The Archives
The Foundation’s archives preserve two collections, the Jack C. Massey Architectural Archives that house a significant collection of large-format architectural drawings, and the Mr. and Mrs. Paul Van der Grift Architectural Image Archives containing historic photographs, slides, and digital image collections. These collections advance the Foundation’s mission by facilitating the preservation of and access to invaluable historic documents. Housed in a climate-controlled vault in the Foundation’s headquarters, the archives and library house plentiful resources that are available to Foundation members as well as researchers, architects, students, and historians.
The Foundation’s most precious collections are the architectural drawings of four prominent Palm Beach architects: Marion Sims Wyeth (1889–1982); John L. Volk (1901-1984); Belford W. Shoumate (1903–1991); and Henry K. Harding (1904–1984). The architectural drawing collections contain over 50,000 original renderings, some nearly a century old. The archives also house over 3,000 property files arranged by address, containing photographs, newspaper articles, historic designation reports, and other information about the built environment of Palm Beach.
The Foundation is committed to research initiatives that enhance its collections and advance scholarship in the history of Palm Beach. Over the past 20 years, the Foundation has published 7 books that document the town’s heritage. Seasonal staff-curated exhibitions highlight the Foundation’s collections and explore the significance of historic preservation in the 21st century.
The Library
The Robert M. Grace Library, named in honor of a founding member of the Foundation, is a beautiful reading room with a comfortable seating area overlooking Pan’s Garden. The library houses a circulating collection of books and periodicals on topics such as architecture, historic preservation, gardening, landscape architecture, urban planning, and local history.
The Foundation’s library also hosts periodic museum exhibits which celebrate the lives and works of prominent Palm Beach architects, designers, and residents whose contributions to the beauty of the island are still evident today. The library complements the Foundation’s archival collections and promotes historic preservation advocacy and education initiatives.
Policies
Research at the Foundation
The Foundation’s archives are accessible to members for research and non-circulating use only. To schedule an in-person research appointment please see contact details below. Research requests are approved at the discretion of the Preservation Foundation. Finding aids for our architectural collections are available upon request.
Image Permission
The Foundation’s archives hold an extensive collection of historic images, periodicals, architectural drawings, and more. To obtain permission to use the Foundation’s archival images, please see contact details below.
Location
311 Peruvian Avenue
Palm Beach, FL 33480
Contact
Amanda Capote, Archives & Programming Associate
acapote@palmbeachpreservation.org
561.832.0731 x 112
Hours
Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
Closed on major holidays.