Finding Aid of the Carl Maston papers 4002

Finding aid prepared by Yvonne Lee and Ruth Wallach
USC Libraries Helen Topping Architecture & Fine Arts Library
Watt Hall B-4
850 Bloom Walk
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0294
(213)740-1956
afa@usc.edu
2011
1. Project Files 2. Rolls 3. Presentation Boards 4. Miscellaneous


Title: Carl Maston papers
Collection number: 4002
Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Helen Topping Architecture & Fine Arts Library
Language of Material: English
Container: White Box 1
Physical Description: 24.0 Cubic feet (8 document boxes of photographs, project files, research and miscellaneous; 15 rolls of architectural drawings; 25 presentation boards; and 1 record box of of miscellaneous loose leaf materials).
Date (inclusive): 1946-1989
Abstract: USC alumnus Carl Maston was an influential Los Angeles mid-century modern architect. Upon graduation, Maston worked for the offices of Floyd Rible, A. Quincy Jones, Fred Emmons, Phil Daniel, and Allied Architects before opening his own office. His homes, shopping centers, military housing units, and university buildings can be found throughout Southern California. Known for his stark, no-frills modern buildings such as the Maston (or Marmont) Residence and Hillside House, his career spanned over 40 years in public and private sectors. The bulk of the collection consists of architectural project files as well as architectural photographs by longtime-collaborator Julius Shulman.
creator: Maston, Carl, 1915-1992

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Carl Maston papers, Collection no. 4002, Helen Topping Architecture and Fine Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Conditions Governing Access

The portions of the collection that have been processed are open for research use. Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

The collection contains published materials; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers on reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of the researchers to acquire permission from publishers when reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Biographical Note

Carl Maston (1915-1992) was an influential mid-century modern architect based in Los Angeles. Known for his stark modern style and inventive use of concrete structural solutions, his 100+ works can be seen throughout Southern California. Born Carl Mastopietro in Jacksonville, Illinois, he first studied music before settling on architecture while at USC. Upon graduating in 1937, he went to work for several local architectural offices before setting off on his own in 1946.
For the next 40 years, Maston and his office completed projects such as commercial buildings, shopping centers, institutional buildings, private homes, residential buildings, and military housing units locally and nationally. His first of several design awards was for Maston (or Marmont) House in West Hollywood, a late Craftsman-style home. In 1946, he was commissioned to build the Pandora Apartments -- the first of his experiments with the garden aparment design. Along with Ray Kappe, Maston went on to contribute to the quintessential California apartment complex, particularly with the National Boulevard Apartments. Other notable completed projects include Hillside House, the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design, the Chiat House in South Pasadena, Valley Ice Skating Center in Tarzana, and the Creative Arts Building at Cal State San Bernardino. In addition, he helped create the Los Angeles Community Design Center and served on the Los Angeles Planning Commission for five years.
Maston was the 1989 recipient of the USC Distinguished Alumni Award for excellence in design and innovative leadership in public service. Semi-retired but still teaching courses at USC and accepting architectural commissions, Carl Maston was 77 when he died of colon cancer in Los Angeles.

Scope and Content

The archive documents the professional career of southern California architect Carl Maston. It is unclear how much the collection covers of Maston's career as the archive was a gift from Los Angeles realtor Crosby Doe, whose professional interest in mid-century modern architecture prompted his acquisition of the collection several years prior. Nonetheless, the collection covers a variety of public and private commissions including commercial buildings, university buildings, and residential structures. The majority of the archive consists of project notes as well as the black-and-white architectural photography by Julius Shulman. The collection also includes slides and negatives, architectural drawings, correspondence, and published articles about Maston's projects.
Series 1. Project files and photographs form the bulk of the collection. This includes notes, brochures, correspondence, as well as 8x10" photographs and proofs. Files are loosely organized alphabetically by project name and housed in 8 document boxes.
Series 2. Rolls of large architectural drawings include finished and unfinished projects. Many different projects are housed in a single roll. The rolls are organized thematically according to type of structure described.
Series 3. Presentation boards include finished and unfinished project renderings mounted to a firm support. Many drawings remain unidentified.
Series 4. Miscellaneous includes prints, negatives, and loose leaf materials that have yet to be identified. These materials are housed in 1 white record storage carton.

