Constance Clement collection of Yale Center for British Art photographs and negatives

This collection comprises photographic material created 1970–2011 and documents the formation, use, and renovations of the YCBA. Originating from the office of Constance “Cecie” Clement, former Deputy Director and head of building conservation for the YCBA, these photographs are primarily 8" x 10" black-and-white photographs and 35 mm and 120 mm film negatives. Also included are other formats such as CDs, Kodachrome and Ektachrome slides, and proof sheets.

In 2011, Clement, along with Peter Inskip and Stephen Gee, two architects from the United Kingdom, published the groundbreaking Louis I. Kahn and the Yale Center for British Art: A Conservation Plan (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2011). The team of Clement, Gee, and Inskip explored the design and construction of the building, and proposed a plan for its future conservation, the first plan of its kind in the United States. Clement gathered this collection of photographic items and documents in pursuit of clues to how the building may have changed over the years. The materials document the structure, layout, and use of the space as Kahn intended. The purpose of the conservation project headed by Clement was to preserve these intentions and to create a thoughtful plan to ensure their survival in the future.

In addition to photographs focused on construction, building details, and elevations, noteworthy components include images of the shops on Chapel Street in 1970, Louis I. Kahn on site during construction, and Paul Mellon’s visits throughout development, installation, and the museum’s opening. Other YCBA activities are also documented, including docent tours, exhibitions, concerts, staff, and daily museum life.