Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Leonard J. Currie Papers,
Currie, Leonard J. (Leonard James), 1913-1996
Ms.2007.028
10 Cubic Feet
14 boxes; 30 oversize folders--processed materials ONLY
1920-2001
Please note: this collection is currently being processed. Portions of the collection which are fully processed are listed in this finding aid. This includes photographs and negatives, flat files and oversize drawings from personal and professional projects, and a few artifacts. As more materials are processed, additional series and subseries will be published. Other portions of the collection may be available for research--contact Special Collections (specref@vt.edu) for more information.
The materials in this collection are predominantly written in English and Spanish. However, some papers also contain German, Russian, and French.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Leonard J. Currie Papers, Ms2007-028, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Scope and Content
Currie received a Bachelor of Architecture from University of Minnesota in 1936, married Virginia M. Herz in 1937, and earned a Masters degree from Harvard in 1938, then served an two-year apprenticeship with Marcel Breuer and Walter Gropius at their firm. After that he worked on many projects in Latin America, taught at Harvard, and headed the architecture departments of Virginia Tech and University of Illinois at Chicago. He practiced architecture privately in firms from the 1970s to the 1990s, and became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1993. The 1961 house he designed for his family in Blacksburg, Virginia, commonly called the "Pagoda House," won awards from the AIA and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Currie Papers include sets of blueprints and drawings for about 25 architectural projects and papers relating to his teaching. There are also files and reports on his work in Latin America, both on historic sites and improving housing for the poor. Unprocessed.
Arrangement
Please note: Photographs are arranged as their own series, since many rolls of film contain both personal and professional/project related photographs and negatives. Within the series, photographs are arranged in travel/international work, US buildings/projects, and personal subseries. See the series note below on Series I: Photographs and Negatives for more on their arrangement.
Related Archival Materials
Office of the Vice-President, Louis A. Pardue, 1950-1963. RG 3/3
Records of the Office of the President, Walter S. Newman, 1947-1962 (Bulk 1947-1961). RG 2/10
Ute Westrom Architectural Papers, 1968-1996. Ms1996-023
Virginia M. Hertz Currie Papers, 1934-2000. Ms2001-005
Walter Gropius/ G. Preston Frazer Papers, 1969-1992. Ms1992-052
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Leonard J. Currie Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Architects
Architects -- Virginia
Blacksburg (Va.)
Faculty and staff
Montgomery County (Va.)
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
University History
Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. College of Architecture (1974-1978)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. College of Architecture and Urban Studies (1978-2022)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute. College of Architecture
