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

The collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Claire Rufer-Eckmann Architectural Collection, Ms1998-018, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Claire Rufer-Eckmann Architectural Collection was donated to Special Collections in 1998.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Claire Rufer-Eckmann Architectural Collection was completed in or prior to 2011.

Biographical Note

Claire Rufer-Eckmann (1914-1974) was born in Wabern, Switzerland, and died in Bern. Before receiving her architecture degree in 1937, Rufer-Eckmann traveled to Sweden and Finland, studying under Gunnar Asplund and Alvar Aalto. She returned to Sweden in 1938 and lived there for two years eventually writing an unpublished report on her travels to Sweden and its architecture illustrated with ink drawings of plans and views of important buildings (present in collection).

1942 saw her return to Bern where she began to work with her husband Oskar Rufer, a developer and architect. They remained in practice together for 34 years. Their firm handled a wide variety of projects from shopping centers, theaters, schools, residential, and factories. Rufer-Eckmann specialized in design while her husband concentrated on management and development. Oskar Rufer closed the office upon Claire's death in 1974.

Rufer-Eckmann also participated in SAFFA 58 (The Swiss Exhibition for Women's Work) an exhibition held in Zurich, that focused on "women in the family, occupation and state." These exhibitions were organized and produced entirely by women and the exhibition buildings for SAFFA 58 were designed and built by Swiss women architects.

Scope and Content

The Claire Rufer-Eckmann Architectural Collection contains student notes from her studies at l'Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Zurich, notes and original drawings from her travels in Sweden and Finland, and several oversize folders containing 46 architectural drawings: designs of 2 pavilions for SAFFA 58, 2 drawings of Chalet Meleria in Valmont, a large drawing of Zurich, and 10 pages of accompanying notes.

Related Material

See the SAFFA 58 Architectural Drawings, Ms1998-019 , also at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Architects -- Switzerland
• Architectural drawing -- 20th century
• History of Women in Architecture
• International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA)
• Women -- History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Claire Rufer-Eckmann Architectural Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).