Guide to the Lea Van Puymbroeck Miller Papers, 1944-1958

Processed by William M. Roberts
The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu
© 1999
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Note

History -- History, University of California -- History, UC Berkeley History -- History, California Geographical (By Place) -- California

Guide to the Lea Van Puymbroeck Miller Papers, 1944-1958

Collection number: BANC MSS 89/199 c

The Bancroft Library



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

Processed by:
William M. Roberts
Date Completed:
1992
Encoded by:
Xiuzhi Zhou
© 1999 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Lea Van Puymbroeck Miller Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1944-1958
Collection Number: BANC MSS 89/199 c
Creator: Miller, Lea Van Puymbroeck
Extent: Number of containers: 1 box Linear feet: .4
Repository: The Bancroft Library.
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Abstract: Primarily correspondence concerning her weaving and exhibitions, her contributions to periodicals on weaving and textile arts, and her search for newly developed fabrics as weaving materials.
Languages Represented: English

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Lea Van Puymbroeck Miller Papers, BANC MSS 89/199 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The Lea Van Puymbroeck Miller papers were transferred to The Bancroft Library from the Lowie Museum of Anthropology in December 1988, after being received there from the California Academy of Sciences.

Biography

Lea Van Puymbroeck Miller was born in Oswego, Oregon, on May 2, 1898 of Belgian parents. She received a BFA and MFA from the University of Washington in 1924 and 1934, and at various points between and after these degrees worked privately with a number of sculptors and designers. Before coming to the University of California, Berkeley, Miller taught art and design in Seattle high schools and at the University of Washington.
Subsequently Miller became better known as a weaver, specializing in gauze techniques, stimulated by an interest in Peruvian textiles derived from the research of Lila O'Neill. She was interested in the utilization of new, synthetic materials in her weaving, adapting them to the gauze techniques in which she specialized. She exhibited her works extensively and won an impressive number of awards, recognizing her importance in developing and extending modern weaving design and technique.
Miller's career at the University of California began in 1941, when she was appointed as a Lecturer in the Department of Decorative Art; she retired as full Professor in 1965 from the Department of Design, College of Environmental Design. She was apparently an enthusiastic teacher and also served as a student adviser in the College of Letters and Science. Lea Van Puymbroeck Miller died on December 13, 1979.

Scope and Content

The Lea Van Puymbroeck Miller Papers consist almost entirely of correspondence, and represent only a portion of her career, mainly from about 1945 to 1958, although most of the correspondence is concentrated in the 1949-1953 period. Major topics are her weaving and exhibitions, her contributions to periodicals on weaving and textile arts, and her search for newly developed weaving materials. There are a few letters which deal with her work as a student adviser and one folder, at the end, contains a small number of personal and family papers.

Box 1, folder 1

A miscellaneous

folder 2

American Craftsmen's Council 1944-50

folder 3

Anderson, Lowell 1952-53

 

Some written by his wife, Barbara

folder 4

B miscellaneous

folder 5

Bryan, Dorothy 1950-52

 

Mainly written on behalf of Handweaver and Craftsman

folder 6

C miscellaneous

folder 7

California State Fair 1951-53

 

Written by Grant Duggins, exhibit supervisor for art

folder 8

Carnegie Institution of Washington. Division of Historical Research. 1948

 

Written by Marjorie Harrison

folder 9

Craft and Hobby Book Service 1951-57

folder 10

D miscellaneous

folder 11

Denny, Grace G. (Grace Goldena), d. 1971 1947-50

folder 12-13

F-G miscellaneous

folder 14

Gupta, B.N. 1945-46

folder 15

H-I miscellaneous

folder 16

Hatch, J.D. 1949

folder 17

Herman, Arthur 1951

folder 18

Hill, Henry 1951

folder 19

Johnson, Pauline 1944

folder 20

Kohler, Melvin 1951

folder 21

L miscellaneous

folder 22

Liebes, Dorothy 1948-58

folder 23

Lyon, Mary 1950

 

Written for Craft Horizons

folder 24-26

M-N-O-P miscellaneous

folder 27

Professional Weavers' Association 1952

folder 28

R miscellaneous

folder 29

Rossbach, Ed. 1948-50

 

Includes typescript of his "Handweaving as an art form"

folder 30

Ryan, Beatrice Judd 1947-51

folder 31-32

S-T miscellaneous

folder 33

Tensolite Corporation 1947-48

folder 34

U miscellaneous

folder 35

University of California, Berkeley. College of Letters and Science 1948-55

 

Written by deans, A. R. Davis and Lincoln Constance, mainly relatin to student advising

folder 36

University of Tennessee 1948-49

 

Written by Marion Heard, Professor of Craft Design, College of Home Economics, Dept. of Related Arts and Crafts

folder 37

University of Washington 1951-53

 

Written by various individuals, mainly relating to her teaching there in summer of 1952

folder 38-39

W-Y-Z miscellaneous

folder 40

Family papers 1947-49

 

Telegrams regarding the death of her mother and memorial program; draft of her husband's will