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Louis Skoler Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Summary

Creator: Skoler, Louis.
Title: Louis Skoler Papers
Dates: 1956-1995
Size: 18.5 linear feet
Abstract: Materials relating to Skoler's careers as a professional architect and a professor of architecture at Syracuse University
Language: English
Repository: University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives

Biography

Louis Skoler (1920-2008) was an architect and architecture professor at Syracuse University. Before enrolling in college, he joined the United States Army in May of 1942 and served in World War II. In 1946 Skoler's tour in the army ended, and he enrolled in the Cornell School of Architecture that same year. Skoler graduated with his bachelor's degree in architecture in 1951. He then began working for the architectural firm Sargent, Webster, Crenshaw & Folley as a building designer. During this time he helped to design many buildings in Central and Upstate New York, including the East Genesee Medical Center, the Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Company in Syracuse, and the Cortland State University Library. Skoler also designed a home for his family, which in 2010 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Skoler began his teaching career in 1956 at Cornell University, where he was hired as a part-time instructor of architecture for one year. In 1959 Syracuse University hired Skoler as an assistant professor of architecture. Within his first few years at Syracuse, Skoler was given the responsibility of overhauling and redesigning the course work and syllabus for the School of Architecture's first-year program, Freshmen Design. The redesign was a success, leading to an improvement in the overall work of the University's first-year architectural students, and Skoler's new program was lauded by his fellow faculty members. In 1977 Skoler participated in the School of Architecture's London program, and in the 1980s he taught courses on Scandinavian and Japanese architecture. He retired from the University in 1991, after over thirty years of teaching.

Skoler worked as a professional architect while teaching at Syracuse University. He designed or renovated many residential buildings in Syracuse, Fayetteville, and the surrounding areas. In 1969 the American Iron and Steel Institute presented Skoler with the Best Design in Steel award for his design of a four-story vacation home located on a bluff overlooking Canandaigua Lake. In the 1970s and 1980s Skoler was a partner in the architectural firm Skoler and Lee.

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Scope and Content Note

The Louis Skoler Papers are divided into three series:

The Architecture practice series contains objects and papers relating to Skoler's work as an architect. The bulk of this series is made up of folders with photographs, diagrams, and other information about specific building projects Skoler worked on, as well as many architectural drawings and plans. Also included in this series are papers relating to Skoler's membership in the American Institute of Architects, information pertaining to special projects Skoler consulted on, and a collection of tools and instruments used by architects.

The Slides series contains a large number of slides documenting Skoler's travels around the world, as well as the many building projects he worked on in New York State. One folder of slides, titled "Miscellaneous slides and resume," is included in the Architecture practice series because the slides were originally bound in a binder along with Skoler's resume, indicating he used them for some other purpose.

The Teaching materials series contains information pertaining to Syracuse University's School of Architecture. These materials include information about summer programs and class assignments, syllabi, and lecture notes for a number of the courses Skoler taught at Syracuse University.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Related Material

In addition to these papers, the Syracuse University Archives holds a clippings file on Louis Skoler.

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Selected Search Terms

Names

Skoler, Louis.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Architecture.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Types of material

Architectural drawings (visual works)
Photographs.
Slides (photographs)

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Louis Skoler Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Transferred to the University Archives from the Syracuse University Library in 2009.

Processing Information

The materials have been rehoused in acid-free folders and boxes.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Steffi Chappell
Date: 2014
Revision history: April 2023 - one portfolio and one folder added (MAM)

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Arrangement

The items are arranged in alphabetical order.

