Finding Aid to the Robert F. Olwell Papers
Waverly Lowell
The Bancroft Library
2017
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Robert F. Olwell papers
Creator:
Olwell, Robert F. (Architect)
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 2017/157
Physical Description:
5 linear feet
(1 carton, 3 tubes, 1 flat box, 41 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1917-2016
Date (bulk): 1952-1984
Abstract: The Robert Frederick Olwell Collection is comprised of personal and professional papers documenting his life and work as an
architect. The personal papers consist of photographs, files related to his education, and military service, and his personal
art work. The professional papers contain manuscript material, drawings, prints, and photographs of design work done during
his employment with the San Francisco architecture firm of Reid and Tarics. Also included are materials created or collected
by his niece for a book about him that she had intended to write. These files contain correspondence and interviews with friends
and coworkers
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Carol Olwell donated the papers of her uncle Robert F. Olwell and material she had collected for a possible book on his life
and work to The Bancroft Library in 2016.
Arrangement
Arranged to the folder level.
Biographical / Historical
Robert Frederick Olwell was born in 1917 in Everett, Washington to William W. Olwell a business manager at Weyerhauser Timber
Co. and Helen Margaret Olwell. As a boy he played the organ for silent movies. He graduated from Everett High School with
the desire to be a theater set designer, and attended the University of Washington (1935-1937) and upon the receipt of a scholarship,
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1937-1940). Sadly for financial reasons, he was forced to leave school one class
short. He loved small aircraft volunteering for the navy hoping to serve as a pilot, and served as a Lieutenant Commander
on aircraft carriers in the Pacific during WWII.
Following the war, Olwell began his professional career in the Los Angeles architecture office of Harwell Hamilton Harris.
Following five years of service as Lieutenant Commander for the U.S. Navy, he continued his career in the office of architect
Joseph Esherick. He joined the firm of Reid & Tarics Associates in 1952. While an Associate with Reid & Tarics, he designed
numerous schools and religious buildings as well as master planning, and the tunnels, portals, and systems for the Highway
in Oahu HI. Olwell saw architecture as “an envelope for living, and felt that it should never dominate the scene or shout
out its presence.” During this time he also designed residences for private clients. He served as a guest professor at the
Bengal Engineering College, Howrah, West Bengal, India (1956-1957) and lectured part time at UC Berkeley (1957-1960). His
design for the Robert Lewis Stevenson Chapel at Pebble Beach, CA won a National AIA First Honor Award in 1965. It was in this
chapel in 1966 that he married Margaret (Maisie) Lilian Forell (1917-2009).
A resident of Sausalito, California, he passed away in 1988 and is buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery.
Sources: Renaissance of Religious Art and Architecture in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1946-1968, Two volumes. Regional Oral
History Office, The Bancroft Library, U.C. Berkeley. 1985.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Robert F. Olwell Papers, BANC MSS 2017/157c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Processing Information
Processed by Waverly Lowell, 2017.
Related Materials
Burton Rockwell Collection, Environmental Design Archives, U.C. Berkeley
Scope and Contents
The Robert Frederick Olwell Papers primarily is comprised of personal and professional papers documenting his life and work
as an architect. The personal papers consist of an early photograph album of his childhood years in Everett Washington and
later photographs with his wife Maisie (Margarte Lillian Scholle] (1917-2009); files related to his education, military experience
in the Navy, and personal art work such as sketches, watercolors, and etchings. The professional papers contain manuscript
material, drawings, prints, and photographs of design work done during his employment with the San Francisco architecture
firm of Reid & Tarics. Although a few residential designs are included the work is primarily for schools and religious institutions.
Major projects included the chapel for the Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, Oakland’s Greek Orthodox Church
of the Ascension, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in San Francisco, and Greenwich CT High School. Also included
are materials created or collected by his niece for a biography of Robert F. Olwell that she had intended to write. These
files contain correspondence and interviews with friends and coworkers.
Conditions Governing Use
Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for
any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html
.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Olwell, Robert F. (Architect)
Olwell, Carol
United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs
United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs
Architects -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area
Architectural firms--California--San Francisco Bay Area--20th century
Architecture -- United States -- History
Architecture -- Pictorial works
Public buildings
San Francisco (Calif.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
Religious Architecture
School buildings
Series 1:
Personal Papers
1917-1993
Physical Description: 15 folders and 3 oversize folders
Arrangement
Arranged by subject content (loosely chronologically).
