Inventory of the John Upton Clowdsley Collection, 1914-1962

Processed by Carrie L. McDade.
Environmental Design Archives
College of Environmental Design
230 Wurster Hall #1820
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-1820
Phone: (510) 642-5124
Fax: (510) 642-2824
Email: archives@socrates.berkeley.edu
http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives/
© 2003
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the John Upton Clowdsley Collection, 1914-1962

Environmental Design Archives



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

  • Environmental Design Archives
  • College of Environmental Design
  • 230 Wurster Hall #1820
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • Berkeley, California, 94720-1820
  • Phone: (510) 642-5124
  • Fax: (510) 642-2824
  • Email: archives@socrates.berkeley.edu
  • URL: http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives/
Processed by:
Carrie L. McDade
Date Completed:
December 2000
Encoded by:
Environmental Design Archives Staff
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: John Upton Clowdsley collection,
Date (inclusive): 1914-1962
Collection number: 2000-7
Creator: Clowdsley, John Upton, 1889-1971
Extent: 1 box, 1 flat box, 68 oversize folders, and 1 tube
Repository: Environmental Design Archives. College of Environmental Design.
University of California, Berkeley.
Berkeley, California
Abstract: John Upton Clowdsley was an architect who worked primarily in Stockton, California from the 1920s-1950s. Records in the collection are mainly for residences in Stockton and San Joaquin County, and include drawings for the Stockton City Hall.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection open for research.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the Curator.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John Upton Clowdsley Collection, (2000-7), Environmental Design Archives. College of Environmental Design. University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, California.

Acquisition Information

This collection was acquired in 2000.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Architects -- California.
Architecture -- California.
Buildings -- California -- Stockton.
Whipple, Jack Freeman
Clowdsley and Whipple

Biographical Note

John Upton Clowdsley (1889-1971)
John Upton Clowdsley was born in 1889 to prominent San Joaquin County residents, William Forsythe and Virginia Olive Clowdsley. He had two siblings, a brother, Forsythe Charles [Tod] Clowdsley, a former district attorney and state assemblyman (d.1840), and a sister, Olive Virginia Clowdsley.
Clowdsley pursued architectural training at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1914 through 1917, but he did not receive a degree. Apparently his service in the United States Army, 1917-1919, ended his formal training as an architect. He received his license in 1920, however a Stockton City and San Joaquin County Directory of 1917 lists Clowdsley's profession as architect. Remaining in Stockton throughout his career, he established several partnerships and executed the majority of his work in San Joaquin County. He was a long-time member of the Central Valley Chapter of the AIA (1946-1971).
From 1920-1923, Clowdsley was junior partner in Losekann & Clowdsley (Stockton). He practiced independently between the years 1924-1944. In 1945 he practiced for one year under the firm Clowdsley, Ernst, Johnson & Mayo (Stockton). He partnered in Clowdsley & Ernst (Stockton) for the year 1947-1948. Upon the dissolution of his partnership with Ernst, Clowdsley worked with Jack Freeman Whipple during the years 1949-1964 as Clowdsley & Whipple (Stockton). He retired in 1965 and continued to work on occasion with his son's (John Clowdsley, Jr.) San Francisco architectural firm, Page, Clowdsley & Bailey.
Clowdsley designed many residential structures in Stockton and San Joaquin County during the decades spanning 1920-1950. In 1922, Losekann & Clowdsley associated with Davis, Heller & Pierce and Peter L. Sala to design the Stockton City Hall. He also contributed work to buildings on the Stockton campus of the University of the Pacific. His designs include: Weber Hall, (presently Eberhardt School of Business) 1924; Omega Phi Alpha (first fraternity house on campus; later Delta Upsilon); Rhizomia (later Sigma Alpha Epsilon); Archania; Grace Covell Hall, 1957-1958; and additions to Epsilon Lambda Sigma (1959) and Delta Delta Delta (1959). Between 1961-1963 he participated in planning UOP's cluster colleges.
Clowdsley died on August 4, 1971, at 82 years of age.