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Inventory

Architecture practice
American Institute of Architects
Box 1 Fellow applications 1969 (2 folders)
Box 1 Honor awards program application 1971
Architectural drawings
MC 8-2 Animal export facility (Skoler and Lee) 1981
MC 8-2 Barduhn residence 1963
MC 10-5 Cazenovia College gym (Skoler and Lee) 1987
MC 8-2 Central Village Youth Center (Skoler and Lee) undated
MC 8-2 City of Syracuse Department of Fire, house #1 (Skoler and Lee) 1973
MC 8-2 Clyman residence 1963
MC 8-2 Crowley residence 1968
MC 8-2 Dana residence porch renovation (Skoler and Lee) 1980
MC 8-2 Eisenberg House (Skoler and Lee) 1971
MC 8-2 Four Square Gospel Church (Skoler and Lee) 1983-1984
MC 8-2 Fulton Motor Lodge restaurant 1962
MC 8-2 General Electric Co., Utica: interior alterations 1965
MC 8-2 Greene residence 1957
MC 8-3 Greenwald residence 1959
MC 8-3 Hawks House 1966
MC 8-3 Highland Drive House 1965
MC 8-3 Holstein residence (Skoler and Lee) 1973
MC 8-3 Hopps Memorial CME Church (Skoler and Lee) 1988
MC 8-3 Karame Realty Corporation undated
MC 8-3 Levy residence alteration to summer home 1963
MC 8-3 Moss residence undated
MC 8-3 New York State Urban Development Corp., Bordon Pond, Cortland (Skoler and Lee) 1973
MC 8-3 New York State Urban Development Corp., Preston DeGraff Housing (Skoler and Lee) 1970
MC 11-1 NYE residence addition (Skoler and Lee) 1974
MC 11-1 Radin residence 1964
MC 11-1 Schwartz residence addition (Skoler and Lee) 1986
MC 11-1 Skoler residence renovations 1986
MC 11-1 Sweeney residence 1965
MC 11-1 Unidentified architectural drawings undated
Building project files
Box 1 Dana House 1973
Box 1 Davison House undated
FC 2-1 Davison House photograph undated
Box 1 Eisenberg residence undated (2 folders)
Box 1 Faculty Club undated
Box 1 Fulton Restaurant 1963, undated
Box 1 Greene residence undated
Box 1 Greenwald residence 1963, undated
Box 1 Hawks residence undated
Box 1 Motel Utica undated
Box 1 Nancy Gelling Memorial Lounge 1984-1985, undated
Box 1 Presbyterian Church undated
Box 1 Radin House undated (2 folders)
Box 1 Skoler residence undated
Box 1 SUNY Cortland buildings undated
Box 1 Willard Psychiatric Center 1985
Box 1 Youth Center circa 1956-1958
Box 1 Denmark Research Waste Burning plan B 1977
Box 1 Diagrams and floor plans - unidentified undated
Box 1 Diagrams, floor plans, and photographs of projects 1963-1972 undated
Box 1 Dictionary of Art article - aluminum 1995
Box 3 General Panel Corporation of California undated
MC 11-1 Maps undated
MC 11-1 Miscellaneous drawings and posters undated
Box 1 Miscellaneous slides and resume 1964, 1967-1968, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1981, undated
Box 1 Photographs and negatives - unidentified undated
Box 1 Portfolio of projects undated
MC 11-1 Portfolio of projects undated
Box 1 Renovations 1986, undated
Box 1 Resume undated
Box 1 Skoler and Lee Architects 1975
MC 11-1 Triangles, templates, and tools undated
Slides
Box 1 Amsterdam, Berlin, Warsaw 1981, undated
Box 1 China 1986, undated
Box 1 China - Forbidden City, Shanghai, Great Wall 1986, undated
Box 1 China - Zan Yuan 1986, undated
Box 1 Europe - Bologna, Perugia, Orvieto, Bagnaia, Caprarola, Palladianism in England, Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, Iceland, Galway, Ireland, Rome, Villa Giulia 1977, undated
Box 2 Europe - Pelum(?), English Cathedrals, Trains in Germany, Switzerland, North East England, and Denmark 1971, 1977, undated
Box 2 Europe - Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Verona, Mantua, Stirling, Cambridge, Hanksmoor, Dublin, Paris 1977, undated
