G. E. Kidder Smith

rdf:langString G. E. Kidder Smith

rdf:langString George Everard Kidder Smith (1 October 1913 – 8 October 1997) was an American architect, author, educator, photographer and prolific “builder” of books and curator of exhibitions. He collaborated with some of the leading publishers and graphic designers – ranging from Elaine Lustig Cohen and Leo Lionni to Paul Rand – to produce books that were both highly informative and visually engaging. Some publishers include The Museum of Modern Art, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Edizioni di Comunità and Penguin Books. Above all, Kidder Smith was an astute observer - in words and pictures - of modern architecture and the historic built environment of numerous cities and countries across the globe. During the 1950s and 1960s, thanks to his activism as a preservationist, he rallied a number of high-profile individuals and eventually helped prevent the Robie House and Villa Savoye from being demolished. In his New York Times obit published on October 26, 1997, Herbert Muschamp described G. E. Kidder Smith as a “civic watchdog.”