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In 1998, UCLA acquired 1,410 rolls from the collection of Richard Neutra, the prolific mid-century architect who defined modernism in Southern California. This collection contains original sketches, drawings, renderings, working prints and blueprints – all received in varying conditions and sometimes in states of deterioration. For the past three years, paper conservator Devin Mattlin has been engaged in meticulous work to safeguard and rehouse these materials at the Preservation & Conservation Department in Powell Library. As Preservation Assistants and archival students, we have been able to collaborate on this project and contribute ideas for the long-term storage and access of the Neutra collection.
The collection we are focused on resides at the Southern Regional Library Facility (SRLF) located on campus. Once we receive the materials to our lab, the preservation and assessment task begins. Wrapped in highly acidic craft paper, each roll remains a mystery until the materials are carefully unwrapped in our workspace. Never intended to outlive their original architectural and utilitarian purpose, these materials now present unique challenges in conservation which requires each roll to be individually assessed by hand. Some of the materials are severely deteriorated with brittle paper, torn and folded edges, mold, rusty staples and greasy tape. Over time, paper-based materials turn yellow and decay due to exposure and interaction with the elements, such as: light, water, humidity, heat and pollution. Evaluating these materials is essential so that we can identify the cause of degradation and re-arrange them into new housings.
Conservation work is rooted in various important considerations, one primary focus is to ensure the safety of these materials for public use and to preserve their contents for the future. Major challenges with paper-based materials include tape removal, a process which requires meticulous attention to detail and a steady hand. This involves using a heated air pencil, micro-spatulas and repurposed dental tools to carefully peel back the sticky adhesive. The tape adhesive residue must also be cleaned using a rubber cement eraser to gently remove the gooey remnants.
Dry cleaning is another process we use to dust off debris, using cosmetic sponges and hake brushes to ensure the removal of surface dirt and grime without risking damage to the papers. Fluctuations in humidity can cause mold growth on the papers. In this case, we must move the materials to a ventilated enclosure and safely vacuum the affected areas to prevent further decomposition.
Often, these architectural rolls contain common office objects like paper clips, staples and brackets originally used to organize the materials. Though seemingly harmless at first glance, these metallic objects are now highly corrosive and rusty, posing significant risk to both the user and the documents they secure. We use pliers to detach the pesky metal fasteners and brushes to remove any excess corrosion to ensure the paper does not suffer further damage.
Sometimes the papers we receive are torn– this can be from past poor handling or storage–but when it affects the visual contents of the materials we perform tear repairs. This restabilizes the documents and makes them legible and safe to handle again. In the case of the tracing paper below, conservator Devin Mattlin used lens tissue paper that was torn into the shape of the original tear and then carefully applied with the adhesive Klucel-G in ethanol, then using tweezers adhered to the original document and left to dry.
As Library & Information Science students, we also actively consider the accessibility and engagement of these materials, as well as their future benefits to users. One aspect of this work is cataloging, which occurs during the rehousing process. Cataloging is the way we generate unique metadata (keywords) about each architectural roll. Dates are vital metadata, serving as a chronological marker for the time period in which these materials were created, in this case, mid-century modern. Another interesting metadata point is the scope and contents, which records the kinds of materials within each roll. For example, original drawings and sketches often make up the contents of a roll – some containing colorful illustrations with pastels and colored pencils. These materials serve as a snapshot into Neutra’s era and work ethic, offering a glimpse into his architectural process. They also exist as an indispensable primary source, important not only for preserving Neutra’s legacy but also for 20th century architecture as a whole.
Capturing unique metadata elements about these materials is the way information professionals make collection information easily understandable and findable online. It is important to consider the collection’s potential users, which may include: scholars, architects, students, historians and even current residents of Neutra’s numerous architectural creations. Today, information about the Richard and Dion Neutra papers can be accessed digitally on the Online Archive of California (OAC)(opens in a new tab), a website that hosts collections guides (also known as finding aids) from various contributors throughout the state of California. By engaging with these tools, we have been able to dig deeper into the prolific architect and his rich architectural legacy in Southern California.
A practical visionary, Richard Neutra’s iconic designs echo similar principles of accessibility. He was committed to social equity and believed that good architectural design should be for everyone. This vision has been manifested throughout the Westwood area, where Neutra's designs can be seen in various residential apartment buildings and even here on campus. Some nearby landmarks include: The Landfair Apartments (now Robinson Hall), Strathmore Apartments, Kelton Apartments and the Elkay Apartments. Neutra also designed the UCLA Lab School (then called the University Elementary School), a remarkable example of his innovative open-air philosophy combined with practical design, creating a space for progressive education. This intentional design has been mirrored in the school’s philosophy to foster an environment for diverse learners to engage in inquiry and project-based learning.
As MLIS students and Preservation Assistants, our understanding of Neutra has expanded thanks to continued engagement with these materials. Likewise, we have grown as archival professionals dedicated to accessibility and preservation. One way to learn more about this collection is by checking out the finding aid(opens in a new tab) on OAC’s website. Head over to UCLA Library Special Collections on the A-Level of Young Research Library to find out more about the diverse collections housed at UCLA.
