Nathan Lerner collection of visual materials, [ca. 1933-1997]

  • Collection ID 2000.0200
  • Creator Names Lerner, Nathan, 1913-1997, photographer.
  • Title Nathan Lerner collection of visual materials [graphic].
  • Dates [ca. 1933-1997]
  • Physical description
    • ca. 100 photographic prints : b&w ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller. (Series 1).
    • ca. 50 photograph prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. or smaller. (Series 1).
    • ca. 100 photographic prints : col. ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller. (Series 2).
    • ca. 50 photographic prints : col. ; 8 x 10 in. or smaller. (Series 2).
    • 4 photomechanical prints (posters) : col. ; 32 x 21 in. and smaller. (Series 3).
    • 2 boxes (index cards). (Series 4).
    • ca. 12,750 negatives : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. or smaller. (Series 5).
    • 1 negative : cellulose nitrate ; 5 x 7 in. (Series 5).
    • ca. 2000 transparencies (slides) : col. ; 35 mm. (Series 6).
    • ca. 1900 negatives : col. ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller. (Series 7).
    • 5 films : b&w ; 16 mm. (Series 8).
    • 3 films : col. ; 16 mm. and smaller. (Series 9).
    • 8 videotapes. (Series 10).
  • Collection arrangement The collection is divided by medium and, within each medium, organized by estimated date.
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • Nitrate negatives restricted from access, see reference copies instead.
    • Advance appointment required to view color material in cold storage or negatives in cool storage; please email research@chicagohistory.org.
    • In order to view an original videotape or motion picture film, a research copy must be made.
    • An addition to the collection (accession 2008.0167.2-.24) is unprocessed and not described in detail in this record. Contact research@chicagohistory.org for access to unprocessed portions. Staff will typically respond to your inquiry within two weeks. However, due to the high volume of inquiries and depending upon the nature of your request additional time may be required to respond. Please note that not all material will be available for researcher access due to condition, location, staff availability, confidentiality and/or other factors. Scheduling an appointment to view available material may require several additional weeks.
  • Collection summary
    • Visual materials by or about Nathan Lerner relating to his career as a photographer, artist, educator, and inventor and to his personal life. He was associated with the New Bauhaus, the School of Design, and later the Institute of Design in Chicago (Ill.) for many years. Collection contains primarily original negatives and slides of his early photographic work, of his paintings, and of his design work, including his lightbox explorations. Most negatives are not represented by photoprints in this collection. Photoprints in the collection are primarily family snapshots made in the United States, Japan, Mexico, or Europe and contact sheets, clippings from contact sheets, and other work prints. Also present are index cards (3 x 5 in.) by Lerner cataloging dates and locations for many of his photographs; exhibition posters for some of his exhibits, films, and videos; and films and videos about his work.
    • Films include "Nathan Lerner, the Bauhaus Years" (1972) and "Nathan Lerner Outtakes," and videos include "It's All About Light," by Ben Kerns; "Nathan Lerner, The Bauhaus Years, 1935-1945," by Gerald Fromberg (1974); "School of Design/ Jealousy - Do not Disturb," by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and School of Design students; "Bauhaus in America," by Judith Pearlman, and "Nathan Lerner interview," by Ben Kerns (1983).
  • Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Credit photographer. Reproduction of items from this collection must be authorized by the donor or designated agent.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include Maxwell Street photographs by Nathan Lerner (2000.0194.2-38), and separately, a single exhibition photograph of the Maxwell Street area (1992.0248), and the Nathan Lerner papers (2000.0194.1). There also is a published version of the Maxwell Street photographs.
  • Biographical or Historical Note Mr. Lerner died in 1997.
  • Finding Aids Note Draft descriptive inventory available in the Research Center for accession 2000.0200 but does not include accession 2008.0167.2-.24.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Kiyoko Lerner (2000.0200, 2008.0167.2-.24).
  • Names
    • Lerner, Nathan, 1913-1997 Portraits.
    • Lerner, Nathan, 1913-1997 Family
    • New Bauhaus (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Institute of Design (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Illinois Institute of Technology. Institute of Design.
    • Maxwell Street Market (Chicago, Ill.) Photographs. Negatives.
    • Fromberg, Gerald. Nathan Lerner, the Bauhaus years, 1935-1945.
    • Kerns, Ben. It's all about light.
    • Pearlman, Judith. Bauhaus in America [Videotape]
    • Chicago History Museum. Research Center. Institute of Design Collection.
    • Illinois Institute of Technology. Institute of Design
  • Subjects
    • Designers Illinois Chicago.
    • Photographers Illinois Chicago.
    • Design, Industrial United States 20th century.
    • Decoration and ornament International style.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) 1930-1999.
    • Japan Description and travel 20th century Photographs.
    • Mexico Description and travel 20th century Photographs.
  • Genre
    • Video recordings. aat
    • Film negatives Color. gmgpc
    • Motion pictures.
    • Slides Color. gmgpc
    • Portrait photographs. gmgpc
    • Film negatives. gmgpc
    • Photographic prints Color. gmgpc
    • Gelatin silver prints. gmgpc
  • Geographic name
    • United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
    • United States Illinois Cook County.
    • United States Illinois DuPage.
  • Finding aid URL Nitrate reference copies available online http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm/ref/collection/chm_pp/id/1437