Note

Sources:

  • American Institute of Architects Membership Directory
  • [Obituary, William Forsythe Clowdsley] Stockton Daily Independent, November 19, 1917, 4.
  • [Obiturary, Virginia Olive Clowdsley] Stockton Record, September 22, 1948, 1.
  • Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library
  • Stockton, California City Directory (1947-48)
  • Stockton City Directory (1970)
  • Stockton City and San Joaquim County Directory (1917)
  • University Archives, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California

Scope and Contents Note

The John Upton Clowdsley Collection spans the years 1914-1962, and consists of drawings, photographs, and project cost estimate files. The records are primarily for residences in Stockton and San Joaquin County but his student work and drawings for the Stockton City Hall are also part of the collection. As a representation of architecture in the Central Valley, the collection enhances the strong northern California presence at the Environmental Design Archives. Furthermore, Clowdsley's residential work from the 1920-1950s provides insight into the contemporary style of and taste in residential architecture.
The collection is organized into three series: Personal Records, Office Records, and Project Records. The project records are the largest and the most valuable series in the collection as they represent more than 65 of Clowdsley's projects by drawings and photographs. The personal papers are limited and consist of Clowdsley's student work from the University of California, Berkeley. The office records are also limited. They include cost estimates index cards for approximately 160 of Clowdsley's projects.

Project Index

The following is a list of architectural projects from the Clowdsley Collection. For more complete information about collection contents for each project, as well as shelf location and microfilming status, download the complete Project Index in an Excel spreadsheet format by going to http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives/pindex/clowdsley.xls . For instructions on interpreting the Project Index, see The Guide to the Project Index at http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/cedarchives/pindex/guide.htm .
The Project Index list is arranged alphabetically by Project/Client Name and contains information, where available, about the location, date, project type, collaborators, photographers, and formats for each project in the collection.

Project/Client Name (location, date, project type) Collaborator (role), Photographer [Format - Ms=Manuscripts, Dr=Drawings, Ph=Photographs]

  • * Anderson, W.C. , addition ( near Linden , CA ; 1945-1949 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Arismendi, Carlos Alberto ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Baldwin, Louis ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; 1932 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Benson, Joe N. (Park Woods) ( Stockton , CA ; 1961 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Bird, Donald G. (Riviera Cliffs) ( Stockton , CA ; 1961 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Blinn, Dr. John F. ( Argone Drive , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Bodley, J. Russell ( Stockton , CA ; 1939, 1947 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Breitenbucher, Edward E. (Kensington Way) ( Stockton , CA ; 1939 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Brown, DeMarcus ( Knoles Way , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Burton, Dr. Frank P. ( Stockton , CA ; 1941 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Cassidy, Harry ( Stockton , CA ; 1938 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Chinn, Bolling (Kensington Way) ( Stockton , CA ; 1935-1936 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Clowdsley, F.C., addition ( nr Linden , CA ; 1945,49 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Clowdsley, J.U. (John Upton) ( Stockton , CA ; 1925 ; residential ) [Dr, Ph]
  • * College of the Pacific: Archania Fraternity House ( Stockton , CA ; n.d. ; educational ) [Dr, Ph]
  • * College of the Pacific: Weber Memorial Hall ( Stockton , CA ; n.d. ; educational ) [Dr, Ph]
  • * Collis, Dr. W.H. Langley ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; 1938 ; residential ) [Ph]
  • * Devereaux, St. Clair ( Stockton , CA ; 1936 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Eichelberger, A.B., additions ( [Stockton] , CA ; 1940 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Farrar, Laurence A. ( Stockton , CA ; 1940 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Finkbohner, George S. ( Bristol Avenue , [CA] ; 1926 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Goodwin, C. Donald ( Stockton , CA ; 1956 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Gray, Biff ( Caldwell Village , [CA] ; 1941 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Grimsley, Robert ( Stockton , CA ; 1940 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Hickinbotham, J.C. (Oxford Manor) ( unknown , [CA] ; 1935 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Hickinbotham, Ralph ( Stockton , CA ; 1937 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Higginbotham, Paul ( Lodi , CA ; 1936 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Hill, Miss Ethel Mae, addition ( Stockton , CA ; 1935,1940 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Hoffman, Melvin ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Huff, Thomas J. (Riviera Cliffs) ( [Stockton] , CA ; 1956 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Humbarger, Miss Catherine and Elizabeth ( Stockton , CA ; 1939 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Hutchinson, Donald B. ( Walnut Grove , CA ; n.d. ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Jacobs, D.R., addition ( Stockton , CA ; 1935,1937 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Jeffery, Henry ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Johnson, J. Leroy ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr, Ph]
  • * Klein, Sol D., lanai addition ( Stockton , CA ; 1939 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Long, Clyde ( Stockton , CA ; 1957 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Martin, Irving L., addition ( Stockton , CA ; 1956 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Miller, Raymond, remodel ( near Linden , CA ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * National School ( unknown , [CA] ; n.d. ; educational ) [Ph]
  • * Nelson, Cordner (Lincoln Village) ( Stockton , CA ; 1950 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Neumiller ( unknown ; n.d. ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Newton, Mrs. O.C. ( Hildreth Lane , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Normandy Court ( Sacramento , CA ; n.d. ; residential ) [Ph]
  • * Pahl, A. J. ( Riviera Cliffs , [CA] ; 1954 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Pahl, Miss Amy ( Stockton , CA ; 1940 ; residential--multi ) [Dr]
  • * Paper's Pharmacy, Harding Way Medical-Dental Offices ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; medical ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Pierce, Miss Martha ( Stockton , CA ; 1955 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Pierce, Miss Martha (Caldwell Village) ( Stockton , CA ; 1941 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Powell, James R. ( Atherton Cove , [CA] ; 1950 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Raab, George B. ( Stockton , CA ; 1951 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Reardon, Paul (Old Tankhouse, remodel) ( unknown , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Ph]
  • * Renney, Earl ( Riviera Cliffs , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Renney, L.E. ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Richardson, L. V. ( Stockton , CA ; 1945 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Ross, Bruce ( Country Club Villas , [CA] ; 1935 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Ross, Verne ( Stockton , CA ; 1936 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Rothenbush, A.D. ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Seeley, Fred ( nr Stockton , CA ; 1937 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Short, Miss Virginia L. ( Stockton , CA ; 1940 ; residential--multi ) [Dr]
  • * Stockton City Hall ( Stockton , CA ; c.1922 ; governmental ) Collaborator: Losekahn & Clowdsley; Davis, Heller & Pearce, (assoc. architects); Sala, P.L. (assoc. architects) [Dr, Ph]
  • * Stockton Civic Center ( Stockton , CA ; n.d. ; governmental ) [Ph]
  • * Tarter, H.V. ( [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Ph]
  • * Thresher, Minord S. ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Turner, Fred E. ( near Stockton , CA ; 1940 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Ultch, William, addition ( Stockton , CA ; 1950 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Unidentified: door detail ( n.d. ) [Ph]
  • * Unidentified: interiors ( n.d. ; residential ) [Ph]
  • * Unidentified: residence ( n.d. ; residential ) [Ph]
  • * Unidentified: residences ( unknown , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Ph]
  • * Victory School ( unknown , [CA] ; n.d. ; educational ) [Ph]
  • * Williams, John R., remodel ( Stockton , CA ; c.1939 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Wilson, John ( Morada , [CA] ; 1950 ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Wilson, Joseph D. ( Stockton , CA ; n.d. ; residential ) Collaborator: Clowdsley and Whipple [Dr]
  • * Wood, D.B. ( near Lodi , CA ; 1940 ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Wright, William, duplex ( Stockton , CA ; 1935 ; residential--multi ) [Dr]
  • * Yost, Henry ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]
  • * Yost, Russel ( [Stockton] , [CA] ; n.d. ; residential ) [Dr]

