G. E. Kidder Smith
Encyclopedia
George Everard Kidder Smith (1913, Birmingham, Alabama
- 1997) was an American architectural writer and photographer.
Smith trained as an architect, received his MFA from Princeton in 1938, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
with special photographic duties.
Through his career he wrote and photographed a number of books, the first of which was the 1943 Brazil Builds, an examination of South American modernism produced in conjunction with a Museum of Modern Art
exhibition. Kidder himself designed a number of MOMA exhibitions, including an Edward Steichen
show in 1945, Power in the Pacific.
Brazil Builds would be followed by Switzerland Builds, Sweden Builds, Italy Builds, and Smith's most prominent work, the Source Book of American Architecture.
Smith was also active as a preservationist. It was Smith who urged developer William Zeckendorf
to purchase the Robie House
in August 1958, and in 1962 Smith helped organize the preservation of the Villa Savoye
.
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
- 1997) was an American architectural writer and photographer.
Smith trained as an architect, received his MFA from Princeton in 1938, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with special photographic duties.
Through his career he wrote and photographed a number of books, the first of which was the 1943 Brazil Builds, an examination of South American modernism produced in conjunction with a Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
exhibition. Kidder himself designed a number of MOMA exhibitions, including an Edward Steichen
Edward Steichen
Edward J. Steichen was an American photographer, painter, and art gallery and museum curator. He was the most frequently featured photographer in Alfred Stieglitz' groundbreaking magazine Camera Work during its run from 1903 to 1917. Steichen also contributed the logo design and a custom typeface...
show in 1945, Power in the Pacific.
Brazil Builds would be followed by Switzerland Builds, Sweden Builds, Italy Builds, and Smith's most prominent work, the Source Book of American Architecture.
Smith was also active as a preservationist. It was Smith who urged developer William Zeckendorf
William Zeckendorf
William Zeckendorf, Sr. was a prominent American real estate developer. Through his development company Webb and Knapp – for which he began working in 1938 and which he purchased in 1949 – he developed a significant portion of the New York City urban landscape.-Career:Zeckendorf's...
to purchase the Robie House
Robie House
The Frederick C. Robie House is a U.S. National Historic Landmark in the Chicago, Illinois neighborhood of Hyde Park at 5757 S. Woodlawn Avenue on the South Side. It was designed and built between 1908 and 1910 by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and is renowned as the greatest example of his Prairie...
in August 1958, and in 1962 Smith helped organize the preservation of the Villa Savoye
Villa Savoye
Villa Savoye is a modernist villa in Poissy, in the outskirts of Paris, France. It was designed by Swiss architects Le Corbusier and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, and built between 1928 and 1931....
.