Richard Sundeleaf papers and architectural records , 1924-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sundeleaf, Richard, 1900-1987
Title
Richard Sundeleaf papers and architectural records
Dates
1924-1984 (inclusive)
Quantity
26 linear feet, (44 containers, 349 oversize folders)
Collection Number
Coll 196
Summary
Richard Wilhelm Sundeleaf practiced architecture in Portland, Oregon. The collection contains office files, job files, architectural records and photographic materials documenting the Portland, Oregon architect's work from 1924 to 1984.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Richard Sundeleaf was born in the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Portland in 1900, and moved to the Sellwood area as a child. He graduated from Washington High School in 1918 and attended the University of Oregon, graduating from its School of Architecture in 1923.

Sundeleaf returned to Portland, where he worked for the firm of A. E. Doyle for one year. He then spent four years with the firm of Sutton and Whitney before opening his own firm in 1928. During the Great Depression, he worked for the Historic American Building Survey.

Trained in the "Beaux Arts" style of traditional design, Sundeleaf became well-known in the 1920s and 1930s for his imaginative work in industrial architecture. He combined his decorative training with a rugged functionalism in a series of distinctive warehouses and offices.

In the late 1940s, he was a leading local proponent of the "Streamline Moderne" style, in which the spirit of the machine age and the concepts of aerodynamics shaped the design of the building.

His noted public buildings include the Woodbury and Co. warehouse, 1939; the Bearing Service Co. building, 1944; the General Co. building (now Dynagraphics Inc.) 1945; the Francis and Hopkins Motor showroom (now the University Station Post Office) 1949; the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, 1955; and the Portland Medical Center, 1957.

Sundeleaf died in 1987.

Source: Anonymous. "Architect Richard Sundeleaf Dies." Portland (Oregon) Oregonian, March 11, 1987.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Richard Sundeleaf Papers and Architectural Records contain office files, job files, architectural records and photographic materials documenting the Portland, Oregon architect's work from 1924 to 1984. These materials are arranged alphabetically by project or client name then organized chronologically within each folder to reflect the original provenance.

1. Office correspondence (boxes 1 to 2) is arranged chronologically from 1941 to 1983. Additional correspondence concerning specific projects, clients, and consultants may be filed in individual office or job files.

2. Office files are arranged into general office files (boxes 3 to 8); billings (boxes 8 to 10); time logs (boxes 10 to 13): telephone logs (boxes 14 to 16): date books (boxes 17 to 20); miscellaneous files (boxes 21 to 22); and tax records (boxes 23 to 24, RESTRICTED USE). The miscellaneous files contain original issues of periodicals containing Sundeleaf's work, payroll records, and newspaper clippings related to the architect's work with the Historic American Building Survey in the mid-1930s.

3. Job files (boxes 25 to 72) are arranged alphabetically by the original project or client name and may contain correspondence, product information, periodical clippings and the architect's notes. Job files were not established for every design project and job files may exist for projects without related architectural drawings. Due to the volume of material within these files, the contents of individual folders are not fully organized.

4. Architectural records (folders 1 to 439) are arranged alphabetically by the original project or client name. These materials may include presentation renderings, sketches, mechanically reproduced copies, working drawings and shop drawings. On the backside of each item, in the lower left-hand corner, is a reference number denoting the collection, folder and piece number (196-47-12 would signify collection 196, folder 47, item 12). Reference numbers may be repeated with alphabetical subfields when unexpected interfiling of materials was necessary during the processing of the collection (196-47-12, 196-47-12A, 196-47-12B). When alphabetical subfields are used exclusively with reference numbers it may signify that these materials were originally physically connected with masking or cellophane tape. (197-47-12A, 196-47-12B) Related projects by other architects are filed alphabetically by the architect's name following Sundeleaf's work.

5. Photographic materials are organized by medium including photographs (boxes 1 to 6); copy negatives (box 7); slides (box 8); and oversized photographs and photomechanical transfers (boxes 9 to 19). Within each of these categories the materials are arranged alphabetically and numbered consecutively on the backside of each print in the upper left-hand corner (196-PH-10). If an original negative exists for a specific print, a negative number has been inscribed below the print number. (196-PH-10). When a copy negative has been made from a specific print or negative, a copy negative number has been inscribed below the print number (196-CN-10). Oversized photographs and photo-mechanical transfers and denoted with a capital X preceding the abbreviation (196-XPH-10 or 196-XPMT-10).

Funds for the processing and storage materials for this collection were made possible through generous contributions to the Richard Sundeleaf Memorial Fund for the University of Oregon Library.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architects--Northwest, Pacific.
  • Architecture
  • Architecture, Domestic--Northwest, Pacific--Designs and plans
  • Architecture, Modern--20th century--Designs and plans
  • Architecture--Northwest, Pacific--20th century--Designs and plans
  • Church buildings--Northwest, Pacific--Designs and plans
  • Public architecture--Northwest, Pacific--Designs and plans

Personal Names

  • Sundeleaf, Richard, 1900-1987

Corporate Names

  • Sundeleaf and Hagestad (Firm)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Architectural drawings
  • Architectural records
  • Photographs