Finding Aid for the Irving John Gill papers, 1870-1936 0000105

Finding aid prepared by Alexander Hauschild and Chris Marino

The finding aid for this collection was made possible by the IMLS Museums for America Sustaining Cultural Heritage Pilot Digitization Project.

Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum

Arts Building Room 1434

University of California

Santa Barbara, California, 93106-7130

805-893-2724

adc@museum.ucsb.edu

2010

Title: Irving John Gill papers

Identifier/Call Number: 0000105

Contributing Institution: Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 21.0 Linear feet (3 boxes and 6 flat file drawers)

Date (inclusive): 1870-1936

creator: Gill, Irving, 1870-1936 -- Archives

Access

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Custodial History note

Gift of Louis J. Gill, 1968. Additional material gifted from Mr. Joseph Musil, 1979 and Laureen Bricke, 1999.

Preferred Citation note

Irving John Gill papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

Biographical/Historical note

Born near Syracuse, New York, Irving Gill (1870-1936) was descended from Quakers and grew up in a family with ties to the building trades. Gill never attended architecture school but apprenticed with the architect Ellis K. Hall in Syracuse and, based on Hall’s recommendation, moved to Chicago in 1890 to work for Joseph L. Silsbee. By 1891, Gill was working in the office of Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, at the same time as Frank Lloyd Wright. Gill may have worked on Sullivan’s Transportation Building for the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. This early modern design was one of the few buildings not in the classical style for which the fair became known. The “Chicago School” and Louis Sullivan in particular had a lasting effect on Gill’s architectural thinking. Because of ill health, Gill moved to San Diego in 1893. There he developed partnerships with Joseph Falkenham, then with William Sterling Hebbard, before establishing his own office. By 1907, simple, stripped-down modern forms and surfaces defined his design vocabulary. He published several essays during his lifetime, in which he argued for a simple and authentic architecture, famously writing, “[a]ny deviation from simplicity results in a loss of dignity.” Many of his projects show his social concerns, including his houses for working men and single women, and his designs for the Rancho Barona Indian reservation.

Scope and Content note

The Irving J. Gill papers comprise 21 linear feet and date from 1870 to 1936. The collection contains correspondence, daily diaries, photographs, clippings and printed ephemera regarding several of his San Diego projects.

Related Archival Materials note

David Gebhard papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

Louis J. Gill papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

Historic American Building Survey records, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

Project Index

The Irving John Gill Project Index provides a list of the design projects that can be found in the Irving Gill papers. The Project Index notes the existence of drawings and presentation boards and should be used in conjuntion with the finding aid. Click the following link to view: http://adc.museum.ucsb.edu/Project_Index/105_GillIrving_ProjectIndex.xlsx

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Gill, Louis J., 1885-1969

Architects -- California

Architectural drawings

Architectural photographs

Architecture -- California

Architecture -- California -- 20th century

Architecture -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th Century

Architecture, Modern -- 20th century -- California

Blueprints

Irving John Gill Collection

Negatives

Photographic prints

Sketches

University of California, Santa Barbara -- Buildings -- Pictorial works

Personal Papers Series I.

Physical Description: 0.2 Linear feet

Articles and Clippings

Box 1, Folder 1

“A Granite Cottage in California,” reproduction of an Irving Gill watercolor Waldo and Hazel Waterman House, San Diego, CA ca. 1900

Box 1, Folder 2

Hebbard, W. S., Reproduction of a San Diego House by, The Western Architect 1912

Box 1, Folder 3

“San Diego Architectural Association” San Diego Union January 1, 1913

Correspondence

Box 1, Folder 4

Bruns, Paul H. 1936

Box 1, Folder 5

Clas, A. R. (Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works) 1934, 1935

Box 1, Folder 6

Duffy, James B. (The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Co.) Bulk, 1928-1929 1928-1929

Box 1, Folder 7

Gill, Marion Bradshears 1928, 1936, n.d.

