Pencil Points Reader: Selected Readings from a Journal for the Drafting Room, 1920-1943

The first issue of the legendary architecture journal Pencil Points appeared in 1920 as "a journal for the drafting room." Born out of The Architectural Review, and merged with Progressive Architecture in 1943, Pencil Points became the leading voice in architectural and graphic design when modernism flourished, introducing key players from America and Europe. It also established the agenda in architectural theory: multivolume pieces by John Harbeson, Talbot Hamlin, Hugh Ferris, and others dealt with major issues that are still relevant today-architectural education and practice, small-house design and portable housing, city planning, and the influence (or not) of modernism. Items like George Nelson's series of reports from Europe in the early 1930s, H. Van Buren Magonigle's diatribes against modernism, and a glossary of Ecole des Beaux-Arts terms sit side-by-side with the best architectural drawings and photographs of the 20th century.

Pencil Points Reader re-publishes the most important essays from the journal's 23 years, arranged chronologically, and offers an insider's introduction by John Dixon, the former executive editor of Progressive Architecture.

Pencil Points Reader is a prized collector's edition and an essential addition to any architectural library.

A new volume in our Classic Reprint Series

The first issue of the legendary architecture journal Pencil Points appeared in 1920 as "a journal for the drafting room." Born out of The Architectural Review, and merged with Progressive Architecture in 1943, Pencil Points became the leading voice in architectural and graphic design when modernism flourished, introducing key players from America and Europe. It also established the agenda in architectural theory: multivolume pieces by John Harbeson, Talbot Hamlin, Hugh Ferris, and others dealt with major issues that are still relevant today-architectural education and practice, small-house design and portable housing, city planning, and the influence (or not) of modernism. Items like George Nelson's series of reports from Europe in the early 1930s, H. Van Buren Magonigle's diatribes against modernism, and a glossary of Ecole des Beaux-Arts terms sit side-by-side with the best architectural drawings and photographs of the 20th century.

Pencil Points Reader re-publishes the most important essays from the journal's 23 years, arranged chronologically, and offers an insider's introduction by John Dixon, the former executive editor of Progressive Architecture.

Pencil Points Reader is a prized collector's edition and an essential addition to any architectural library.

Library Journal

Pencil Points was one of the more thoughtful architectural journals of the first half of the 20th century. It turns out to have been one of only three nationally distributed magazines of the profession during its life span, the other two being Architectural Record and Architectural Forum. In 1943, it became part of Progressive Architecture, whose last editor in chief, John Morris Dixon, has written a reminiscence as introduction to this book. Edited by Hartman (founder and principal of Hartman Cox Architects) and architectural historian Cigliano (Private Washington), this big, black volume reproduces about 100 of the most significant articles from the original run of the journal, shedding light on the conditions of architectural practice in America between the world wars. Scholars interested in the architecture of the 1920s and 1930s in this country will find this anthology useful, if not essential, as the original volumes are difficult to find and expensive to buy. The production is of excellent quality, in large format and on heavyweight paper, matching the original. Recommended for all academic libraries.-Peter Kaufman, Boston Architectural Ctr. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

George E. Hartman is a founder and principal of Hartman Cox Architects. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Jan Cigliano is an architectural historian and author of several books including Private Washington. She lives in Washington, D.C.