Astrid Sampe Collection of Eero Saarinen Correspondence
Collection Scope
The correspondence in this collection reflects both the romantic attachment between Eero Saarinen and Astrid Sampe, as well as her role as a critic of his design ideas. Envelopes have also been retained for the information they provide.
Translations of the letters were done by Ann Gheorghiade, a volunteer at the Archives. Acid-free copies of the translations are included with each letter.
Dates
- 1948 - 1960
Creator
- Saarinen, Eero, 1910-1961 (Person)
Access
Access to the collection is unrestricted.
Use
Permission to use collection materials must be requested in writing.
History
Astrid Sampe, born in Stockholm in 1909, was the third generation of a Swedish textile family. As an only child, a career within textiles was a natural choice. From 1928-1932, she attended the Higher Industrial Art School of Stockholm, during which time she had the opportunity to become an exchange student at the Royal Academy of Art in London. After her studies in 1935, Astrid was hired by Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) and in 1937, helped to set up the textile studio, soon being appointed as the head of NK’s Textile Chambers until it was closed down in 1971. She also took part in the Paris World Exhibition.
In 1939, Astrid took part in the New York World Exhibition; and in 1946, along with Elias Svedborg, she arranged the "Modern Swedish Home" exhibition at the London Building Centre. In 1949, Astrid Sampe was appointed "Royal Designer, Hon.RDI of the Royal Society of Arts and in 1951, wove the first fiberglass fabrics. In 1979, Astrid Sampe began creating the first computer-based textile patterns produced in Sweden. Other professional affiliations have included Nordiska Co. (Stockholm), Donald Bros. (Dundee), and Knoll International Textile Section (New York). Astrid Sampe died in 2002.
Extent
0.2 Linear Feet (1 MS)
Language of Materials
English
Finnish
Abstract
Astrid Sampe studied at the Higher Industrial Art School of Stockholm and as an exchange student at the Royal Academy of Art in London. Her career spanned many decades starting in 1935, and encompassed being head of Nordiska Kompaniet (NK), being appointed "Royal Designer, Hon.RDI of the Royal Society of Arts and, in 1951, wove the first fiberglass fabrics. This collection comprises correspondence reflecting the romantic attachment between Eero Saarinen and Astrid Sampe, as well as her role as a critic of his design ideas.
Arrangement
The collection came to the Archives in no particular order. John Gerard, the director of the Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum from whom the Archives received the collection, did create an inventory of the letters before sending them to the Archives; that inventory has been retained in the donor file.
The collection is arranged in chronological order, with undated letters grouped after those with dates.
Custodial History
The collection was once in the custody of Cranbrook Art Museum.
Acquisition
Transferred from John Gerard, Cranbrook Art Museum.
Processing History
Unknown
- Aalto, Alvar, 1898-1976
- Architecture
- Architecture, Domestic
- Church architecture
- Eames, Charles
- Furniture design
- GM Technical Center
- Girard, Alexander
- Hammarstrom, Olav
- Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Saint Louis, Mo.)
- Knoll Associates, Inc.
- Knoll, Hans, 1914-1955
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Milles, Carl, 1875-1955
- Roche, Kevin, 1922-2019
- Royal Academy of Arts (Great Britain)
- Saarinen, Eliel, 1873-1950
- Saarinen, Lillian Swann, 1912-
- University of Michigan
- Weese, Harry, 1915-1998
- Yale University
Creator
- Saarinen, Eero, 1910-1961 (Person)
- Sampe, Astrid, 1909-2002 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Astrid Sampe Collection of Eero Saarinen Correspondence
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Unknown
- Date
- Unknown
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- Resource record created by Laura MacNewman.
Repository Details
Part of the Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research Repository