Guide to the Charles B. Lawler photographs
Maureen Carey
University of California, Santa Cruz
2009
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz 95064
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Title: Charles B. Lawler photographs
Creator:
Lawler, Charles B. (Charles Brode),
1902-1977
Identifier/Call Number: MS.330
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
2 flats
Date (inclusive): 1929/1977
Abstract: This collection consists mostly of b/w
and color snapshots of Lawler's sculptures.
Physical Location: Stored offsite at NRLF: Advance notice
is required for access to the papers.
Language of Material:
English
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs.
Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair
use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more
information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.
Preferred Citation
Charles B. Lawler photographs. MS 330. Special Collections and Archives, University
Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Tim and Lynn Mason, 2006
Biography
Charles B. Lawler was born in Los Angeles, CA on April 22, 1902, to Oscar and Hilda B.
Lawler. He graduated from UC Berkeley (1924) and then spent six months at Harvard Law
School. Abandoning a law career, he returned to his native city and got closer to art via
ceramics while employed at the Gladding-McBean tile plant. On a trip to Paris in 1928 he
decided to become a sculptor. About 1930 he returned to Paris to study under Charles
Malfray. He then studied at the CSFA under Stackpole and in Los Angeles with Archipenko.
During WWII he made models for Hughes Aircraft and Lockheed. Lawler taught at Pomona College
at Claremont from 1949-1957. His last twenty years were spent in a 90-acre hilltop home in
Pescadero, CA. He died there on September 12, 1977.
Working in clay, wood, and stone, Lawler's early works were representational but later
evolved into abstractions.
Exhibitions: Painters & Sculptors of Los Angeles, 1938; Foundation of Western Art, Los
Angeles, 1939; Golden Gate International Exhibition, San Francisco, 1939; Los Angeles County
Fair, Los Angeles, CA, 1941; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA, 1940, 1941
(1st prize), 1947; Ebell CLub, Los Angeles, CA, 1942; Pasadena Society of Artists, 1949; San
Gabriel Vallet Artists, 1951; Chaffey AA, 1951; Padua Hills Art Festival, 1953; Scripts
College, 1955; In: Ponoma College, Claremont, CA; Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA;
Chico State University, Chico, CA; Harvard School, Los Angeles, CA; University of
California, Berkeley.
From: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection consists mostly of b/w and color snapshots of Lawler's sculptures. Most of
the b/w photographs, loose and album, are from 1929 to the Los Angeles Museum Exhibition in
March 1941. The color snapshots are mainly from the 1950's-1970's.
Finding aid revision statement
This finding aid was revised in the Reparative Archival Redescription Project in 2021-2022.
Previous versions of this finding aid are available upon request.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sculptors -- California -- San
Francisco
Sculpture, American -- 20th century --
Photographs
Lawler, Charles B. (Charles Brode),
1902-1977
box-folder 1:1-3
Biographical Series 1
1929-1975
Physical Description: 3
folders
Scope and Content Summary
This series contians a small amount of biographical material consisting of an early
photograph of Lawler in Paris, exhibition lists, announcements and reviews.
box-folder 1:1
"Charles Lawler - The Bachelor, Paris 1929"
1929
General Physical Description note: photo gelatin
silver
box-folder 1:2
Exhibition Lists
1966-1975
box-folder 1:3
Show Announcement, reviews
ca. 1966-1975
box-folder 1:4-9, 2:1
Photographs & Negatives, Series 2
1929-
Scope and Content Summary
1 album. This series contains lists of the loose photographs and album pages.
box-folder 1:4
3x5 - 48 gelatin silver photos
ca. 1934-1977
Scope and Contents note
Forty eight photos of animals, figures, abstract forms
box-folder 1:5
3x5 - 7 color photos
ca. 1934-1977
box-folder 1:6
5x7 - 12 gelatin silver photos
ca. 1934-1977
box-folder 1:6
[Cockatoo]
General Physical Description note: Teak
wood
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 22"h , Base 7 x 7 x 7
box-folder 1:6
[Pelican head]
General Physical Description note: Teak
wood
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 19"h, Base 6 x 6 x 7
box-folder 1:6
[Plant forms] - 2 views
General Physical Description note: Teak
wood
box-folder 1:6
[Torso]
General Physical Description note: Terra
Cotta
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 38"h, Base 12 x 12
box-folder 1:6
Torso #04628a
General Physical Description note: White Italian
marble
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 13"h, Black Belgian base 4.5 x 5 x
3.5
box-folder 1:6
[Torso] - side view
General Physical Description note: White
marble
box-folder 1:6
[Reclining torso]
General Physical Description note: White
marble
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 34"h, Base 10" x 25"
box-folder 1:6
"Figure" - 2 views
General Physical Description note: Botticino
marble (creamy beige)
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 34"h, Base 10" x 25"
box-folder 1:6
[Dolphins, bird] Los Angeles Museum, March 1941 exhibit
entrance
1941
box-folder 1:6
California Palace of the Legion of Honor Exhibition
1966
General Physical Description note: Indiana
Limestone
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 37.5 x 23.5 x 35.5; Base 7 x 7 x 7
box-folder 1:6
[Sculpture]
General Physical Description note: Stone, wood
base
box-folder 1:7
5x7 - 7 color photos
ca. 1934-1977
box-folder 1:8
8x10 - 31 gelatin silver photographs
ca. 1934-1977
box-folder 1:8
[1-Untitled]
General Physical Description note: Cast iron -
Black lacquer finish
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 28"l x 18"h
