Robert Mosher Architectural Drawings

Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2015
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Business Number: 858-534-2533
Fax Number: 858-534-5950
spcoll@ucsd.edu


Descriptive Summary

Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Robert Mosher Architectural Drawings
Creator: Mosher, Robert, 1920-2015
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0720
Physical Description: 36 Linear feet (5 archives boxes, 4 flat boxes, 24 oversize folders and 88 rolls of drawings)
Date (inclusive): 1945-2011
Abstract: Architectural drawings of San Diego architect Robert Mosher. The collection includes drawings, project plans, proposals, photographic materials, correspondence and other documents relating to Mosher's career spanning six decades.
Languages: English .

Scope and Content of Collection

Architectural drawings of San Diego architect Robert Mosher. The collection includes drawings, project plans, proposals, writings, photographs, and some professional correspondence. Arranged in four series: 1) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS & WRITINGS, 2) PHOTOGRAPHS, 3) PROJECTS, and 4) SUBJECT FILES.
SERIES 1: BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS & WRITINGS contains Mosher's professional correspondence, as well as papers and articles written by Mosher on modernism, design principles, and building program outlines. Includes interviews with Mosher, and articles about Mosher and San Diego modernist architecture.
SERIES 2: PHOTOGRAPHS is arranged in two subseries: A) Buildings and Interiors and B) Mounted Exhibit Photographs.
A) Buildings and Interiors.
B) Mounted Exhibit Photographs: Photographs used by Mosher for a 2011 exhibit and lecture at the La Jolla Historical Society. For materials in FB-541 and FB-542, a list of buildings is included for identification.
SERIES 3: PROJECT FILES comprises the bulk of the collection. Materials are arranged by format. This series contains three subseries: A) Rolled Drawings, B) Project Files and C) Oversized Drawings and Photographs.
A) Rolled Drawings: Mosher's large architectural drawings, organized by project number and rolled in tubes (though a few materials are flat and two items are framed). Most projects contain multiple drawings which may include site plans, landscaping plans, building plans, design studies, alterations and additions. A detailed description of Mosher's projects created in 2011 is included in this series. The projects range in date from 1945-2011.
B) Project Files: Historical assessments of some of Mosher's residences and buildings. These files may also contain correspondence with the owners of residences about design, remodel or financial considerations.
C) Oversized Drawings and Photographs.
SERIES 4: SUBJECT FILES consist of materials related to other prominent San Diego or Modernist architects.

Biography

Robert Mosher was born on September 27, 1920 in Greeley, Colorado. His family moved to Los Angeles, California when he was a young child. He first knew he wanted to be an architect at the age of 9 when he built a workbench in his garage. Mosher attended The Art Center School in Los Angeles in 1939, the University of Southern California School of Architecture from 1939-40, and earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Washington, Seattle in 1944.
In 1944, Mosher moved to La Jolla and apprenticed with the firm Myron Hunt & H. C. Chambers. It was there he met his future business partner, Roy Drew. Mosher went to Los Angeles to complete his state architectural exams and worked for 8 months with the firm Harwell Hamilton Harris; he later described Harris as a great teacher who influenced his designs. He then returned to La Jolla and worked at William Templeton Johnson before founding his own firm in 1946. His father, Jack Mosher, purchased the Green Dragon property in La Jolla in 1944. This site, a former artist colony, became home to Mosher's firm Architects Mosher Drew in 1948. The firm's early work was primarily residential and commercial commissions in La Jolla, though landmark projects soon followed. In the late 1960s, Mosher was commissioned to lead a team of architects to design the cluster of buildings which became Muir College at UC San Diego.
Mosher is best known for pioneering San Diego's modern architectural movement. His designs have been described as "humanist/modernist," and he was greatly influenced by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Mosher and his firm have won numerous awards, including the American Institute of Architects' Excellence Award for design of the art gallery at UC San Diego in 1966. In 1970, Mosher was elected to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows for design.
Architects Mosher Drew gradually expanded and by 1984, the firm had outgrown its Green Dragon Colony office and moved to Point Loma. In 2005, the firm merged with Architects Larson Carpenter, and continues its work on major design commissions throughout San Diego.

Preferred Citation

Robert Mosher Architectural Drawings. MSS 720. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.

