Summary |
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| Creator: | Helm, Frank Kirk. |
| Title: | Frank Kirk Helm Papers |
| Dates: | 1934-1939 |
| Size: | 4 linear feet |
| Abstract: | Architectural drawings created by Frank Kirk Helm during his time as a student at Syracuse University |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
University Archives, Special Collections Research Center Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives |
Biography
Frank Kirk Helm (1916-2000) was an architect and Syracuse University alumnus. Helm was a student in the Architecture Department of Syracuse University's School of Fine Arts in the 1930s, graduating with a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1938 and a master's degree in the same field in 1939. Helm was repeatedly chosen to represent his department in a national competition for the Paris Prize in Architecture hosted by the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects. He was a finalist in the competition for three years and placed second in 1939. Helm also participated in the Rome Collaborative Competition held by the Alumni Association of the American Academy in Rome. The competition placed architects, painters, and sculptors on a team together to develop a design that solved an architectural problem.
After graduating, Helm worked briefly in Syracuse for King & King Architects before moving to Tennessee to work for the Tennessee Valley Authority and then the United States Civil Service. While in Tennessee he also worked for the United States Army during World War II as an architect designing support buildings for the Manhattan Project. Helm eventually moved to San Marino, California in 1958 and took a position with the architecture firm Neptune and Thomas Associates. Helm was heavily involved in the San Marino community, serving on the boards of the local church, public library, and two historical societies. He was also an active member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Syracuse University Alumni Association.
Scope and Content Note
The Frank Kirk Helm Papers consist of various types of architectural drawings completed by Helm as coursework while he was a student in the Architecture Department at Syracuse University. The collection is mainly composed of floor plans and elevation drawings of fictional buildings, though there are some two-point perspective pieces as well, showing the broad range of Helm's architectural and artistic abilities. Some of the fictional buildings designed by Helm include a memorial for Thomas Jefferson, a summer colony for artists, and a clubhouse for architects. Additionally, there are some drawings in the collection that were entry pieces for the Paris Prize in Architecture and the Rome Collaborative Competition.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions for this collection.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
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Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Frank Kirk Helm Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Gift of Sandra Helm Morris in 2021.
Processing Information
Materials were housed in acid-free folders. Pages of acid-free paper were interleaved between drawings made with charcoal or pastels.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Emily Banach
Date: 2021
Revision history: