Louis L. and Nettie S. Horch Papers, 1920s-1960s

Louis L. and Nettie S. Horch Papers, 1920s-1960s

Summary Information

Abstract

This collection includes office papers and reference papers related to the professional and civic activities of Louis L. and Nettie S. Horch, the Master Institute of United Arts, the Master Apartments, and the Bloomingdale Neighborhood Conservation Association.

At a Glance

Bib ID:
6636038 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Horch, Louis L; Corbett, Harvey Wiley, 1873-1954; Roerich, Nicholas, 1874-1947
Repository:
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
Physical Description:
3 document boxes
Language(s):
English .
Access:

This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information and to make an appointment, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.

Description

Scope and Content

This collection includes office papers and reference papers related to the professional and civic activities of Louis L. and Nettie S. Horch, the Master Institute of United Arts, the Master Apartments, and the Bloomingdale Neighborhood Conservation Association. Additionally, the collection includes documentation regarding the Master Building, which housed the Master Institute of United Art, the Master Apartment Hotel, and the Riverside Museum (formerly known as the Roerich Museum), as well as many of the Horchs' Harlem redevelopment projects. Seeing as Louis and Nettie Horch were instrumental in many redevelopment and conservation projects in Harlem, their papers shed light on the Morningside Heights of the 1950s and 1960s.

Series I: Master Institute of United Art documents the institution founded by Nicholas Roerich, and run by Louis and Nettie Horch. Includes charters, correspondence, financial documents, deeds, permits, and the lease.

Series II: Master Apartment Hotel documents the apartments and hotel located in the Master Building, including correspondence, floor plans, financial documents, inventories, and rent rolls.

Series III: Master Building is made up of documentation regarding the building, including mortgages, deeds, blueprints, and appraisals. Also includes legal documentation from The Master Operating Corp.

Series IV: Bloomingdale Neighborhood Conservation Association is made up of records regarding a cooperative partnership between residents of Morningside Heights and the City of New York. Includes, but is not limited to: correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, newsletters, flyers, and publicity materials.

Series V: Riverside Museum also formerly known as the Roerich Museum, this series contains documentation of the museum located in the Master Building, including catalogs, information regarding the Roerich Museum Apartments, Certificate of name change, deeds, and the litigation that allowed the Horchs to take over the building.

Series VI: Adele Levy Memorial Park consists of documentation regarding a failed effort to open a playground in Riverside Park. Includes committee meetings, correspondence, and publications.

Series VII: Westside Urban Renewal Area includes correspondence, meeting minutes, and publicity materials.

Series VIII: Other Projects contains documentation regarding other Harlem redevelopment projects the Horchs were not instrumental in.

Series IX: Personal Papers includes receipts and bills, correspondence, including letters from Mayor Robert F. Wagner and the Riverside Democrats.

Series X: Newspaper Clippings contains numerous articles relating to Harlem neighborhoods and buildings.

General Note

This collection was donated by Oriole Feshback in 1986 (accession number 1986.005)

Arrangement

This collection contains ten series: Series I: Master Institute of United Art; Series II: Master Apartment Hotel; Series III: Master Building; Series IV: Bloomingdale Neighborhood Conservation Association; Series V: Riverside Museum; Series VI: Adele Levy Memorial Park; Series VII: Westside Urban Renewal Area; Series VIII: Other Projects; Series IX: Personal Papers; Series X: Newspaper Clippings

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information and to make an appointment, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.

Restrictions on Use

Columbia University is providing access to the materials in the Library's collections solely for noncommercial educational and research purposes. The unauthorized use, including, but not limited to, publication of the materials without the prior written permission of Columbia University is strictly prohibited. All inquiries regarding permission to publish should be submitted in writing to the Director, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For additional guidance, see Columbia University Libraries' publication policy.

In addition to permission from Columbia University, permission of the copyright owner (if not Columbia University) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distributions, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the persons desiring to publish the item. Columbia University makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.

Preferred Citation

Louis L. and Nettie S. Horch papers. Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Gift of Oriole Feshback. Accession number--1986.005.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library

Processing Information

Drawings Processed Zoe Milgram (Archives Intern) 03/2011.

Revision Description

2010-03-30 File created.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Biographical / Historical

Mr. and Mrs. Horch financed and directed the Master Institute of United Arts, a New York City-based insitution that taught the fine and dramatic arts that was founded by Nicholas Roerich in 1921. For much of its existence, the Master Institute was housed in the Master Apartments, designed by Harvery Wiley Corbett in 1929 for Roerich and built on the site of the former Horch mansion at 310 Riverside Dr. in New York City. After ligitgation in 1938, the Horches took ownership of the building. They were also closely associated with the Bloomingdale Neighborhood Conservation Association, an cooperative partnership between the City of New York and private citizens to improve the housing and social conditions of residents of the Bloomingdale neighborhood in New York City.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Name
Bloomingdale Neighborhood Conservation Association
Horch, Louis L
Horch, Nettie S
Master Apartments building (New York, N.Y.)
Master Institute of United Arts, Inc
Master Operating Co
Place
New York (N.Y.) -- Buildings, structures, etc
Subject
Apartment houses -- New York (State) -- New York
Architecture -- United States -- Designs and plans

Series I: Master Institute of United Art

documents the institution founded by Nicholas Roerich, and run by Louis and Nettie Horch. Includes charters, correspondence, financial documents, deeds, permits, and the lease.


Box 01 Folder 01

Warranty Deeds, 1923-1925

Includes 2 Warranty Deeds, 1 letter.


Box 01 Folder 10

Chemical Bank, 1957-1964

Includes 38 receipts, 1 statement, 3 certificates of officers, 4 assorted legal documents, 14 letters.


Box 01 Folder 11

Finances, 1959-1963

Includes 3 reports, 2 letters.


Box 01 Folder 12

Westinhouse Electric Corporation, 1961-1962

Includes 3 invoices, 5 letters, 1 Assumption of liability contract, proposal.


Box 01 Folder 13

Correspondence, Tax exemptions, 1935-1965

Includes 36 letters, 2 affidavits, 1 copy of Section 503, 1 questionnaire for religious, charitable, scientific, literary organizations, 2 page analysis of income, salaries.


Box 01 Folder 14

Documentation, Tax exemptions, 1931-1937

27 assorted programs, flyers, copy of Section 19.101-1.


Box 01 Folder 15

Legal Documents, 1962-1963

Includes 2 letters, Agreement of Indemnification, and Bargain and Sale Deed.


Box 01 Folder 16

Correspondence, J. Stanley Halperin, 1962-1963

35 letters.


Box 01 Folder 17

Correspondence, Greenbaum, Wolff, and Ernst, 1948-1949

33 letters.


Box 01 Folder 18

Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 1942-1963

12 letters.


Box 01 Folder 02

Discharge of contract of conditional sale, 1946-1949

2 items.


Box 01 Folder 03

Mortgage, King's County Savings Bank, 1962


Box 01 Folder 04

Lease Agreement, 1967


Box 01 Folder 05

Permits, 1967

2 items.


Drawer 94

Charter, 1943 Apr 16

Issued by the Regents of the University of the State of New York.

2 items: 1 original, 1 copy.


Box 01 Folder 06

Charters, 1943

Includes 3 copies of Charter issued by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, application for charter, 3 copies of Provisional Charter, 3 copies of Amendment to Charter, 2 copies of Amendment to Provisional Charter and Absolute Charter, 4 letters.


Box 01 Folder 07

By-laws, undated


Box 01 Folder 08

Event Programs, 1937-1961

3 items.


Drawer 94

Poster for "The 1966 Late Late Concerts", 1966 Apr 16

Concert held at Philharmonic Hall/Lincoln Center.


Box 01 Folder 09

Prudential Insurance Company, 1935-1949

Includes 36 letters, Extension of loan, 3 receipts.

Series II: Master Apartment Hotel

documents the apartments and hotel located in the Master Building, including correspondence, floor plans, financial documents, inventories, and rent rolls.


Box 01 Folder 19

Closing Statement, 1962

Includes Resolution to the Board of Trustees, 9 full agendas, 6 partial agendas, 1 Contract of Sale, 2 copies of Termination of Lease, 1 list of debits, 1 Closing Statement.


Box 01 Folder 20

Building Report, 1922

6 items.


Box 01 Folder 21

Payroll and Rent Roll, 1948-1957

22 items.


Box 01 Folder 22

Inventories, 1953-1963

6 items.


