Cody (William F.) Collection, 1947-1997

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Summary

Title:
William F. Cody Collection
Dates:
1947-1997
Creators:
William F. Cody
Abstract:
William Francis Cody (1916-1978) FAIA was a desert modern architect working in Palm Springs during the peak of the Modern Architecture movement. He was born in 1916 in Dayton, Ohio and studied architecture at the University of Southern California. After graduation in 1942, Cody apprenticed at several California firms, before moving to Palm Springs in 1946. During his career in Palm Springs, Cody was first employed staff architect for the Desert Inn Hotel, before setting off on his own to design the Del Marcos Hotel (1947). The conversion of the 1936 Thunderbird Dude Ranch to Thunderbird Country Club, led to design commissions for the clubhouses at Tamarisk, Eldorado, Seven Lakes, and seven other Country Club developments. It is through these projects that Cody is credited with the County Club subdivision concept. Cody's specialization in country club clubhouses along with associated residential developments led to his being commissioned in California, Arizona, Texas, Cuba, and Mexico. Cody is noted for a number of spectacular contemporary commissions including the Perlberg (1952), Shamel (1961), and Abernathy (1962) residences. He also designed the St. Theresa Catholic Church (1968), L' Horizon Hotel (1952), and the Palm Springs Public Library (1975).
Extent:
10 Linear Feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

William F. Cody Collection. Palm Springs Art Museum

Background

Scope and content:

Contains one series of drawings (transparencies and diazo copies) of project examples. Additional Cody projects added to this collection from other special collection.

Acquisition information:
The materials were donated by Cathy Cody Nemirovsky (S2018.2) in 2018 with additional materials added to the collection.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Palm Springs Art Museum staff.
Date Prepared:
July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to qualified researchers by appointment only.

Terms of access:

No interpretive restriction is placed on material. Separate permissions to be obtained for publishing material. Property rights to the physical object belong to the Palm Springs Art Museum. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where Palm Springs Art Museum does not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

William F. Cody Collection. Palm Springs Art Museum

Location of this collection:
101 Museum Dr.
Palm Springs, CA 92263, US
Contact:
Website