Scope and Content Note
The papers of Louis Skidmore (1897-1962) span the years 1908-1976 and consist of correspondence, diaries, subject files, family papers, and other papers relating chiefly to Skidmore's career as an architect. Included in the collection is material pertaining to William Ralph Emerson, Robert Moses, the American Institute of Architects, and the firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Dates
- Creation: 1908-1976
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Louis Skidmore are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Louis Skidmore is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1897, Apr. 8
- Born, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
- 1911 - 1915
- Attended Manual Training High School, Peoria, Ill.
- 1915 - 1917
- Studied at Bradley Polytechnical Institute, Peoria, Ill.
- 1915 - 1919
- Employed chiefly at Avery Tractor Co., Peoria, Ill.
- 1918 - 1919
- Served in U.S. Army
- 1919 - 1920
- Instructor in cabinet and pattern making, Pullman Free School of Manual Training, Chicago, Ill.
- 1920
- Architectural designer with Kruckemeyer and Strong, Cincinnati, Ohio
- 1921 - 1923
- Studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
- 1924 - 1926
- Architectural designer, Maginnis and Walsh, Boston, Mass.
- 1926 - 1928
- Rotch Traveling Fellowship
- 1929 - 1932
- Chief of design, Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago, Ill.
- 1930
- Married Eloise Owings
- 1935
- Opened architectural office of Skidmore & Owings, Chicago, Ill.
- 1936 - 1937
- Director of the School of Architecture, Armour Institute, Chicago, Ill
- 1938
- Adviser to New York's World Fair, New York, N.Y.
- 1962, Sept. 27
- Died, Winter Haven, Fla.
Extent
2,000 items
4 containers
1 oversize
1.6 linear feet
Abstract
Architect. Correspondence, diaries, subject files, family papers, and other papers relating chiefly to Skidmore’s career as an architect.
Arrangement of the Papers
The papers are organized by type of material.
Catalog Record
Acquisition Information
The papers of Louis Skidmore, architect, were given to the Library of Congress by his wife, Eloise Owings Skidmore, in 1978.
Transfers
Architectural drawings, photographs, sketches, oil paintings, and postal cards have been transferred to the Library’s Pints and Photographs Division where they are identified as part of these papers.
Processing History
The papers of Louis Skidmore were processed in 1984 by Michael McElderry. The finding aid was revised in 2012. The finding aid was updated in 2023 by Maria Farmer as part of a division-wide remediation project by the Inclusive Description Working Group.
Source
- Skidmore, Louis, 1897-1962 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Emerson, William Ralph, 1833-1917. (Person)
- Moses, Robert, 1888-1981. (Person)
- Skidmore family. (Family)
- Skidmore, Louis, 1897-1962. (Person)
- American Institute of Architects. (Organization)
- Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. (Organization)
- Title
- Louis Skidmore Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Manuscript Division staff
- Date
- 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
Manuscript Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 101
Washington, DC 20540-4683
(202) 707-5387