A Guide to the Marion Manley
Architectural Drawings and Papers

Top images, from left:
Marion Manley / Murnor Studio. 1987-263-9
Religious Center, University of Miami. 1987-263-12
University of Miami dormitory construction. 1987-263-10

Contents

• Overview of the Collection
• Biographical Note
• Scope and Contents
• Restrictions
• Index Terms
• Administrative Information
• Bibliography
• Container List
  • Architectural Drawings, 1935-1971
  • Papers
    

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Marion Manley was one of the South Florida's premier architects and the second woman registered to practice in the state. Born in Junction City, Kansas in 1893, she moved to Miami in 1917 after graduating from the University of Illinois. During a successful career that spanned nearly fifty years, Manley sought to improve Miami's built environment by serving on several civic committees involved with urban development and long range planning.

Manley embraced the principles of what would become known as vernacular architecture in her designs for both residential and public buildings. As a result, she produced structures that incorporated local materials, were functional, simplistic, and designed to withstand South Florida's tropical climate. Among her notable projects were several buildings for the University of Miami (in this collection) and the Asolo Theater building at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota (not in this collection).

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises architectural drawings, photographs and papers pertaining to Manley’s career. The drawings are working plans for her later designs; earlier drawings were destroyed by the architect when she moved from her Coconut Grove office. Clients for whom buildings were designed include Betsy and Denman Fink, Melville Bell Grosvenor, Sengra (developer of Miami Lakes), University of Miami, Philip Wylie, and Herbert S. Zim.

The papers include some correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings. The photographs are primarily of the houses she designed or refurbished. Two albums contain photographs of renderings of proposed buildings and aerial images of the University of Miami.

Arrangement

Architectural drawings are arranged alphabetically by client.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access
Appointments required to view architectural drawings. Otherwise, access is unrestricted.

Restrictions on Use
Appointments required to view architectural drawings. Otherwise, access is unrestricted.

Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons
Fink, Denman, 1880- --Homes and haunts.
Grosvenor, Melville Bell, 1901-1982--Homes and haunts.
Manley, Marion, 1893-1984.
Wylie, Philip, 1902-1971.--Homes and haunts.
Zim, Herbert Spencer, 1909- --Homes and haunts.

Subjects
Architect-designed houses-- Florida.

Document Types
Architectural drawings, American.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation
Historical Museum of Southern Florida, Marion Manley Collection.

Acquisition Information
Gift of Dorothy McKenna and Mrs. Marion Truxal, 1987.

Bibliography

Perry, Emily Adams. Marion Isadore Manley: Pioneer woman architect. In Florida Pathfinders. St. Leo, Fla.: St. Leo College Press, 1994.

Container List

Series: Architectural Drawings, 1935-1971

Series: Papers