Reginald Johnson papers, circa 1912-circa 1950

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Summary

Creators:
Stevens, Ralph T and Johnson, Reginald D.
Extent:
6 Linear Feet (2 record storage boxes and 9 flat file folders)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Reginald Johnson papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

Background

Scope and content:

The Reginald Johnson papers span 6 linear feet and date from circa 1912 to circa 1950. The collection contains photographs, architectural drawings and reprographic copies for nine buildings in the Santa Barbara area, a hospital in Los Angeles, and two residences in Pasadena.

Black-and-white interior and exterior photographs, a site plan by Ralph T. Stevens, and drawings document the Harold Chase residence in Hope Ranch. Photographic panels and drawings relate to additions to the Mrs. Stanley McCormick "Riven Rock" residence in Santa Barbara. The collection includes the site plan, but no other drawings, for the Senator Clark estate, "Bellosguardo," also in Santa Barbara.

Plans for the gardens and a garden pavilion for the J. L. Severance house in Pasadena were transferred to this collection from the Roland Coate papers.

Biographical / historical:

Reginald Johnson was born in Westchester, New York on July 19, 1882. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in Architecture in 1910. Johnson received collegiate office training in the offices of Myron Hunt, Elmer Grey and Robert D. Farquhar. Upon graduation, Johnson moved to Pasadena and began practicing architecture in 1912. By 1920, he had joined forces with Gordon B. Kauffmann to form Johnson and Kaufmann, Architects. One year later Roland Coate joined the firm and the name changed to Johnson, Kaufmann and Coate. The practice lasted four years, dissolving in 1925. Johnson then went on to establish his own independent practice until 1934, when he publically announced his withdrawal from general architectural practice. His more notable projects include: the Santa Barbara Post Office and the Santa Barbara Biltmore Hotel.

After 1935, Reginald Johnson devoted himself to providing housing for low-income individuals and families. Johnson co-founded the Los Angeles Citizen's Housing Council and served as the Chief Architect for public housing projects in Los Angeles, including, Harbor Hills and Rancho San Pedro. Reginald Johnson died in 1952, at the age of 70.

Custodial history:

Gift of John Pitman, 1989. Additional material gifted by Bruce Abbott, 1999 and Edward Cella, 1999.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Partially processed collection, open for use by qualified researchers.

Preferred citation:

Reginald Johnson papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7130, US
Contact:
(805) 893-2724
adc@museum.ucsb.edu
Website