Finding Aid for the Julius Ralph Davidson papers, 1904-1977
0000127
Finding aid prepared by Alex Hauschild, Melinda Gandara, Jennifer Whitlock, Caitlyn Ehisen, and Chris Marino.
The finding aid for this collection was made possible by a Getty Foundation Archival Arrangement & Description Grant.
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Arts Building Room 1434
University of California
Santa Barbara, California, 93106-7130
805-893-2724
adc@museum.ucsb.edu
2010
Title: Julius Ralph Davidson papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0000127
Contributing Institution:
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
23.0 Linear feet
(5 record storage boxes and 6 flat file drawers)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1924-1977
Date (inclusive): 1904-1977, bulk 1924-1977
creator:
Davidson, Julius Ralph, 1889-1977 -- Archives
Access
Partially processed collection, open for use by qualified researchers.
Custodial History note
Gift of J. R. Davidson, 1972 and 1975. Addition materials gifted by Barnabey Davidson, 2004.
Preferred Citation note
Julius Ralph Davidson papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California,
Santa Barbara.
Biographical/Historical note
Julius Ralph Davidson was born in 1889 in Berlin. Beginning at the age of 18, J.R. Davidson worked in architectural offices
in Berlin, London at the office of Frank Stuart Murray, and Paris. During the years 1919 to 1923, Davidson had his own practice
in Berlin before relocating to Los Angeles in 1923, at the age of 34. In Los Angeles, Davidson went to work for the office
of David Farquhar, then worked as a set designer under contract with Cecil B. De Mille, and then begun remodeling houses for
a firm of builders. In 1927, Davidson opened up his own office in Los Angeles, though he never became a licensed architect.
His commercial buildings of the 1920s, for which he often designed the interiors, fixtures and furniture, were widely published,
including those for the popular Coconut Grove restaurant/nightclub and the High Hat restaurants. Davidson’s house designs
date primarily from the late 1930s through the 1940s. Invited by John Entenza, editor of
Arts and Architecture magazine, Davidson designed Case Study House 1, which was finally realized in 1948. He also designed Case Study House 11,
the first of the Case Study houses to be built, and Case Study House 15. Although many of Davidson's designs were published
during his lifetime, Esther McCoy helped bring international attention to his work when she included him in her book,
The Second Generation. Davidson died at his home in Ojai, California on May 2, 1977.
Scope and Content Note
The Julius Ralph Davidson papers span 23 linear feet and date from 1904 to 1977. The collection is comprised of correspondence,
clippings, scrapbooks, ephemera, black-and-white photographs, architectural drawings and reprographic copies, sketches of
furniture designs, awards, administrative records such as client lists and specification reports, two flat file drawers filled
with presentation boards, and Davidson’s student work from the early 1900s. The majority of Davidson’s architectural drawings
and reprographic copies are of both residential and commercial remodeling designs.
Related Archival Materials note
David Gebhard papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa
Barbara.
Esther McCoy research papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California,
Santa Barbara.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Davidson, Julius Ralph, 1889-1977
Architect-designed furniture -- United States -- 20th century
Architects -- California
Architectural drawings
Architectural photographs
Architecture -- California
Architecture -- California -- 20th century
Architecture -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th Century
Architecture -- United States -- 20th century -- Sources
Architecture, Modern -- 20th century -- California -- Los Angeles
Case Study House No. 1 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Case Study House No. 11 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Case Study House No. 15 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Correspondence
Los Angeles (Calif.) Buildings, structures, etc.
Modern movement (Architecture) -- California
Photographic prints
Sketches
Personal Papers I.
1904-1967
Physical Description:
0.063 Linear feet
Biographical Information A.
1967
Physical Description:
0.021 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 1
"The International Style in L.A. 1930-1942" by Doris Fienga
1967
Student Work B.
1904
Physical Description:
0.021 Linear feet
Photographs C.
N.D.
Physical Description:
0.021 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 2
Davidson, J.R. Portraits
N.D.
Professional Papers II.
1934-1977
Physical Description:
0.126 Linear feet
Correspondence A.
1938-1951
Physical Description:
0.042
Box 1, Folder 4
Archipenko, Alexander
1938
Box 1, Folder 5
Brooklyn Museum of Art
1945-1946
Box 1, Folder 6
Buff, Mary and Conrad (re: Hi Hat)
N.D.
Box 1, Folder 7
East Los Angeles Junior College, Los Angeles, CA
1950
Box 1, Folder 8
Liebes, Dorothy W.
1938-1948
Box 1, Folder 9
Long Beach State College, Long Beach, CA
1951
Box 1, Folder 10
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
1944
Box 1, Folder 12
Royal Institute of British Architects
1937
Associations and Committees B.
