The Anna Louise Murphy Vhay architectural drawings span 3 linear feet and date from circa 1919 to circa 1955. The collection contains blueprints of an unidentified residence and three presentation boards. Floor plans, descriptions, and black-and-white photographs are mounted on the presentation boards for three separate entries (which are undated) into House Beautiful architectural contests.

Anna Louise Murphy Vhay, artist and architect, was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 1, 1881. In 1919, she came with her husband John D. Vhay to Santa Barbara, where they purchased acreage off the 900 block of Garden Street. Their home Casa de Ramirez was one of Santa Barbara’s first adobe homes and was modified by Anna Vhay. In November of 1930, the Vhay’s began to develop and sell of parts of their property, over time the parcels of land were bought by artists and an artist colony formed around El Caserio Lane. In 1939, she published a book with her husband entitled Architectural Byways in New Spain: Photographs & Measured Drawings of Doorways, Windows, Fountains, Balconies, Etc. Anna Louise Murphy Vhay died in 1964.

3.0 Linear feet (1 flat file drawer)

Partially processed collection, open for use by qualified researchers.