Box 2 Europe - Stirling, Scotland, Roehampton, London, Soane Tomb, St. Pancras, Chelsea Stables, Royal Hospital, Soane House, Dolwich Picture Gallery, Bank of England 1977 undated
Box 2 Finland - Erik Bryggman, AALTO furniture, Valikangas, 1930s churches 1984-1985, undated
Box 2 Finland - General Maps, Helsinki, Viipuri 1981, 1985, undated
Box 2 Finland - Hamina, Porvo, Tamisaari, Ancient, Sonck, Saarinen/Historical 1981, 1985, undated
Box 2 Finland - housing, Syvaskyla 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Box 2 Finland - Munkiniemi, Lahti, Muurame, Tamisaari, Mwrat Salon 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Box 2 Finland - Paimio, Sanomat 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Box 2 Finland - Saynatsaio, Imatra, Mnrea 1981, undated
Box 2 Finland - Technical Institute Otaniemi, 1950s architecture 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Box 2 Italy - Venice and more, Palazzo, Rome, Florence, Vicenza, Palladio 1977, 1984, undated
Box 2 Japan - Gunma, Moha Etal, Tsukuba Keio, Fvjusauia, Kiyomizu 1988, undated
Box 2 Japan - Isozaki, Mayaskawa, Sakakura, Other/Murano, Tange, Hara 1988, undated
Box 2 Japan - Nanzenji, Muyasima/Ginkaku Silver King, Tokyo Shrine Temple Kawagoe, Katsura Imperial Palace, Nijojo Ryoani 1988,
Box 2 Japan - Shugakuin, Maki: Spiral Dailkanya, Todaiiji, Hurywi, Kasaja 1988,
Box 2 Japan - Tokyo, Tange, Kvrokawd, Rivymond and other Ando, Hiroshi Hara, Fusmeiji Village 1988, undated
Box 2 Leningrad - en route, drawings 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Box 2 Miscellaneous - Bournemouth Beaulieu, SCARPA, Regent St., Arcades Pub, Florence/Milan, Marshall St. housing, Hawksmoor, IBM, IBM Syracuse 1971, 1977, 1984, undated
Box 2 Miscellaneous - Hancock 5 Stations, Wren, Barry, Lutyens, Adam, Voysey, Ashbes, MOD, Students, on the road "In the air," Edinburg, Faculty Club, Johnson City, Cazenovia, Fayetteville, Cortland, student work, unidentified 1968-1988, undated
Box 2 Miscellaneous - New Acquisitions Gallery, Paris, architecture student work(?), fire stations, Denmark (Louisiana), Venetian churches 1968, 1972-1977, 1981, undated
Box 2 Moscow, Moscow Modern, Amsterdam 1981
Box 2 Professional Work - Cortland Library, Motel Utica, Faculty Club, Greenwald House 1963, 1968, undated
Box 2 Professional Work - Eisenberg, Sweeney, Davison, Fulton Houses 1962, 1967, 1972-1976, undated
Box 2 Professional Work - Levy summer house, Graff Hawks, Hawless (extra), Radin 1961-1964, 1973, undated
Box 2 Professional Work - Greene, L. Sullivan and Hamilton College, First Presbyterian Church 1967-1968 undated
Box 2 Scandinavia - Asplund Expo, Asplund before 1930, Brendenberg, Library 1981, 1985-1986, undated
Box 2 Scandinavia - Faborg, Oregaard police headquarters, Denmark/Gruntvig's church, general Scandinavia 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Box 2 Scandinavia - Jacobsen, housing 1916-1940, C.F. Hansen 19th century Bindes Boll 1985, undated
Box 3 Scandinavia - Lewerentz, Ostenberg, Stockholm Maps, Ferries, and Erskine, Lawcourt 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Box 3 Scandinavia - Liselund, Copenhagen, Amalienborg 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Box 3 Scandinavia - Swedish architecture before 1930, Swedish architecture after 1930, Gotenborg, Karl Johan 1981, 1984-1985, undated
Teaching materials
Box 3 ARC 307/308 1989
Box 3 ARC 393: the art of architecture 1991-1993
Box 3 ARC 408 1983
Box 3 ARC 500: manifestos 1985
Box 3 ARC 507/508/509 1982
Box 3 DES 307/308 1984-1986
Box 3 Handouts for 1985 DIPA trip 1985
Box 3 Lecture notes undated
Box 3 School of Architecture summer programs 1985, 1988

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