Arrangement

The collection is organized in four series: Series 1. Project Files; Series 2. Rolls; Series 3. Presentation Boards; Series 4. Miscellaneous.

Acquisition Note

The collection was donated to USC Helen Topping Architecture and Fine Arts Library in 1998 by Los Angeles realtor Crosby Doe.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Maston, Carl, 1915-1992 -- Archives
Shulman, Julius -- Archives
Architectural drawings (visual works)
Architecture, Modern--20th century--Archival resources
Architecture--California--Los Angeles--History--20th century--Archival resources
Slides (photographs)
Specifications

 

Project Files

Language of Material: English
 

315 Virgil Avenue

Box 7, Folder 8

Notes and photographs

 

920 La Cienaga Boulevard

Box 1, Folder 1

Notes and photographs

 

Abichandane Residence

Box 1, Folder 2

Notes and photographs

 

Addison Residence

Box 1, Folder 3

Notes and photographs

 

Apartments

Box 1, Folder 5

916 New Hampshire Apartments

Box 1, Folder 5

Notes and photographs

Box 1, Folder 4

National Boulevard Apartments

Box 1, Folder 4

Notes and photographs

 

Bank of America, Diamond Bar

Box 1, Folder 6

Notes and photographs

 

Bath Residence

Box 1, Folder 7

Notes and photographs

 

Bauer House

Box 1, Folder 8

Notes and photographs

 

Brochures

Box 8

Notes and invoices

 

California Polytechnic Pomona, Environmental Design Building

Box 1, Folder 11, Box 1, Folder 10, Box 1, Folder 9

Notes and photographs

 

California State University San Bernadino, Creative Arts/ Performing Arts Center

Box 1, Folder 12

Notes and photographs

 

Chiat Residence

Box 2, Folder 1

Notes and photographs

 

Comerford House

Box 2, Folder 2

Notes and photographs

 

Deleco

Box 2, Folder 3

Notes and photographs

 

DMV, Arleta

Box 2, floppy_disk 5

Notes and photographs

 

Doble Residence

Box 2, Folder 4

Notes and photographs

 

Dr. Jump Medical Clinic

Box 4, Folder 1

Notes and photographs

 

Dr. Jump Residence

Box 4, Folder 2

Notes and photographs

 

Dunham Residence

Box 2, Folder 6

Notes and photographs

 

Dunlap's

Box 2, Folder 7

Notes and photographs

 

Emelita School

Box 2, Folder 8

Notes and photographs

 

Encino Ice Rink

Box 3, Folder 5

Notes and photographs

 

Factory Apron and Towel Supply Company

Box 2, Folder 11

Notes and photographs

 

FedMart City Bank, San Diego

Box 2, Folder 10, Box 2, Folder 9

Notes and photographs

 

First Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Long Beach

Box 2, Folder 12

Notes and photographs

 

Fourth Street Apartment

Box 2, Folder 14

Notes and photographs

 

Fox Market

Box 2, Folder 13

Notes and photographs

 

Goldwater Apartments

Box 3, Folder 2, Box 3, Folder 1

Notes and photographs

 

Hahn's Hide-A-Way

Box 3, Folder 3

Notes and photographs

 

Hellinger Residence

Box 3, Folder 4

Notes and photographs

 

Interstate Electronics Corporation

Box 3, Folder 7

Notes and photographs

 

Killefer Residence

Box 4, Folder 3

Notes and photographs

 

Maston Office

Box 4, Folder 5, Box 4, Folder 6, Box 4, Folder 4

Notes and photographs

 

Maston Residence

Box 4, Folder 7

Notes and photographs

 

Mattei's Tavern

Box 5, Folder 1

Notes and photographs

 

Miscellaneous Project Files

Box 8, Box 9

Unidentified and/or miscellaneous project files

 

Pepper House, Pasadena

Box 5, Folder 2

Notes and photographs

 

