating recent subdivisions that occurred circa 1985. The map shows the Tusculum site located on the northern coastline
of New Providence and its relationship to adjacent areas and topography. A curved road leads to the ruin complex situated
at the top of the ridge
3.3 Cross section of the Gambier Ridge at the Tusculum site
3.8 Site plan of the Ruin Complex showing Ruin A on the summit of the ridge, and the locations Ruins B, C, D and F. Also shown
are three wells and the old roadway in dotted lines
3.10 Ruin A: Axonometric View as it appeared at the time of the survey. The north facade with the entrance and the north terrace
are in the foreground
3.25 Ruin A: Wall Plan at the time of the survey.
3.26 Ruin A: North-South Section through the Ruin
3.27 Ruin A: North Elevation
3.28 Ruin A: South Elevation
3.29 Ruin A: East Elevation
3.30 Ruin A: West Elevation
3.31 Ruin A: Typical Wall Section with Window Opening
3.32 Ruin A: Typical Wall Section through Cellar Window
3.34 Ruin B: Axonometric View of the Ruin at the time of the survey. In the foreground, attached to the eastern wall, is a
small addition. The wall shown collapsed and faces Ruin A.
3.35 Ruin B: Wall Plan
3.36 Ruin B: West Elevation
3.37 Ruin B: East Elevation
3.38 Ruin B: North Elevation
3.39 Ruin B: South Elevation
3.40 Ruin C: Axonometric View of the Ruin at the time of the survey. The front elevation with three doors and a window faces
east and the Main House, Ruin A. In the foreground, to the right, are the remains of the fireplace. The rear wall, to the
west, has collapsed to its foundations.
3.41 Ruin C: Wall Plan
3.42 Ruin C: North Elevation
3.43 Ruin C: South Elevation
3.44 Ruin C: East Elevation
3.45 Ruin C: West Elevation
box-folder 3 folder: 7
Description and Report of Archaeology in the Bahamas
1982-1983
box-folder 3 folder: 8
Tusculum Plantation
1984-1986
box-folder 3 folder: 9
Site Excavations Notes, Lecture and Course Notes
1982-1988
Study of Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas,1980-1985, 2014
box-folder 3 folder: 10
Study of Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas, Vol.1/7, April 2014
2014-04
Scope and Contents
One copy of description and a documentation report titled"Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas," April 2014
box-folder 3 folder: 11
Study of Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas, Vol.2/7
2014-04
Scope and Contents
Original report, printed text with hand drawn icon diagrams for the documentation report "Ten Small Houses in Grants Town,
Nassau, Bahamas"
box-folder 3 folder: 12
Study of Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas, Vol.3/7
2014
Scope and Contents
Original report drawings on transparent paper of houses(site plans, floor plans, sections and elevations) for the documentation
report "Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas".
box-folder 5 folder: 6
Study of Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas, Vol.4/7
2014
Scope and Contents
Hand written notes and first hard line draft drawings for the
documentation report "Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas"
Original field notes, sketches and resident interviews(1983-1984) for the documentation report "Ten Small Houses in Grants
Town, Nassau, Bahamas."
box-folder 3 folder: 13
Study of Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas, Vol.5/7
2014
Scope and Contents
Original field notes, sketches and resident interviews(1983-1984) for the documentation report "Ten Small Houses in Grants
Town, Nassau, Bahamas."
box-folder 3 folder: 14
Study of Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas, Vol.6/7
2014
Scope and Contents
Photographic negatives of houses analyzed for the documentation report "Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas"
box-folder 3 folder: 15
Study of Ten Small Houses in Grants Town, Nassau, Bahamas, Vol.7/7
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