CHARLES GORDON LEE ARCHITECTURAL RECORDS

Collection

Identifier: WH1232

Staff Only

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Charles Lee Architectural Records span the years 1943-1966. The collection includes general office and financial ledgers from Lee's architectural business and project files containing specifications, correspondence, sketches, notes, invoices, newspaper clippings, reports, and proposals. Also included are architectural drawings for private residences, businesses, and institutions. The drawings illustrate Lee's intricate detailing and draftsmanship.

SERIES 1 PROJECT DOCUMENTS 1943-1966 BOX 1-5

Materials in the series include correspondence, proposals, invoices, sketches, specifications, notes and newspaper clippings relating to specific projects. The documents are arranged in alphabetical order by project name.

SERIES 2 GENERAL OFFICE DOCUMENTS 1943-1966 BOX 6-7

This series includes correspondence, cash journals, newspaper clippings, brochures, all from Lee's architectural practice. A few items from Musick and Lee Architectural Firm are also included. The documents are arranged in chronological order.

SERIES 3 ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS 1952-1966 TUBES 1-23

The series includes architectural drawings arranged in alphabetical order by project or customer name.

SERIES 4 PHOTOGRAPHS 1946-1966 PHOTOBOX 1

The series includes black and white photographs, negatives, and slides. The subjects are of buildings Lee designed and some personal photographs.

Dates

1943-1966

Language of Materials

Material is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Floor plans for privately owned residential or commercial buildings cannot be copied without the permission of current owner in writing.

Copyright

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Charles Gordon Lee was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on July 11, 1918. Lee graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1940 with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree. From 1940-1941 he studied at Taliesin East in Spring Green, Wisconsin and during 1947-1948 at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona. At Taliesin, Lee studied under Frank Lloyd Wright for his postgraduate training. He served in the United States Air Force as Captain from June 1942 to January 1946 and May 1951 to September 1952.

Lee's early experience as a draftsman was achieved at several architectural firms in Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon and Colorado. He held architectural licenses in Wyoming and Colorado. In 1949 he became partner in the firm Musick and Lee. He worked with J. Roger Musick until 1951. In 1952 Gordon opened his own office in Denver, Colorado. Projects he designed include: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Knapp Elementary School, Denison Elementary School, Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building, Capitol Mortuary Office Building, and several chapels for the Mortuary. During his career Lee designed many residences, schools, and churches. He is considered a modernist architect. He was a member in the Colorado Chapter of the AIA and the Denver Planning Board.

Charles Gordon Lee married Polly in 1947 and they had two children. He died in 1966.