Scope and Contents
Papers consist of files related to his education, military experience and personal art work.
carton 1, Folder 1
Family Photographs
approximately 1917-1934
carton 1, folder 3
University of Washington: School of Architecture Yearbook
1937
carton 1, folder 4
Student Drawings, MIT
approximately 1937
carton 1, folder 5
Figure Studies
approximately 1938
carton 1, folder 7
Military Service: Navy
1942-1949
carton 1, folder 8
Military Service: Navy
1947-1988
carton 1, folder 9
Aircraft watercolors (photocopies)
oversize-folder-folder 1A
carton 1, folder 11
Teacing in India: Correspondence
1957-1958
carton 1, folder 12
James, Michael: Correspondence
1968-1993
carton 1, folder 13
Correspondence and Sketches (photocopies)
1945-1946
carton 1, folder 15
Post Mortem Materials
1988
Series 2:
Professional and Project Records
1952-1984
Physical Description: 47 folders, 38 oversize folders, 1 flat box, 3 tubes
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Contents
Professional papers contain manuscript material, drawings, prints, and photographs of design work done during his employment
with the San Francisco architecture firm of Reid and Tarics.
carton 1, folder 16
Office Material
approximately 1960-1988
carton 1, folder 18
Three Award Winning Churches
undated
carton 1, folder 20
Alcatraz Proposal "The S.F. Light"
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 4A
Alcatraz Proposal "The S.F. Light"
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
carton 1, folder 21
BART Civic Center Station
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 24C
Berry Residence
Scope and Contents
Los Altos, CA
oversize-folder 25C
Breck Residence
1983
Scope and Contents
Piedmont, CA; RHAA (landscape architects)
carton 1, folder 22
California State University, Sacramento Residence Halls
1964
Scope and Contents
Sacramento, CA
carton 1, folder 23
California State University Stanislaus
1961
Scope and Contents
Turlock, CA
oversize-folder 26C
California State University Stanislaus
1961
Scope and Contents
Turlock, CA
oversize-folder 27C
Canberra Master Plan
Scope and Contents
Canberra, Australia
oversize-folder 15B
Chicago Tribune Better Rooms Competition (3rd 6th)
oversize-folder 28C
Church of the Redeemer
1978
Scope and Contents
Los Altos, ca
carton 1, folder 24
College of Notre Dame Library
1973
Scope and Contents
Belmont, CA
oversize-folder 29C
Del Valle/Alcalanes High School
Scope and Contents
Lafayette, CA
oversize-folder 29C
Denver High School
Scope and Contents
Denver, CO
oversize-folder 29C
Diamond Heights High School
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 29C
Duluth Central High School
Scope and Contents
Duluth, MN
carton 1, folder 25
Eagle Gate Apartments
1981
Scope and Contents
Salt Lake City, UT
oversize-folder 30C
Golden Gate Bridge: Southern approach alterations
1969
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 5A
Goldman, Richard
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
carton 1, folder 27
Gormerly, Dorothy
Scope and Contents
Los Altos, CA; Sturtevant, Roger (photographer)
carton 1, folder 28
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension
1956
Scope and Contents
Oakland, CA; Andrews, Wayne (photographers)
oversize-folder 31C
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension
1956
Scope and Contents
Oakland, CA
carton 1, folder 29
Greenwich High School
1964
Scope and Contents
Greenwich, CT; Sturtevant, Roger (photographer)
tube 1
Greenwich High School
1964
Scope and Contents
Greenwich, CT
oversize-folder 16B
Hellenic Community of Oakland
oversize-folder 17B
High School, unidentified
carton 1, folder 30
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church
1960
Scope and Contents
Belmont, CA; Andrews, Wayne (photographers)
carton 1, folder 31
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
1959
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 32C
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
1959
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 33C
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Community Building
1980
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 34C
Koolau Tunnels Competition
1971
Scope and Contents
Oahu, HI
oversize-folder 17B
Lake Merced High School
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
carton 1, folder 32
Leone High School
1964
Scope and Contents
Tutuila, American Samoa; Wenkam, R (photographer)
oversize-folder 17B
Los Gatos High School
Scope and Contents
Los Gatos, CA
oversize-folder 18B
Lutheran Church
1952
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA; Reid, John Lyon (architect)
carton 1, folder 33
Manila Housing Competition
1976
Scope and Contents
Manila, Phillipines
oversize-folder 26C
Manila Housing Competition
1976
Scope and Contents
Manila, Phillipines
carton 1, folder 35
McAteer High School Auditorium
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA;Hollingsworth, Bob (photographer)
oversize-folder 27C
Melbourne Sports Arena
Scope and Contents
Melbourne, Australia
carton 1, folder 36
Mendocino Community College Master Plan
1981
Scope and Contents
Ukiah, CA
carton 1, folder 37
Mercy High School: Arts Complex addition
1968
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 24C
Minnesota State Capital
Scope and Contents
St Paul, MN
carton 1, folder 38
Mission College Master Plan
Scope and Contents
Santa Clara, CA
carton 1, folder 40
Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church
1984