Box 01 Folder 23

Publicity Material, undated

Includes 4 brochures, 1 postcard, 1 application for apartment, 2 copies of "Additional Information."


Box 01 Folder 24

Letterhead, undated

5 items.


Box 01 Folder 25

Floor plans, undated

5 items.


Box 01 Folder 26

Correspondence, Tenants, 1956-1960

8 letters.


Box 01 Folder 27

Correspondence, Shapiro & Gottesman, 1953-1954

19 letters


Box 01 Folder 28

Correspondence, Robert E. Hill, Inc., 1958

2 letters.


Box 01 Folder 29

Correspondence, Finances, 1948-1952

15 various letters and statements.


Box 01 Folder 30

Finances, General, 1928-1952

Includes 33 various statements, calculator receipts, 3 Statements of Operation, 3 pages of detailed ledger.


Box 01 Folder 31

Finances, Investors Syndicate, 1948-1957

Includes 10 letters, 8 pages of notes, Corporate Note Secured by Mortgage, 5 pages of various documents sent with letters, and 4 newspaper clippings.


Box 01 Folder 32

Rent laws, 1964

Includes 2 copies of letter, note regarding original.

Series III: Master Building

is made up of documentation regarding the building, including mortgages, deeds, blueprints, and appraisals. Also includes legal documentation from The Master Operating Corp.


Box 01 Folder 33

Photographs, 310 Riverside Drive, New York, NY, undated

3 black and white photographs.


Box 01 Folder 34

Copy of blueprint (?), undated

3 items.


Box 01 Folder 35

Deeds, 1916-1927

Includes 4 deeds, 4 warranty deeds.


Box 01 Folder 36

Bonds, 1899-1926

5 items.


Box 01 Folder 37

Mortgages, 1905-1926

4 items.


Box 01 Folder 38

Closing Statement, 1923

2 documents.


Box 01 Folder 39

Purchase Agreement, 1934

1 item.


Box 01 Folder 40

Correspondence, Samuel Kronsky, Co., 1948-1949

Includes 6 letters, and 4 various statements.


Box 01 Folder 41

Correspondence, Appraisals, 1948-1966

6 letters.


Box 01 Folder 42

Appraisals, 1932-1948, 1932-1948

Includes 1 copy of 1932 appraisal, 3 copies of 1948 appraisal.


Box 01 Folder 43

Appraisal, 1962, 1962

2 bound copies.


Box 01 Folder 56

The Master Operating Corp., Report of Change in Identity


Box 01 Folder 57

The Master Operating Corp., Certificate of incorporation, 1958

1 item.


Box 01 Folder 58

The Master Operating Corp., Bill of Sale, 1962

Includes Bill of Sale, 1 letter.


Box 01 Folder 59

he Master Operating Corp., Litigation, 1960-1961

Includes 1 letter, 4 various statements, 1 copy of claim.

Series IV: Bloomingdale Neighborhood Conservation Association

is made up of records regarding a cooperative partnership between residents of Morningside Heights and the City of New York. Includes, but is not limited to: correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, newsletters, flyers, and publicity materials.


Box 01 Folder 60

Proposed neighborhood conservation contract, 1963

Contract not filled out.


Box 01 Folder 61

Certificate of incorporation, 1959

1 item.


Box 01 Folder 62

Constitution and By-laws, 1960-1961

Includes 2 letters, 2 copies of By-laws.


Box 01 Folder 63

Letterhead, undated

Includes 3 envelopes, 1 page letterhead, 1 flyer.


Box 01 Folder 64

Lease, 1965

1 item.


Box 01 Folder 65

Reports, 1959-1963, 1959-1963

8 items.


Box 01 Folder 66

Reports, 1966-1967, 1966-1967

7 items.


Box 02 Folder 01

Steering Committee Minutes, 1959-1960, 1959-1960

49 agendas and minutes.


Box 02 Folder 10

Correspondence, Fund raising, 1960-1964

Includes 28 letters, 1 pledge form.


Box 02 Folder 11

Correspondence, tax exemptions, 1963

3 letters.


Box 02 Folder 12

Memos, 1959-1966

37 items.


Box 02 Folder 13

Memos, Juliet Brudney, 1959-1966

48 items.


Box 02 Folder 14

Meeting invitations, 1959-1960?

22 items.


Box 02 Folder 15

Press Releases, 1963-1964


Box 02 Folder 16

Newsletters, 1960-1966

24 items.


Box 02 Folder 18

Photographs, undated

4 color photographs.


Box 02 Folder 19

"Parks, Plans, People - A Prologue", 1963

3 items.


Box 02 Folder 02

Steering Committee Minutes, 1961-1963, 1961-1963

19 agendas and minutes.


Box 02 Folder 20

Grosvenor House, 1960-1962

Includes 1 brochure, 1 letter.


Box 02 Folder 03

Steering Committee Minutes, 1964-1967, 1964-1967

16 agendas and minutes.


Box 02 Folder 04

Finances, 1959-1965

26 various statements and reports, 1 copy of Statement of Cash Receipts and Distributions from Aronson & Oresman, CPA.


Box 02 Folder 05

Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 1959-1960

26 letters.


Box 02 Folder 06

Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 1961-1967

32 letters.


Box 02 Folder 07

Correspondence, Juliet Brudney, 1959-1961

53 letters.


Box 02 Folder 08

Correspondence, Hortense Gabel, 1959-1965

Includes 28 letters, 3 newspaper clippings.


Box 02 Folder 09

Correspondence, Carol Petegorsky, 1959

Includes 6 letters, 1 copy of resume.


Box 02 Folder 17

Bloomingdale Neighborhood Recreation Committee, Flyers, 1950-1962?

41 items.

Series V: Riverside Museum

also formerly known as the Roerich Museum, this series contains documentation of the museum located in the Master Building, including catalogs, information regarding the Roerich Museum Apartments, Certificate of name change, deeds, and the litigation that allowed the Louis and Nettie Horch to take over the building.


Box 01 Folder 44

Program, Laying of Cornerstone, 1929

1 item.


Box 01 Folder 45

Certificate of Name Change, 1938

Includes certificate, 2 receipts.


Drawer 94

Certificate of Special Merit, 1962 Jan 15-18

Given by the Printing Industries of Metropolitan New York, Inc. "for an outstanding example of printing displayed in the 20th Exhibition of Printing"


Drawer 94

Certificate of Distinguished and Exceptional Service, 1957 Oct 18

Given by Robert I. Wagner, the Mayor of the City of New York, "in recognition of [Riverside Museum's] cooperation with artists' associations, their encouragement of our American artists, and their aid in the cultural education of our citizenry, all without cost to the city.


Box 01 Folder 46

Deeds, 1927-1928

Includes 4 Warranty Deeds, 2 Deeds.


Box 01 Folder 47

Floor plan, 1966

1 item.


Box 01 Folder 48

Construction Work Balance Sheet, 1929

3 pages.


Box 01 Folder 49

Correspondence, Chatham Phoenix, 1930-1931

19 letters.


Box 01 Folder 50

Correspondence, Miller & Hubel, 1931

Includes 5 letters, 9 various statements.


Box 01 Folder 51

Correspondence, 1949-1964

11 letters.


Box 01 Folder 52

Roerich Litigation, 1929-1939

Includes 12 letters, 3 legal documents.


Box 01 Folder 53

Catalogs, 1927-1935

7 items: "The Roerich Museum Presents a Collection of Important Paintings for unrestricted public sale at the American Art Association Anderson Galleries, Inc. (1930); Master Institue of the Roerich Museum [Course offerings for] 1929-1930; "The Docks Bridges Waterways of New York by COntemporary Artists of the Metropolitan Area" (1935); "Exhibition of Plans for a Restoration of King Solomon's Temple, Corona Mundi International Art Center, Inc." (1927) [4 copies]


Box 01 Folder 54

"A Guide to Asian Collections in American Museums", 1964

1 item.


Box 01 Folder 55

Roerich Museum Apartments, 1931

Includes 2 brochures, 1 letter.

Series VI: Adele Levy Memorial Park

consists of documentation regarding a failed effort to open a playground in Riverside Park. Includes committee meetings, correspondence, and publications.


Box 02 Folder 21

Correspondence, 1963-1966

23 letters.


Box 02 Folder 22

Committee Meetings, 1963-1964

4 agendas and meeting minutes, 6 various statements.


Box 02 Folder 23

Publications, 1964-1966?

Includes 2 brochures, 2 flyers.

Series VII: Westside Urban Renewal Area

includes correspondence, meeting minutes, and publicity materials.


