Laszlo (Paul) papers, 1924-1979

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Summary

Title:
Paul László papers
Dates:
1924-1979
Creators:
Laszlo, Paul, 1900-1993 -- Archives
Extent:
24.0 Linear feet (7 record storage boxes, 5 flat file drawers, 1 model)
Language:
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

The Paul László papers span 24 linear feet and date from 1925 to 1975. The collection primarily contains drawings and photographs that document László's interior planning and design work done after 1936, when he arrived in California, with most work dated since 1944. Some of his major clients include J. C. Hall (Hallmark), The Hudson Bay Company (Canada) and department stores Robinson's, and Bullock's. Materials include presentation boards for residential and commercial buildings (showing interior and exterior views) and furniture designs. Architectural drawings, correspondence, black-and-white photographs, and magazine and newspaper clippings are arranged by project.

Biographical / historical:

Paul László, interior designer and architect, was born February 6, 1900 in Debrecen, Hungary. He attended the Staatliche Akademie der Bilden den Kunste in Stuttgart, Germany where he studied architecture and design. László apprenticed with Fritz August Brueuhaus in Cologne Germany before he opened his practice in Vienna in 1925, at the age of 24. In 1936, László moved to Los Angeles where he quickly gained residential commissions. Throughout László’s career the majority of his work consisted of ultra-modern, spacious residential homes for celebrities and the wealthy. He designed homes for Cary Grant, Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Taylor and Barbara Hutton, among others. László often designed all of the furniture and interiors for his buildings. As his career progressed László focused more of his energy on interior design. Some of his more notable projects include designs for deparment stores, including Bullock’s, Goldwater’s, Robinson’s, and Ohrbach’s stores; a bomb shelter for Mr. John Daniel Hertz; and the Illing of California building. Paul László died on March 28, 1993, at the age of 93.

Custodial history:

Gift of Paul László, 1974. Additional material gifted from Loma Griffith in 1978 and 2003.

Physical location:
Box1-3, 5/ADC - regular Box 4, 6, 7, 8/ADC - oversize* 5 Flat File Drawers/ADC - flat files Paul Laszlo house/Mosher - model Furniture - Mosher Coffee Table (2003.005.001) cork, wood and lacquer (13 x 71 x 21")
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Jocelyne Lopez, Lara Gregorians and Chris Marino
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 Prepared:
2015
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-10-17T16:09-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Preferred citation:

Paul László 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