Publication Rights

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Acquisition Note

Acquired 2010-2013, 2022

Related Materials

Four oversize portfolios featuring photographs of Mosher's work are cataloged an in the Library's collections. Follow this link  to view the record.
An online collection of images of Mosher buildings on the UC San Diego campus is available on the Library's Digital Collections website at the following link: https://library.ucsd.edu/dc/collection/bb5908185n

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Architectural drawings (visual works)
San Diego (Calif.) -- Buildings, structures, etc. -- Pictorial works
Buildings -- California -- San Diego
Architecture -- California -- San Diego
Architects -- California -- San Diego
University of California, San Diego -- Buildings
Mosher, Robert, 1920-2015 -- Archives
Mosher and Drew, Architects -- Archives

 

BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS & WRITINGS

Box 1, Folder 1

American Institute of Architects Application and FAIA Fellow correspondence 1944-1970

Box 1, Folder 2-3

Writings and professional correspondence 1961-2011

General

Includes Modernist Architecture in San Diego, by the San Diego Architectural Foundation.
Box 1, Folder 4

Mosher, Robert. "Our City's Return," Omniart 1963 July

Box 1, Folder 5-6

Articles and interviews about Mosher 1951-2009

General

Primarily photocopies from Sunset, The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Home & Garden and other publications.
Box 5, Folder 5

Projects by Robert Mosher - Inventories, lists, reviews etc.

General

Includes various lists of Mosher's design work and available documentation.
Box 5, Folder 6

Writings and modernism resources - "Defining Modern Architecture" binder

General

Includes drafts for published text, "Modernist Architecture in San Diego, California."
 

PHOTOGRAPHS

 

Buildings and Interiors

Box 1, Folder 7

Art Center La Jolla

Box 1, Folder 8

Aztec Center, SDSU

Box 1, Folder 9

Centre City Community College planning

Box 1, Folder 10

The Golden Door

Box 1, Folder 11

Green Dragon Colony

Box 1, Folder 12

Kunzel, Herbert residence

Box 2, Folder 1

Old Globe Theatre

Box 2, Folder 2

Southern California First National Bank La Jolla

Box 2, Folder 3

Stephenson's Department Store

Box 2, Folder 4

Theatre and Arts Foundation

Box 2, Folder 5

Wells Fargo Bank

Box 2, Folder 6

Project photographs undated

General

Includes Kunzel, Small, Carter, Wolfore, McNarney, Bailey and Richard residences, unlabeled.
Box 2, Folder 7

Unidentified photographs undated

Box 2, Folder 8

Slides

General

San Diego Coronado Bridge, California 1st National Bank La Jolla, Central Federal Tower, Golden Door, McMahan Building, Spin Physics Inc., Colachis Condominiums, Tasende Gallery, UCSD Supercomputer Center, UCSD Faculty Club, All Soul's Church, Mosher and Drew Offices.
Box 2, Folder 9

Slides

General

Kunzel residence, Whitsett Hat Shop - Green Dragon Colony, San Diego Museum of Art, Trumbull residence, O. M. Scott building, Small residence, La Jolla Museum of Art, El Niguel Country Club, Aztec Center, Muir College model, All Soul's Church, UCSD Art Gallery, Bank of La Jolla, UCSD Faculty Club.
 

Mounted Exhibit Photographs

Oversize FB-539

Howard Rowe Insurance Company, La Jolla Hardware Company and other buildings and residences

Oversize FB-541

Aztec Center, San Diego State University (1) 1964

Oversize FB-541

Applied Physics & Mathematics Building, Muir College, UC San Diego (2) 1966

Oversize FB-541

Herbert Kunzel Residence, Point Loma (3) 1951

Oversize FB-541

Central Federal Tower (now the NBC Tower), downtown San Diego (4) 1972

Oversize FB-541

The Green Dragon Colony, La Jolla (5) 1948

General

Offices for Jack Mosher, Architects Mosher Drew, on the upper floor. Millinery Shop for Marbel Whitsitt on the main floor.
Oversize FB-541

