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.