Leis, Lawrence J. (1936-2020) Architectural drawings, 1958-1962, undated
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Leis, Lawrence J., 1936-2020
Title: Architectural drawings, 1958-1962, undated
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 1.5 cu. ft. (2 ovsz. boxes)
Location Number: Mss. AR L532
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains architectural drawings of projects produced by Lawrence J. Leis, with some undated and others dating from 1958-1962. Architectural records include working drawings for public, religious, and educational buildings. The majority of architectural projects are located in the Louisville, Kentucky area; however, there are projects located in other parts of the state as well as Ohio. The collection includes works associated with the proposed redevelopment of the Louisville waterfront c. 1960, which relate to Leis’ thesis with the University of Kentucky. Other projects are associated with work Leis did while with the architecture firm, Hartstern, Louis, and Henry, such as the proposed chapel sketches for the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, sketches for the Berea Alumni Building, and the sketches for the Van Peursem Band Pavilion for Eastern Kentucky State College.
Related Collections:
Louis & Henry Group papers (020×28)
Historical Note
Lawrence J. (Joseph) Leis was born in 1936 in Jefferson County, becoming a prominent architect in the Louisville area. Receiving a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati in 1960, Leis began his career with Gartner, Burdick, Bauer-Nielson Architects of Cincinnati, Ohio. He worked for them from 1957 to 1960. During the same period, he also worked for the Cincinnati Board of Education Architectural Department. Leis joined the Louisville firm, Hartstern, Louis and Henry, in 1960. Founded in 1939, this firm was first known as Louis & Henry, Architects, but was renamed in 1953 as Hartstern, Louis & Henry, Architects. In 1963, the firm’s name was changed again, becoming Louis & Henry and Associates, and, in 1970, the firm was referred to as Louis & Henry, P.S.C., Architects/Planners/Engineers. Becoming a partner in the firm in 1973, Leis would eventually be the firm’s President. Leis worked with the company until 2010, when it was known as Louis & Henry Inc., Architects/Planners/Engineers. The firm closed in October of 2011.
Leis was a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Kentucky Society of Architects, the Kentucky Historical Society, the Louisville Rotary Club, the Louisville Chamber of Commerce, and the United State Chamber of Commerce. He also served as Director and Secretary of the Kentucky Society of Architects, held a NCARB Certificate, and was a registered architect in both Kentucky and Indiana. Most of his projects were in Kentucky, such as an addition to the Louisville Free Public Library, the Hall of Justice, the Louisville Science Center, and the H & B Bat Museum. Leis won an AIA National Design Award for his National History Museum design. He did multiple projects related to education and religious facilities, including for the University of Louisville, Berea College, Eastern Kentucky State College (now Eastern Kentucky University), and the Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. Leis died on March 4, 2020 in Cape Coral, Florida and is buried within Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
Container List
Box 1
Item 1: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion, Boatel Units
Item 2: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion, Exterior
Item 3: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion, Interior
Item 4: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion, Boat Work Area
Item 5: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion Plans
Item 6: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion, Boatel Units
Item 7: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion, Boat Work Area
Item 8: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion, Plan of Piers and Ramp Detail
Item 9: Louisville Waterfront Redevelopment, Public Pavilion, Boat Lift Detail
Box 2
Item 10: Van Peursem Band Pavilion, Eastern Kentucky State College
Item 11: Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Item 12: Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Item 13: Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Item 14: Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Item 15: Dining Court, University of Cincinnati
Item 16: Dining Court, University of Cincinnati
Item 17: Concept Drawing of a Religious Building
Item 18: Unknown Building
Item 19: Crawford Gymnasium, University of Louisville
Item 20: Crawford Gymnasium, University of Louisville
Item 21: Berea Alumni Building, Berea College
Item 22: Berea Alumni Building, Berea College
Item 23: Van Peursem Band Pavilion, Eastern Kentucky State College
Item 24: Waterfront Development Corporation Main Offices, Louisville
Subject Headings
Architects – Kentucky – Louisville.
Architecture – Kentucky.
Architecture – Designs and plans.
Architecture – Kentucky – Louisville.
Blueprints – Kentucky – Louisville.
Buildings – Kentucky.
Eastern Kentucky State College (Richmond, Ky.)
University of Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)
University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Berea College (Berea, Ky.)
Church architecture – Kentucky – Louisville.
Church buildings – Kentucky.
Louisville (Ky.) – Buildings, structures, etc.
Public architecture – Kentucky – Louisville.
Religious architecture.
Religious architecture – Kentucky – Louisville.
School buildings – Kentucky.
School architecture – Kentucky.
School buildings – Ohio.
School architecture – Ohio.
