Muir (Edla) papers, circa 1917-1986

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Summary

Title:
Edla Muir papers
Dates:
circa 1917-1986
Creators:
Muir, Edla, 1906-1970
Extent:
43.79 Linear feet (7 half record storage boxes, 1 oversize storage box and 9 flat file drawers)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Edla Muir papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

Background

Scope and content:

The Edla Muir papers span 43.79 linear feet and date from circa 1917 to 1986. The collection consists of architectural drawings, photographic prints and manuscript material organized by project documenting the construction and finished product for many of her architectural projects in Southern California and Washington state. The collection also includes reference material including photographic prints and magazine clippings and articles which document different architectural styles as well as personal material including articles and clippings, correspondence and photographic prints.

Biographical / historical:

Edla Muir, also known by her married name, Edla Muir Lambie, was born in San Francisco, California on January 23, 1906. At the age of 13, Muir worked summers and weekends in the architectural firm of John Byers. When she graduated from Inglewood High School in 1923, she worked as an office assistant for Byers until 1926, when she was promoted to draftswomen and designer. In 1934, after receiving her architectural license, Byers and Muir formed a partnership, renaming the firm John Byers and Edla Muir, Associated Architects. When the firm dissolved in 1942, Muir became the principle of her own firm in West Los Angeles. Muir focused on designing modern private homes and her designs were featured in Sunset magazine, Architectural Digest, and other publications, as representative of the modern California home. She also designed some public and commercial buildings, such as a supermarket and the City Hall in Ellensburg, Washington, and a corporate office in Mexico City. Her firm Edla Muir, Architect continued from 1946 until 1971, the year she died at the age of 65.

Custodial history:

Gift of Clyde Lambie, 1972.

Arrangement:

The following arrangement scheme for this collection was imposed during processing in the absence of a usable original order. The collection is organized into three series: personal papers, reference, and project series. The contents of the personal papers series are arranged into three subseries: articles and clippings, correspondence and photographs and negatives. Each subseries is then arranged chronologically by date of the materials. The contents of the reference series is arranged into two subseries: articles and clippings and photographs and negatives. Each subseries is then arranged alphabetically by the subject of the materials. The project series is organized into subseries by client alphabetically and subsequently arranged by format (for example: architectural drawings, photographs, and project files).

Physical location:
Boxes 1-7/ADC - regular Box 8*/ADC - oversize* Drawers 222-230/ADC
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Alexandra Adler
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2021-07-07T14:56-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Preferred citation:

Edla Muir papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7130, US
Contact:
(805) 893-2724
adc@museum.ucsb.edu
Website