Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Harold Leeds Papers, 1940s-circa 2002, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.leedharo
Creators:
Leeds, Harold E., 1913-2002
Dates:
1940s-circa 2002
Languages:
Collection is in English
Physical Description:
0.8 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of architect Harold E. Leeds measure 0.8 linear feet and date from 1940s-circa 2002. The letters found here are primarily from painter Loren MacIver writing from France, during which time Leeds looked after the home belonging to MacIver and her husband, poet Lloyd Frankenberg. While mainly logistical in nature, MacIver does describe aspects of her daily life in France, and her and Frankenberg's friendships with prominent figures including Margaret Barr, Elizabeth Bishop, Pierre Matisse, and James Johnson Sweeney. The photographs in the collection document Leeds' life with partner and documentary filmmaker Wheaton Galentine, and Leeds' work as an architect and interior design professor at Pratt Institute.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of architect Harold E. Leeds measure 0.8 linear feet and date from 1940s-circa 2002. The letters found here are primarily from painter Loren MacIver writing from France, during which time Leeds looked after the home belonging to MacIver and her husband, poet Lloyd Frankenberg. While mainly logistical in nature, MacIver does describe aspects of her daily life in France, and her and Frankenberg's friendships with prominent figures including Margaret Barr, Elizabeth Bishop, Pierre Matisse, and James Johnson Sweeney. The photographs in the collection document Leeds' life with partner and documentary filmmaker Wheaton Galentine, and Leeds' work as an architect and interior design professor at Pratt Institute.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as two series
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Letters, 1950s-1970 (0.3 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Photographic Material, 1940s-circa 2002 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1-3)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Harold E. Leeds (1913-2002) was an architect and professor of interior design at Pratt Institute in New York City. He designed the Paris Theater, the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, and Martha Graham's dance studio. In 1951, Leeds, along with his partner, documentary filmmaker Wheaton Galentine, purchased a house at 64 Perry Street in the West Village. His neighbors, the painter Loren MacIver and her husband, poet Lloyd Frankenberg lived at 61 Perry Street. During their extended stays in France, Leeds would look after their home.

Administration

Author
Hilary Price
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated in 2014 by Harry Leeds' estate via Barry Skovgaard, executor.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Hilary Price in 2016.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
Harold Leeds papers, 1940s-circa 2002. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Architects -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Expatriate artists -- France Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architecture -- Study and teaching Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interior decoration Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Filmmakers -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
France -- description and travel Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pratt Institute -- Faculty Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Barr, Margaret Scolari, 1901-1987 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Frankenberg, Lloyd, 1907-1975 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bishop, Elizabeth, 1911-1979 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
MacIver, Loren, 1909- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Galentine, Wheaton Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Matisse, Pierre, 1900-1989 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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