Rigby Residence

Box 5, Folder 6

Notes and photographs

 

Rodeffer Investment Office

Box 5, Folder 4

Notes and photographs

 

Rodeffer Residence

Box 5, Folder 3

Notes and photographs

 

Runciman

Box 5, Folder 5

Notes and photographs

 

Simi Valley Library

Box 6, Folder 2, Box 6, Folder 1

Notes and photographs

 

Smith House

Box 6, Folder 3

Notes and photographs

 

St. Ives Residence

Box 7, Folder 2, Box 7, Folder 1

Notes and photographs

 

Studio Village Shopping Center

Box 7, Folder 3

Notes and photographs

 

Tarzana Ice Rink

Box 3, Folder 6

Notes and photographs

 

Thies Residence

Box 7, Folder 4

Notes and photographs

 

Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing

Box 7, Folder 5

Notes and photographs

 

Valencia Apartments

Box 7, Folder 6

Notes and photographs

 

Ventura County Library

Box 7, Folder 7

Notes and photographs

 

Von's Market

Box 7, Folder 9

Notes and photographs

 

Western Home Awards AIA 1967-1968

Box 7, Folder 10

Notes and photographs

 

Wing Residence

Binder 7, Folder 11

Notes and photographs

 

Rolls

Language of Material: English
 

Bank of America, Los Angeles

Roll 9

Drawings

 

Bauer Residence, Santa Barbara

Roll 3

Drawings

 

Blumstein Residence

Roll 1

Drawings

 

Britt's Department Store, Alhambra

Roll 3

Drawings. See roll with Bauer Residence.

 

Ernest E. Peterson Commercial Development, National City

Roll 14

Drawings

 

Food Basket, San Diego

Roll 3

Drawings. See roll with Bauer Residence.

 

Gragg Residence

Roll 3

Drawings. See roll with Bauer Residence.

 

Los Angeles Unified School District

 

3318 Hoover Street

Roll 6

Drawings

 

Hoover Elementary, 2726 Francis Street

Roll 7

Drawings

 

Plasencia Elementary School, 1321 Cortez Street

Roll 13

Drawings

 

Rosemont Avenue Elementary, 421 North Rosemont Avenue

Roll 2

Drawings

 

Lucky Market

Roll 3

Drawings. See roll with Bauer Residence.

 

Nix Residence

Roll 15

Drawings

 

Otto Square Shopping Center

Roll 11

Drawings

 

Perspectival Drawings

Roll 5

Drawings

 

Professional Building, 6624 Melrose Avenue

Roll 8

Drawings

 

Ralke AV Engineers

Roll 10

Drawings

 

Security First National Bank

Roll 3

Drawings. See roll with Bauer Residence.

 

Unidentified Floor Plans

Roll 4

Drawings

 

Unidentified Interior

Roll 3

Drawings. See roll with Bauer Residence.

 

Unidentified Residence

Roll 3

Drawings. See roll with Bauer Residence.

 

Von's Market, Huntington Beach

Roll 12

Drawings

 

Woody's Smorgasburger

Roll 3

Drawings. See roll with Bauer Residence.

 

Presentation Boards

Language of Material: English
 

Bauer Residence

Object D5

Drawing

 

Cummins Residence

Object D11

Drawing

 

Deleco Office and Plant Addition

Object D8

Drawing

 

Dr. Beauchamp and Mr. Brown Store Building, Reseda

Object D6

Drawing

 

FedMart Corporation General Offices, Anaheim

Object D2

Drawing

 

FedMart Retail Store, Yuma, Arizona

Object D3

Drawing

 

First Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Long Beach

Object D4

Drawing

 

Huntington Village Shopping Center

Object D12

Drawing

 

Lucky Supermarket

Object D13

Drawing

 

Runciman House

Object D10

Drawing

 

Studio Village Shopping Center

Object D9

Drawing

 

Unidentified Structures

 

Von's Market, Long Beach

Object D7

Drawing

 

West Los Angeles Sewer Maintenance Yard

Object D1

Drawing

 

Miscellaneous

Language of Material: English