Finding Aid for the Herbert J. Powell papers, circa 1920-circa 1960
0000204
Finding aid prepared by Chris Marino and Julia Larson
The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered
through the Council on Library and Information Resources “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Arts Building Room 1434
University of California
Santa Barbara, California, 93106-7130
805-893-2724
adc@museum.ucsb.edu
11/8/2012
Title: Herbert J. Powell papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0000204
Contributing Institution:
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
8.0 Linear feet
(5 record storage boxes and 1 flat file drawer)
Date (inclusive): circa 1920-circa 1960
Location note: Boxes 1-5/ADC - regular 1 Flat File Drawer/ADC - flat files
creator:
Powell, Herbert J., 1898-
Access
Partially processed collection, open for use by qualified researchers.
Preferred Citation note
Herbert J. Powell papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California,
Santa Barbara.
Biographical/Historical note
Herbert J. Powell was born on January 30, 1898 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1920, he graduated from the University of Redlands
from which he received an A.B. degree. Four years later, Powell graduated from Harvard University with an A.M. degree in architecture.
After school he went to work in the office of McKim, Mead & White. From 1925 to 1926 Powell worked in the office of Thomas
H. Ellet in New York, before coming to Los Angeles to work for the firm of Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury in Pasadena. In 1929,
Powell became a partner in the firm of Marsh, Smith and Powell. Powell’s more notable projects include: the Memorial Chapel
and Currier Gymnasium at Redlands University, Hollywood High School, Newport Harbor Union High School, and many other schools
across southern California. Herbert J. Powell died in 1996.
Scope and Content note
The Herbert J. Powell papers span 8 linear feet and date from circa 1920 to circa 1960. Boxes 1 through 5 of collection contain
Powell’s postcard collection of art and architecture around the world (primarily Europe) organized by region; as well as 11
volumes of a series entitled El Arte En Espana, where each volume is devoted to one Spanish architectural monument (for example
The Cathedral of Burgos); letters; ticket stubs; and the Liverpool Cathedral official handbook (1924). The collection also
includes one flat file drawer that contains oversize black-and-white photographs of high schools designed by the firm Marsh,
Smith and Powell, as well as architectural drawings, reprographic copies, and Powell’s student work from his time at Harvard
University.
Related Archival Materials note
ADC Study collection, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa
Barbara.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Powell, Herbert J., 1898-
Architectural drawings
Photographic prints
Postcards
Reprographic copies
Projects I.
1920-1965
Physical Description:
3.0 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
This series contains drawings and sketches of projects and student work. It also contains photographs of buildings designed
with the firm Marsh, Smith & Powell.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 1
El Monte High School (El Monte, Calif.)
1937
Scope and Contents note
One photograph on board; by Marsh, Smith, & Powell.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 2
Hollywood High School (Hollywood, Calif.)
1934
Scope and Contents note
One photograph on board; by Marsh, Smith, & Powell.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 3
John Adams High School (Santa Monica, Calif.)
1934
creator:
Luckhaus Studio.
Scope and Contents note
2 photographs; by Marsh, Smith, & Powell.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 4
Sierra Madre Elementary School (Sierra Madre, Calif.)
1930
creator:
Luckhaus Studio.
Scope and Contents note
4 photographs on board; by Marsh, Smith, & Powell.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 5
South Pasadena High School (South Pasadena, Calif.)
1941
Scope and Contents note
5 photographs on board; by Marsh, Smith, & Powell.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 6
All Nations Camp outdoor chapel
undated
Scope and Contents note
One drawing of plan and elevation.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 7
American Institute of Architects Historic Buildings Committee residence restoration 339 S. Bunker Hill Ave. (Los Angeles,
Calif.)
undated
Scope and Contents note
One sketch of elevation.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 8
Animal & Human figure sketches
circa 1920
Scope and Contents note
12 sketches.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 9
Attic Portico sketch
undated
Scope and Contents note
One drawing of building; possibly student work.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 10
California Congress of Parents and Teachers office building
undated
Scope and Contents note
One sketch of front elevation.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 11
Covina, City of marker (Covina, Calif.)
undated
creator:
Smith, Powell & Morgridge.
