Joseph Lotto, 1895-1978 [RG3777.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3777.AM:  Joseph Lotto, 1895-1978

Design plans, etc.:  1920s-1940s, 1955, 1978

Switzerland; New York; Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb.:  Interior Designer; Architect

Size:  0.5 cu.ft.; 1 box

BACKGROUND NOTE

Joseph Lotto was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1895. He completed his college work at the University of Zurich, where he majored in architecture. Lotto emigrated to the U.S., first settling in New York City, where he designed household articles, furniture, and home interiors. His wife, Heddi, was, at the same time, a designer of women’s clothes for Hattie Carnegie. The Lottos moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1938 where Mr. Lotto continued his work in interior design. After working at the Kruse Studio, Joseph Lotto opened his own interior design store in 1940. He also was an interior designer for the Hardy Furniture Company and Gold’s Department Store (both in Lincoln). Many Lincoln homes and sorority and fraternity houses have interiors designed by Lotto. Around 1970 the Lottos retired to California where Joseph created jewelry. He died in 1978.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of one box of manuscript material arranged in two series: 1) Designs by Joseph Lotto, ca. 1920s-1940s; and 2) Newspaper Clippings, 1955, 1978. This material is comprised of Joseph Lotto’s designs for household articles, furniture, and home interiors. Two newspaper clippings, one a feature article about Lotto and the other his obituary, are also included.

Series 1 consists of Designs by Joseph Lotto, ca. 1920s-1940s. These include various types of table designs, as well as plans for benches, cabinets, desks, bookcases, hand mirror backs, cigarette boxes, waste paper baskets, and ash trays. Only a few of the designs are dated, but it can be assumed that these cover Lotto’s career in New York and in Lincoln, Nebraska, from the 1920s through the 1940s. The Newspaper Clippings of Series 2 consist of an article about Lotto’s position as interior decorator at Hardy Furniture Company of Lincoln, Nebraska (1955); and Joseph Lotto’s obituary, 1978.

DESCRIPTION

Series 1 – Designs by Joseph Lotto, 1920s-1940s

1. 1. Table Designs – Lamp, Tea, Coffee

1. 1. Table Designs – Glass Tops, Side and End, Sofa End, Studio End, Cocktail

1. 1. Table Designs – Drum, Console, Low, Cellarette, Square End, Drop Leaf, Three in One, Side, Miscellaneous

1. 1. Designs for cabinets, desks, bookcases, chairs, sectional furniture

1. 1. Small Item Designs – Hand mirror backs, cigarette box, waste paper basket, ash trays

Series 2 – Newspaper Clippings, 1955, 1978

1. 1. Article about Lotto’s position as interior decorator at Hardy Furniture Company of Lincoln, Nebraska, 1955
      
      Obituary for Joseph Lotto, 1978

ADDED ENTRIES:

Architecture — Design and plans

Architects — Nebraska

Art and artists — Nebraska

House furnishings

Interior decoration

Lotto, Joseph, 1895-1978

AIF   12-12-1979

Encoded TMM   06-11-2010