A.A. and A.M. Cantin Collection 2006.-3

Miranda Hambro

Arrangement and description of this collection was funded by the donor and the Joan Draper Endowment, Depart of Architecture, College of Environmental Design, U.C. Berkeley.

University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives

June 2010

230 Bauer Wurster Hall #1820

Berkeley, CA 94720-1820

designarchives@berkeley.edu

URL: https://ced.berkeley.edu/resources/environmental-design-archives

Contributing Institution: University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives

Title: A.A. and A.M. Cantin Collection

Creator: Cantin, A. Mackenzie, 1912-2002

Creator: Cantin, Alexander A., 1874-1964

Identifier/Call Number: 2006.-3

Physical Description: 7.5 Linear Feet: 2 manuscript boxes, 2 flat file drawers

Date (inclusive): 1933-1977

Abstract: The A. A. and A.M. Cantin collection documents approximately fifty-six projects through textual records, drawings and photographs. The collection is arranged in two series: Office Records and Project Records. The office records include biographical information, notable projects, and letters of recommendation. The bulk of the collection is comprised of project records. Arranged alphabetically, they consist of correspondence, clippings, photographs and drawings. Also included in the project records are sketches of column designs by A.A.Cantin, some of which are noted as pending patents.

Language of Material: English .

Access Statement

Collection is 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], A.A. and A.M. Cantin Collection, [2006-3] Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.

Biographical Note

Alexander (Aimwell) Cantin was born March 4, 1876, and died in 1964. He is possibly best known for designing a series of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph buildings in San Francisco and collaborated with the firm of Miller and Pflueger on the 26-story, Coast Division Building of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company at 140 New Montgomery Street. He designed the first permanent buildings on the campus of the College of Marin, including the Science Building (1927), Harian Hall (1929), the gymnasium (1931) and the first unit of the Engineering building. http://www.marin.cc.ca.us/lrc/photos/archive2.html. He is also known for the number of movie theatres he designed throughout the Bay Area beginning in the 1920s including the Orinda Theater and San Francisco's Coronet Theater (now demolished) designed with his son. He was issued his architectural license in 1901, and was a member of the AIA, with over 48 years of active practice. Of lifelong interest to him was the design of decorative columns. He was awarded patents for several of his column designs.

(Alexander) Mackenzie Cantin, A.A.'s son, was born January 21, 1912. He graduated from UC Berkeley's School of Architecture in 1935 earning his architectural license in 1945. Following WWII he entered into practice with his father in 1948, creating the firm Cantin & Cantin and collaborating on a number of projects including theaters, schools, military housing and hospitals. Thereafter, A.M. Cantin, as Cantin & Associates he designed the Rheem and Moraga Centers, theaters, schools, banks, and other commercial structures throughout the Bay Area.

Scope and Contents Note

The A. A. and A.M. Cantin collection documents approximately fifty-six projects through textual records, drawings and photographs. The collection is arranged in two series: Office Records and Project Records. The office records include biographical information, notable projects, and letters of recommendation.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of project records. Arranged alphabetically, they consist of correspondence, clippings, photographs and drawings. Also included in the project records are sketches of column designs by A.A.Cantin. He was interested in column design throughout his career, and some of the sketches are noted as pending patents.

Office Records I. 1903-1957

Scope and Contents

This series consists of one file with biographical information and list of notable projects for both A.A. and A.M. Cantin. There is also a file containing letters of reference from various clients.

Box 1, Folder 2

Letters of Recommendation undated

Box 1, Folder 3

Office Portrait undated

Box 1, Folder 4

Office Publicity Drawings undated

Box 1, Folder 5

Patent Applications 1926-1929

Box 1, Folder 6

Reference Photographs, France 1909-1912

Box 1, Folder 7

Reference Photographs, Italy 1909-1912

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 8

Reference Photographs, San Francisco before and after the fire 1906

Box 1, Folder 8

Miscellaneous Reference Images undated

Project Records II. 1909-1973

Scope and Contents

Box 1 contains project files with photographs and clippings. Drawings are housed in flat files, as are a few oversized photographs. Some drawings and photos are mounted.

