Francis Geck (1900-2005) graduated from the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (later, Parsons School of Design) in 1924 and taught interior design at the school's Paris Ateliers until 1927. In 1930, Geck became a professor of fine arts at University of Colorado, where he taught for 39 years. The papers contain correspondence with Parsons administrators, design sketches and student work, publications, and course materials.

Frank Alvah Parsons (1866-1930) began as an instructor at the New York School of Art in 1904. He became director in 1911, renaming the school the New York School of Fine and Applied Art to reflect his reorientation of the institution toward practical design disciplines. The school was later renamed to honor his leadership. The collection consists of published editions of Parsons' lectures, and prints he used to illustrate them.