The Golden Door, Escondido (6) 1971

Oversize FB-542

The McMahan Office Building, Carlsbad (7) 1975

Oversize FB-542

California First Bank, La Jolla Branch (8) 1974

Oversize FB-542

The San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park (9) 1973

Oversize FB-542

Art Gallery, Matthews Campus, UC San Diego (10) 1965

Oversize FB-542

The Ida & Cecil Green Faculty Club, UC San Diego (11) 1986

Oversize FB-542

The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge (12) 1965

 

PROJECT FILES

 

Rolled Drawings

Oversize TS-01

1. Green Dragon Colony - Measured Site Plan 1945

Oversize TS-02

3. Green Dragon Colony - Whitsett Millinery Shop 1947

Oversize TS-03

5. Green Dragon Colony - Gerard & Sands European Handcrafts Shop 1948

Oversize TS-03

6. Rollins (Harry) Residence 1948

Oversize TS-04

7. Wick (George) Residence 1948

Oversize TS-05

8. Hazard (Rosco) Residence 1948

Oversize TS-05

9. Compton (Richard) Residence 1948

Oversize TS-06

10. Green Dragon Colony - Paul F. Scott Stationery Shop 1949

Oversize MC-014, Folder 10

11A. Green Dragon Colony - Tweeds & Weeds British Clothiers & La Valencia Hotel 1949

Oversize TS-06

12. Baily (Edward A.) Residence 1949

Oversize TS-07

13. Wohlford (Burnet C.) Residence Additions 1949

Oversize TS-07

14. Koehler (Otto) Residence 1949

Oversize TS-08

15. Van Dorn (William) Residence 1950

Oversize TS-13

16. Mosher (Jack) Residence 1950

Oversize TS-09

17. Mosher (Robert) Residence 1950

 

18. Kunzel (Herbert) Residence 1951

Oversize TS-10

Plans and drawings

Oversize MC-014, Folder 11

Copy negatives of drawings and color photograph

Oversize TS-11

19. Borchers (Jack) Residence 1952

Oversize TS-12

23. Coon (Thurlow E.) Residence 1954

Oversize TS-14

24. Reagan (Bruce) Residence 1954

Oversize TS-15

26. Bowman (John C.) Residence 1954

Oversize TS-15

27. Andrews (Stockton) Residence 1954

Oversize TS-16

28. Carter (Armistead) Pool & Garden Pavilion 1955

Oversize MC-014, Folder 12

28A. Carter (Armistead) - Brooke Weaver drawings for the residence, blueprints undated

Oversize TS-16

29. Hainline (Wallace) Residence 1956

Oversize TS-17

30. Herbert (Jack) Residence, alteration & additions 1956

Oversize TS-18

31. O. M. Scott Co. Corporate Headquarters Office Building 1957

Oversize TS-19

32. Green Dragon Colony - Mosher & Drew Architecture Firm Offices 1957

Oversize TS-20

33. First Baptist Church of La Jolla 1957

Oversize TS-21

34. Theatre & Arts Foundation of San Diego County, The Actor's Company Theater (original) 1958

 

36. Art Center of La Jolla - Alterations and additions 1958

Oversize TS-22

Rolled plans

AB-13-D02

Exterior elevations, framed

Oversize TS-19

37. St. Peter's Episcopal Church - Chancel window 1958

Oversize TS-23

38. McNarney (Joseph) Residence 1958

Oversize TS-24

40. Tyson (D.R.) Residence 1958

 

42. La Jolla Museum of Art 1959

Oversize TS-25

Rolled plans - Sherwood Auditorium, additions

Oversize MC-014, Folder 13

Flat plans - Sherwood Auditorium, additions

Oversize TS-26

43. Small (L.K.) Residence 1959

Oversize TS-27

44. Young (Richard) Residence 1959

Oversize TS-28

46. Shearer (Lloyd) Residence 1960

Oversize TS-29

47. E. F. Hutton Co. La Jolla Office 1960

 

49. Richards (Trumbull) Residence 1961

Oversize TS-30

Drawings and plans

Oversize MC-014, Folder 14

Presentation drawing

Oversize TS-31

51. Bank of La Jolla Office Building 1964

Oversize TS-42

52. San Diego Fine Arts Gallery, west wing 1964

Oversize TS-50

53. San Diego State University Aztec Center - Student Union Building 1964

Oversize TS-43

57. All Souls' Episcopal Church 1965

Oversize TS-32

61. UC San Diego Chancellor's Residence 1966

Oversize TS-33

62. Hamilton (Lucille) Residence 1966

Oversize TS-34

63. E. F. Hutton Co. - San Diego Office Building 1967

 