Aaron Theatre Corp. (Vacaville Theatre) Vacaville CA 1965

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 31

Drawings

Unidentified Theater [probably Alhambra Theater] San Francisco CA [1926]

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 1, 12

Drawings

Alhambra Union High School Martinez CA [1903]

Box 1, Folder 1

Photographs

American Trust Company Orinda CA 1947

Box 1, Folder 2

Project files

Berkeley Board of Realtors Berkeley CA 1973

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 20

Drawings

Campen Theatre Mountain View CA 1926

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 44

Drawings

Cantin, A.M. Berkeley CA 1965

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 30

Drawings

Cantin, A.M. (Summer Home) Lake Tahoe CA 1941

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 26

Drawings

Carmel Theatre Carmel-by-the-Sea CA 1936

Box 1, Folder 3

Project files

Claremont Theatre Oakland CA 1926

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 5

Drawings

Clorox Company CA c.1958

Box 1, Folder 4

Photographs

College of Marin Kentfield CA c. 1927

Box 1, Folder 5

Photographs

Column Designs, 1910-1919 CA 1910-1919

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 25

Drawings

Column Designs, 1920-1929 CA 1920-1929

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 9

Drawings

Column Designs, 1930-1939 CA 1930-1939

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 23

Drawings

Column Designs, 1940-1949 CA 1940-1949

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 24

Drawings

Column Designs, 1950-1959 CA 1950-1959

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 19

Drawings

Column Designs, undated CA n.d.

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 10

Drawings

Box 1, Folder 6

Project files

Coronet Theater CA [1949]

Creator: Fein, Philip

Box 1, Folder 7

Photographs

Crest Theatre Sacramento CA 1949

Creator: Burkett, Charles

Box 1, Folder 8

Photographs

Del Mar Theatre San Leandro, CA n.d.

Box 1, Folder 9

Photographs

design: unidentified Garage n.d.

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 22

Drawings

design: unidentified Masonic Hall n.d.

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 16

Drawings

design: unidentified Masonic Hall OR Theater Kaleski? Alameda CA n.d.

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 15

Drawings

design: unidentified residences 1934

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 11

Drawings

design: unidentified schools n.d.

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 27

Drawings

design: unidentified Theater n.d.

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 43

Drawings

design: unidentified Theater for West Coast Theaters, Inc. CA 1924

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 28

Drawings

Dimond Theatre Oakland CA 1926

Box 1, Folder 10

Project Files

Dos Palos Joint Union High School CA 1911

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 33

Drawings

Box 1, Folder 11

Photographs

Douglas Elementary School San Francisco CA n.d.

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 38

Drawings

Elks Building 540 Powell St. San Francisco CA 1909

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 32

Drawings

Box 1, Folder 12

Photographs

Elks Lodge Alameda CA 1961

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 34

Drawings

Elks Lodge Pittsburg CA 1962

Box 1, Folder 13

Project files

Emmick Memorial Cypress Lawn Cemetery San Francisco CA 1940

Creator: Moulin Studios

Box 1, Folder 14

Photographs

Ford & Lincoln Agency Alameda CA n.d.

Box 1, Folder 15

Photographs

Fox Theatre CA 1961-62

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 2

Drawings

Glenwood Elementary School San Rafael CA 1962 (?)

Box 1, Folder 16

Project files

Golden State Theatre & Realty Corp.

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 4

Drawings

Heights Elementary School Pittsburg CA 1954

Box 1, Folder 19

Photographs

Huff, Frank Residence Cupertino CA n.d.

Box 1, Folder 20

Photographs

Joslin Residence San Francisco CA 1925

Box 2, Folder 21

Photographs

Lagunitas School CA 1927

Box 2, Folder 22

Photographs

Longfellow Elementary School Oakland CA 1958

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 39

Drawings

Box 2, Folder 23

Photographs

Madera Theatre Madera CA 1941

Box 2, Folder 24

Project files

Mandarin Theatre San Francisco CA n.d.

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 47

Drawings

Martinez Hospital Association Martinez CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 25

Drawings

Masonic Hall Martinez CA 1925

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 14

Drawings

McAlister Residence Santa Clara CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 26

Photographs

Merced County General Hospital Merced CA 1950

Box 2, Folder 27

Project files

Mergenthaler Linotype Co. (See Ford & Lincoln Agency) Alameda CA n.d.

