Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Unless noted, digital media are not available online. Copies of unrestricted digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access will be provided to use copies of unrestricted digital files rather than carrier media, such as CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. Some or all electronic files may be unavailable or restricted due to privacy reasons, agreement with the donor, software is not available to interact with files, or because files cannot be retrieved from original media.
The Lee Porter Butler Papers, 1973-2019, contain 13.75 linear feet of art and architectural drawings, conceptual sketches, writings, poetry, letters, correspondence, photographs, news clippings, notebooks, design contracts and patent applications. Most of these materials document Butler's research on ekotecture, sustainable construction based on the environmental design science, and Ekose'a homes' designs. This collection also includes a vast array of writings and poems by Butler. A small number of drawings and writings belong to Butler's wife, Jill Karlin. The Lee Porter Butler Papers contain a few scrapbooks and photomontages that are only open to students and researchers above the age of 18.
Lee Porter Butler (1940-2005) was a sustainability-minded architect and inventor from Tennessee who was concerned with the ecological and environmental aspects of architectural design. He attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Tennessee again, and lastly the North Carolina State University School of Design. In 1965, Butler started to research the concept of energy conservation in architectural design, and in late 1966, he began to build and sell homes in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1975, Butler developed the concept of “the gravity geo-thermal envelope,” a passive solar design to heat and cool living spaces without fossil fuels. He eventually moved to California and founded the architectural company Ekose'a in San Francisco with William Randolph Pearson in 1978. Following his success in developing solar passive designs, he began teaching at the University of California Berkeley and was featured in numerous design and energy magazines and newspapers including Time, Popular Science, and Better Homes and Gardens. In the early 1980s, Butler relocated to south Florida and conceptualized "ekotecture," sustainable construction based on environmental design science with his wife Jill Karlin. During the 1990s, he expanded on the ekotecture concept and developed Ekopods, self-sustaining floating home infrastructures.
Lee Porter Butler (1940-2005) was a sustainability-minded architect and inventor from Tennessee who was concerned with the ecological and environmental aspects of architectural design. He attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Tennessee again, and lastly the North Carolina State University School of Design. In 1965, Butler started to research the concept of energy conservation in architectural design, and in late 1966, he began to build and sell homes in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1975, Butler developed the concept of “the gravity geo-thermal envelope,” a passive solar design to heat and cool living spaces without fossil fuels. He eventually moved to California and founded the architectural company Ekose'a in San Francisco with William Randolph Pearson in 1978. Following his success in developing solar passive designs, he began teaching at the University of California Berkeley and was featured in numerous design and energy magazines and newspapers including Time, Popular Science, and Better Homes and Gardens. In the early 1980s, Butler relocated to south Florida and conceptualized "ekotecture," sustainable construction based on environmental design science with his wife Jill Karlin. During the 1990s, he expanded on the ekotecture concept and developed Ekopods, self-sustaining floating home infrastructures.
In addition to his architectural designs, Butler wrote poems and stories and drew human figures under his chosen spiritual name, Alpha Lee Rainbow Light. Butler died in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 2005.
This biographical note has been compiled from NCModernist, EKOSE'A HOMES, and Butler's papers.
The Lee Porter Butler Papers, 1973-2019, contain 13.75 linear feet of art and architectural drawings, conceptual sketches, writings, poetry, letters, correspondence, photographs, news clippings, notebooks, design contracts and patent applications. Most of these materials document Butler's research on ekotecture, sustainable construction based on the environmental design science, and Ekose'a homes' designs. This collection also includes a vast array of writings and poems by Butler. A small number of drawings and writings belong to Butler's fifth wife, Jill Karlin. The Lee Porter Butler Papers contain a few scrapbooks and photomontages that are only open to students and researchers above the age of 18.
This collection is arranged alphabatically.
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.
[Identification of item], Lee Porter Butler Papers, MC 00684, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Gift of Jill Andrea Karlin Butler (Accession no. 2020.0223).
Processed by: Shima Hosseininasab; machine-readable finding aid created by: Shima Hosseininasab, 2021 February.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Researchers should be advised that SCRC staff has identified materials and language in this folder that depict sexual content.
Access to physical material is not available due to preservation concerns. SCRC staff will provide access via the scans.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Access to physical material is not available due to preservation concerns. SCRC staff will provide access via the scans.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Researchers should be advised that SCRC staff has identified materials and language in this folder that depict sexual content.
Access to physical material is not available due to preservation concerns. SCRC staff will provide access via the scans.
Access to physical material and digital files not available online may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room after staff review.
Some materials may not have been digitized or made available online.
Materials in this notebook contain sexual content that may be disturbing to some researchers.
Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Unless noted, digital media are not available online. Copies of unrestricted digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access will be provided to use copies of unrestricted digital files rather than carrier media, such as CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. Some or all electronic files may be unavailable or restricted due to privacy reasons, agreement with the donor, software is not available to interact with files, or because files cannot be retrieved from original media.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111
Phone: (919) 515-2273
[Identification of item], Lee Porter Butler Papers, MC 00684, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.