Otto Dommerich residence drawings and photographs
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The collection holds two principal formats: 35 blueprints (e.g., elevations, floor plans, structural details) by architect Harry Pelton of the original house built at 50 East 69th Street, New York City, for Otto L. Dommerich in 1917-18, with one blueprint of the 1944 renovation, and photographs of the house. 13 of the photographs are black-and-white prints of the original house interior and furnishings. Many more of the photographs are color snapshots of details from the interior taken in advance of a 1980s renovation.
Biographical / Historical
The building at 50 East 69th Street, New York City, that as of 2022 is occupied by a medical facility, the Center for Specialty Care, dates to 1918. It was originally built for, and owned by, Otto L. Dommerich (1869-1938). The building was designed by architect Henry C. Pelton of the firm of Allen and Collens. The Dommerich children inherited the house after their mother, Caroline Clausen Dommerich, died in 1943, and sold it at auction to the Henry George School of Social Science, which made alterations. During the school's period of ownership, the house was designated as part of the Upper East Side Historic District; the house is not an individual landmark.
In 1978, the Henry George School sold the house to James W. Smith, MD, who renovated it for the Center for Specialty Care. Schuman, Lichtenstein, Claman and Efron were the architects for the renovation. John Saladino was the interior designer, who preserved the reliefs, fixtures, stained glass windows, and other elements in his design.
(The above note is based on the historical note found in the collection and on information from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission website.)
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by format.
Scope and Contents
The collection holds two principal formats: 35 blueprints (e.g., elevations, floor plans, structural details) by architect Harry Pelton of the original house built at 50 East 69th Street, New York City, for Otto L. Dommerich in 1917-18, with one blueprint of the 1944 renovation, and photographs of the house. 13 of the photographs are black-and-white prints of the original house interior and furnishings. Many more of the photographs are color snapshots of details from the interior taken in advance of a 1980s renovation. Further detail is noted in the container list.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, contact the Print Room Librarian at printroom@nyhistory.org.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as: Otto Dommerich residence drawings and photographs, PR 436, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Lucinda Hay, November 2021.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The drawings were conserved by conservator Alan Balicki in 2021, and the overall collection was processed by archivist Larry Weimer in February 2022.