Merced Unified School District CA 1952

Box 2, Folder 28

Project files

Mill Valley Theatre Mill Valley CA c. 1947

Box 2, Folder 29

Photographs

Mill Valley Town & Country Club Clubhouse CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 30

Project files

Moraga Center / Rheem Contra Costa County CA c. 1953

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 6

Drawings

Box 2, Folder 31

Project files

National Bank Martinez CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 32

Photographs

New Filmore Theatre CA 1934

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 7

Drawings

Oakland T & D Theatre Oakland CA 1925

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 37

Drawings

Oakland Technical High School (Auditorium and Library) Oakland CA 1960

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 42

Drawings

Box 2, Folder 33

Project files

Oakland Theatre Oakland CA 1925

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 3

Drawings

Ocean View Heights School San Francisco CA 1950

Box 2, Folder 34

Project files

Oliver P. Hartzell School San Rafael CA 1956 (?)

Box 1, Folder 18

Project files

Orinda Theatre Orinda CA [1941]

Box 2, Folder 35

Photographs

Oroville Theatre CA 1926

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 17

Drawings

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Misc.) n.d.

Box 2, Folder 36

Photographs

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Main Office) San Francisco CA 1904

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 21

Drawings

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (West Office) San Francisco CA 1906

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 35

Drawings

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. San Francisco CA 1895-1908

Box 2, Folder 37

Photographs

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph 140 New Montgomery St. San Francisco CA 1923-26

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 40

Drawings

Box 2, Folder 38

Project files

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. San Jose CA 1905

Box 2, Folder 39

Photographs

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. Seattle WA 1896

Box 2, Folder 40

Photographs

Piedmont Theatre CA c. 1934

Box 2, Folder 41

Photographs

Pittsburg Senior High School (Creative Arts Building) Pittsburg CA 1956

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 18, flat-file-drawer RO 5.12

Drawings

Box 2, Folder 42

Project files

Rheem Center (See Moraga Center)

Rheem Insurance Company Contra Costa County CA c. 1957

Box 2, Folder 43

Photographs

Rheem Theatre Contra Costa County CA 1957

Box 2, Folder 44-45

Photographs

Roosevelt Theatre Oakland CA 1925

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 29

Drawings

Box 2, Folder 46

Photographs

Sabin, John, "Betsy's Tavern" Los Altos CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 47

Photographs

Santa Venetia Jr. High School CA c. 1959

Box 2, Folder 48

Photographs

Senator Theatre CA 1926

flat-file-drawer R 19.5, Flat-File 13

Drawings

Box 2, Folder 49

Photographs

Spreckels Residence San Francisco CA 1902

Box 2, Folder 50

Photographs

Stoutenburgh Cemetery Gates Hyde Park-on-Hudson NY 1936

Box 2, Folder 51

Drawings

Sunset Telephone & Telegraph Los Angeles CA c. 1900

Box 2, Folder 52

Photographs

Tamalpais Center Women's Club Kentfield CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 53

Drawings

Theatre at Menlo Park Menlo Park CA 1926

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 46

Drawings

Thomas residence n.d.

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 41

Drawings

unidentified (Nanking Fook Woh Co.)(Chinatown) San Francisco CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 54

Photographs

Unidentified Bank undated

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 45

Drawings

Unidentified City Hall

Box 2, Folder 55

Photographs

Unidentified Commercial Buildings n.d.

Box 2, Folder 56

Photographs

Unidentified Masonic Hall n.d.

Box 2, Folder 57

Photographs

Unidentified Medical Buildings n.d.

Box 2, Folder 58

Photographs

Unidentified Residences n.d.

Box 2, Folder 59

Photographs

Unidentified Theatres CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 60

Photographs

United California Bank Livermore CA 1968

Box 2, Folder 61

Project files

Van Scharck Residence San Francisco (Forest Hills) CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 62

Photographs

Wells Fargo Bank Modesto CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 63

Project files

Wells Fargo Bank, American Trust Company San Francisco CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 63

Project files

Wells Fargo Bank, American Trust Company Stockton CA n.d.

flat-file-drawer RO 5.12, Flat-File 36

Drawings

Whisman School Mountain View CA n.d.

Box 2, Folder 64

Photographs

Woodacre School Lagunitas CA 1957

Box 2, Folder 65

Drawings