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For decades, UCLA Library has documented the breadth of Los Angeles area history and culture. Traditional collection strengths include California, early photography, historical periodicals, maps, literature, the arts and fashion, the papers of outstanding civic figures, and the city's diverse communities.
Watch a selection of these collections come to life in our new series, L.A. Stories.
In the second installment of UCLA Library’s series “L.A. Stories,” scholars and Library experts discuss the legacy of Neutra and the important work of preserving the Richard and Dion Neutra Papers(opens in a new tab), stewarded by UCLA Library Special Collections. Originally donated by Neutra to the Library in the 1950s with additional materials later donated by his family, the collection includes original architectural drawings, physical models, photographs, blueprints and correspondence from Neutra and his associates.
In this video, Consuela (Chela) Metzger, head of Preservation & Conservation at UCLA Library, and Devin Mattlin, paper conservator in the department, describe their vital work preserving the materials in the Richard and Dion Neutra Papers so they remain usable to researchers. Simon V. Elliott, a visual materials specialist at UCLA Library, provides background on the acquisition of the collection and its contents.
Barbara Lamprecht(opens in a new tab), an architectural historian and historic preservation consultant who specializes in Neutra, has visited Library Special Collections “between 600 and 800 times” to review the invaluable primary sources in the Neutra Papers. She comments on the value of archival research while describing the impactful nature of his architectural style. Finally, Raymond Richard Neutra, current president of the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design(opens in a new tab), discusses his father’s legacy and his ongoing partnership with UCLA Library to maintain access to the one-of-a-kind materials from his father’s archive.
(opens in a new tab)Richard Neutra (April 8, 1892–April 16, 1970) was an Austrian-American architect whose seminal mid-century designs significantly influenced the aesthetics and philosophy of modern architecture in L.A. and beyond. One of the most influential architects of the twentieth century, Neutra immigrated to the U.S. in the 1920s to work with the architect Frank Lloyd Wright, subsequently moving to L.A. in 1925. Over his career, Neutra designed hundreds of houses, schools and civic buildings locally and internationally. His designs are known for their seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces and emphasis on functionality, beauty and well-being.
Dione Neutra, Neutra’s wife, worked as his executive assistant and publicist and also contributed to the Library’s Neutra collection after his passing, as did two of their sons, Dion (1926–2019), who worked alongside his father on various projects, and Raymond Neutra.
The L.A. Stories series elevates UCLA Library’s regional collections, including diverse communities, cultures and historical landmarks. We invite researchers and others to access these and other collections.