64. Kellogg West Center for Continuing Education 1968

Oversize TS-45

Rolled plans

Oversize MC-014, Folder 15

Dedication certificate/print

Oversize TS-35

65. UC Irvine Biomedical Library Building (preliminary plans) 1968

 

66. Golden Valley - 4-building office complex, Camino de la Reina 1969

Oversize TS-36

Rolled plans

Oversize MC-014, Folder 16

Small drawings

Oversize TS-78

67. The Golden Door Health Spa 1971-1980

Oversize TS-79

67. The Golden Door Health Spa 1971-1980

Oversize TS-37

68. The Salk Institute - Biological Studies Laboratory 1971

Oversize TS-38

69. Coldwell-Banker Office Building 1971

Oversize TS-39

70. California Polytechnic University Student Health Center 1972

Oversize TS-80

70. California Polytechnic University Student Health Center 1972

Oversize TS-43

71. Central Federal Tower (now NBC Tower) - Robert Golden owner 1972

Oversize TS-81

71. Central Federal Tower (now NBC Tower) - Robert Golden owner 1972

Oversize TS-40

73. Old Globe Theater (proposed project for Craig Noel) 1974

Oversize TS-41

74. California First National Bank - La Jolla Branch 1974

Oversize TS-44

76. Tasende Art Gallery and Residence 1974

Oversize TS-46

76. Tasende Art Gallery and Residence 1974

Oversize TS-51

78. UC San Diego Students Residential Apartments 1974

Oversize TS-52

80. McMahan Furniture Co. - Corp. Headquarters Building 1975

Oversize TS-53

81. San Diego Zoo - Hospital and Pathology Laboratory 1975

Oversize TS-54

82. Spin Physics Inc. (sub. of Eastman Kodak Co.) 1976

Oversize TS-55

83. Hamilton (Thomas) Residence 1976

Oversize TS-56

84. UC San Diego Surge Laboratory Buildings 1976

Oversize TS-57

84A. Old Globe Center for Photographic Arts 1978

 

