With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
Vincent J. Scully
Architecture/Design, Education/Curation, Journalism/Non-Fiction
1920 – 2017
According to Chris Wigren in the 2025 NR nomination of the Vincent J. and Susannah K. Scully house:
“As an architectural historian, author, teacher, critic, and theorist, Scully influenced the development of American architecture in the second half of the twentieth century. Scully’s thinking evolved over the years, expanding from consideration of individual buildings to the place of architecture in the larger built and natural environment. Initially a promoter of Modernism, Scully came to question many of its tenets, particularly regarding urban planning, becoming a vocal supporter of New Urbanist design and the historic preservation movement.”
“[T]wo themes ran through much of his work beginning in the early1950s. The first is his definition of architecture as encompassing all of the built environment, including the relationship of buildings to their natural surroundings… [T]he second ongoing theme of Scully’s career: the interrelationship of history and present-day architecture.”
“Scully’s first wife, Nancy [aka Susannah], played an important role in [Scully’s] early career. At the time of their wedding, she was studying art history at Wellesley College. She left college upon her marriage, but their sons attribute Scully’s decision to study art history at least in part to Nancy’s suggestion. In his first book, The Shingle Style, Scully acknowledged her help in taking photographs, criticizing the text, and “...otherwise assist[ing] in numberless ways.” Most importantly, Scully credited her with inspiring him to view buildings as part of the larger built and natural environment, which would become a defining characteristic of his thinking.”
- Biography/Description of Work
He taught architectural history and the history of art at Yale from 1947 to 1991, although he continued to lecture until 2009. He also wrote scholarly books and articles, and articles for general audiences in Life, the New York Times, and Architectural Digest. He and his contributions to art and architecture were recognized through a variety of awards and honors, including the National Medal of Arts bestowed in 2004 by President George W. Bush.
- Associated Resource(s)