Box 1, Folder 8

Goodhue, Bertram to Alice Lee 1918

Box 1, Folder 10

Holly, Robert Jr. (Dominguez Land Company) 1912

Box 1, Folder 9

Halley, Robert Jr. 1915

Box 1, Folder 11

Krause, Julius W. 1910

Box 1, Folder 12

McDougall, Taylor 1934

Box 1, Folder 13

Meek, C. I. 1936

Box 1, Folder 14

Olmsted Brothers, Landscape Architects 1911

Box 1, Folder 15

Tenney, J. R. (Oceanside Grammar School) 1935

Box 1, Folder 16

San Diego Architectural Association, Grievance Committee 1910

Box 1, Folder 17

Shirk, Mrs. George

Box 1, Folder 18

Tobey, Curtis 1928

Language of Material: English

Box 1, Folder 19

United States Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs 1932-1933

Box 1, Folder 20

Witkin, Zara 1936

Notes and Memos

Box 1, Folder 21

Address Book

Box 1, Folder 22

Daily Diaries 1924,1925,1934

Box 1, Folder 23

“How to Realize on Your Personality, Lesson I” 1912

Box 1, Folder 24

Kelton, Florence E., Sub-lease with Irving Gill 1927

Box 1, Folder 25

“Measure of Avocados Sold”

Box 1, Folder 26

Memorandum Book 1929

Box 1, Folder 27

“The Secret to Building Strength—Why Even the ‘Well-Fed’ Are Undernourished”

Travel

Box 2, Folder 14, Digital-Image 1968_105_251_p_01

Cathedral and Bishops Palace Lima, Peru n.d.

Personal Photographs

Box 2, Folder 21

Coronel, Don Antonio and Dona Mariana 1890

Box 2, Folder 18, Digital-Image 1968_105_207_p_01

Coronel, Don Antonio and Dona Mariana ca. 1890

Box 2, Folder 33

Freels, H.E.

Folder 2, Folder 35

"Uno de los Indios"

Box 2, Folder 38, Digital-Image 1968_105_213_p_1a-2b,1968_105_213_p_4-7,1968_105_213_p_9-10,1968_105_213_p_12-17

Gill, Irving

Box 2, Folder 39, Digital-Image 1968_105_214_p_1-4,1968_105_214_p_6

Gill, Marion Bradshears ca. 1910

Box 2, Folder 40, Digital-Image 1968_105_215_p_1

Gill, Marion Bradshears residence, Redondo Beach California n.d.

Box 2, Folder 18

Palomar Apartments

Box 2, Folder 27

Colonial Hotel

Box 2, Folder 34, Digital-Image 1968_105_212_p_1-8

Gill and Gill architectural office. San Diego California 1915

Box 2, Folder 95

Bertha H. Residence

Professional Papers n.d.

Physical Description: 0.2 Linear feet

Professional Papers

Box 1, Folder 28

The American Institute of Architects, San Diego Chapter Bulk, 1909-1927 1909, 1910, 1927

Box 1, Folder 29

Business Cards of Clients

Box 1, Folder 30

Budget for Gill and Godwin

Box 1, Folder 31

Belcher, Frank J. Jr., House and Garage, San Diego, CA 1912-1913

Box 1, Folder 32

First Church of Christ Scientist, Church Building, San Diego, CA 1909-1910

Box 1, Folder 33

La Jolla Women’s Club, Club House Building, La Jolla, CA 1911-1914

Box 1, Folder 34

Laughlin, Homer Jr., Theatre and Commercial Building, Long Beach, CA 1914-1915

Box 1, Folder 35

Lutes, Harold E. (Eastman Kodak Agency)

Box 1, Folder 36

Meek, C. I., Beauty Parlor and Barber Shop Building, Redondo Beach, CA 1936

Box 1, Folder 37

San Diego Architectural Association (receipt and blank certificate) 1913

Photographs (Not specifically project related) n.d.

Physical Description: 1.0 Linear feet

Box 2, Folder 11, Digital-Image 1968_105_228_n_1-51

Bricker, David: negatives of Gill buildings in Oceanside and Coronado taken in 1986 1907

Box 2, Folder 15, Digital-Image 1968_105_231_p_1-1b

Chapin, Cornelia G. Palomar Apartments, Richard Requa architect. San Diego California. 1913-1914

Box 2, Folder 27, Digital-Image 1968_105_202_p_01

Dominguez Land Company, Colonial Hotel with United Cigar building. Torrance California 1912

Box 2, Folder 35, Digital-Image 1968_105_254_p_2

Gill in amateur theatrical "Uno de los Indios by the Hon. W.W. Bowers ca. 1900

Box 2, Folder 45, Digital-Image 1968_105_220_p_1-2

Howe, Mario residence, Newport, Rhode Island 1902

Box 2, Folder 63, Digital-Image 1968_105_249_p_1

McCoy, Esther; photos of Annie B. Durst residence, and First Church of Christ Scientist, San Diego California 1908-1909

Photographs n.d.

