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Finding Aid for the Edla Muir papers, circa 1917-1986
0000160
0000160
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Title: Edla Muir papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0000160
Contributing Institution:
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
43.79 Linear feet
(7 half record storage boxes, 1 oversize storage box and 9 flat file drawers)
Date (inclusive): circa 1917-1986
creator:
Muir, Edla, 1906-1970
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Gift of Clyde Lambie, 1972.
Edla Muir papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
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.
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.
Related Archival Materials note
John Byers papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa
Barbara.
Elliott Welsh papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa
Barbara.
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).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Muir, Edla, 1906-1970
Architects -- California
Architectural drawings
Architectural photographs
Architecture -- California -- 20th century
Architecture -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th Century
Blueprints
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Commercial buildings
Los Angeles (Calif.) Buildings, structures, etc.
Negatives
Photographic prints
Reprographic copies
Specifications
Women architects