85. La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art 1979-1986

Oversize TS-58

Rolled plans

Oversize AB-13-D01

Phase 2 alterations, main level floor plan, framed

Oversize TS-59

88. Koll Mission Valley Office Complex 1980

Oversize TS-60

89. Koll Co. - Retail Development 1980

Oversize TS-47

91. Lek (Louis) Residence (owned by Donald Allison) - Restoration 1983

Oversize TS-61

92. Timken Art Gallery (additions) 1983

Oversize TS-62

93. Monsees (Wayne) Residence-Traditional Japanese Garden Gate 1983

Oversize MC-014, Folder 17

94. Moore (Henry) Sculpture Installation (for Jose Tasende) 1983

Oversize MC-014, Folder 18

95. Sixth Avenue Condominiums 1984

Oversize TS-63

96. San Diego Zoological Park - Animal Show Amphitheatre 1984

Oversize TS-64

97. Otterson (William) - Kitchen Re-Design 1984

Oversize TS-65

97A. The Old Market Place 1984

Oversize TS-66

98. UC San Diego Super Computer Center 1985-1986

Oversize TS-48

99. Hay (Barbara), owner - Residential and Commercial Development 1985

Oversize TS-67

100. Golden Door Health Spa - Trad. Japanese Tea House/Meditation Room 1985

Oversize TS-49

101. UC San Diego Ida & Cecil Green Faculty Club 1986

Oversize TS-68

103. Museum of Photographic Arts - Cinema Theater (preliminary design) 1988

Oversize TS-69

105. Mosher (Robert) Residence 1989/90?

Oversize TS-64

108. West (John) Residence - Kitchen Remodel 1996

Oversize TS-04

109. Bergman (Debbie) - Kitchen Remodel -Formerly Wick Residence (included in project 7-Wick Residence) 1998

Oversize TS-76

110. Schneider (Jerry) Residence - Interior Alterations 1998-01

Oversize TS-70

110A. Green Dragon Commercial Renovation 1998

Oversize TS-71

112. Green Dragon colony - Eddie V's Restaurant (Chart House & Joe's Crab Shack) 2000-05

Oversize TS-72

113. The Ascot Shop (complete interior re-design) 2001

Oversize TS-73

116. Green Dragon Colony - re-development of all retail areas (design/contracts) 2008-09

Oversize MC-014, Folder 19

117. Mosher and Drew standard architecture 1948-58

Oversize TS-74

118. Mosher light fixtures design 1948-2011

Oversize TS-75

119. Mosher designed furniture (including design for Golden Door) 1948-2011

Oversize TS-77

120. La Jolla Cultural Center Study undated

Oversize TS-82

Village Green Condominiums, La Jolla 1983

General

No project number; possibly same as 95. Sixth Ave. Condominiums.
 

Project Files

Box 2, Folder 10

Central Federal Savings, San Diego

Box 2, Folder 11

Centre City Community College, planning

Box 5, Folder 8

Green Dragon Colony - Historical designation

Box 2, Folder 12

Roscoe Hazard residence

Box 2, Folder 13-14

Herbert Kunzel residence

Box 5, Folder 7

Herbert Kunzel residence - Historical designation appeal 2003-2004

Box 2, Folder 15

Leonardo da Vinci Cluster of Colleges, John D. Isaacs prospectus

Box 2, Folder 16

Trumbull Richard residence

Box 3, Folder 1

The Salk Institute, Dr. Roger Guillemin's laboratory

Box 3, Folder 2-3

San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge

Box 3, Folder 4-7

San Diego Fine Arts Gallery

Box 3, Folder 8

UCSD Architecture, articles and pamphlets

Box 3, Folder 9

UCSD Campus Planning

Box 4, Folder 1-2

UCSD Faculty Club

Box 4, Folder 3

UCSD Medical Training Facility

Box 4, Folder 4-6

UCSD Muir College

Box 4, Folder 7

UCSD School of Architecture

 

Oversized Drawings and Photographs

Oversize MC-012, Folder 01

California First National Bank, La Jolla 1974

Oversize FB-540, Folder 1

El Niguel Country Club, Laguna Niguel

Oversize MC-012, Folder 04

El Niguel Country Club, Laguna Niguel. Original print Carlos Diniz 1962

Languages: English.
Oversize MC-012, Folder 02

The Golden Door, Escondido 1971

Oversize MC-012, Folder 01

Robert Golden Office Complex, San Diego 1969

Oversize FB-540, Folder 2

Green Dragon Colony, La Jolla

Oversize MC-012, Folder 02

Green Dragon Colony, La Jolla 1962

Oversize MC-012, Folder 03

Kellogg West, Cal Poly, poster undated

Oversize MC-012, Folder 02

Herbert Kunzel residence, Point Loma 1951

Oversize MC-012, Folder 04

La Jolla Cove, panorama (reproduction) ca. 1918

Oversize FB-540, Folder 3

Mosher and Drew Standard Details

Oversize FB-540, Folder 4

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Oversize FB-540, Folder 5

San Diego Museum of Art

Oversize MC-012, Folder 03

San Diego Museum of Art, early study 1964

Oversize FB-540, Folder 6

San Diego State University (College) Student Union

Oversize FB-540, Folder 7

Theatre and Arts Foundation

Oversize MC-013, Folder 01

Theatre and Arts Foundation, presentation drawing, 1958

Oversize FB-540, Folder 8

Village Green Condominiums

Oversize FB-540, Folder 9

Whittemore Offices, La Jolla

Oversize FB-540, Folder 10

Miscellaneous photographs and drawings, undated

Oversize MC-012, Folder 04

Untitled building sketches of Prospect Street undated

 

SUBJECT FILES

Box 5, Folder 1

Irving John Gill

General

Listing of buildings designed by Gill, as well as correspondence to Mosher from the The City of San Diego Historical Site Board regarding the significance and preservation of the Gill buildings.
Box 5, Folder 2-3

A. Quincy Jones

General

Includes artwork and building sketches by Jones, photographs of Jones, and correspondence.
Box 5, Folder 4

Frank Lloyd Wright

General

Photographs by Mosher of Wright's "Hollyhock House" and "Wingspread" residence in Racine, Wisconsin.