Collection consists of photographs and slides taken by R. D. Butterfield from 1952-1983, and donated to the Visual Resources Collection at the encouragement of Abbott Lowell Cummings. Most are architectural studies, with particular emphasis on Venice's Grand Canal, Palladio and his influence, New England churches, and churches by Christopher Wren. Mr. Butterfield was a practicing architect, M.Arch. Yale, based in Farmington, CT. He died in 1986. Mr. Butterfield was interested in comparisons between British and European architecture and New England architecture, and had an exhibit at the New Britain Museum of American Art in 1983, "Towers From-The-Ground-Up," on that subject. The exhibit is thoroughly documented in this collection. Palladio's influence on American architecture is also explored, as is Wren's. All slides have been carefully labeled according to Mr. Butterfield's numbering system, and his slide index is enclosed with the collection in Box 26. Many of them are also briefly identified on the slide mounts. The photos are of very high quality, although some of the film has faded. The index details the year the photo was taken, the subject, the camera and film, and sometimes even the time of day.
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