1934-1977
Physical Description:
0.042 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 17
American Institute of Architects Cleveland Chapter: Renovize Exposition
1934
Box 1, Folder 18
American Institute of Architects: Pan American Congress of Architects
1949
Box 1, Folder 19
California Council, The American Institute of Architects (CC AIA)
1977
Box 1, Folder 16
American Institute of Architects: Invitation to Exhibition of Contemporary Architecture
N.D.
Awards C.
1977
Physical Description:
0.021 Linear feet
FlatFile 4
American Institute of Architects, California Council Award
1977
Reference Files D.
N.D.
Physical Description:
0.021 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 20
The Couinard School of Motion Picture Arts
N.D.
Office Records III.
1925-1977
Physical Description:
0.664 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
Office Records reflect the general operation of Davidson’s business and are not connected to a particular project. The series
is divided into six sub-series: Adminsitration, Correspondence, Public relations, Photographs, Presentation Materials, and
Clippings/Scrapbooks.
Administrative A.
1929-1966
Physical Description:
0.063 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
Office Administration Records include materials related to the general operation of Davidson’s business and are not connected
to a particular project. The files include general specifications and architectural details that are not specific to a project,
lists of clients, and other administrative documents.
Box 1, Folder 22
General specifications and architectural details
N.D.
Correspondence B.
1937-1951
Physical Description:
0.063 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 25
J. Walter Thompson Company
1938
Box 1, Folder 26
Kensington Inc. (Cigarette Server Patent)
1937
Box 1, Folder 30
Trinidad Trading Co. Ltd.
1951
Public Relations C.
1930-1955
Physical Description:
0.083 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
The Office Records Public relations sub-series may contain correspondence with publishers and brochures related to Davidson's
projects.
Box 1, Folder 31
The Architectural Forum
1950
Box 1, Folder 32
Architectural Record
1935-1948
Box 1, Folder 33
The Art Center School
1941
Box 1, Folder 34
Better Homes and Gardens
1937
Box 1, Folder 35
Casa Editrice Libraria (Aloi, Roberto)
1946-1951
Box 3, Folder 157
"Die Neve Raumkunst" by Herbert Hoffman
1930
Box 1, Folder 36
Editorial Contempora, Buenos Aires
1948-1955
Box 1, Folder 37
Ford, Katherine Morrow
1950-52
Box 1, Folder 38
Fortune Magazine (George Nelson)
1945
Box 1, Folder 39
The Greystone Press, N.Y.
1945
Box 1, Folder 40
Hite-Bilicke Limited, Drivincurb Market
1931
Box 1, Folder 41
House and Garden, Awards in Architecture
1948
Box 1, Folder 42
Interior Magazine
1945-1952
Box 3, Folder 156
"Living Spaces" Interiors Library No. 1
1952
Box 1, Folder 43
McCall Corporation, N.Y.
1947
Box 1, Folder 44
Medical Economics Journal
1944
Box 1, Folder 45
Museum of Modern Art
1943
Box 1, Folder 46
Nuestra Arquitectura, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1955
Box 1, Folder 47
Progressive Architecture
1947
Photographs D.
1929-1951
Physical Description:
0.125 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
The Office Records Photographs sub-series inlcudes photographs of finished projects and albums of project related images.
Also see Project Records Photographs.
Box 2, Folder 104
Archipenko, Alexander Artwork
1951
Box 4, Folder 168
Davidson, J.R. Residence
1946-1947
Box 4, Folder 169
Kingsley, Joseph Residence
1946-1947
Box 4, Folder 170
Maitland, Dr. L.M. Residence
1937-1940
Box 3, Folder 158-159
Photograph Album, Chronological Projects
1929-1940
Box 4, Folder 172
Stothart, Herbert Residence
1937-1938
Presentation Materials E.
1925-1959
Scope and Contents note
The Offfice Records Presentation Materials sub-series includes presentation drawings of Davidson's projects which may be color
watercolors on boards.
FlatFile 113
Arts and Architecture Magazine Case Study House Number 11
1945-1946
FlatFile 110
Arts and Crafts Shopping Center
N.D.
FlatFile 111
Branch, Houston Residence and Residence Remodeling
1939
FlatFile 114
Dann, G.H. Residence
1950-1951
FlatFile 124-125
Davidson, J.R. Residence
1946-1947
FlatFile 115
Davidson, J.R. Office Signage
N.D.
FlatFile 117
Feingold, Dr. B.F. and Dr. J.M. Harris Medical Building
1941-1942
FlatFile 116
Gretna Green Apartment Building
1940
FlatFile 118
Hite-Bilicke Limited Drivincurb Market
1951
FlatFile 119
House Beautiful Magazine
1925
FlatFile 120
Kingsley, Mrs. Paul Residence
1946
FlatFile 126
Maitland, Dr. L.M. Residence Remodeling
1937, 1940
FlatFile 71
Morgan Camera Shop
1938, 1945
FlatFile 121
Osherenko, Joseph R. Residence and Residence Remodeling
1948-1949, 1954
FlatFile 122, 127
Stothart, Herbert Residence and Furniture
1937-1938
FlatFile 123
Unidentified Cocktail Lounge Interior
N.D.
