Henry-Russell Hitchcock

Born in 1903, Henry-Russell Hitchcock became one of the most important American writers on architecture. He is especially remembered for helping define the study of modern architecture at a time when it was still new and controversial.

His name is closely linked with Philip Johnson and the 1932 Museum of Modern Art exhibition that introduced many readers and visitors to what became known as the International Style. Through his criticism, teaching, and historical writing, he helped turn architecture into a subject that could be studied with the same seriousness as painting or literature.

Hitchcock also taught for many years, including at Smith College and New York University, and remained an influential voice in architectural history until his death in 1987. His work still matters because it combined scholarly care with a gift for explaining why buildings, movements, and designers mattered.