Documenting Modern Living

Irwin Miller asks Sandro Girard what he would like from Russia...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:07:47 -0400

Irwin Miller asks Sandro Girard what he would like from Russia “outside of Vodka and satellites.”

J. Irwin Miller to Alexander H. Girard, 26 March 1962, 2/13, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f013_079)

abitlate: thingsorganizedneatly: SUBMISSION: One to Forty-Nine...

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:06:16 -0400

abitlate:

thingsorganizedneatly:

SUBMISSION: One to Forty-Nine (c. 1968) by Alexander Girard. Gift of the Estate of Xenia S. Miller to the Indianapolis Museum of Art

Missed this. Saw in person at the Miller House, just inside the front door. Totally charming, especially in a house made of squares.

In 1972, Alexander Girard’s One to Forty-Nine (MH2010.3) was being damaged by moths. Once the moths were killed, the box with feathers was treated with hair spray. Check out the note found in the Miller House and Garden Collection.

http://digitizingmillerhouseandgarden.tumblr.com/post/41810643320/girards-one-to-forty-nine-mh2010-3-was-being

No Detail Too Small. “Remove funny thing on wire of...

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:40:30 -0400

No Detail Too Small. “Remove funny thing on wire of telephone” and “use pure white wire.”

Xenia S. Miller to Owen D. Hungerford, January 1979, 10/89, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B010_f089_063)

Nancy Kriplen’s article “An Indiana Town Where Big...

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:00:52 -0400

Nancy Kriplen’s article “An Indiana Town Where Big Names Built” (New York Times, 10 May 2013) chronicles the impact J. Irwin Miller had on the architecture of Columbus, Indiana. When New York Times’ Home News Editor Cynthia Kellogg wrote to Irwin Miller in 1957 asking for permission to publish the Miller House “in a dignified manner,” Mr. Miller replied that he and Mrs. Miller had not yet made up their minds. The house was published in Architectural Forum (September 1958) and House and Garden (February 1959), but not in the New York Times.

Cynthia Kellogg to J. Irwin Miller, 31 July 1957; draft of letter from J. Irwin Miller to Cynthia Kellogg; draft of letter from J. Irwin Miller to Alexander H. Girard, 1/8, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B001_f008_067-068)

Establishing the Move-In Date. The handwritten note at the...

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:21:31 -0400

Establishing the Move-In Date. The handwritten note at the bottom of the page establishes the “cut off date” for reporting deficiencies to the contractor as April 6, 1958. We know, then, the Millers moved into their house on April 6, 1957.

Memo from George Newlin to Larry Hoffman, 17 March 1958, 2/11, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f011_036)

Establishing the Move-In Date. Writing in March 1958, Leon...

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:34:07 -0400

Establishing the Move-In Date. Writing in March 1958, Leon Yulkowski from Eero Saarinen and Associates advises the contractor’s “guarantee against defective workmanship and material” expires one year after the house was occupied. This letter, however, does not give the date of occupancy.

Letter from Leon Yulkowski to Larry Hoffman, 19 March 1958, 2/11, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f011_033)

Establishing the Move-In Date. With Girard’s plans...

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:57:27 -0400

Establishing the Move-In Date. With Girard’s plans finalized to assist with the Millers’ move, there were still many construction items yet to be completed. This memo from March 28, 1957 lists encourages Mr. Miller to set a move-in date so that the trades must complete necessary work.

Memo to J. Irwin Miller, 28 March 1957, 2/9, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f009_051-053)

What did it take for the Millers to move in to their new home?...

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:21:22 -0400

What did it take for the Millers to move in to their new home? Ten people devoted just to furnishings. Girard enlisted the help of his assistant Jeremy Lepard, five people from Ernest LoNano’s company, and three people from Treganowan’s. (LoNano made curtains and pillows and upholstered furniture. Treganowan made and supplied rugs.)

Alexander Girard to Wanda Truitt, 11 March 1957, 2/9, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f009_076-077)

Working with the Miller House and Garden Collection we sometimes...

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:56:36 -0400

Working with the Miller House and Garden Collection we sometimes get the briefest glance into the personal lives of those employed by the Millers. From these two documents, we know that Wanda L. Henderson, nee Truitt (Mr. Miller’s secrectary) married between July 15 and August 2, 1957. Her new initials “WLH” are handwritten on the memo from Girard.

Wanda L. Truitt to Susan Girard, 15 July 1957; Alexander Girard to Wanda Truitt, 30 July 1957, 2/14, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ia_B002_f014_114, 113)

Alexander and Susan Girard established the Girard Foundation so...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:46:08 -0400

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...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:06:00 -0400

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...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:18:02 -0400

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...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:51:37 -0400

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...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:55:44 -0400

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...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:28:15 -0400

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...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:56:05 -0400

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’...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:06:41 -0400

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...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:16:39 -0400

“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....

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:30:33 -0400

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)

We love this sketch of what looks to us to be Eero...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:34:58 -0400

We love this sketch of what looks to us to be Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair. The Millers did have a Womb Chair in the Master Bedroom until at least 1979.

Sketch of Master Bedroom floor plan and chair, 1978, 10/96, Miller House and Garden Collection, IMA Archives, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana. (MHG_Ib_B010_f096_083)