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Catherine Minkiewicz student work

 Collection
Identifier: KA-0115-01

Summary

The collection consists primarily of course assignments in the form of a collage, presentation boards, photographs, and a watercolor rendering by interior designer Catherine Minkiewicz (1966) during her studies in Parsons School of Design's Interior Design Department.

Dates

  • 1964-1966

Creator

Extent

1.5 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents of Collection

The collection consists of student work Catherine Minkiewicz created during a course of study in Parsons School of Design's Interior Design Department. It does not include records of her professional career, nor does it contain personal materials.

A substantial portion of the collection is a project focusing on the proposed restoration of an historic hotel in Montreal for the 1967 International and Universal Exposition, commonly known as "Expo 67." Project materials include a typed and bound report, design drawings of the Rasco's Hotel structure, and presentation boards featuring maps and historic images of Montreal. Color photographs of three-dimensional models, a collage based on J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye (1951), presentation boards for a restaurant and a residential project, and a watercolor rendering represent the remaining student work. None of the projects are dated, but all were completed within the same two-year span of 1964-1966.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment.

Use Restrictions

To publish images of material from this collection, permission must be obtained in writing from the New School Archives. Please contact: archivist@newschool.edu.

Biographical note

Catherine Minkiewicz was born in Canada. She studied architecture at McGill University before relocating to Long Island, New York with her husband, Michael. Minkiewicz transferred from McGill to Parsons School of Design's Interior Design Department in 1964, studying lighting design, figure drawing, art and design history, and -- of importance to her future career path -- public speaking. Among her classmates and friends were designers Bob Bray, Mike Schaible, and Larry Durham. She graduated from the program in 1966.

Following graduation, Minkiewicz designed commercial spaces for MIA Commercial Interiors, then Jones and Mogensen, Architects, both located on Long Island. The headquarters and regional offices of Con Edison, New York City's energy provider, were among her interior design projects. She left the workforce to raise a family, but later returned to college to complete degrees in the history of architecture and liturgy through the State University of New York. Following Michael's retirement, she became a family minister and served as Director of Lay Ministry and Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Boston, a career lasting over a decade.

The Minkiewiczes retired to Martha's Vineyard, where Catherine Minkiewicz serves as the Chair of the Christian Education Committee of her local church and as the president of a garden club.

A personal essay written by Cartherine Minkiewicz for a Kellen Design Archives-sponsored exhibition is available upon request.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Catherine Minkiewicz, 2010.

Related Materials

Researchers may also wish to consult the New School Archives’ additional holdings of student work from the Interior Design and Environmental Design Departments in Parsons School of Design academic departments, programs and schools collection (pre-2009 accessions) (PC.02.01.01) and Parsons School of Design academic departments, programs and schools (PC.02.01.02).

Title
Guide to the Catherine Minkiewicz student work
Status
Completed
Author
New School Archives and Special Collections Staff
Date
September 21, 2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • May 10, 2024: Archivist added 1 OSxxx folder of work that had initially been left out of inventory; updated extent.