Collections
Archives, Collections, & Libraries
Charles Moore, like Hadrian, was an inveterate traveler and collector. Starting from a young age, he amassed a stupefying array of folk art and souvenir toys, a collection emblematic of his ultra wide field of vision. The Charles Moore Foundation cares for this sensational collection as well as important libraries. The Foundation also assists with the development of Charles Moore's archival resources, located at various universities.
Folk Art & Toys
Charles Moore began collecting Folk Art and Toys during childhood "classic American road trips" with his parents and sister, Mimi.
Over decades he amassed a collection of great breadth and variety, a collection that became "ornament by default" of his homes.
Moore's collection is not only a record of his worldwide travels, but emblematic of his commitment to pluralism, his steadfast belief that all points of view and expression are worthy of attention.
When the pandemic unfolded upon us, the Director Kevin Keim started a project to fully research, catalog, and photograph the collection. He posts images and descriptions of pieces on Instagram where people from around the world add comments about the origins of items from the collection.
To see this project on Instagram, follow @charlesmoorecollection.
Folk Art Catalog
When the pandemic suddenly descended upon us, Kevin took advantage of the isolation to finally start cataloging Charles Moore's enormous collection of folk art, toys, and artifacts.
The process is painstaking given the breadth and depth of the collection, for which Charles kept no records as he gathered vast sums of objects throughout a lifetime of traveling. Each of the items is assessed and cleaned. Repairs or restoration are made with sensitivity and care—and in most cases are reversible. Kevin Keim photographs every object from many different angles with studio screens, lamps, and strobe lights. (So far, he has taken over 10,000 photographs.) He also built a custom relational database where he enters all of the information and specifications for each item. He continues with research about each item's origin and artist. Finally, he posts many representative pieces on Instagram @charlesmoorecollection. Collectors, artists, and curators often add suggestions and comments about the research.
Add to the Folk Art Collection
We also welcome additions to the collection for care and display in Austin, Santa Monica Canyon, and The Sea Ranch.
Eden Box recently contributed a wonderful masterpiece, Hotel de Las Bellas Mexicanas, of the maestro Pedro Friedeberg of Mexico City. This sculptural fantasy construction was a favorite of the late Hal Box, the University of Texas School of Architecture Dean who spearheaded the effort to bring Charles Moore to Austin.
In 2023, we had the pleasure of welcoming Pedro Friedeberg to see once again the piece at the Charles Moore Foundation. Señor Friedeberg has kindly offered to restore some missing pieces.
If you would like to contribute pieces of Folk Art, please email Kevin Keim.
Libraries
Charles W. Moore Library
Charles Moore’s architectural library is housed at the Moore/Andersson Compound in Austin.
Completely cataloged and shelved in its original condition, the 4,500 volume Moore Library can be searched on UTNetCat.
The Charles Moore Foundation welcomes students, scholars, and the public to make use of the library. Students at the University of Texas may request books via UTNetCat. (Books will be brought to campus for use in Battle Hall. Volumes may not be used outside of the library.) Students and members of the public may also visit the library at the Charles Moore Foundation.
Colin Rowe Library
In 2001 Colin Rowe's family entrusted the care of his fine architectural library to the Charles Moore Foundation and the University of Texas at Austin. Housed in its own space at the Moore/Andersson Compound, the 2,500 volume library has been kept intact as a collection, shelved according to Rowe's preferences. The library has been completely cataloged, and is searchable as a collection on UTNetCat. Emblematic of Rowe’s scholarship and teaching, the library encompasses architecture, urban design, fine art, history, theory, and philosophy.
The Charles Moore Foundation welcomes students, scholars, and the public to make use of the library. Students at the University of Texas may request books via UTNetCat. (Books will be brought to campus for use in Battle Hall. Volumes may not be used outside of the library.) Students and members of the public may also visit the library at the Charles Moore Foundation.
Simply submit an Appointment Request to schedule a visit.
Leland Burns Library
Leland Burns was an economist, urban planner, and musician who taught at the University of California Los Angeles and Cambridge University.
The Burns House collections includes material on art, architecture, economics, musicology, as well as music manuscripts.
A high school intern from the Philadelphia Germantown Friends School will start cataloging the music manuscript collection in January 2023. Once the library and collections are catalogued, students, scholars, and residents will be able to study volumes.
The library is shelved throughout the Burns House in Santa Monica Canyon, a resource for visiting architects, designer, and musicians.
Special Collections
The Charles Moore Foundation cares for libraries and archival materials contributed by friends and colleagues.
• Hal Box Collection of Latin American Architecture
• Robert "Bobby" Cadwallader Collection of 20th-Century Design
How to Contribute Books and Manuscripts
The Charles Moore Foundation gratefully accepts contributions of books, particularly in the areas of architecture, landscape, urbanism, history, and music. If you would like to contribute books, please reach out via email.
Charles Moore Archives
Charles W. Moore Archive — University of Texas at Austin
When the Charles Moore Foundation was established in 1997, Moore’s personal and professional archive was entrusted to the University of Texas at Austin Alexander Architectural Archive for its long-term organization, care, and preservation. The archive is located in the Charles W. Moore Room in Battle Hall, which was designed by Cass Gilbert. The collection documents Moore’s work in architecture, education, and scholarship. The holdings include drawings, models, manuscripts, notes, correspondence, and other papers. The collection also includes tens of thousands of Moore’s 35mm travel slides and even 16mm films.
For appointments and additional information about research policies, please contact the Alexander Architectural Archive. Tel. (512) 495-4621
MLTW Archive — University of California at Berkeley
The archive of Charles Moore's first firm, MLTW Moore Lyndon Turnbull Whitaker is cared for by the Environmental Design Archives at the University of California at Berkeley.
Charles W. Moore Collection — Yale University
The Archives of the Yale Library holds collections related to Charles Moore's work in the 1960s.
Charles W. Moore Collection — Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Art
The Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art holds papers documenting Charles Moore's work between 1960 and 1985.
Charles W. Moore Bibliographic Archive — Charles Moore Foundation, Austin
For several years, the foundation Director, Kevin Keim, has been building an archive of all the publications—books, magazines, journals, and newspapers—that covered Charles Moore's work.
The database now includes over 2,000 entries.
For every entry, we try to obtain a pristine-condition copy of each publication, so that visiting scholars will be able to examine original resources.
If you would like to visit the Bibliographic Archive for research, or if you have any questions about entries, please contact Kevin Keim.