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Call Number:
A002
Creator:
Yale Center for British Art. Office of the Director
Title(s):
Collection of historic photographs and negatives of the Yale Center for British Art
Date:
1971-2011
Extent:
3.1 linear feet
Classification:
Archives and Manuscripts
Abstract:
This collection is comprised of photographic material created between 1970-2011 and documents the formation, use, and renovations of the Yale Center for British Art. Originating from the office of Constance "Cecie" Clement, Deputy Director and head of building conservation for the YCBA, these photographs are primarily 8" x 10" black and white photographs and 35mm and 120mm film negatives and document the construction, building details, evelations, of the museum as well as events, exchibitions, concerts, staff, and daily museum life.
Conditions Governing Access:
This collection is open without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use:
In Copyright

Items in this collection are protected by copyright and/or related rights. Copyright for some material in this collection is held by Yale University. While these materials may be used for non-commercial purposes without seeking permission from Yale University as the copyright holder, to verify the copyright status of individual items and reproduction of digital materials, please contact ycba.archives@yale.edu or ycba.imaging@yale.edu. Rights-holders for other material in this collection are unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Biographical/Historical:
Constance “Cecie” Clement worked at the Yale Center for British Art (YCBA) from 1979 until her retirement in 2020. She began as the Assistant Director for Publications and Information under the tenure of Edmund (Ted) Pillsbury and served under five directors and two acting directors. On three different occasions Clement served as acting director. Her work focused on the museum’s public programs, publications, membership, special events, publicity, and exhibitions, as well as programs such as the Visiting Scholars. Clement played an essential role in the conservation of the YCBA. In 2003, she, along with London-based architects Peter Inskip and Stephen Gee, created a conservation plan that addressed the changes made to the museum and how to conserve the building for years to come. This work was then carried out in phases throughout the 2010s, with careful attention to the original intentions of Louis I. Kahn (1901-–1974) and the needs of contemporary visitors, staff, and collections. The Yale Center for British Art was designed by the American architect Louis I. Kahn (1901-1974) and completed after his death. The museum was Kahn’s final work and is located across the street from his first commission, the Yale University Art Gallery (opened in 1953). The Center has a sleek, modern aesthetic, and it is the first museum in the United States with incorporated retail space. Notable elements of the design include the juxtaposition of materials similar in color and texture, such as the glass and steel on the façade, the strong geometry of the interior, and the many windows that bathe objects in diffused natural light. In 2005, the Center was awarded the Twenty-Five Year Award by the American Institute of Architects.
Scope and Content:
This collection comprises photographic material created 1970–2011 and documents the formation, use, and renovations of the YCBA. Originating from the office of Constance “Cecie” Clement, former Deputy Director and head of building conservation for the YCBA, these photographs are primarily 8" x 10" black-and-white photographs and 35 mm and 120 mm film negatives. Also included are other formats such as CDs, Kodachrome and Ektachrome slides, and proof sheets. In 2011, Clement, along with Peter Inskip and Stephen Gee, two architects from the United Kingdom, published the groundbreaking <i>Louis I. Kahn and the Yale Center for British Art: A Conservation Plan</i> (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2011). The team of Clement, Gee, and Inskip explored the design and construction of the building, and proposed a plan for its future conservation, the first plan of its kind in the United States. Clement gathered this collection of photographic items and documents in pursuit of clues to how the building may have changed over the years. The materials document the structure, layout, and use of the space as Kahn intended. The purpose of the conservation project headed by Clement was to preserve these intentions and to create a thoughtful plan to ensure their survival in the future. In addition to photographs focused on construction, building details, and elevations, noteworthy components include images of the shops on Chapel Street in 1970, Louis I. Kahn on site during construction, and Paul Mellon’s visits throughout development, installation, and the museum’s opening. Other YCBA activities are also documented, including docent tours, exhibitions, concerts, staff, and daily museum life.
Subject Terms:
Architectural photography
Architecture
Architecture, Modern
Art museum directors
Art museums
Conservation and restoration
Subject Period:
20th Century
Associated People/Groups:
Brewster, Kingman, Jr., 1919-1988
Clement, Constance
Kahn, Louis I., 1901-1974
Mellon, Paul
Yale Center for British Art
Finding Aid Title:
Collection of historic photographs and negatives of the Yale Center for British Art
Collection PDF:
https://ead-pdfs.library.yale.edu/5545.pdf
Archival Object:
https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/3/resources/5545
Metadata Cloud URL:
https://metadata-api.library.yale.edu/metadatacloud/api/aspace/repositories/3/resources/5545?mediaType=json&include-notes=1&include-all-subjects=1