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.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Lilia Sofer Skala Student Portfolio, Ms2003-015, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Lilia Sofer Skala Student Portfolio was donated to the International Archive of Women in Architecture at Special Collections in 2002. Additional materials were donated in 2004 and 2013.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Lilia Sofer Skala Student Portfolio was completed in July 2004. Translations were incorporated in March 2011, and an addition was incorporated in July 2013.

Biographical Note

Lilia Sofer Skala was born in Vienna, Austria in 1896. She earned a degree in architecture from the University of Dresden and became the first female member of the Austrian Association of Engineers and Architects, practicing architecture.

Skala became a successful stage and film actress in Europe before fleeing the Nazis with her husband and two sons. Among the personal belongings with which she escaped was her portfolio of student work from the University of Dresden.

Skala immigrated to the United States in 1939 and eventually found success as an actress on Broadway and in television and film. She was nominated for an Academy Award in 1963 for her role as Mother Maria in Lilies of the Field .

Skala passed away in 1994.

Scope and Content

The collection primarily consists of Lilia Sofer Skala's work as a student of architecture at the University of Dresden from 1915 to 1920. The student work includes architectural drawings, ink and charcoal sketches, and watercolor paintings. The collection also consists of biographical information including copies of Skala's academic records, printed material about the architectural program at the University of Dresden at the turn of the century, articles by and about Skala, and press material for LiLiA! , a play about Skala written and performed by her grandaughter, Libby Skala.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series of Drawings and Biographical Information.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA)
• Photographs
• Watercolors (paintings)
• Women -- History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Lilia Sofer Skala Student Portfolio by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).