Series I: Photographs, Negatives, A/V Materials,1934-1995Subseries A: Travel and International Work Photographs, AustriaVienna,199267Bolivia1953111 to 11-2Brasil1953111 to 11-2CanadaU.S.-Canada Trip,January-February 195624Central/South America (Country or other location unknown)1956261984323Undated113 to 11-4, 11-10820c.1950s1013Chile1953112Colombia19421719511161952231953112, 11-51956115251960210Boat from NY to Colombia, Jan. 198237San Agustin,undated92Undated91Corte Liso194217Undated93Costa Ricaincluding Guancaste and San Juan,195119 to 1-15, 1-17Undated94116CubaJune 195119CyprusNicosia,199268Ecuador1953112Undated99Egypt199266El Salvador1941GermanyFrankfurt,1992681995811Undated911Guatemala194115194217Undated913Honduras194115Jordan (incl. Amman)199268Kenya (Lamu, Sheba, Nairobi, etc.)199375EuropeEurope/USSR trip, including England, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and the USSR,September 195828Mexicoc.1940s14, 1-5a1952117October 1978221Netherlands (Amsterdam)199375Nicaragua194115Managua,194211916 to 1-7Managua,September 19511151952117Managua,December 1975219119Undated927Panama/Panama CanalAugust 1951112Canal,January 195222Paraguay1953112Peru1952-1953112, 11-7Machu Piccu (charter signing),1977118220Undated99, 9-30SlovakiaBratislava,199267Switzerland,7141995811Uruguay1953112U.S. TravelCalifornia,undated818Colorado (?)818aCruise,198841East (incl. Charlottesville, VA),c.1942-1945?105Florida (Miami, Viscaya?, etc.),1988-199042, 5-1Georgia (Savannah),199051Illinois (Chicago)Conferral of doctorate to Walter Gropius,1968217aExteriors and aerial views197931University of Illinois,19937101990429 to 4-30Undated922Indiana (Notre Dame)922KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky,1993710MassachusettsGropius House in Lincoln,1992610Boston/Harvard Yard,19531112Minnesota (mostly St. Paul),1988, undated337922New Hampshire (Dartmouth College),1992610New YorkMarch 1961211Boat trip from New York City,undated926aBuildings (New York City)926Guggenheim Museum (New York City),1961211Ithaca103North Carolina (Grandfather Mountain Scottish Games)928Pennsylvania (Kahn Medical Research Tower, Philadelphia)May 1961212Vermont (Strafford; Maryann Harman studio/site),199283610Washington (Seattle, Puget Sound) [1993 photos were incorrectly identified, they should be with 1994 material],199479, 7-16Washington, DC108West/Southwest (incl. Santa Fe, NM; El Paso, TX; Calder, ID?),c. 1942-1945?105West Virginia (Bramwell)1010Yellowstone National Park/Teton National Park,c.1940s?14aUSA--Architecture and objects,c.1940s?14bVenezuela1953112Subseries B: Building and Project Photographs,Residential (mostly Southwest Virginia),Scope and ContentWhen known, site locations are provided. A majority of the residences are from the Blacksburg/Southwest Virginia area, since this is where Currie was based from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. Projects known to be located in other states are listed by state in subseries below.
Allen Residence,1994719Anderson House,19894497Arnold House,1989-199165417518, 5-22Baumann Residence,1992522Albert Beecher Residence (Blacksburg),1988-1989339411Bonomo Residence/Addition,199162515, 5-19 to 5-20Bill Bradley Gatehouse,198943, 4-9Bill Bradley House (Blacksburg),c.1959815Bruns Lakehouse Remodel (Clayton Lake),1989-1992414, 4-28, 4-30 to 4-3361252, 5-6 to 5-91113Carter House,1994719Chapman House (Blacksburg),1995810, 8-14Clay St. House (Blacksburg),1991518Conn House,199586Thomas Connor House,199159 to 5-10810, 8-13107 Country Club Drive (Blacksburg),1991519Cremer Residence,1988341Currie House I, Highland Circle (Pagoda House), (Blacksburg)19612131962214196321519904251994715, 7-17Undated95Currie House II, Carlson Dr. (Blacksburg)1981-198233 