Alexander and Susan Girard established the Girard Foundation so their extensive folk art collection could be maintained after their death. Alexander Girard’s letter to Irwin Miller asking for Miller’s support of the Girard Foundation before it all “gets thrown to the wolves.”

Alexander H. Girard to J. Irwin Miller, 30 January 1973, 2/12, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana.  (MHG_Ia_B002_f012_055-056)

In 1980 J. Irwin Miller described former conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony John Nelson as “probably the ablest young conductor in the United States right now.”

J. Irwin Miller to Alexander H. Girard, 30 April 1980, 2/12, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f012_005)

Today we are posting the first document in our “No Detail Too Small” series. As we digitize the materials associated with the Miller House and Garden, we’ve noticed the Millers’ attention to detail is, um, remarkable. Mrs. Miller wanted a permanent location for the can opener & paper towel roll so that neither “becomes a permanent nuisance.”

J. Irwin Miller to Kevin Roche, 13 April 1956, 1/6 Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B001_f006_042)

This design for a TV Cabinet by the office of Kevin Roche, John Dinkeloo and Associates features a pivot for TV to be swung in and out of cabinet. 

Photocopy of TV Cabinet drawing (8 1/2 x 11 in.) by Kevin Roche, John Dinkeloo and Associates, 7 June 1974, 9/88, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B009_f088_079)

Two items caught our attention on this invoice from Girard: Item 9 is for a model of the Storage Wall and Item 13 is a loan of $50 he made to Xenia Miller during a New York shopping trip. For a few images of the Storage Wall today, click here.

Invoice from office of Alexander Girard to Irwin Miller, 24 June 1955, 33/384, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ic_B033_f384_023)

Girard’s purchase order specifies the upholstered version (LAR-1) of the chair in the photograph. On the reverse of the photograph is written in pencil “CE-228-E.” We’re curious to know if anyone is familiar with this photo or its marking. Perhaps Charles Eames took it himself?

Black and white photograph of Eames LAR chair (8 x 10 inches) and purchase order from Alexander Girard to Herman Miller Furniture Company, 1 September 1955, 33/382, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ic_B033_f382_004-005)

In 1963, Alexander Girard proposed designing a bracelet that Irwin Miller could give to Xenia Miller. He sent this drawing of the bracelet he designed for his wife Susan to Irwin Miller. “Sansusie” is a combination of Sandro & Susie

Letter from Alexander Girard to J. Irwin Miller, sketch by Alexander Girard, 11 March 1963, 2/13, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f013_059-060)

This is an architectural drawing of the Millers’ “THRONE ROOM,” or commode room as it’s referred to in other correspondence.  In 1999, the Millers requested a grab bar be installed in this portion of their master bathroom and called upon none other than Kevin Roche to oversee the design. While YES, it’s funny to come across a drawing of a toilet within the archival collection of an architectural masterpiece, this document is telling of how carefully any addition or change to the house was considered. It also serves as a reminder that Miller House functioned as a family residence.  Structural changes such as these allowed the Millers to live in their home until the end of their lives and design quality was always considered alongside functionality.

Drawing of 2760 commode room , sent by Irwin Management to Kevin Roche, John Dinkeloo and Associates, 28 January 1999, 09/82, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B009_f082_045)

“Why doesn’t the bubbler bubble?”

Sometimes items in the Miller House and Garden Collection resemble surrealist poetry.

Note to Wayne Doede and redirected to Owen Hungerford, 1971, 7/62, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B007_f062_091)

We were surprised to see this 1979 invoice from Charles H. Beckley, Inc. for two reasons. First, the letterhead has a vintage feel to it that suggests the 1950s. Second, the Millers purchased the house’s original mattresses from the same company!

Invoice from Charles H. Beckley, Inc., 22 March 1979, 10/95, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B010_f095_044)