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I am writing this piece at a time when access to art is very limited. Museums and art galleries are closed. Plays, operas and other music performances have been postponed or canceled due to coronavirus. As much as I appreciate virtual gatherings around the arts, the work is not perceived in the same authentic way when experienced from home. But on one of my many walks around the neighborhood, I realized that the art of architecture has remained relatively accessible. As I admired closed gothic churches, libraries, houses and many other buildings in the city, I began thinking about all the hopes and stories behind them and of all the architects that had realized them.
My work as a Processing Scholar of the Richard J. Neutra’s correspondence in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT)(opens in a new tab) combined my passion for 20th century architecture, especially that of Eastern Europe and Russia, with my interest in special collections and archival work in general. Richard J. Neutra (1892–1970) was one of the most influential architects of the 20th
century. Find out more about him and the collection in our Finding Aid for the Richard and Dion Neutra Papers(opens in a new tab).
The project came with as many unexpected challenges as it did rewards. The biggest challenge was preservation of print materials that had sustained water damage prior to coming to UCLA. Materials that were moldy required freezing and vacuuming so we reached out to the UCLA Library Preservation & Conservation Department for guidance. They told us that since I was working on preservation of collection materials, it was paramount that I use a special hood when vacuuming and that I wear a mask and gloves to avoid any contact with mold. Moreover, because some materials were in such poor shape, tools more advanced than a vacuum needed to be employed. As a result, some materials were successfully preserved but some were so damaged that preservation became impossible, and those in need of more advanced equipment and technique are still waiting their turn.
I developed a peculiar relationship with mold. It was tragic to see the damage it has done to printed correspondence, documents, blueprints, photographs, film and advertisements. At the same time, it was something I have never seen before. I was mesmerized by the shapes and colors through which mold manifested itself. I also noticed that some kinds of paper were more susceptible to mold than others. It was a lesson in patience, attentiveness and care for the preservation of historic documents, most of which only exist as single copies.
Though there are still documents that need to be tended to, the fast-moving timeline required me to move forward with processing the correspondence.
Letters exchanged between Richard J. Neutra and his son, Dion Neutra, and the clients of their firm allowed me to enter backstage and view the intricacies of planning and designing a new residence, a church, a school, a hospital, a museum and many other projects. They were made both in and outside of the United States in countries such as Venezuela, Pakistan, Italy, Belgium, Austria and others. One letter was sent by Martha Quandt, a librarian who commissioned Richard J. Neutra to design a house in Apple Valley, CA. It is worth quoting some passages here to see how a residence is born out of a desired lifestyle.
“In my [Ms Quandt’s] new desert home, as here, my daily program during the school year will follow a rather set pattern, for my position as librarian of the Apple Valley Junior High School will demand more of my waking hours than will my home. Nevertheless, despite the necessity for routine and a schedule of activities designed to get me to my work, my home will mean a place of beauty and serenity, where I can move freely about inside and out enjoying the view and romping with my dog. It will be a place of refreshment to mind and body.”
In addition to describing her way of living, Ms Quandt described her weekends as well.
“During my weekends, however, I like to read, listen to music, watch some television, bake and write letters in addition to caring for the garden and playing with the dog. I anticipate that at Juniper Springs in the summer Miss Crowell and I shall swim frequently in the Sky-Hi Ranch pool and entertain family and friends. We shall walk in the hills, watch birds and take pictures.”
Stories like Ms Quandt’s are the stories I now think about whenever I stroll down the streets of my own neighborhood. I imagine the care with which different houses were designed by architects like Richard J. and Dion Neutra who paid much attention to their clients’ needs and desires.
It is also important to note that although the correspondence largely consists of typewritten letters and agreements, it also includes many mid-20th century advertisements.
The advertisements immediately transport you to the time when technology looked very different. It is not at all like the washing machines, fridges and other appliances that we have today. Thus, CFPRT projects combine both the historic past and the archival tools of the present in order to introduce young professionals (like me) to a world of special collections.
About Yana
Yana Demeshko is an incoming Ph.D. student in the Department of Slavic, East European and Eurasian Languages and Cultures. Her areas of interest include Russian literature, architecture, politics, history and culture. She has specific expertise in the architecture of Russia and Europe, having studied different architectural styles and how they were utilized in urban design throughout history, and an interest in Los Angeles architecture, including works by Frank Gehry, Frank Lloyd Wright and Richard Neutra. Yana is processing correspondence from the Richard and Dion Neutra papers. This unprocessed chunk of correspondence totals 14 linear feet and relates to various projects of Richard Neutra, some of which will never be built. Description will be integrated into the existing finding aid for the collection.
