Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
John Di Castri fonds
General material designation
- Multiple media
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Titled based on contents of fonds.
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1918 - 2005 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
3 m of textual records and other material
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
John A. Di Castri was a Canadian architect born in Victoria, British Columbia and a key figure in establishing modern architecture in that city. At the age of 16, he was hired as an apprentice at the Architectural Branch of the B.C. Department of Public Works and received his education by correspondence. In 1947, he worked briefly in the office of Birley, Wade & Stockdill before leaving to study at the University of Oklahoma under Bruce Goff, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. Di Castri returned to Victoria in 1951 and went into partnership with W. Nicholls before starting his own practice in 1952. He was committed to establishing modern architecture in Victoria and had a major impact on the community throughout his career. He designed shops and churches, private residences and public buildings. Major works include his award-winning Trend House; the Canadian Institute for the Blind building; the University of Victoria Student Union Building, Cornett Building and Interfaith Chapel; and the Crystal Pool. In his obituary, Di Castri was called "an essential figure in West Coast architecture in the postwar years."
Custodial history
The fonds was originally stored in the Di Castri firm's offices before being transferred to the basement of Di Castri's home. The material donated was selected by Martin Segger and Chris Gower in 2007 and transferred to Special Collections.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of architectural plans and drawings by Di Castri for homes and buildings in Victoria and other locations in B.C. Fonds also includes notes, correspondence, construction contracts and photographs of commissioned projects, as well as portfolios, proposals, articles about Di Castri, notebooks, and manuscripts.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
The fonds is arranged into five series: I. Project records, II. Personal papers, III. Writings, IV. Additional materials, and V. Project drawings and plans.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Some of the materials (floppy diskettes, mini audio cassettes, film reels) are restricted due to lack of compatible equipment.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
An inventory is available.
Generated finding aid
Associated materials
Accruals
Physical description
Includes 3,023 architectural plans; 1,118 photographs.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
- Architects--British Columbia--Victoria
- Architecture--Designs and plans
- Architecture--Photographs
- Campus planning--British Columbia--Victoria
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Administration Building (Proposed)
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Cornett Building
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Student Union Building
- University of Victoria (B.C.). University Interfaith Chapel
- University of Victoria (B.C.)--Buildings
Place access points
Name access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Status
Final
Level of detail
Full
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Revised by JF, July 24, 2013.
Language of description
- English
Script of description
Sources
Digital content metadata
Filename
di-castri_inventory.pdf
Latitude
Longitude
Media type
Text
Mime-type
application/pdf