to 3-6, 3-8 to 3-9, 3-11 to 3-161982-1986317 to 3-22, 3-24, 3-281987-1989329, 3-32, 3-34, 3-4147, 4-9, 4-13 to 4-15, 4-191990-199586 to 8-9, 8-1271, 7-6, 7-8 to 7-11, 7-14 to 7-16, 7-18 to 7-19512, 5-15 to 5-16, 5-21 to 5-2242564, 6-9Undated101296 to 9-81113Andrew Glenn site,199471682Maryann Harmon Residence,199571889, 8-13Jane Hurd Residence,19958977, 7-11 to 7-12Knorba Residence,1990425Mammie Residence (Floyd)919Newport House (model)925NRV Habitat for Humanity site (Pulaski County),1988336Ogburn House,1986-199054327, 3-37Marcus Oliver House,198943Pontius House,1990427Rangins House,199588Saati Residence,1994715Sinha House and Addition,1989-199582, 8-8101420712, 7-17 to 7-19Snider Farm (Millstone Ridge, Blacksburg),1987-1988332, 3-37921Steger House (Blacksburg)102Sunshine House,1991510Andy Swiger House,1990422[Janet] Swiger House (Millstone Ridge, Blacksburg),1989-1990413, 4-23Tayal Residence,199482Templeman Rehab104Trower House,July 1982310Hugo Veit Residence,1993710VPI President's House @ Rainbow Ridge (Blacksburg),1986328Weddle House (Radford),199586 to 8-8Wesley Addition (Blacksburg)109Cliff Whitemore House,1989416Willard Residence (900 Draper Ave.) (Blacksburg),1991-199272, 7-7, 7-9, 7-1161, 6-1258, 5-12, 5-14, 5-17 to 5-19, 5-21Willard Residence (203 Kent St.) (Blacksburg),1991-19927461, 6-5514, 5-20 to 5-21Wille Residence (incl. site and model),1990-199252, 5-5, 5-22425, 4-27, 4-3371 to 7-2, 7-4, 7-8, 7-13, 7-1582, 8-12101162, 6-5, 6-9 to 6-13Blacksburg/Southwest Virginia ChurchesBlacksburg Baptist Church97Blacksburg Christian Science Church,198945Blacksburg Presbyterian Church,1989-1995511 to 5-15, 5-1771, 7-6 to 7-7, 7-9, 7-18812, 8-164863, 6-11 to 6-13Belmont Christian Church (Roanoke),1991-1992514611Christian Church (Blacksburg),1990425Christian Scientist Church97First Baptist Church (Blacksburg)910Interdenominational Church97Merrimac Pentacostal Holiness Church (Blacksburg),1992612Prospect Presbyterian Church (Radford)932St. Jude's Catholic Church (Radford),198947, 4-16St. Mary's Church (Blacksburg?),1995810, 8-13Unitarian Church Site,1990424Wesley Foundation interiors (Blacksburg United Methodist Church),1989419Commercial (mostly Southwest Virginia)Blacksburg Library (incl. groundbreaking),199588, 8-13Bonamo's (Blacksburg),1986328Cranwell International Center (Virginia Tech) (Blacksburg),198947, 4-9, 4-16Hulio's (Blacksburg),1986325Glen Lyn project912Glen School project,1988339Hokie House (Blacksburg),1988-1990914410 to 4-11, 4-13 to 4-18, 4-21339Millard's @ 900s [Willards 900 Draper Ave?],199159Millstone Ridge (Blacksburg),1988-199074, 7-951642 to 4-3, 4-7, 4-16, 4-30 to 4-31335, 3-38, 3-4089921Montgomery County Library,1988-198942Newport School,1990434Preston Place (incl. Arnold's Bar) (Blacksburg),1987-199210365, 6-131113513, 5-15 to 5-18, 5-21 to 5-22710, 7-19931412 to 4-14, 4-30Pulaski County HS (Pulaski),199159Virginia Tech Resource Center (Blacksburg),1991510Warm Hearth (Blacksburg),1983-199578320, 4-34IllinoisCurrie House, 1246 W. Lexington Ave. (Chicago), 198091532Chicago,Undated915MassachusettsAndover Hotel (Andover),1986326Harvard Graduate Center (Cambridge),194918Ryan House (possibly Massachusetts)933Six Moon Hill/16 Moon Hill and other houses (Lexington), 1951-1953111221Six Moon Hill (Lexington),1983, 1992, undated610920320PennsylvaniaBaumann Residence (Philadelphia),199053405 N. 23rd Street (Philadelphia)929Swiger Site (Towanda)103Student/Colleague ProjectsBob's and Student's work,195829Currie design models,1931-194012Terry Love-model of inflated