Clippings and Scrapbooks F.
1929-1977
Physical Description:
0.33 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
The Office Records Clippings adn Scrapbooks sub-series includes published materials related to the Davinson or his specific
projects.
Box 1, Folder 48
Publication Record
1929-1962
Box 1, Folder 49
Berkson, Maurice Residence
1940; 1944
Box 1, Folder 50
Bilicke, Archie Commercial Building
1933; 1935
Box 1, Folder 51
Case Study House #11
1946; 1949-1950
Box 1, Folder 52
Case Study House #15: Better Homes and Gardens
1947
Box 1, Folder 53
California Fashion Publications Building
1952
Box 1, Folder 54
Dann, Gustav H. Residence
1953-1954
Box 1, Folder 55
Davidson, J.R. Residence
N.D.
Box 1, Folder 56-57
Davidson, J.R. Residence: Architectural Forum
1950
Box 1, Folder 58
Davidson, J.R. Residence: House and Garden
1950
Box 1, Folder 59
Davidson, J.R. Residence: Interiors
1944
Box 1, Folder 60
Davidson, J.R. Residence: Nuestra Arquitectura
1953
Box 1, Folder 61
Decorative Arts Official Catalog, Golden Gate International Exposition
1939
Box 1, Folder 62
Feingold and Harris Medical Building
N.D.
Box 1, Folder 63-64
Gretna Green Apartments
1941; 1945
Box 1, Folder 65
Harris, Rachford Residence: Progressive Architecture
1954
Box 1, Folder 66
Hite-Bilicke Interiors, Pressman and Company Building: Architectural Record
1929
Box 1, Folder 67
Hotel Knickerbocker, Chicago, IL
1933
Box 1, Folder 68
Hotel Shoreland Bar, Chicago, IL
1937
Box 1, Folder 69
"J.R. Davidson" by Esther McCoy, L.A. Architect
1977
Box 1, Folder 70
Jokl, Dr. R.H. Residence
1962
Box 1, Folder 72
Kingsley, Joseph and Mrs. Paul Residence: Nuestra Arquitectura
1948
Box 1, Folder 73
Kingsley, Mrs. Paul Residence
1948-49; 1952, 1954, 1958
Box 1, Folder 75
Maitland, Dr. L.M. Residence, Bel Air, CA
1940
Box 1, Folder 76
Mann, Thomas Residence
1941
Box 1, Folder 77
Osherenko, Joseph R. Residence
1948-1949
Box 1, Folder 78
Pittsburgh Glass Institute Competition, Architectural Forum
1939
Box 1, Folder 79
Rabinowitz, D. Residence
N.D.
Box 1, Folder 80
Sabsay, Rubin Residence
1946
Box 1, Folder 81
Sardi's Restaurant
1937, 1939
Box 1, Folder 82
Saterlee, Helen Nace Residence: Arts and Architecture
1949
Box 1, Folder 83
"Snapshots: J.R. Davidson," Interiors
1944
Box 1, Folder 84
"A Statement of Architectural Principles" L.A. Times Home Magazine
1954
Box 1, Folder 85-86
Stothart, Herbert Residence
1940
Box 1, Folder 87
Taylor, Sam Residence
1947
Project Records IV.
1924-1975
Scope and Contents note
The Project Records document all aspects of the design and execution of all Davidson projects. The series is divided into
three sub-series: Files, Photographs, and Drawings.
Files A.
1931-1975
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
Note
see Project Index
Scope and Contents note
The Project files may include receipts, specifications, measurements, sketches, notes, and other documents that relate to
the design and execution of Davidson’s projects. Some files may include correspondence with the client, the vendors, and other
people key to the project.
Photographs B.
1926-1975
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Note
see Project Index
Scope and Contents note
The Project Photograph Records include prints and negatives of Davidson’s projects. Images include buildings, furniture, and
loghting fixtures. Photographers include Julius Shulman, Robert C. Cleveland, Will Connell, and The Mott Studios. Some images
show the projects in construction and some show the completed project. This sub-series also includes photographic reproductions
of original drawings.
Drawings C.
1924-1975
Note
see Project Index
Scope and Contents note
Project Drawings may include original drawings of floor plans, elevations, sections, details and furniture designs in ink,
graphite, colored pencil, or watercolor. In some cases, blueprints or brown line prints of drawings are also included if the
original does not exist or if the prints are annotated.