Box 02 Folder 24

Correspondence, Demov & Morris, 1959-1964

20 letters.


Box 02 Folder 25

Meetings, 1959

21 various letters, minutes, and statements.


Box 02 Folder 26

Preliminary Plan, 1959

1 item.

Series VIII: Other Projects

contains documentation regarding other Harlem redevelopment projects that were not spearheaded by Louis and Nettie Horch.


Box 02 Folder 27

Bloomingdale Neighborhood Recreation Committee, 1963?

Includes 4 brochures, 3 press releases, 2 meeting minutes.


Box 02 Folder 28

Neighborhood Council for the Redevelopment of Riverside Park, 1963-1966

Includes 10 copies of newsletter, 9 various flyers, statements.


Box 02 Folder 29

Riverside Park Program Committee, 1963

Includes flyer, 2 copies of Resolution, 4 press releases, and 7 various meeting invitations and minutes.


Box 02 Folder 30

Bloomingdale Conservation Project, 1963

Includes 6 various flyers.


Box 02 Folder 31

Frederick Douglass House, 1963

Includes 3 flyers, 1 postcard, and program for groundbreaking.


Box 02 Folder 32

Creative Housing, 1961-1962

Includes 1 letter, 1 press release, 1 meeting minutes.


Box 02 Folder 33

The Morningside Citizen, 1961-1964

2 newsletters.


Box 02 Folder 34

Miscellaneous, 1959-1964

Includes 2 brochures, 8 various flyers, 1 resume (Mary M. Bower), newsletters, and meeting minutes.


Box 02 Folder 35

The New York City Housing Authority's Federally-Aided Program, 1962

1 program.


Box 02 Folder 36

Blank certification of corporate authority to transfer, 1949

3 items.


Box 02 Folder 37

65 Park Terrace, Photograph, undated

1 black and white photograph.

Series IX: Personal Papers

includes receipts and bills, correspondence, including letters from Mayor Robert F. Wagner and the Riverside Democrats.


Box 03 Folder 01

Louis Horch, Photograph, undated

1 black and white photograph.


Box 03 Folder 10

Notes, 1935-1971?

Approximately 78 handwritten notes on scraps of paper.


Box 03 Folder 02

Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 1948-1972

Includes 31 letters, 2 sheets of stationary from Hotel Metropole Bruxelles.


Box 03 Folder 03

Letter and certificate issued by Mayor Robert F. Wagner, 1960

Includes 4 copies of letter from Mayor Wagner, 1 copy of draft letter to Mayor Wagner, 2 copies of letter sent to Mayor Wagner, 3 copies of certificate, 1 copy of text on certificate.


Box 03 Folder 04

Correspondence, Riverside Democrats, 1948-1972

Includes 13 letters, 1 brochure, literature for 3 meetings, 2 membership cards.


Box 03 Folder 05

Correspondence, William F. Ryan, 1960-1964

Includes 2 letters, 4 copies of Congressional Record.


Box 03 Folder 06

Bills and receipts, 1958-1968

14 various bills and receipts.


Box 03 Folder 07

Tourist's permit to buy foreign liquor, 1960

1 item.


Box 03 Folder 08

Business cards and brochures, undated

12 business cards, 2 brochures.


Box 03 Folder 09

Program, Associated Hotels, Inc. 27th Annual Dinner, 1960

Series X: Newspaper Clippings

contains numerous articles relating to Harlem neighborhoods and buildings.


Box 03 Folder 11

Various Articles, Undated, undated

Approximately 38 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 12

Various Articles, 1927-1949, 1927-1949

5 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 13

Various Articles, 1958-1959, 1958-1959

Approximately 26 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 14

Various Articles, 1960, 1960

Approximately 39 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 15

Various Articles, 1961, 1961

Approximately 24 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 16

"Brightening the Gray Areas", The New York Times, 1961

2 copies of the New York Times Magazine, October 22, 1961.


Box 03 Folder 17

Various Articles, 1962, 1962

Approximately 13 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 18

Various Articles, 1963, 1963

Approximately 46 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 19

Various Articles, 1964, 1964

Approximately 52 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 20

Various Articles, 1965, 1965

14 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.


Box 03 Folder 21

Various Articles, 1966, 1966

17 newspaper clippings regarding various subjects.