James Leary Flood and Maud Lee Flood Residence Blueprints collection, 1912-1914

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Summary

Creators:
Bliss & Faville
Abstract:
This collection contains architectural drawings for the James Leary Flood and Maud Lee Flood Residence, also known as the Flood Mansion.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, James Leary Flood and Maud Lee Flood Residence Blueprints collection, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of architectural blueprints from the James Leary Flood and Maud Lee Flood residence. These drawings are primarily of the architectural details on the house including the entrance doors, walls, transoms, and cornices. All blueprints were completed by architects Bliss & Faville.

Biographical / historical:

The James Leary Flood and Maud Lee Flood residence was designed and constructed between 1912 and 1915 at 2222 Broadway in San Francisco, California. James hired architects Bliss & Faville who had designed San Francisco's Westin St. Francis Hotel, Garry Theater, and Bank of California, among many others. Bliss & Faville were known for grandeur and attention to detail. The Flood Mansion was designed in the classical styles of the Italian Renaissance with influences of Rococo, Tudor, Georgian, and Mediterranean Revival styles.

James Leary Flood and Maud Lee Flood had three children, James L. Flood, Jr. (who died at the age of 4 in 1907), James, and Mary Emma (Stebbins). James Leary died in 1926. The rest of the family remained in the house until 1938 after both James and Mary Emma had married. At that time, Maud gave the house to Mother Rosalie Hill and the Religious of the Sacred Heart. According to Sister Genevieve Clarke, Maud said she "dreamed that one day in her beautiful mansion there would be sweet and gentle nuns teaching in its halls and walking in its gardens" (Clarke, Reverend Mother Rosalie Clifton Hill, 91). According to Mary Mardel, Maud wanted her home to become a place for education, and that Maud was thankful to the Sacred Heart nuns for their support during James Jr.'s illness and passing ( [History of Flood Mansion: Interview with Mary Mardel, R.S.C.J] video). After Mother Hill received the house in 1938, she began designs for its restoration into a Sacred Heart school. Classes for the school began in the spring of 1940.

Mother Rosalie Hill was integral to the design of the San Diego College for Women and the University of San Diego. She wanted the design to be an adaptation of the Spanish Renaissance architectural style. While living at the Convent of St. Madeleine Sophie, located at 2610 San Diego Avenue in Old Town San Diego, until the College for Women was built, Mother Hill and Mother Suzanne de Leon drafted plans that would help guide Architect Frank Hope, Jr.'s designs for the University. It is likely that Mother Hill and Mother de Leon requested these blueprints to help advise their designs.

Custodial history:

The Flood Mansion blueprints were found in the University of San Diego Founders Hall vault. Blueprints were mailed from the Convent of the Sacred Heart at 2222 Broadway San Francisco, CA to Mother S. de Leon Convent of St. Madeleine Sophie 2610 San Diego Avenue San Diego CA., postmarked April 4 1949.

Processing information:

This collection was processed by Ashley Toutain in October 2019.

Arrangement:

Blueprints are arranged chronologically.

Physical description:
4 oversize boxes, (8 linear feet)
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, James Leary Flood and Maud Lee Flood Residence Blueprints collection, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections.

Location of this collection:
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110 2492, US
Contact:
(619) 260-2730
spcoll@sandiego.edu
Website