Scope and Contents
Novato, CA; Hollingsworth, Bob (photographer)
oversize-folder 19B
Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church
1984
Scope and Contents
Novato, CA
carton 1, folder 41
Olwell, Robert Margaret
Scope and Contents
Sausalito, CA
carton 1, folder 42
Olwell, Robert Margaret
Scope and Contents
Sausalito, CA
oversize-folder 35C
Olwell, Robert Margaret
Scope and Contents
Sausalito, CA
oversize-folder 22B
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1967
Scope and Contents
Lafayette, CA
carton 1, folder 43
Palo Alto High School Master Plan
1965
Scope and Contents
Palo Alto, CA
carton 1, folder 44
Piedmont High School and Auditorium: alterations and additions
1973
Scope and Contents
Piedmont, CA
oversize-folder 7A
Piedmont High School and Auditorium: alterations and additions
1973
Scope and Contents
Piedmont, CA
oversize-folder 36C
Piedmont High School and Auditorium: alterations and additions
1973
Scope and Contents
Piedmont, CA
tube 2
Piedmont High School and Auditorium: alterations and additions
1973
Scope and Contents
Piedmont, CA
carton 1, folder 45
Porterville College : Performing Arts Center
Scope and Contents
Porterville, CA
carton 1, folder 46
Presidio of Monterey
Scope and Contents
Monterey, CA
carton 1, folder 47
Robert Louis Stevenson School Auditorium/Theatre
1963
Scope and Contents
Pebble Beach, CA; Bob Hollingsworth (photographer)
carton 1, folder 48
Robert Louis Stevenson School Chapel
1961
Scope and Contents
Pebble Beach, CA; Roger Sturtevant (photographer)
oversize-folder 8A
Robert Louis Stevenson School Chapel
1961
Scope and Contents
Pebble Beach, CA
carton 1, folder 49
Roosevelt Memorial Competition
oversize-folder 27C
Roosevelt Memorial Competition
1960
Scope and Contents
Rockrise & Watson (architects); Royston, Hanamoto,& Mays (landscape architects)
oversize-folder 24C
Sacramento Energy Project
Scope and Contents
Sacramento, CA
oversize-folder 37C
Sacramento High School
Scope and Contents
Sacramento, CA
carton 1, folder 50
San Francisco Performing Arts Center
1976
oversize-folder 38C
San Francisco Civic Center Performing Arts
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
box 1
San Francisco Civic Center Performing Arts "A Good Idea"
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 38C
San Francisco Ferry Building
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 22B
San Francisco Unitarian Church
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
carton 1, folder 51
St. Ambrose Episcopal Church : additions
1977
Scope and Contents
Foster City, CA
oversize-folder 9B
St. Ambrose Episcopal Church : additions
1977
Scope and Contents
Foster City, CA
carton 1, folder 52
St Agnes Catholic Church Dedication
carton 1, folder 53
St. Stephens Indian School
1980
Scope and Contents
St. Stephens, WY
oversize-folder 9A
Stamps residence
Scope and Contents
Kensington, CA
oversize-folder 29C
Sunnyvale Elementary School
Scope and Contents
Sunnyvale, CA
carton 1, folder 54
Terry, Roland
Scope and Contents
Lopez Island, WA
carton 1, folder 55
U. C., Berkeley's North Gate 1987-88
Scope and Contents
Berkeley, CA
carton 1, folder 56
U.C. Medical Center Long Range Development plan and clinic
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
oversize-folder 39C
U.C. Medical Center Long Range Development plan and clinic
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
carton 1, folder 57
U.S. Bureau of Indian affairs, Tuba City Indian Boarding School
1975
Scope and Contents
Tuba City, AZ
tube 3
U.S. Bureau of Indian affairs, Tuba City Indian Boarding School
1975
Scope and Contents
Tuba City, AZ
oversize-folder 26C
U.S. Navy Officers Housing, Yerba Buena Island
Scope and Contents
San Francisco, CA
carton 1, folder 58
University of Utah Master Plan 1970
oversize-folder 40C
University of Utah Master Plan 1970
1975
Scope and Contents
Salt Lake City, UT
oversize-folder 11A
unidentified residence
Scope and Contents
Esherick, Joseph (architect)
oversize-folder 12A
unidentified church renderings
oversize-folder 21B
unidentified church sketches
carton 1, folder 60
West Valley College Physical Education Complex
1970
Scope and Contents
Saratoga, CA; Brandeis, Robert (photographer)
oversize-folder 13A
Wiper, Thomas apartment
Scope and Contents
Sausalito, CA
oversize-folder 14A
Wiper, Thomas apartment
Scope and Contents
Sausalito, CA
carton 1, folder 61
Wiper Apartment Building
Scope and Contents
Sausalito, CA
oversize-folder 22B
Wiper Apartment Building
Scope and Contents
Sausalito, CA
carton 1, folder 62
YMCA Marin County
Scope and Contents
Marin County, CA
Series 3:
Carol Olwell Book Project: The Work of Robert Olwell
1988-2016
Physical Description: 9 folders.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
Material created or collected by his niece for a biography of Robert F. Olwell that she had intended to write. These files
contain correspondence and interviews with friends and coworkers.
carton 1, folder 63
Correspondence
1988-1989
Scope and Contents
CD in Folder
folder 64
Correspondence with Bruce Young
1989
carton 1, folder 65
Interviews with Robert Olwell
1988
carton 1, folder 66
Notes from Robert Olwell
1988
carton 1, folder 67
Robert Olwell Interview for Regional History Office
1983
carton 1, folder 68
Interview with John Coyle
1989
carton 1, folder 69
Interview with Jim Fong
undated
carton 1, folder 70
Book Research
1988-2016
Scope and Contents
CDs in Folder
carton 1, folder 71
Tribute To R. Olwell re St. Stephens School
2013
