| Named_Collection | Leslie Martin |
| Title | Leslie Martin |
| Level | Collection |
| Artist | Martin; Professor Sir, Leslie (1908 - 2000) |
| Date | 1935 - 1980 |
| Ref_No | GMA A70 |
| Description | The personal papers of Professor Sir Leslie Martin covering the period from 1935 -1980; includes letters (many illustrated) from Ben Nicholson, Barabara Hepworth, Naum Gabo, Serge Chermayeff, Harold Diamond, Margaret Gardiner, Winifred Nicholson (5 boxes).
The archive is divided into four sections:
/1. Correspondence with and concerning Naum Gabo and Miriam Gabo 1940 - 1977
/2. Correspondence with Barbara Hepworth, incl. photographs and newscuttings 1935 - 1972
/3. Correspondence with Ben Nicholson 1935 - 1980
/4. Correspondence with Serge Chermayeff ; Harold Diamond, Margaret Gardiner, Winifred Nicholson, Herbert Read, Myfanwy Evans, John Summerson, Anthony Lousada, Simon Nicholson, Kate Nicholson 1935 - 1982 |
| Extent | 0.45 metres / 415 items (plus uncatalogued GMA A70/5) |
| Repository | Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Archive |
| Admin_History | Sir Leslie Martin was born in Manchester in 1908. He studied at the Manchester University School of Architecture, qualifying in 1930 and remaining there as a teacher until 1934 when he became Head of the School of Architecture at Hull. In 1937 he co-edited with Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo the journal 'Circle', which reviewed abstract art and architecture. In 1939 he was appointed Principal Assistant Architect to the LMS Railway, occupying the post throughout the War, involved in designing emergency wartime buildings. Appointed Deputy Architect to the London County Council, he led the team of architects that designed the Royal Festival Hall and in 1953 he succeeded Sir Robert Matthew as LCC Architect. He was appointed to the first Chair of Architecture at Cambridge in 1956, a position he held until his retirement in 1972. During this period, one of his projects included an extension to Kettle's Yard, the art gallery which houses works by Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and others. At the same time, he set up an architectural practice in Cambridge after having first built his own house and studios in a converted mill in Great Shelford. He was knighted in 1957 and died in 2000. |
| Custodial_History | Purchased with the assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Friends of the National Libraries 2002 |
| Finding_Aids | An item level list of the collection is available in the Reading Room |