Browse Items · The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects

Doctor's Office Building, 1966-1972

This set contains images documenting the design and construction of a medical office building and its annex, located at 250 E Liberty Street, Louisville, KY, currently owned by the University of Louisville and utilized as Medical Plaza II (as of 2024). Designed by architect Jasper D. Ward, the set includes architectural drawings, elevation views, site plans, photographs, conceptual sketches, and a rendering, emphasizing the building's forked design and modernist style. Construction began in 1966 and was completed in 1972. The project was awarded the Portland Cement Association Award in 1971 for its innovative use of concrete.

Big Four Bridge - Urban Development Proposal - 1969

These images show two architectural sketches by Jasper Ward, illustrating proposed shops on the Big Four Bridge in Louisville, Kentucky. The drawings, depicted in white on a dark background, detail a conceptualization of shop spaces integrated within the existing steel structure of the bridge. The sketches accentuate the industrial framework, prominently featuring structural elements like trusses and beams, creating a dynamic and intricate visual composition. The images emphasize Ward's vision of adaptive reuse, transforming the bridge into a thriving commercial area while preserving its historic industrial character.

Louisville Windchime Gateway, 1988

The set contains architectural drawings and plans related to the "Louisville Windchime Gateway" project, an addition to the 6th Street Parking Garage in Louisville, Kentucky. Jasper Ward Architects produced these drawings and detailed the design and construction of the 28 ft. tall windchime gateway, a public art installation integrated into the garage. The documents highlight various views, including front and plan views of the windchime structure and the overall architectural integration with the existing parking facility. The project was a collaboration between the City of Louisville and the Parking Authority of River City (PARC) and received support from the Mayor's Advisory Committee for Public Amenities. The drawings include annotations and measurements, illustrating the technical and artistic aspects of the gateway's design. The design is attributed to Greg Schrodt.

House for Vernon Robertson, 1977-1979

The set contains architectural drawings and plans for a residential project called "House for Vernon Robertson, Nelson County, Kentucky," designed by architect Jasper Ward. It includes detailed floor plans for the first and second floors, foundation plans, elevations, sections, and detailed construction details such as the cistern deck and roof structures. Hand-drawn sketches and axonometric drawings provide three-dimensional views of the house's structure, illustrating the passive solar design, energy efficiency features, and complex roof design. In addition, the drawings include detailed construction techniques such as cross-sections of walls, roof trusses, and the integration of structural and insulation systems. These demonstrate the architectural firm's approach to spatial organization, material usage, and mid-20th-century architectural practices. These documents are important for understanding the design's technical aspects, architectural innovation, and construction methodology, reflecting the residential project's aesthetic and functional considerations.

Ballard Mills, 1969

The images in this set showcase architect Jasper D. Ward's innovative 1969 design for converting the Ballard Mills grain silos at 912 E. Broadway, Louisville, KY, into a mixed-use development featuring apartments, offices, and recreational spaces. This project exemplifies Ward's advocacy for adaptive reuse of existing structures, illustrating a bold approach to repurposing industrial buildings. The detailed architectural plans include 48 circular efficiency apartments, 84 split-level apartments, a restaurant, a recreation room, and a pool with a heated bubble atop the towers. A notable feature of the design is the pool, which was to be partially submerged within the bar area, allowing patrons to view swimmers through large portholes.

The set comprises architectural drawings of various levels, elevations, and site plans. These include floor plans that demonstrate meticulous attention to detail and spatial arrangements, as well as exterior elevations that emphasize symmetry, window placement, and overall building massing. The recurring circular and curved motifs reflect an emphasis on both aesthetic form and functional space usage, contributing to the project's unique architectural character.

Although this ambitious design was never realized, as the silos were demolished in 1972, these documents provide significant insight into mid-20th-century architectural practices, adaptive reuse strategies, and Ward's visionary approach to design.

Garage Addition, David Wilson House, February 1980

This set contains architectural drawings for a garage addition to the David Wilson House in the Benchmark subdivision in New Albany, Indiana, designed by Jasper Ward in February 1980. The set includes detailed cross-sections, elevations, and floor plans, showcasing the design and structural elements of the garage addition, such as the roofline, interior loft space, and exterior facade. These drawings provide insight into this project's architectural style and construction details.

Photographs of ballet dancers Helen Starr and Dale Brennan, May 1995

Louisville Ballet dancers Helen Starr and Dale Brennan performing for press photographs. The pair portrayed a couple in Domy Reiter-Soffer's Holocaust remembrance ballet entitled A Time to Remember. The performance premiered at the Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 25, 1995.

The Voice of Club 60, November 1965

Newspaper of the Louisville, Kentucky, Jewish Community Center and National Council of Jewish Women's Club 60. The publication includes an article beginning on page 3 that details the youth, immigration, and subsequent settling of Jewish Frenchman Jacques Wolff (1903-1977) in the United States. Includes his service in the French army, and his personal losses to the German army and the Holocaust, after which he was able to work in wholesale business in Louisville, Kentucky. Jacques was the husband of Denise Wolff, one of the founders of Club 60.

Pages 6-8 are missing from the original version in the Filson's collection.