Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Dailey, Gardner A. Collection
1988.-01.1990.-10
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives
Title: Gardner A. Dailey Collection
Creator:
Dailey, Gardner A., 1895-1967
Identifier/Call Number: 1988.-01.1990.-10
Physical Description:
50.5 Linear Feet:
7 boxes, 5 flat boxes, 15 flat file drawers
Date (inclusive): 1923-1979
Date (bulk): 1930-1967
Abstract: Some of Dailey's significant projects include the Red Cross Headquarters and Owens Residence in San Francisco, the WWII Pacific
War Memorial in the Philippines, the Brazil Building at the GGIE, and numerous hotels, residences, and buildings for the University
of California. The Dailey collection consists of office and project records relating to Dailey's architectural career. Office
records consist primarily of photographic portfolios while project records include specifications, drawings, and some project-related
correspondence from the firm's work.
Language of Material:
English
.
Collection is open for research.
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the
Director.
[Identification of Item], Gardner A. Dailey Collection, (1988-01 or 1999-10 or 2004-11), Environmental Design Archives, University
of California, Berkeley.
Gardner A. Dailey 1895-1967
Gardner A. Dailey, born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1895, moved to California in 1915. He briefly worked in landscape architect
Donald McLaren's San Francisco firm and then in 1916 worked in Costa Rica for the Parisimna Banana Company, developing small
houses for its banana plantation workers. He also worked for the Costa Rican government, and designed various parks and grounds
throughout Central America.
During World War I, Dailey served as an Air Force Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force, receiving a Purple Heart
award in recognition of his skill and bravery. After the war, he studied economics at UC Berkeley (1919), and then attended
Stanford University where he studied entomology (1920-1921). Leaving Stanford after one year of study, Dailey went on to
study structural engineering at Heald's Engineering College, San Francisco (1921-1922). During the early 1920s, Dailey went
to work for the Engineering Department of the Spring Valley Land & Water Company of San Francisco. In 1926 he traveled in
Europe to study architecture and a year later, received his architectural certificate. By 1927, Dailey had opened his own
architectural practice and throughout the following decade, he won numerous awards and national competitions.
Dailey's practice encompassed designs for medical, commercial, residential, educational, and recreational projects. Some
of his clients included the Biltmore Hotel of Santa Barbara, Matson Shipping Company, Stanford University; UC Berkeley; and
the San Francisco Park Commission. Residential clients included Rudolph Bundschu, Charles de Bretville, and Stephen and Kenneth
Bechtel. The government of Brazil selected Dailey's design for the Brazil Pavilion at the 1939 Golden Gate International
Exposition.
In 1942 Dailey invented the stressed skin-roof and its use in unit construction, for which he obtained a patent; during that
year he also designed and constructed the Merchant Marine Cadet Basic Training School in San Mateo, California. Several of
Dailey's projects were selected for the New York Museum of Modern Art's 1944 exhibition "Built in USA." Two years after this
seminal exhibition, the American National Red Cross appointed him head architect for the construction of their Western Headquarters
building in San Francisco (demolished 2001). In 1948, the American Battle Monuments Commission appointed Dailey architect
of the Pacific War Memorial at Fort McKinley in Manila, P.I. to commemorate soldiers lost to the Pacific Theater of World
War II; Yale University appointed him to the post of Visiting Critic for their School of Architecture; and he was made a fellow
of the A.I.A.
In 1950 the Art Commission of San Francisco presented Dailey with an Award of Honor for Distinguished Work in Architecture
and in 1960 the President of the Philippines awarded Dailey the Philippine Legion of Honor for his work on the Pacific War
Memorial. Dailey served on the San Francisco Planning Commission including one year as its President. He also served as a
trustee for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, a post from which he made public addresses on art and architecture through
television and radio. House Beautiful, House & Garden, Life, Good Housekeeping, and Ladies Home Journal honored Dailey with
first prizes in their residential competitions. In 1964 the National Academy of Design in New York City presented Dailey
with the Samuel F.B. Morse Award for its 139th Exhibition—and hung his portrait in its Gallery. Dailey married Lucille Downey
of San Francisco in 1961. Following his death in 1967, the Manila AIA appointed Dailey an honorary member.
Sources:
Baldwin Memorial Archive of American Architects
Biographical Outline, ED Archives office records.
The collection, which spans the years 1923-1979 (bulk 1930-1967), consists of records, drawings, and photographs relating
to Gardner A. Dailey's architectural career. The collection also includes files of the successor firm Yuill-Thornton, Warner
& Levikow, which are continuations of earlier projects completed by Gardner Dailey. The collection is organized into three
series: Office records, Project records and an Additional Donation.
The office records consist primarily of project portfolios assembled in proposal for new commissions, presentation photographs
from a number of residential, commercial and educational projects, clippings from architectural publications such as House
& Home, House & Garden, and Architectural Record, a scrapbook from the dedication of the War Memorial, and correspondence
regarding Dailey's veteran's retirement.
The project records include specifications, drawings and some project-related correspondence from the firm's work. Projects
in this series include much of Dailey's early residential work, the Brazil Pavilion and the Golden Gate International Exposition,
the Pacific War Memorial, three Hawaii hotels for the Matson Navigation Co., the American Red Cross, as well as work for UC
Berkeley and Stanford University.
The additional donation contains tear sheets for various projects. Included in this series are letters from around the country
requesting information and plans for the Lowe residences. Plus, there are personal and professional news clippings as well
as two photographs, possibly of Frank and Emma Dailey.