Jack Lenor Larsen papers
name: label: Creator
content: Larsen, Jack Lenor
label: Names
content: Josef Albers Foundation
label: Names
content: Abakanowicz, Magdalena
label: Names
content: Constantine, Mildred
label: Names
content: Drutt, Helen Williams
label: Names
content: Mondale, Walter F., 1928-
label: Names
content: Noguchi, Isamu, 1904-1988
label: Names
content: Tillich, Hanna
label: Names
content: Wood, Beatrice
topic: label: Occupation
content: Weavers -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Modernism (Art)
label: Topic
content: Textile design
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The records were donated to the Archives in 2004 by Jack Lenor Larsen in connection with the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America. Additional material donated in 2024 by the Jack Lenor Lrsen Revocable Trust via Theodore N. Farris, Trustee and Executor.
creator: label: Creator
content: Larsen, Jack Lenor
setName: label: See more items in
content: Jack Lenor Larsen papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Jack Lenor Larsen papers measure 6.3 linear feet and date from 1941-2015. Larsen was a renowned weaver and designer, entrepreneur, and a scholar who wrote and lectured on modernist design. His career in the New York design world is documented by biographical materials, correspondence, writings by and about him, various printed materials and photographs.

There is a 2.6 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2024 that includes printed material; correspondence; images, slides, notes and draft writings on textiles and artists; interview transcript; financial information; and tapestry samples. Materials date from circa 1983-2015.
bioghist: label: Biographical Note
content: Based in New York and of international reputation, Jack Lenor Larsen (1927-2020) was deeply involved in the design of hand woven fabric and its application to modernist interior design. An international entrepreneur, Larsen also wrote books on design and was a frequent lecturer.

Larsen was born in Seattle, Washington to parents of Canadian/Scandinavian descent; his father was a building contractor. Larsen studied architecture at the University of Washington and became interested in materials design, receiving his M.F.A. from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan in 1951. Following graduation, he opened a studio in New York and established Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated. Just months later, Larsen successfully competed for the commission to design draperies for the important glass walled Lever House building on Park Avenue designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.

Larsen was highly successful in marketing his ideas and innovations, which included combining metallic thread with natural polished linen and hand woven fabrics consisting of varied yarns in random and repeating patterns. This later style of fabric became known as the "Larsen Look" and was synonymous with modern design. Larsen's firm successfully adapted technological advances to fabric design but also used ancient techniques; they were first to design fabrics for jet air planes, stretch upholsestry and printed velvets.

In 1958-1960, Larsen represented the United States Department of State in Vietnam and Taiwan, studying those countries' crafts with the goal of developing industry to create jobs and products for export. Larsen then saw the opportunity for international fabric design and production. He travelled to Latin America, Africa and Asia to study local crafts and weaving with an eye towards business opportunites, focusing on hand spun and hand woven silks. By the 1990s Larsen was producing fabric in over 30 countries. In 1997, Jack Lenor Larsen, Inc. merged with the British fabric house, Cowtan and Tout and became the United States subsidiary of the British company, Colefax and Fowler.

Many museums have collected and/or exhibited Larsen fabrics. Notable among them are The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Musee des Arts Decoratifs (in the Louvre Museum), Museum of Modern Art, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In addition, Larsen is the author of several books relating to fabric and fabric design including Material Wealth: Living with Luxurious Fabrics (an international survey of contemporary fabric design) and an autobiography, Jack Lenor Larsen: A Weaver's Memoir.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.7 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1941-2003
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.larsjack
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Audiocassettes
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Sound recordings
label: Type
content: Interviews
label: Type
content: Video recordings
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The Jack Lenor Larsen papers are organized into 8 series based primarily on record type and arranged chronologically.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1941-2001, (Box 1, 5; 0.6 linear feet)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1958-2003, (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 3: Exhibition Records, 1986-1990, (Boxes 1-2; 0.7 linear feet)

Series 4: Writings, 1950-2003, (Boxes 2-3; 1.3 linear feet)

Series 5: Photographs, 1970-1992, (Box 3, 5; 0.5 linear feet)

Series 6: Printed Material, 1972-2002, (Boxes 4-5; 0.3 linear feet)

Series 7: Audio Recordings, 1965, (Box 4; 0.1 linear feet)

Series 8: Unprocessed Addition, circa 1983-2015 (Boxes 6-9; 2.6 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The papers were processed by Justin Brancato in June 2008.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Audiocassettes
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Sound recordings
label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
label: Genre/Form
content: Video recordings
scopecontent: label: Scope and Content Note
content: The Jack Lenor Larsen papers measure 6.3 linear feet and date from 1941-2015. Larson was a renowned weaver and designer, entrepreneur, and a scholar who wrote and lectured on modernist design. His career in the New York design world is documented by biographical materials, correspondence, writings by and about him, various printed materials and photographs.

Found are biographical materials and artifacts including items from his early years, 4 volumes of daily planners and numerous awards. Correspondence includes letters from notables such as Isamu Noguchi, Walter F. Mondale, and various craft artists such as Helen W. Drutt English, Magdalena Abakanowicz, and Beatrice Wood, and author Hannah Tillich, widow of Paul Tillich. Business correspondence is from museums, professional societies, magazines and other organizations such as the Josef Albers Foundation. Larsen also curated textile exhibitions and there are records pertaining to these exhibitions.

There are a substantial number of writings, lectures and speeches by Larsen, and proofs of a book he co-authored with Mildred Constantin,  Beyond Craft: The Art of Fabric. Also found are writings about Larsen and 3 interviews with him including a 1965 videotaped interview, 2 transcribed interviews, and an audio tape of Larsen's talk "Personal Perspective," presented at a conference of the American Craft Council.

Photographs show Larsen and his employees at work and at professional events. Photographs removed from albums retain their original order. Lastly, there are printed materials include catalogs and announcements, newspaper and magazine clippings, and press and promotional materials.

There is a 2.6 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2024 that includes printed material; correspondence; images, slides, notes and draft writings on textiles and artists; interview transcript; financial information; and tapestry samples. Materials date from circa 1983-2015.