happy birthday, may modernists.

This week in history gave us so many modernists.

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer and donor. Photographs of the Strom Thurmond Federal Building and U. S. Courthouse in Columbia, South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina, 2006. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

I don't know what it is about the second half of the month of May, but so many of my favorite modern minds- Florence Knoll, Alexander Girard, George Nakashima, Marcel Breuer, and Walter Gropius- were all born during the last week or so. To celebrate these design Geminis (well, Gropius was technically a Taurus), here is a look at some of my favorite May icon-related posts.

Library of Congress, HABS Collection (MA-1228).

Walter Gropius (May 18, 1883)
the house that gropius built.

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. The Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, located at 451 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, 2013634100.

Marcel Breuer (May 21, 1902)
everything breuer.

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. The recessed "conversation pit," as the family called it, at the Miller House. Columbus, Indiana. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, 2016631846.

Alexander Girard (May 24, 1907)
10 things: ALEXANDER GIRARD

Connecticut General Building designed by Florence Knoll Bassett. Top floor lounge, ca. 1950 / unidentified photographer. Florence Knoll Bassett papers, 1932-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Florence Knoll (May 24, 1917)
"don't call me a decorator" Florence Knoll turns 100!

As always, thanks for reading. Check back next week for something new and Breuer-related. 

Image at top:
Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. Part of the living room and a recessed area that the family called the "conversation pit" at the Miller House. Columbus, Indiana. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, 2016631833.