Loutrel Briggs papers
Collection Overview
The collection contains professional papers, printed materials, artwork, photographs, photograph albums, scrapbooks, negatives, and artifacts. Professional papers consist of office files, product literature files, and miscellaneous materials. The office files include correspondence, clippings, publications, architectural plans, and research materials related to landscape architecture, garden design, and professional projects in Charleston, South Carolina, and the surrounding region. The product literature files consist of informational and instructional printed materials created by manufacturers to describe products and tools. Also included are miscellaneous materials, such as correspondence, clippings, publications, photographs, and maps, relating to various research topics. Printed materials include clippings, publications, and miscellaneous items related to Briggs’s personal life, research interests, and his book, Charleston Gardens. Artwork includes paintings, drawings, and art prints created by Briggs and other independent artists. Photographs, photograph albums, scrapbooks, negatives, and an 8mm film reel document Briggs’s personal life and career. Personal photographs, albums, and scrapbooks capture Briggs’s childhood, family, and travel. Also included are photographs and negatives related to professional projects in the Charleston region. Artifacts consist of office furniture, surveying tools, art supplies, drafting tools, and personal memorabilia.
Dates
- Creation: 1847-2016
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1917-1977
Creator
- Briggs, Loutrel Winslow, 1893-1977 (Person)
Language of Material
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions
This collection has been minimally processed but is open for research.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Biographical Note
Loutrel Briggs (1893-1977), son of Frank E. Briggs and Ella Loutrel Briggs (1857-1941), was born on December 12, 1893, in New York City. In 1917, Briggs graduated from Cornell University with a degree in “Rural Art,” a precursor to landscape architecture. Early in his career, Briggs was a partner at the firm Briggs and Stelling and taught landscape architecture courses at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art. From 1929 to 1959, Briggs operated a seasonal office in Charleston during the winter and another in New York during the summer. He moved to Charleston permanently in 1959. In Charleston, Briggs designed numerous private and public gardens, including Charleston's Gateway Walk, the William Gibbes house garden, and the South Carolina Memorial Garden. In 1951, Briggs published Charleston Gardens, documenting the private gardens throughout the city. Briggs received numerous accolades throughout his career. He served as the head of the Landscape Architecture Department at the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts and chair of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Full Extent
34.5 linear feet (17 cartons, 13 document boxes, 2 flat boxes, 2 multimedia boxes, 4 oversized folders, 4 framed items, 1 8mm film reel, 1 chair, 1 tripod, 1 surveyor’s pole, 1 drawing table, 1 hanging lamp)
Abstract
Assorted papers of Loutrel Briggs, including professional papers, printed materials, artwork, photographs, photograph albums, scrapbooks, negatives, and artifacts relating to his career as a landscape architect.
Collection Arrangement
Materials are described at the box level.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
COLLECTION CONTAINS UNPROCESSED AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are not currently available for access and require reformatting prior to researcher use.
Acquisitions Information
Materials purchased in 2017 by the College of Charleston Friends of the Library.
Processing Information
Minimally processed by Sarah Meyer, June 2026. For preservation purposes, the collection was re-housed by transferring materials into acid-free boxes and placing documents in acid-free folders. Original folder titles and order have been retained where possible. This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Subject
- Briggs, Loutrel Winslow, 1893-1977 (Person)
- Briggs & Stelling (Organization)
- American Society of Landscape Architects (Organization)
- Title
- Inventory of the Loutrel Briggs Papers, 1847-2016
- Status
- Minimal Record
- Author
- Minimally processed by: Sarah Meyer; finding aid created by: Sarah Meyer
- Date
- 2026
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)