Eaton, Leonard K.

Professor of architectural history at the University of Michigan.

From the description of Leonard K. Eaton papers, 1950-1988. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 79091564

From the description of Leonard K. Eaton photograph series. 1969-1987 (scattered dates). (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 85778212

From the description of Leonard K. Eaton papers, 1950-2004. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 85778312

From the description of Leonard K. Eaton papers, 1950-1988. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34422412

Leonard K. Eaton was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 3, 1922 and served as a faculty member of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan from 1950 to 1988. He graduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Williams College in 1943. From 1943 to 1945, he served with the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. After the war, he did graduate work in history under Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr. at Harvard, receiving his doctorate in 1950. His dissertation, entitled New England Hospitals, 1790-1833, was published by the University of Michigan Press in 1957.

In 1950, Eaton joined the faculty of the University of Michigan as an instructor in architectural history, becoming a full professor in 1963. Shortly after his arrival in Ann Arbor, Eaton became involved in city zoning issues and proposals for city planning commissions.

Eaton became known as an authority on Frank Lloyd Wright and other figures of the Chicago school of architecture. He was involved with organizing Frank Lloyd Wright symposiums at the University of Michigan, promoting research on Wright architecture in Michigan, and writing reviews of books on Wright. In 1969, Eaton published his book entitled Two Chicago architects and their clients: Frank Lloyd Wright and Howard Van Doren . Eaton also wrote a book on the history of the Palmer House in Ann Arbor, which was never published.

Other books published by Eaton include: American architecture comes of age: European reaction to H.H. Richardson and Louis Sullivan (1972), The architecture of Samuel Maclure (1971), Landscape artist in American: the life and work of Jens Jensen (1964), and Readings in architectural criticism (1954).

Eaton was a member of the Society of Architectural Historians as well as the Canadian Society of Architectural Historians.

From the guide to the Leonard K. Eaton papers, 1950-2004, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)