Physical Description: 1.0 Linear feet

Box 2, Folder 1

Allen, Russell C. House, Sweetwater Valley, California [in collaboration with Frank Mead] 1968_105_1_p_001,1968_105_d_001-010 1907

Box 2, Folder 2

Babcock, Graham Los Baños Bathhouse, San Diego, California 1968_105_223_p_001 1897

Box 2, Folder 3

Bailey, Wheeler J. House, La Jolla, California [in collaboration with Frank Mead] 1968_105_3_p_001-005;d_001-015 1907

Box 2, Folder 4

Barber, E. Milton Cottage/House Number Two, San Diego, California 1968_105_5_D_01-10; 1909

Box 2, Folder 5

Barber, E. Milton House, San Diego, California [in collaboration with W.S. Hebbard] 1968_105_4_D_001-002,D_005-011,p_001,p_003; 1904

Box 2, Folder 6

Barker, Nelson E. House, San Diego, California 1968_105_6_D_01-08,p_01; 1911-1912

Box 2, Folder 7

Belcher, Frank. J. Jr. House and Garage, San Diego, California 1968_105_6_D_01-24,p_7-8; 1912-1913

Box 2, Folder 8

Bingham, Persis Eugenia Cottage, Hollywood, California [Photographs from article “Our Cottage under the Trees,” Sunset Magazine Vol. 64 (January 1930)] 1968_105_200_p_001-002; 1921

Box 2, Folder 9

Birckhead, William Hunter House, Portsmouth, RI 1968_105_201_p_001,p_003-004b,p006-007; n.d.

Box 2, Folder 10

Bishop’s Day School, School Building, San Diego, California 1968_105_259_p_001-002; 1909

Box 2, Folder 11

Bishop’s School for Girls Bentham Hall, La Jolla, California 1968_105_D_01-17,D_19-68,p_3; 1909-1913

Box 2, Folder 12

Bishop’s School for Girls, Gillman Hall, La Jolla, California [in collaboration with Louis Gill] 1968_105_ 1916-1917

Box 2, Folder 13

Bishop’s School for Girls Scripps Hall, La Jolla, California 1968_105_ 1910

Box 2, Folder 14

Bricker, David Negatives of Gill buildings in oceanside and Coronado California. (taken in 1986) 1968_105_ n.d.

Box 2, Folder 15

Brown, Miss Commercial/Hotel/Theatre and Garden Apartment Building (project), Hollywood, California (unknown; 1921?) 1968_105_ unknown

Box 2, Folder 16

Burnham, Frederick R. House, San Diego, California [in collaboration with W.S. Hebbard] 1968_105_ 1906

Box 2, Folder 17

Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace Personal Photograph, Lima, Peru 1968_105_ n.d.

Box 2, Folder 18

Chapin, Cornelia G. Palomar Apartments, San Diego, California [Richard Requa, architect] 1968_105_ 1913-1914

Box 2, Folder 19

Children’s Home Association Holly Sefton Memorial Hospital, San Diego, California 1968_105_ 1909

Box 2, Folder 20

Cook, Dr. House, San Diego, CA Cook, Dr. House, San Diego, CA (unknown) 1968_105_ (unknown)

Box 2, Folder 21

Coronel, Don Antonio and Dona Mariana (personal photograph) 1968_105_ ca. 1890

Box 2, Folder 22

Cossitt, Mrs. Mary Cottage, San Diego, CA [in collaboration with W.S. Hebbard] 1968_105_ 1906

Box 2, Folder 28

Daily Blade Tribune and News Commercial Building Oceanside, California 208 1929

Box 2, Folder 24

Darst, Mrs. Annie B. Flats San Diego, California 23 1908-1909

Box 2, Folder 25

Darst, Mrs. Annie B. residence, San Diego, California 24 1908

Box 2, Folder 26

Dodge, Walter L. residence, West Hollywood, California 12 1914-1916

Box 2, Folder 27

Dominguez Land Company, Colonial Hotel with United Cigar Building, Torrance, California 202 1912

Box 2, Folder 28

Douglas, Charles P. residence, San Diego, California 209 1905

Box 2, Folder 29

First Church of Christ Scientist, Church Building, Coronado, California 29 1927-1930

Box 2, Folder 30

First Church of Christ Scientist, Church Building, San Diego, California 27 1904-1905

Box 2, Folder 31

First Church of Christ Scientist, Church Building, San Diego, California 28 1909

Box 2, Folder 32

First Methodist Episcopal, Church building, San Diego, California 30 1905-1906

Box 2, Folder 33

Freels, H.E. (picture of) 210 n.d.

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