theatre project917VPI design models/projects106 to 10-7VPI Student Project-Roanoke Plan,April 195827UnidentifiedUnidentified houses/churches,1987, undated3311012Exteriors and building sites/construction,1992-1994, undated1012423715111481, 8-17Interiors and exteriors,undated916House moved by Biel Lavick (?),undated922Model,undated923Sample signs, stones, dormers, exteriors,undated934Virginia TechVPI Campus,1981-1982, 1994, undated34 to 3-6, 3-16107715Cowgill Hall,1988335Arbor Day/Elarth Memorial,198841, 4-26CAUS/CAUS Research Station,1990424, 4-26Squires Student Center,1990517, 5-20, 5-22433Henderson Lawn,199261Subseries C: Candids/Personal Photographs,Leonard Currie1920-1939111960-19792181980-1995711Leonard Currie's office (200 N. Main St.)918Currie Family/Friends1940-1959131111Interiors and Exteriors (unidentified),194012aNicaragua,c.1941-194213a1960-19881111Betty Currie,August 1962217Family,1989-199552, 5-1471, 7-11, 7-1587 to 8-8, 8-1247, 4-9, 4-13, 4-18, 4-2392061, 6-5Thanksgiving,199482Robert Currie's business,1995814Family,undated11111012819Blacksburg/Southwest VirginiaBill Bradley's House (Blacksburg),1987-1989330, 3-39Blacksburg,1988-198942Roanoke Country Club,May 198946Hotel Roanoke,1989416Main St. Exteriors (Blacksburg),1989918415Patsy Owens reception,1989415Steger Bridge,1989417Intern picnic,1990432Worley's,1990431YMCA (Blacksburg),1991520Rick Boucher Rally,1992611Blacksburg sunrise,1993712Beecher Memorial Tree,1994717Brady's,199482Country club fire,1994715Poplar Forest (Thomas Jefferson estate near Lynchburg),1994718Sheep dog trials,1994719Bob Morgan or Bill Skelton House (negs not identified),1994-199584Al Randy and Susan Leslie Residence,199585Edgar Tafel and Dorothy Toris(?) at unidentified lecture,199587Anne Stafford,199588Virginia (Other than Southwest)Bacon's Castle (Surrey)98Tom Koontz's church98Mountain Lake924OtherAmazon bark cloth painting,199589Collage (by Mrs. T?),1993712Art studio and art works, 1994111481Subseries D: Films8 mm films: Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru,undated12Series VI: Project Records,Subseries A: Drawings,1939-1994Hoskyus Abrahal Utility Addition,199024Albert Beecher Residence (Blacksburg, Virginia),19601Bonomo Residence Addition,19912Bill Bradley Residence (Blacksburg, Virginia),19593Cremer Residence,19884Currie House, Sixteen Moon Hill (Lexington, Massachusetts),19495Currie House, 1246 W. Lexington Ave. (Chicagom Illinois), 197625Currie House I, Highland Circle (Blacksburg, Virginia),1960-19956Currie House I, Highland Circle (Blacksburg, Virginia),c.19617Currie House II, Carlson Dr. (Blacksburg, Virginia),19808Hilda Dailey Residence,19919Hulio's Restaurant (Blacksburg, Virginia),198624Domermuth Residence,198410Glenn Residence,199411Grega-Larsen Residence,199024First Methodist Church (Rich Creek, Virginia),196012Cecelia Frank Residence,193913Maryann Harmon Summer Studio (Vermont),199214Hokie House Addition (Blacksburg, Virginia),198815Jane Hurd Residence,199316A. Johnson Residence,1960-196117Mammi Residence (Floyd, Virginia),198718Ogburn Residence,198519Sinha Addition,199420Steger Residence (Blacksburg, Virginia),198724Store on South Lytle St. (Chicago, Illinois),196725Townsley Residence,198921Wesley Foundation, Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Virginia),1959-196322Wille Residence,199223Willard Apartments (Blacksburg, Virginia), 199124103 Wilson Ave. Addition (Blacksburg, Virginia),198824Unidentified Sketches (Buildings)26Series VII: Art & ArtifactsIllinois architect stamp13Camera in leather bag14