Ruocco (Lloyd) Papers, 1944-1981

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Summary

Title:
Lloyd Ruocco Papers
Dates:
1944-1981
Creators:
Ruocco, Lloyd
Abstract:
The Lloyd Ruocco Papers contain materials relating to prominent San Diego Architect Lloyd Ruocco, including some of his professional portfolios, correspondence, and articles written by and about Ruocco.
Extent:
0.5 Linear feet (1 box)
Language:
and Collection materials are in English, Spanish and German.
Preferred citation:

Lloyd Ruocco Papers, MS 247, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Lloyd Ruocco papers contain biographical information, professional portfolios, correspondence from the public, and writings by and about San Diego architect Lloyd Ruocco. Biographical information includes a brief biography covering the professional career of Ruocco following his graduation from U.C. Berkeley in 1933 through 1976, as well as a brief timeline of the activities involved in by both Ruocco and his wife. There are three professional portfolios included in the collection: the first on the L.Ruocco Architectural Firm associates and projects, including two reference letters; the second created upon the nomination of Ruocco to become a fellow of the American Institute of Architects; and the third containing information regarding the Rabinowitz residence designed by Ruocco in 1955. Also included are a number of articles by and about Ruocco, as well as an unpublished manuscript by Ruocco. Additionally there is much correspondence addressed to Ruocco from the public in response to his views expressed on a television program in 1960 on the subject of modular homes. Lastly, there are a few items related to Ruocco’s personal life such as a letter from his lawyer with a Disclaimer attached regarding the Estate of Ruocco’s parents, and also an invitation to a memorial service in Ruocco’s honor held at the Geophysics Building at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, a building he designed.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Maine to an English mother and Italian father, Lloyd Ruocco (1907- May 10, 1981) eventually became one of San Diego’s most influential architects. He was raised in Canada and moved to San Diego in 1922. After completing a degree in architecture at U.C. Berkeley, he returned to San Diego and became known as a “visionary architect” for both his private residences and his public buildings. He later married Ilse Hamman, a professor of art at San Diego State University who worked with him as an interior designer. Ruocco’s best-known accomplishments include the Children’s Zoo (1955), the Geophysics Building at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (1964), and the Civic Theatre (1965). His office on Fifth Avenue, known as the “Design Center,” became famous for its unique style that integrated humans and nature. Ruocco also designed numerous homes around San Diego including his own home completed in 1945 in La Mesa, which he called “Il Cavo.” In 1945 Ruocco co-founded the Allied Artists’ Council, and in 1961 he founded the Citizens’ Coordinate for Century 3, an action group that sought to promote urban design and aesthetics. In 1974 Ruocco became a fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Lloyd Ruocco was well known for his ideas of a “kinderpath” town,” which would connect human structures with nature, and of Centre City, an idealized urban center that would promote the well-being of its residents. Ruocco openly professed his ideas of how modular homes could be the answer to the problem of tract housing, specifically the ability to grow with a family. Though none of these ideas were ever actualized, Ruocco’s contributions to San Diego architecture and his charitable works are still recognized throughout the world.

Acquisition information:
Accession number 900104 and 2003.074.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Alison Hennessey on November 1, 2011.

Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Arrangement:

Items in collection are arranged by subject.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Alison Hennessey
Sponsor:
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Date Prepared:
November 1, 2011
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-05-11T16:56-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Lloyd Ruocco Papers, MS 247, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website