Yale Center for British Art, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Interview with David S. Traub, AIA Emeritus, for the Oral History Program at the Yale Center for British Art, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
December 14, 2021
Completion of Edited Version of Interview: December 14, 2024
Oral Interview with
David S. Traub, AIA Emeritus, at the Yale Center for British Art,
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
In the autumn of 2021 I was asked by Constance (Cecie) Clement, then Deputy Director of the Yale Center for British Art, to travel to New Haven to be interviewed for their Oral History Program about my experience working on the YCBA building for architect Louis I. Kahn from the year 1970 through 1973.
The interview was conducted by Stephanie Machabee, a graduate student at Yale University, the afternoon of December 14, 2021.
I had traveled to New Haven from Philadelphia the same day, arriving late in the morning. It was my pleasure to be invited for lunch by staff members of the YCBA at the Harvest Restaurant in the lower open courtyard at the west side of the building. Attending were: Constance (Cecie) Clement, Rachel Chatalbash, Senior Museum Archivist, and Stephanie Machabee. After lunch, I was given a tour conducted by Cecie of the recently renovated building just before participating in the interview.
A recording of the oral interview, and a written transcript made from it, was subsequently sent to me in Philadelphia.
In order to provide greater readability, I have edited and slightly rewritten portions of the text. The form, fact and substance of the transcript have not been altered. As well, I have attempted to retain the spoken flavor of the original interview. Photos have been included to illustrate some of the information given.
It should be noted that I have added at the very end of the edited transcript, in an appendix, anecdotes concerning an experience with Louis Kahn not included in the actual oral interview at Yale. I included the anecdotes because I wanted them be memorialized, and because I thought they would be of considerable interest to the reader.
David S. Traub- Dec.14, 2021 Interview at Yale University by Stéphanie Machabée_Pt_1&2