 

Series I. PERSONAL PAPERS, 1914-1917

Physical Description: 1 oversize folder, 1 tube

Scope and Content Note

Includes various student projects by Clowdsley from plans to charcoal and pastel esquisse.
 

A. Education

 

Series II. OFFICE RECORDS, 1922-1962

Physical Description: 1 box

Scope and Content Note

Contains notecards for approximately 160 projects. These are organized alphabetically by client and list various cost estimates for the respective project.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by client
 

A. Financial Records

 

Series III. PROJECT RECORDS, 1922-1961

Physical Description: 1 box, 1 flat box, 67 oversize folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by client
 

A. Drawings and Specifications

Scope and Content Note

Includes various architectural plans and specifications on trace paper for Clowdsley's residential and remodeling projects. Also contains his collaborative designs for the Stockton City Hall and his work on the Paper's Pharmacy.
 

B. Photographs

Scope and Content Note

Contains photographs of completed projects, unidentified residences, and interiors.

 

SERIES I: PERSONAL PAPERS, ca.1914-1917

 

A. Education

flat-file FF : 1

Student work, ca.1914-1917

tube T : 1

Student work, ca.1914-1917

 

SERIES II: OFFICE RECORDS, 1922-1962

 

A. Financial Records

Box/Folder 1 : 1

Cost estimate cards, projects A-K, 1926-1962

Box/Folder 1 : 2

Cost estimate cards, projects L-Z, 1922-1962

 

SERIES III: PROJECT RECORDS, 1922-1961

 

A. Drawings and Specifications

 

**See Project Index

 

B. Photographs

 

**See Project Index