People:
- Kaiman Lee (archive creator)
- Clifford Stewart (author)
- Perry, Dean and Stewart Architects (creator)
Form:
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
Extent and medium:
- 4413 digital files (2.24 GB)
167 photographic materials
47 books
13 artefacts
2 ephemera
1 16 mm films
0.07 l.m. of textual records
Scope and content:
*** Please contact the CCA's Reference Team (ref@cca.qc.ca) to access the full finding aid for this fonds. ***
The Kaiman Lee fonds, circa 1965 – 2006, documents the multidisciplinary career and writings of Dr. Kaiman Lee who worked as Architect/Computer coordinator at Boston-based Perry, Dean and Stewarts Architects and as Director of the Environmental Design and Research Center, also based in Boston. The majority of the fonds covers the period from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. While working at Perry, Dean and Stewarts Architects, Lee assisted with the implementation of the ARK Two computer-aided design system. The fonds includes computer hardware parts of the Autotrol digitizer machine which worked in conjunction with the ARK Two to input architectural drawings and other data into a computer. These computer components, along with accompanying informational material, provide an overview of computer-aided design in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The ARK Two Computer-Aided Design System is documented by the computers components, promotional material, reports, and an informational film about Ark Two. The fonds primarily documents the publishing activities of both the Environmental Design and Research Center and the Center for Environmental Research through published books and promotional material. Research topics include environmental design and computer-aided design programs during the period of circa 1970 – 1982. The academic career of Lee is documented in his theses and lecture materials. Professional activities outside the scope of Kaiman Lee’s earlier career, post-1990, are documented with a minimal amount of born-digital records including publication material, correspondence, presentations, and notes. The fonds is arranged into four series: ARK Two Computer-Aided Design System; Environmental design publishing; Academic work; Professional work. There is a transcript of an interview with Kaiman Lee available particularly for more information regarding ARK Two.
Arrangement:
Material was arranged by Kaiman Lee for shipping to the CCA in 2023.
The archivist then arranged the material into four series: Series AP222.S1: ARK Two Computer-Aided Design System Series AP222.S2: Environmental design publishing Series AP222.S3: Academic work Series AP222.S4: Professional work
For the digital component of the archive, digital carriers were described as discrete files and arranged into series AP222.S4: Professional work. Within these folders, material has not been arranged.
Biographical notes:
Dr. Kaiman Lee (born 1942) is an environmental designer, architect, planner, computer graphics applications consultant, professor, and author born in Gui Lin, China. In 1963, Lee emigrated to Canada to attend McGill University. In 1967, Kaiman married Catherine Lee in Montreal. They went on to have two sons. Lee graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1968. Lee studied at Iowa State University where he graduated with a Master of Architecture in 1969. In 1974, he obtained a Doctor of Environmental Design from Texas A & M University [1]. He helped to develop the ARK Two computer-aided design system for Boston firm Perry, Dean, and Stewart Architects where he worked as Computer/Architect Coordinator from 1969 to 1974. The ARK Two was a computer with early design software tailored to architects who were unfamiliar with utilizing technology in the design process. From 1970 to 1974, Lee was Associate Director of the Center for Environmental Research. From 1974 to 1982, Lee was the Director of the Environmental Design and Research Center [1]. These two distinct Boston-based institutions published many works in the field of environmental design. Lee went on to accept a position with the United States Federal Government as Head and Systems Manager, Computer Graphics Branch, Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Bruno, California from 1982 to 1986. Lee was then promoted to Senior Program Manager for Graphics Engineering and Mapping System at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Headquarters in Alexandia, Virginia from 1986 to 1991. As Dr. Lee’s career progressed in the field of Engineering, he began working as the Director of Engineering Group and Chief Engineer of the Navy Public Works Center, in Oakland, California from 1991 to 1997 [1]. Dr. Lee has authored 30 books about technology, computer applications, solar & alternative energies, and other topics. As of 2024, Dr. Lee splits his time between Macau and California.
[1] Kaiman, Lee. Portfolio Dr. Kaiman Lee. Retrieved October 31, 2023 from http://mymetaphors.com/members/408054/uploaded/portfolio-K.pdf
Conditions governing access:
- Digital material can only be accessed on site via the CCA's access interface. Login required. Please contact Reference at ref@cca.qc.ca for more information.
Conditions governing reproduction:
- For copyright information or permission to reproduce material from the fonds, please contact the CCA (reproductions@cca.qc.ca).
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer:
- On loan from Dr. Kaiman Lee beginning on June 28, 2023, for a period of 15 years.
Custodial history:
- The archives of Kaiman Lee were kept in his home in Palo Alto, California until their transfer to the CCA on August 8, 2023.
Archivist's note:
- The Kaiman Lee fonds was processed and described by Nina Patterson from 2023 - 2024. Materials were processed to the file-level, with the exception of AV materials, which were processed at the item-level. All the material was rehoused.
Credit line:
When citing the collection as a whole, use the citation: Kaiman Lee fonds, Collection Centre Canadien d’Architecture/Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal. When citing specific collection material, please refer to the object’s specific credit line.
Other finding aids:
- A bibliography of published materials included in the fonds is available as a PDF upon request.
General note:
- There is a transcript available of an interview conducted by the processing archivist with Kaiman Lee in 2024 which provides more information, particularly about the ARK Two, the EDRC, and the CER. Please contact Reference at ref@cca.qc.ca for more information.