box-folder 1:8
[2-Untitled] - 2 objects
General Physical Description note: Cast aluminum -
gray lacquer finish
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 22"l x 13"h
box-folder 1:8
[3-Untitled]
General Physical Description note: Kasota stone,
mottled buff
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 26"h x 16"w
Scope and Contents note
Ross Lawler
box-folder 1:8
[Stone fish]- 2 views
General Physical Description note: Stone
box-folder 1:8
[Oval form - bird with head tucked under wing] - 4 views
General Physical Description note: Pedrara
Onyx
Scope and Contents note
James S. Gerstkey Collection
box-folder 1:8
[F](3 pieces mounted on Redwood base) - 3 views
General Physical Description note: Oolitic
Limestone, Base - redwood
Scope and Contents note
1966 California Palace of the Legion of Honor Exhibition
box-folder 1:8
[Q]
General Physical Description note: Marble, Base -
marble
Scope and Contents note
1966 California Palace of the Legion of Honor Exhibition
box-folder 1:8
[5-Untitled] "A" #13
Scope and Contents note
1966 California Palace of the Legion of Honor Exhibition
box-folder 1:8
[7-Untitled] "P" - 2 objects
box-folder 1:8
"Title 2. Figure"
General Physical Description note: White marble
mottled with gray
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 36"l x 7"w x 5"h
Scope and Contents note
David & Patricia Stern
box-folder 1:8
[8-Untitled]
General Physical Description note: Black Nubian
marble
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 12"h x 6.5"w
box-folder 1:8
[9-Untitled]
General Physical Description note: Caen
Stone
box-folder 1:8
[10-Untitled]
General Physical Description note: Italian
marble
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 18"l x 11.5"h
Scope and Contents note
Senta A. Raizen, 1962
box-folder 1:8
[11-Untitled]
General Physical Description note: Italian
marble
box-folder 1:8
[12-Untitled]
General Physical Description note: Pink Georgia
marble
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 22"h x 7.5"l
Scope and Contents note
Dr. La Motte, Pescadero
box-folder 1:9
Negatives - 13
ca.1939-1977
box-folder 1:9
[child, sculptures]
1959
Scope and Contents note
2 x 2" strip negatives
box-folder 1:9
#01699 "Torso" 1st prize
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04626 [Bird in Flight]
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04627 [Reclining figure]
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04628 [Reclining figure]
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04628a [Reclining figure]
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04629 [Dolphins]
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04630 [Rooster]
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04631 "Cocktoo"
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04632 "Plant Form"
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04633 "Plant Form"
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04633a [Pelican head]
ca. 1934-1941
box-folder 1:9
#04634 [Gallery view of Charles Lawler exhibit]
ca. 1941
box-folder 2:1
Photo Album
ca. 1929-1942
box-folder 2:1
Pg.1 "Paris 1931 - In the Studio of Charles Malfray" - 7 b/w
photos
ca. 1931
box-folder 2:1
Pg.2 "San Francisco 1932" - 3 b/w photos "Los Angeles 1931" - 1 photo
missing
1931
box-folder 2:1
Pg.3 - "San Francisco 1932-1933" - 4 b/w photos - Male & female
nudes
ca. 1932-1933
box-folder 2:1
Pg.4 - "San Francisco 1932-1933" - 4 b/w photos - female nudes
ca. 1932-1933
box-folder 2:1
Pg.5 - "San Francisco 1932-1933" - 3 b/w photos, male & female nudes -
1 photo missing
va. 1932-1933
box-folder 2:1
Pg.6 - 5 b/w photos - busts, sculptures
ca. 1929-1942
box-folder 2:1
Pg.7 - 6 b/w photos - bookends, birds
ca. 1929-1942
box-folder 2:1
Pg.8 - 5 b/w photos - birds, giraffes, elephants, cat
ca. 1929-1942
box-folder 2:1
Pg.9 - 5 b/w photos - wood bas-reliefs, birds
ca. 1929-1942
box-folder 2:1
Pg.10 - "Los Angeles 1934" - 8 b/w photos - tryptich, bird, nudes (stone
& metal)
1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.11 - 6 b/w photos - stone bust, nude, torso, fish birds
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.12 - 5 b/w photos - torso, dolphins, bird (stone, metal)
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.13 - 6 b/w photos - fish, squirrels, dragonflies, dolphins, frogs,
snails (stone)
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.14 - 4 b/w photos - squirrels, penguins, fish (stone, metal)
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.15 - 3 of 4 b/w photos - fish panel, roosters (wood)- 1 missing
photo
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.16 - 4 of 6 b/w photos - cockatoo, plant, bird book ends
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.17 - 6 b/w photos - bird, plant forms, bas-reliefs, studio
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.18 - 2 b/w photos - reclining nude torso
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.19 - 4 b/w photos - elephant ash tray, rooster, sea horse, pedestal
(stone)
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.20 - 6 b/w photos - 2 nude torsos, dolphins, head
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.21 - 5 b/w photos - Nude, dragonfly, dolphins, cats
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.22 - 2 b/w photos - dolphins, entrance to LA Museum March 1941 exhibit
with name, dolphins and bird
March 1941
box-folder 2:1
Pg.23 - 2 b/w photos - Los Angeles Museum
March 1941
box-folder 2:1
Pg.24 - 2 b/w photos, "Reclining Torso" front/back(Tennessee marble), Los
Angeles Museum
March 1941
box-folder 2:1
Pg.25 - 2 b/w photos, 1 news clipping re: Los Angeles Museum
exhibit
March 1941
box-folder 2:1
Pg.26 - 2 b/w photos - 2 female torsos
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.27 - 2 b/w photos - bird in flight, cockatoo
ca. 1929-1934
box-folder 2:1
Pg.28 - 3 b/w photos - 1 female nude torso, 1 living room wall carving, 1
living room coffee table
ca. 1929-1977