Scope and Contents note
One sketch of plan and elevation for city boundary marker.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 12
El Camino Junior College library 16007 S. Crenshaw Blvd. (El Camino, Calif.)
1960
creator:
Smith, Powell & Morgridge.
Scope and Contents note
32 drawings of plans, sections, elevations, details, structural, and mechanical plans for library addition.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 13
First Christian Church (Alhambra, Calif.)
undated
creator:
Smith, Powell & Morgridge.
Scope and Contents note
One drawing of elevation.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 14
First Church of Christ Scientist (San Marino, Calif.)
undated
creator:
Smith, Powell & Morgridge.
Scope and Contents note
4 drawings and sketches of elevations and floor plan.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 15
First Congregational Church (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
1965
Scope and Contents note
One sketch of antependia.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 16
Fremont Intermediate School and Benjamin Franklin School (Anaheim, Calif.)
1936
Scope and Contents note
2 drawings of perspectives.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 17
Fullerton City Hall 303 W. Commonwealth Ave. (Fullerton, Calif.)
1961
creator:
Smith, Powell & Morgridge.
Scope and Contents note
76 drawings of plans, sections, elevations, details, structural, and mechanical plans.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 18
Harvard University student projects (Cambridge, Mass.)
1920-1923
Scope and Contents note
7 drawings on heavy paper.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 19
Open Air Theater Stage (Redlands, Calif.)
undated
creator:
Marsh, Smith, and Powell.
Scope and Contents note
One drawing of perspective.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 20
San Marino Congregatonal Church (San Marino, Calif.)
undated
Scope and Contents note
One sketch of baptismal font.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 21
San Marino Public Library event sign (San Marino, Calif.)
1965
Scope and Contents note
One drawing of elevation.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 22
University of Redlands university chapel (Redlands, Calif.)
1926
Scope and Contents note
5 drawings of elevations.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 23
University of Redlands university commons (Redlands, Calif.)
1941
creator:
Marsh, Smith, and Powell.
Scope and Contents note
One drawing of perspective.
Drawer 181, FlatFile 24
Westminster Presbyterian Church (Pasadena, Calif.)
undated
creator:
Marston, VanPelt, & Maybury.
Scope and Contents note
5 drawings of plans, elevations, and details.
Travel Postcards II.
circa 1920s
Physical Description:
5.0 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
This series contains travel postcards from various countries in Europe and the United States. Each box is separated into country,
and each city or area is labeled.
Box 1
Postcards- Spain A.
circa 1920
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains original postcards of architectural landmarks, buildings, features, and ruins in Spain. Each group
of postcards is labeled with the city or area; for example: Avila, Granada, Segovia, and Seville. There are also 11 small
booklets written in Spanish on specific buildings, for example the Monasterio de Guadalupe and the Catedral de Leon.
Box 2
Postcards- Italy B.
circa 1920s
Language of Material:
Italian
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains original postcards of architectural landmarks, buildings, features, and ruins in Italy. Each group
of postcards is labeled with the city or area; for example: Florence, Pompeii, Rome, and Venice.
Box 3
Postcards- France C.
circa 1920s
Language of Material:
French
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains original postcards of architectural landmarks, buildings, features, and ruins in France. Each group
of postcards is labeled with the city or area; for example: Le Mans, Normandy, and specific and general locations in Paris.
Box 4
Postcards- England and France D.
circa 1920s
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains original postcards of architectural landmarks, buildings, features, and ruins in England and France.
Each group of postcards is labeled with the city or area; for example: Liverpool, London, Oxford, Avignon, Caen, and various
chateaus.
Box 5
Postcards- United States E.
circa 1920s
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains original postcards of architectural landmarks, buildings, features, and ruins in the United States.
Each group of postcards is labeled with the city or area; for example: California, New England, and New York.