Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Robert E. Schwartz was a mid-century modern architect working out of Midland, Michigan. The collection includes working drawings, sketches, and newspaper clippings of residential and commercial buildings designed.

The Robert E. Schwartz papers reflect the mid-century modern architectural design movement of the mid-20th century in the United States, especially that part of the movement that was employed in residential structures, although the collection contains drawings of his commercial structures as well. His residential structures exhibit fundamental characteristics of the Modern Movement including their simple geometric forms, lack of applied ornamentation, use of large expanses of glass to bring nature and sunlight into the structure, and their open, free-flowing floor plans. The collection has been maintained in the order received and is divided into four series: Architectural Drawings, Newspaper Clippings, Professional Papers, and Visual Material.