Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Betty L. Moss Architectural Collection
Moss, Betty
Ms.2008.071
56.5 Cubic Feet
255 boxes, 6 oversize folders
1950-2007
The Betty L. Moss Architectural Collection contains the architectural renderings, business correspondence, and notes of Betty Moss, an architect from New Orleans, Louisiana. Types of structures included in drawings are houses, apartment buildings, condominiums, religious centers, businesses, antique shops, offices, hospitals, and centers for convalescence.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Betty L. Moss Architectural Collection, Ms2008-071, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Betty L. Moss Architectural Collection was donated to Special Collections in 2008.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Betty L. Moss Architectural Collection commenced in May 2008 and was completed in December 2008.
Biographical Note
Betty Anne Lipper was born in 1921 in Houston, Texas, to Lawrence Lipper and Betty Silverman. Betty Lipper married Hartwig Moss II and had two children. Moss attended Newcomb College and Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, as well as the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Colombia, Missouri, and received a bachelor's in journalism from Tulane in 1942. Moss later returned to Tulane in the 1950s and earned a bachelor's degree in Architecture in 1960. After over forty years, Moss was awarded a master's degree in architecture from Tulane in 2004. Starting her practice in her 40s, Moss continued to work for more than four decades and produced designs for many houses and small office buildings in New Orleans. An outspoken defender of building preservation and conservation, Moss ardently defended against the demolition of the Rivergate (an exhibition center) on Canal Street in New Orleans. The Rivergate was demolished; and, Moss and Abbye A. Gorin wrote a six-minute film about the structure. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Moss composed plans for rebuilding and safety guidelines for disaster prevention. Betty Moss died October 22, 2007.
Scope and Content
The Betty L. Moss Architectural Collection contains the drawings, business correspondence, and notes of Betty L. Moss, an architect from New Orleans, Louisiana, practicing largely in the second half of the twentieth century. Structures appearing in drawings include: houses, apartment buildings, condominiums, religious centers, businesses, antique shops, offices, hospitals, and centers for convalescence. The locations of most projects center around New Orleans, Louisiana; but, some structures were designed for Texas, Mississippi, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Idaho. These drawings include projects that were constructed, as well as others that may not have been built. Projects range from plans for the design of the Moss residence made in 1950 to proposals drafted after Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans in 2005. Architectural designs on illustration board, some tinted, date from Moss's study at Tulane University. Correspondence includes letters to and from clients, professionals, and tradesmen. Interoffice notes and pages from catalogs illustrating fixtures also appear.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by architectural project. Projects appear in chronological order from their beginning.
Related Archival Material
See the Abbye A. Gorin Architectural Collection, Ms1997-009, which contains the video Gorin and Moss made together, also at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Betty L. Moss Architectural Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA)
Women -- History
Single Residence for Mr. and Mrs. H. Moss1950-19811-3Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 1.
A Regional Dwelling19551An Art Gallery19552Residence for Mr. Esmond Phelps and A Living Porch Residence of Mr. & Mrs. Robert I. Reisfeld1956 [1923]4A Candy Shop19563A Methodist Church19564Plaza Shopping--A Building for the I.L.A.19575A Proposed Redevelopment of 1120 Thalia Street19576Hartwig Moss Insurance1959-20047Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 2-3.
A United States Consulate19605An All Purpose Meeting Room19606Temple Beth El19607A House for Mr. and Mrs. J. Kenneth Leithman196016Lakewood South I and II1960-199717-27Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 5-6.
411; 411-415 Royal Street1961-200128-47Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 7-8.
L'Elysee--Luxury Apartment Living196148-51A House for Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Weiss196152Alterations to a House at 1817 Marengo Street196153A House for Mr. and Mrs. Jack Weiss196154-55National Food Store, Katz and Bestoff Drugs and Finance Company; Commercial Development--Pivach--Perino Reality Inc.196256A House for Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Feingerts1962-196757-58Alterations to a House for Mr. and Mrs. Lester Shapiro196259The Marguery for Urban Living196360Alterations to a House for Mr. and Mrs. Adrian C. Benjamin, Jr.196361House for Mr. and Mrs. Paul Maloney, Jr.196362A House for Mr. and Mrs. John Breyer196363-65A House for Mr. and Mrs. Frank Prins196466Alterations to Temple Sinai Religious School Building196467An Addition to a House for Mr. and Mrs. Blake West196468Moss Antiques196469A House for Mr. and Mrs. Robert I. Reisfeld1964-197270-74Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 10.
Alterations to a House at 6201 St. Charles Ave.196475A House for North Pascagoula Realty Company196476-78Houses for Luling, Louisiana196479A House for Mr. Peter E. Newman1964-196580A House for Mr. and Mrs. Manfred Sterner196481A Pool Enclosure196582An Addition to a Residence for Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kahn II196583Addition to the House of Mr. and Mrs. George Marcuse196584West Bank Academy (A Preliminary Design)196585Proposed Redevelopment of 3337 South Claiborne196586A House for Dr. and Mrs. Louis Hughes196587An Addition to a Residence for Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kahn II196588Sara Mayo Hospital1965-196689A House for Mr. and Mrs. William Carter196590Alterations to an Existing House for Judge and Mrs. Walter Marcus, Jr.196691New Threshold and Fence for Mr. and Mrs. Morris W. Newman196692A House for Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Tubbs, Jr.196693Burka Job1966-196794-96Proposed Four Unit Apartment Building196697Alterations to a House for Mr. & Mrs. Jack M. Weiss196898A House for G. Walter Loewenbaum & Mrs. Joel Simon Loewenbaum196899Proposed Addition to Existing Office Building for Sam Reisfeld and Son1968-1970100-104A Proposed Subdivision of Lots A and B1969105Enclosure of First Floor Screened Porch and Playroom for Kohlmeyer1969106Alterations and Additions to an Existing House for Mr. and Mrs. Milton Sbisa1971107Additions and Alterations to an Existing House for Mr. and Mrs. Hartwig Moss III1971-1974108Alterations and Additions to an Existing House for Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stich1972109A Swimming Pool and Accessory Building for Dr. and Mrs. Howard Strauss1972110Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 11.
An Addition for Mr. and Mrs. Peter Moss1972-1976111Office Building of Robert Reisfeld1972-1988112-120A House for Mr. and Mrs. Milton Dureau, Jr.1973-1987121-122Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 12.
Additions and Alterations to an Existing House for Dr. and Mrs. Stuart Farber1973123A House for Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Lacabe1974124-125Griffin Project1975126A House for Dr. and Mrs. Alvin Alexander1976127Additions and Alterations to an Existing House for Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Cooper (original and renovations)1976128Alterations to an Existing Building for William Sabatier1976129325 Royal Street1977-1991130St. John1977131Restoration of a Three Apartment Building1978132-134Alterations to the Cynthia Building for Mrs. Marguerite P. Keil1979-1981135Renovation on 1621 State Street1979-1986136-138Alterations to an Existing House for Mr. and Mrs. Hartwig Moss III1980139Proposed Development of a Site on Versailles Blvd.1980140Redevelopment of 730 South Pierre Street1980141Office Building for B&G Crane Services and Sun Erection1982-1984142-148Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 13.
Donner Estates1985149Redevelopment of 1454 Joseph Street1985150Alterations to Residence F1986151Parking Lot Revisions for Mrs. Jon B. Strauss,1986152Alterations to 6319 Story St.1986153Carport Enclosure at 222 Hector Avenue1986154Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 14.
Additions and Alterations to 1636 Valence Street1987155-156A House for Mildred G. Tobias1987157Greengates Revised1987158Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 15.
Alterations to 313 Royal Street1988159Part Seventh Floor Plan Park VII Apartments1988160Antique Furniture Storage Building for Mrs. Jon Strauss1989161Variations on a House for a 30'x120' Interior1989162Alterations to an Existing House for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rosenberg1989163Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 16.
Burrow Project-a Driveway and Bath1990-1994164Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 17.
Cola Job1991-2000165Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 18.
Renovation of 4602-4604 Constance Street1992166Combination of K & L, Fourth Floor, 2100 St. Charles Ave1992167Garfield Street Job1992168Restoration of 3012-3014 Bienville Street1993-1994169Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 19.
Lambeth House1993-1994See also Box 255 Folder 20.170-171Proposed Housing for Indigent Mothers with AIDS with Children with AIDS1993172Adaptive Re-use of Rivergate as the Land-based Gambling Casino in New Orleans1994173Proposed Adaptive Re-Use of 3000 Magazine as a Facility for Persons with AIDS, Arrested Tuberculosis and Related Problems1994174Renovation of 7614 Sycamore1994175Alterations to an Existing House for Mrs. Jon B. Strauss1995176Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 21.
Preliminary Schematic Redevelopment of 213-215 Alonzo Street1994177Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 22.
2200 St. Charles Ave. Condominium1992-2002178-180Alterations to Fairway Drive Residence1997-2000181Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 23.
A House for Shawn Doyle1998182-183Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 24.
Rearrangements of 1 Apartment1999184Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 25.
Rearrangements to 4M: The Carol Condominium1991185Scope and ContentsSee also Box 255 Folder 26.
A House for Anne and Lou Zenowich1999-2000186-194Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 27.
Rearrangements to an Apartment for Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jellin2001195Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 28.
A Plan for West Village2004-2005196-201Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 29.
A Swinging Gate for Mr. and Mrs. Morris Newman2005202Preliminary Plan for Moss Family LLC2005203A Block for New Orleans2005204-208Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 30-31.
A House for 2525 Deers Street2006209-210231 Royal Street2006211A House for Joseph Garcia2006212Alterations and Additions to 965 Nashville Ave.n.d.213-214Renovation of 305 Royal Streetn.d.215-216Selma Moss, Inc.n.d.217-218House for Mr. and Mrs. Cleven J. Daiglen.d.219A Residence for Mr. and Mrs. Lester A. Levyn.d.220W. G. Moses Residencen.d.221-222A House for Lakewood Builders, Inc.n.d.223Repairs to 5127 Laurel Streetn.d.224Building on Carrollton Avenue and Zimple Streetn.d.225Linda Vistan.d.226Job on the Intersection of Montegut and Chartres Streetn.d.227Scope and ContentSee also Box 255 Folder 32.
78-80 Newcomb Blvd.n.d.22812-A and 12-b Austerlitz Streetn.d.229Diagram of City Blocksn.d.2304118 Constance Streetn.d.231Untitled Multi-drawing Projectsn.d.232-248Untitled Single Drawingsn.d.249-25411-12Note Accompanying Plans for Moss Residencen.d.2551Safety Code Materials for Hartwig Moss Insurancen.d.2552Letters to Hartwig Moss Insurance1993, 20042553Note from the Louisiana Landmarks Society196025545574 Jacquelyn Court Project1997-19982555"Event Notice" (Originally with Jacquelyn Court Plans)19972556Materials Concerning 411 Royal Street19922557Sketch of 411-413 Royal Streetn.d.2558Certificate of Insurance for Weiss Project19622559Microfilm of Reisfeld Projectn.d.25510Materials Accompanying Strauss Project1959, 197125511Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Milton Dureau198725512Materials for B&G Crane Services Project198325513Letter and Survey Sent to Zoning and Appeals Board for Stone Project198625514Envelope with Measurements [Originally with Greengates Revised]n.d.25515Envelope with Handwritten Specifications and Sketchesn.d.25516Specifications for Burrow Drivewayc.1990-199125517Supporting Materials for Cola Job200025518Supporting Materials for the Associated Catholic Charities Project1993-199425519Letter Concerning the Proposed Development of Lambeth House199425520Specifications for Strauss Projectn.d.25521Letters and Specifications for 213-215 Alonzo Street199425522Survey of 204 Fairway Drive199425523Materials Concerning Doyle Project199825524Plumbing Specifications for the "Rearrangements of One Apartment"n.d.25525Scribbling Concerning 4M: The Carol Condominiumn.d.25526Request Form Concerning Zenowich Project200125527Schedule of Openings, Specifications, and Drawings for "Rearrangements to an Apartment"n.d.25528Letter Concerning Hummel Project200525529Letter "To Whom it May Concern"200525530Letter to the Honorable Barney Frank200725531Directions to "Keep it Simple"n.d.25532Mathematical Notesn.d.25533Untitled Drawings and Catalog Pagesn.d.25534