The Richard Nickel Archive, a collection of architectural photographs by Richard Nickel (1928-1972), includes some 15,000 negatives. These outstanding photographs, mainly of Chicago and Midwestern architecture, are often the sole record of a building and the surrounding environment.

In October 2010, following the publication of our book The Complete Architecture of Adler & Sullivan, we were pleased to announce that the Richard Nickel Committee has donated its extensive archive of over 15,000 negatives, along with photographs, historic research files and Nickels personal library of books to the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at The Art Institute of Chicago.

This gift, part of a two phase donation is to be known as the Richard Nickel Archive, within the Burnham and Ryerson Libraries at The Art Institute of Chicago and will be available to researchers, scholars and individuals interested in Chicagos rich architectural heritage in perpetuity.

The donation also included digital material and a larger portion will be available in the coming months ahead on the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries website. In the interim, this material would be available by appointment. Please contact the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at The Art Institute of Chicago for further information at 312.443.3600