TABLE OF CONTENTS


Overview of the Collection

Biographical History

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Restrictions

Subject and Genre Headings

Administrative Information

Inventory

Biographical material

Correspondence

Architectural work

Artwork

Writings

Memorabilia

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Morris Lapidus Papers

An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University



Overview of the Collection

Creator: Lapidus, Morris, 1902-
Title: Morris Lapidus Papers
Dates: 1933-1980
Quantity: 3 linear ft.
Abstract: Correspondence (1946-1966); architectural drawings; photographs and slides of his work; writings, including manuscript amateur plays, books, essays, lectures, and speeches; and memorabilia, including articles, clippings, and exhibition material.
Language: English
Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Library
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
http://scrc.syr.edu

Biographical History

American architect, b. 1902 in Russia. Designer of retail stores, hotels, and apartments.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

Spanning 1933-1980, the Morris Lapidus Papers comprises biographical material, correspondence, architectural work, writings and memorabilia of the Russian-born American architect (b. 1902), as well as presentation drawings from several of his major projects. Documenting the development of Lapidus' philosophy of the "architecture of joy", the collection illuminates the career of this designer of retail stores, hotels and apartments.

Biographical Material (Box 1) consists of articles prepared by Lapidus and his publicists for submission to various biographical sources, including the 1966 issue of Current Biography.

Both incoming letters and outgoing carbons, primarily between Lapidus and publishers of his articles, constitute Correspondence (Box 1).

Architectural Work (Box 1 and Oversize Package 1) encompasses some original drawings, photographic reproductions of drawings and models, printed promotional material about the work of Lapidus and his architectural firm, and illustrative material relating to his hotels. In the interest of preservation, the plans, photographs and drawings have been removed from their original binders.

Four original holiday greeting cards designed by Lapidus constitute Artwork (Box 1).

Writings (Boxes 1 and 2) includes published articles as well as manuscript essays, books, and a few amateur plays and skits written for performance at architects' conventions.

Memorabilia (Box 2) includes clippings, exhibition catalogs, press releases and other publicity material.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on this material.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Lapidus, Morris
Lapidus, Morris Archives

Corporate Bodies

Morris Lapidus Associates
Morris Lapidus, Harle & Liebman

Subjects

Architects, United States
Architectural design
Architectural firms
Architectural practice
Architecture, American
Architecture, Human factors
Architecture, Psychological aspects
Architecture, United States
Architecture, United States, 20th century
Architecture, Vocational guidance
Hotels, Designs and plans
Retail stores, Designs and plans
Russian Americans

Genres and Forms

Amateur plays
Architectural drawings
Articles
Correspondence
Essays
Exhibition catalogs
Lectures
Photographs
Slides
Speeches

Occupations

Architects

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Morris Lapidus Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Library

Acquisition Information

Gift of Morris Lapidus, 1970-1988

Finding Aid Information

Created by: PRB
Date: Feb 1995
Revision history: 1 Jun 2005 - EAD file created (MRR)

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Inventory

Biographical material
Box 1 Biographical material 1955-1966
Correspondence
Box 1 Miscellaneous 1946-1966, undated
Architectural work
Box 1 Drawings (originals)
Box 1 Photographic reproductions
Presentation material
Oversize 1 Americana Hotel (Bal Harbour, Fl.)
Oversize 1 Americana Hotel (New York)
Oversize 1 Americana Hotel (San Juan)
Oversize 1 Arawak Hotel (Jamaica)
Oversize 1 Aruba Hotel (Aruba)
Oversize 1 Boatel (New Port Richey, Fl.)
Oversize 1 Causeway Inn (Tampa)
Oversize 1 Chicopee Motor Inn (Chicopee, Ma.)
Oversize 1 Eden Roc Hotel (Miami Beach)
Oversize 1 Fontainbleau Hotel (Miami Beach)
Oversize 1 Fortuna Beach Hotel (Fajardo,P.R.)
Oversize 1 Indies House (Duck Key, Fl.)
Oversize 1 Interkontinentaler Flughafen Hotel (Zurich)
Oversize 1 International Inn (Washington)
Oversize 1 Ponce De Leon Hotel (San Juan)
Oversize 1 Sheraton Motor Inn (New York)
Oversize 1 Sterling Forest Hotel (Tuxedo Park, NY)
Oversize 1 Summit Hotel (New York)
Oversize 1 Swiss Air Hotel (Zurich)
Oversize 1 Tampa International Inn (Tampa)
Printed Material
Box 1 Designs for Living
Box 1 Face Lifting Lifts Sales
Box 1 The Work of Architect-Designer Morris Lapidus
Box 1 Miscellaneous
Artwork
Box 1 Original holiday greeting cards
Writings
Box 1 Articles 1944-1970
Books
Box 1 Practice and the Business of Architecture manuscript
Box 1 An Architecture of Joy manuscript
Box 2 Essays 1933-1936 (3 folders)
Box 2 Interview
Box 2 Lectures, with slides
Box 2 Plays
Box 2 Speeches
Memorabilia
Printed material
Box 2 Article - "L'Hotel Americana di New York"
Box 2 Clippings, undated 1965-1970
Box 2 Exhibition material 1965-1970
Box 2 "Morris Lapidus: Architecture as Intentional Nonsense" (paper, John W. Cook)
Box 2 Publicity
Box 2 Press releases - drafts and manuscripts
Box 2 Miscellaneous

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