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Wellington, Winfield Scott collection
19xx.-15
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Contributing Institution:
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives
Title: Winfield Scott Wellington Collection
Creator:
Wellington, Winfield Scott, 1897-1979
Identifier/Call Number: 19xx.-15
Physical Description:
3 Linear Feet:
1 flat file drawer, 1 flat box
Date (inclusive): 1931-1968
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 Curator.
[Identification of Item], Winfield Scott Wellington Collection, Environmental
Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.
Winfield Scott Wellington (1897-1979) was born in Houston, Texas in 1897. He received his primary and secondary education
in New Orleans completing his first two years of undergraduate education at Tulane University, then attending the Georgia
School of Technology for one year. In 1918 Wellington began studying architecture at UC Berkeley; receiving a Master of Arts
degree in 1922, and a Graduate in Architecture degree in 1923. His graduate thesis reflected his belief in the importance
of self-expression through design, and his love of objects in the personal environment.
At the start of his professional career in the early 1920s, Wellington worked for John Galen Howard, Warren C. Perry, and
Ashley & Evers in San Francisco. In 1928 Wellington became the firm designer at the architecture office of Eldridge T. Spencer.
Two years later, Wellington began his own practice, which focused on residences. He became Professor of Design at UC Berkeley
in 1937.
Wellington began designing exhibitions in 1939, at the request of UC Berkeley's renowned anthropology professor, Dr. Alfred
Kroeber. Following his success at aiding in the preparation of native artifacts in the Andean Room of the Federal Pavillion
of the Golden Gate International Exhibition, many universities and public galleries requested his exhibition designs. Moreover,
Wellington demonstrated his skills as an architect and craftsman in various Elizabethan, Spanish, and French Louis XV and
IV period room museum installations. He served as chairman of the Art Gallery of UC Berkeley's Department of Decorative Art
from 1946-1962. Despite budget constraints Wellington used this position to transform the Gallery's crude interior into a
site of rich cultural experience with modern innovations.
In 1948, Wellington began teaching at UC Berkeley's Department of Decorative Art, precursor to the Department of Design, College
of Environmental Design. In his classes he encouraged students to scrutinize and handle objects from his large personal collection.
Wellington's architectural designs were primarily Bay Area, residences, though he also designed the Kinteel Trading Post at
Window Rock, Arizona. During his career Wellington participated in many design exhibitions, hosted by UC Berkeley, Stanford
University, and various San Francisco museums. In 1938 the Northern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
selected Wellington's designs for an exhibit held at the San Francisco Museum of Art. The Architectural League of New York
also honored Wellington in 1941, during their touring exhibition of Northern California architecture. Wellington retired in
1965 to a house he had designed for himself, at which he led sessions for students and Alumni dedicated to understanding the
nature of beautifully designed objects.
Sources:
University of California: In Memoriam.
Wellington, Winfield Scott. A Center of Recreation: A Thesis in Partial Satisfaction for the Degree of Graduate in Architecture.
University of California, Berkeley: Department of Design. May 1, 1923.
The Winfield Scott Wellington collection consists of project photographs and drawings, spanning the years 1930-1971. The majority
of the drawings and photographs reflect Wellington's interest in residential design. The collection also includes drawings
relating to exhibit designs for the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, and Wellington's involvement at UC Berkeley, including
student projects from a Decorative Arts course.
Photographs of exhibits created by Winfield Scott Wellington, 1941-1953, (UARC PIC 28K)
252 photographic prints, The Bancroft Library.
Views of San Juan Capistrano and other mission buildings, 1895, (BANC PIC 19xx.321—PIC), The Bancroft Library.