Archives of American Gardens

American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Company architectural drawings collection, 1923-1964

Summary

Collection ID:
AAG.MON
Creators:
American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Co.
Dates:
1923-1964
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
8 Cubic feet
306 architectural plans and drawings.
Repository:
The American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Corporation Collection includes 306 architectural plans and drawings of greenhouses, solariums, conservatories, garages, and other structures designed by American-Moninger for clients throughout the United States dating from 1923 to 1964.

Scope and Content note

Scope and Content note
The American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Corporation Collection includes 306 architectural plans and drawings of greenhouses, solariums, conservatories, garages, and other structures designed by American-Moninger for clients throughout the United States dating from 1923 to 1964. Many of the plans were generated for private clients, though there are several greenhouses for nurseries and florists and some for universities, parks, and public entities like the Merck Company in Rahway, New Jersey and the Veterans Administration Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. The majority of the plans were made for clients located on the East Coast of the United States; there are also projects in California, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. Most of the jobs in the collection include just a single plan, though it is apparent from the firm's plan numbering system that some jobs could be quite extensive with numerous plans generated. Most of the plans and drawings bear a title block by American-Moninger with the client name, city, and date. The majority of plans are on tracing paper, though there are also some reprographic prints and drawings on tracing cloth. Few plans indicate the actual street address of the project. Most of the drawings indicate sections and elevations, though there are some plan views and a small number of perspective drawings showing a completed structure. None of the plans indicate whether the structure was built or not.

Arrangement note

Arrangement note
Each property represented in the American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Corporation Collection has been assigned a unique AAG Garden Number based on its geographic location.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
The American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Corporation Collection designed and manufactured greenhouses, conservatories, solariums and other structures for clients throughout the United States. The John C. Moninger Co. of Chicago, which formed around 1870, merged with the American Greenhouse Manufacturing Co. sometime between 1928 and 1931 to form the American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Company. The company was located at 1820 Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn, New York with sales offices in Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Amityville, New York. The firm apparently had field representatives in various locations; E.T. Orcutt is listed as 'Representative, East Orange, New Jersey' in the American-Moninger title block of one plan. The firm sometimes listed the initials of the designer or draftsman in the title block. Architectural firms that American-Moninger collaborated with are sometimes indicated on the title block of the plans.

Administration

Author
Marca Woodhams
Custodial History note
It is not known how this collection came to the Archives of American Gardens. It is characterized as 'found in collection.'

Using the Collection

The majority of plans are on tracing paper, though there are also some reprographic prints and drawings on tracing cloth.
Conditions Governing Access note
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Conditions Governing Use note
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Preferred Citation note
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Company Architectural Drawings Collection.

Related Archival Materials note
The University of Delaware Library's Special Collections Department holds additional plans generated by the American-Moninger Greenhouse Manufacturing Company.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Greenhouses Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Conservatories Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sunspaces Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Garages Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Plans (drawings) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Gardens
P.O. Box 37012
Capital Gallery West, Suite 3300, MRC 506
Washington, DC 20013-7012
aag@si.edu