If “the Boss, ” “his Nibs, ” the “old Man” or any one of the affectionate, or otherwise nicknames by which the drafting room force designates the architect who employs them, will devote a few moments to careful examination of the admirably arranged Index that formed a part of our issue of December 20th, he will learn, and perhaps much to his surprise, that he has failed to avail himself of considerable valuable information, right at hand, that he has endeavored to get in other directions. The time-worn joke that no one reads an architectural journal is now obsolete. We recall that many years ago, we called on an architect of high reputation who specialized along certain lines of practice. Our object was to induce him to contribute an article that we felt sure would be very much worth while. His reply to our request was “What’s the use; who reads an architectural journal? ” So we went back to our desk and carefully prepared a harmless, but very inaccurate personal paragraph, citing this man as our source of authority. The day after the item
appeared in The AMERICAN ARCHITECT, we were called on the phone and asked by an irate man what we meant by such a statement. Our comeback was to ask him if he saw it himself in the issue. He indignantly replied, “Yes, and twenty people have called my attention to it. ” “So then, ” I asked him, ˮsomeone does read an architectural journal? ” I heard a snicker, and at once asked, “Now, do I get that article? ” ˮCome over, ” said he “and letʼs talk it over. ” I did get the article and it was so good that our English contemporaries reprinted it.
We suggest to the subscriber who has given little attention to his architectural journals, but has turned them over to his drafting room, that he look carefully over the Index in our issue of December 20th. His curiosity will undoubtedly be stimulated and he ll upset the whole office in a search for a particular issue or issues that have articles or series on topics on which he particularly desired to be posted. Our indexes in every instance are records of “past performances, ” and like any similar record, indicate the ability of those in editorial charge to keep abreast of the times. When we “pick a winner, ” whether a horse, an employee, or a stock, we base our judgment on past performance. While it is the custom of publishers to loudly proclaim, in advance, just what will be accomplished in the future, we want the present subscriber and the prospective one to judge us on what we have accomplished.
We shall not loudly proclaim our policy for 1928, further than to state that the editors and publishers of THE AMERICAN ARCHITECT, being practical and long trained men in their respective departments, will endeavor to make this journal so valuable to the profession of architecture as to command respect and insure support.
As to the treatment of indexes, we suggest that a file, marked Indexes, be started in the architect’s office and that all indexes be carefully placed there. To illustrate, let us recount a daily experience. Every day, and many times our editorial department is asked over the phone if we have ever published a certain building or articles on certain topics. We are, of course, here to answer just such inquiries and are glad of every opportunity to be of service, but if the architect had his indexes filed, he would discover just when there was published the thing he wants to know about and by what journal. It may very often happen that what he wants to know is buried somewhere right in his own office.
Persons engaged in the profession of architecture are frequently described as being peculiar, endowed with mental processes that differ from their neighbors, are stated to be persons difficult to meet and know, and who have idiosyncrasies that set them apart from the rest of humanity. These opinions must be expressed by individuals who have occasionally encountered an architect who differs from the average person. As a matter of fact, architects are very human and possess at least the usual amount of human nature. Architects are often maligned by those with whom they have financial dealings, as being men of poor credit. I he sense of obligation of architects as a profession is. we believe, as high as that of any other group, and if our own experiences are a criterion, their credit is higher than the average. A recent experience demonstrates this in at least one instance. In 1917 one of our subscribers was apparently unable to pay for his subscription to THE AMERICAN Architect. A final statement of his account brought no results. Recently, we received a check for payment of the account in full, pinned to the grayed and yellowed statement sent to him ten years ago. Persons who are sufficiently meticulous to retain bills of purchase for ten years and eventually pay them when their financial condition permits, are a rarity. We are proud that one of this type is a member of the architectural profession, and we sincerely believe there are many more.
appeared in The AMERICAN ARCHITECT, we were called on the phone and asked by an irate man what we meant by such a statement. Our comeback was to ask him if he saw it himself in the issue. He indignantly replied, “Yes, and twenty people have called my attention to it. ” “So then, ” I asked him, ˮsomeone does read an architectural journal? ” I heard a snicker, and at once asked, “Now, do I get that article? ” ˮCome over, ” said he “and letʼs talk it over. ” I did get the article and it was so good that our English contemporaries reprinted it.
We suggest to the subscriber who has given little attention to his architectural journals, but has turned them over to his drafting room, that he look carefully over the Index in our issue of December 20th. His curiosity will undoubtedly be stimulated and he ll upset the whole office in a search for a particular issue or issues that have articles or series on topics on which he particularly desired to be posted. Our indexes in every instance are records of “past performances, ” and like any similar record, indicate the ability of those in editorial charge to keep abreast of the times. When we “pick a winner, ” whether a horse, an employee, or a stock, we base our judgment on past performance. While it is the custom of publishers to loudly proclaim, in advance, just what will be accomplished in the future, we want the present subscriber and the prospective one to judge us on what we have accomplished.
We shall not loudly proclaim our policy for 1928, further than to state that the editors and publishers of THE AMERICAN ARCHITECT, being practical and long trained men in their respective departments, will endeavor to make this journal so valuable to the profession of architecture as to command respect and insure support.
As to the treatment of indexes, we suggest that a file, marked Indexes, be started in the architect’s office and that all indexes be carefully placed there. To illustrate, let us recount a daily experience. Every day, and many times our editorial department is asked over the phone if we have ever published a certain building or articles on certain topics. We are, of course, here to answer just such inquiries and are glad of every opportunity to be of service, but if the architect had his indexes filed, he would discover just when there was published the thing he wants to know about and by what journal. It may very often happen that what he wants to know is buried somewhere right in his own office.
Persons engaged in the profession of architecture are frequently described as being peculiar, endowed with mental processes that differ from their neighbors, are stated to be persons difficult to meet and know, and who have idiosyncrasies that set them apart from the rest of humanity. These opinions must be expressed by individuals who have occasionally encountered an architect who differs from the average person. As a matter of fact, architects are very human and possess at least the usual amount of human nature. Architects are often maligned by those with whom they have financial dealings, as being men of poor credit. I he sense of obligation of architects as a profession is. we believe, as high as that of any other group, and if our own experiences are a criterion, their credit is higher than the average. A recent experience demonstrates this in at least one instance. In 1917 one of our subscribers was apparently unable to pay for his subscription to THE AMERICAN Architect. A final statement of his account brought no results. Recently, we received a check for payment of the account in full, pinned to the grayed and yellowed statement sent to him ten years ago. Persons who are sufficiently meticulous to retain bills of purchase for ten years and eventually pay them when their financial condition permits, are a rarity. We are proud that one of this type is a member of the architectural profession, and we sincerely believe there are many more.