Weiss, Dreyfous, and Seiferth Office Records

Collection

Identifier: SEAA-053

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection of records from the office of architectural firm Weiss, Dreyfous, and Seiferth (Leon C. Weiss, 1882-1953; Felix Julius Dreyfous, 1896-1975; Solis Seiferth, 1895-1984), as well as records from predecessor and successor offices, includes drawings, specifications, photographs, and correspondence, scrapbooks, and renderings for professional projects in New Orleans, across Louisiana and throughout the United States. Materials from the Louisiana State Capitol are also maintained.

Dates

1907–1967

Creator

Weiss, Leon C., 1882-1953 (Person)
Felix Julius Dreyfous, 1896 - 1975 (Person)
Seiferth, Solis, 1895-1984 (Person)
Weiss, Dreyfous, and Seiferth (1923-1940) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is the physical property of Tulane University Special Collections. Copyright belongs to the creators or their legal heirs and assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or owner’s heir for permission to publish where Tulane University Special Collections does not hold the copyright. For further information, please contact Research Services at specialcollections@tulane.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Weiss, Dreyfous, and Seiferth was one of the more important architectural offices in New Orleans during the second quarter of the 20th century, executing such large scale commissions as the Charity Hospital in New Orleans, the present Louisiana State Capitol building, and the buildings of the second phase of construction of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Office chronology: Keenan and Weiss (1904-1912) (Walter Cook Keenan 1881-1970); Leon C. Weiss (1912-1919); F. Julius Dreyfous (1917-1919); Weiss and Dreyfous (1919-1923); Weiss, Dreyfous, and Seiferth (1923-1940); Dreyfous and Seiferth (1940-1952); Weiss and Silverstein (1949-1953) (Edward B. Silverstein 1909-1989); Dreyfous, Seiferth, and Gibert (1952-1960) (James H. Gibert, b. 1926); Seiferth and Gibert 1960-1970.

Extent

225.39 Linear Feet (60 folders, 21 boxes, 1 oversized framed rendering)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into seven series: Series 1: Project Drawings; Series 2: Project Specifications; Series 3: Louisiana State Capitol Materials; Series 4: Project Photographs; Series 5: Correspondence of Firm Principals; Series 6: Scrapbooks; Series 7: Mounted Project Renderings.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Project drawings were given to Tulane University in two groups by Mrs. Solis Seiferth, one in 1978, and one in 1986. Other records were given to Tulane by the family of Leon Weiss in 1996.

Subjects

Architectural drawings Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Architecture -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Architecture, Domestic -- Louisiana Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Architecture, Modern -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings