Daniel D. Reiff

FREDONIA — The Archives and Special Collections of the Daniel A. Reed Library at the State University at Fredonia recently received a donation of research materials from Daniel D. Reiff, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor emeritus.

An art historian, Reiff taught in the Department of Art at SUNY Fredonia for many years.

The collection of materials, both created and amassed by Dr. Reiff, documents the career of the important regional architect Enoch A. Curtis (1831-1907) and includes articles, book chapters, documents, photographs, and 500 color slides, recently digitized, of Curtis-designed buildings and architecture.

Curtis, whose career and work has long been studied by Dr. Reiff, is known for many major Fredonia buildings, including the Fredonia Village Hall and Opera House, the Odd Fellows Block, the old Fredonia Masonic Lodge, the Forest Hill Cemetery Gate Lodges and many local houses (such as St. Joseph’s Church rectory, and the original WCA Home). However, examples of his architecture can be found throughout the region in Dunkirk, Laona, Brocton, Westfield, and Belmont, as well as Oil City and Titusville, Pa. The slides document all of these buildings and homes, including structures no longer standing, such as the former Fredonia Masonic Lodge and the gymnasium Curtis added to the original Fredonia Normal School’s “Old Main” building (the predecessor to the modern Fredonia campus on Central Avenue) on Temple Street in the village.

Individuals wishing to consult the materials may contact the Archives and Special Collections office at the Reed Library at 673-3183 to schedule an appointment.