This collection contains reprographic architectural drawings for the Empire State Building; photographs of the demolition of the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which occupied the Fifth Avenue site; photographs of the Empire State Building under construction, circa 1930-1931 (one photograph shows former governor Alfred E. Smith standing in the building during construction), including 232 photographs by photographer Lewis Hine; photographs showing the building after completion, circa 1931-1956; scrapbooks of clippings of articles about the building, 1930-1957; and illustrations of the Empire State Building, circa 1930s-1960s. These subgroups of materials also have records in CLIO with more detailed descriptions of items; for these records, please search under "Empire State Building" or "Shreve, Lamb & Harmon" or "Hine, Lewis Wickes".

This collection includes original and reprographic presentation, working, and rental drawings for projects in the New York City area, including the Ferris Booth Hall and Dormitory at Columbia University; the Empire State Building; Hunter College; the Johns-Manville Sales Corporation exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair; the Julliard School of Music; New York City Hall additions and renovations; National City Bank of New York; P.S. 302 and P.S. 307 in Brooklyn; and the United Engineering Center at the United Nations Plaza.