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Thompson (Elizabeth Kendall) Papers
BANC MSS 78/178 c
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Elizabeth Kendall Thompson papers
Creator:
Thompson, Elizabeth Kendall
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 78/178 c
Physical Description:
7 linear feet
(5 cartons, 2 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1948-1977
Date (bulk): 1965-1974
Abstract: The Elizabeth Kendall Thompson Papers contain records related to the professional career of author/editor E.K. Thompson (1910-1998)
and the journal Architectural Record. These records include manuscript materials, photographs and clippings. They reflect
Thompson’s role as West Coast Editor for Architectural Record including files related to articles in Architectural Record
and research material collected for her articles as well as her involvement with professional organizations.
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.
Collection is open for research.
No additions are expected.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Elizabeth Kendall Thompson papers were gifted to the Bancroft Library by an unknown source in 1978.
One of the leading architectural journalists in the country, Thompson was born in New Orleans on July 23, 1910. Her father
John Smith Kendall was a writer and literary editor of the New Orleans Picayune and later a professor of Spanish at Tulane
University, her mother, Isoline Rodd taught high school Latin. Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in Latin and Greek
from Tulane University in 1929 and received a Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in French and Spanish literature
a year later. She then studied architecture, first at Tulane for two years, and afterward, until 1934, at the University of
California at Berkeley.
Graduating during the Great Depression, she worked as a draftsman and designer for a house- building company in the South.
In 1937 she became a writer and editor for
Architectural Record, a McGraw-Hill publication remaining on the New York staff until 1941, when she married architect Frank Hofmann Thompson,
who had been a fellow student at Berkeley.
Together they returned to Berkeley, and in 1947, she established a Berkeley and later San Francisco office of
Architectural Record, where she served as the editor for the West Coast until her retirement in 1975. Among her many honors, she was elected a
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1967, only the ninth woman at the time to be so honored. Her nomination
to the AIA Jury of Fellows recognizing her achievement in literature and service to the profession stated, "Through literary
channels the nominee has awakened the public to the need for good design in the environment; AIA chapters have sought her
out to jury honor awards programs because of her known sensitivity to design……feels that her very considerable influence through
her writing bears witness to the design awareness for which this section [of membership - architectural literature] is intended."
In addition to teaching courses at the California College of the Arts, Thompson chaired an AIA committee that prepared material
for use in public schools to increase awareness of the environment. During her career, Thompson promoted the humanism of the
Bay Regionalists. Her writings, museum catalogs, and talks at professional meetings helped to establish the international
reputations of designers such as William Wilson Wurster, Joseph Esherick, and Charles Moore.
She participated in public service in both the American Institute of Architects and the city of Berkeley, as an art commissioner
and civic activist, advocating better design for public buildings and parks. She was also active in the Town and Gown Club
in Berkeley, and before her final illness had completed writing a history of the club for its centennial celebration. She
passed away in March, 1998.
Sources:
AIA-Northern California Chapter Records, membership files. Environmental Design Archives, U.C. Berkeley
Temko, Allan. Accessed 4/6/2016 http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/OBITUARY-Elizabeth-Thompson-3008458.php
AIA-Northern California Chapter Records, membership files. Environmental Design Archives, U.C. Berkeley
Temko, Allan. Accessed 4/6/2016 http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/OBITUARY-Elizabeth-Thompson-3008458.php
[Identification of item], Elizabeth Kendall Thompson Papers, BANC MSS 78/178c, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Processed by Waverly Lowell in 2017.
The Elizabeth Kendall Thompson Papers contain records related to the professional career of author/editor E.K. Thompson (1910-1998)
and the journal
Architectural Record (AR). These records include manuscript materials, photographs, ephemera, and clippings.They reflect Thompson’s role as West
Coast Editor for
Architectural Record including research material collected for her articles as well as her involvement with professional organizations.
The Elizabeth Kendall Thompson Papers are organized by into two series: Records of
Architectural Record; and Subject files.
The Records of
Architectural Record (boxes 1-2) are limited in scope and contain correspondence, clippings and photographs related to the
Architectural Record Houses Issue (1971 and 1973); correspondence with photographers and contributors; and material related to published articles. Subject
files consist primarily of correspondence, clippings, photographs, notes, and ephemera related to an assortment of topics.
These contain material Thompson was likely gathering for future articles. Topics include Architectural License Examinations,
AIA awards, the Organization of Architectural Employees, competitions for the California Governor’s Mansion and the Lawrence
Hall of Science, projects such as development in Hawaii, Ghirardelli Square, parks, transportation, redevelopment, U.S. State
Dept. Designs for foreign offices, and land use. There are extensive files on New Towns, and biographical information related
primarily to architects but also to a few related artists, planners, politicians, etc.
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. Requests to reproduce images
from photographer Gabriel Moulin should be submitted to Moulin Studios.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Thompson, Elizabeth Kendall
Architects -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area
Architectural firms--California--San Francisco Bay Area--20th century
Architecture -- Competitions
Architecture -- United States -- History
Architecture -- Pictorial works
Embassy buildings -- Design and construction
Public buildings
San Francisco (Calif.)--Buildings, structures, etc.