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Merchant, William G. collection
1962.-2
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Contributing Institution:
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives
Title: William G. Merchant collection
Creator:
Merchant, William Gladstone, 1889-1962
Identifier/Call Number: 1962.-2
Physical Description:
5 Linear Feet:
Approx 6 drawings; 1 box, 7 oversize folders, 6 tubes
Date (inclusive): 1934-1941
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], William G. Merchant Collection, (1962-2), Environmental Design Archives, University of California,
Berkeley.
William G. Merchant (1889-1962)
William G. Merchant was a native of Healdsburg, California, but lived in San Francisco most of his life. In 1909, he graduated
from Wilmerding School of Industrial Arts, San Francisco. He received his state certificate to practice architecture on July
6, 1920. His early training was in the offices of Bernard R. Maybeck and John Galen Howard. As Assistant Designer of the
Palace of Fine Arts, he worked with Bernard Maybeck in building the Palace for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
held in San Francisco in 1915. In 1960 he was called upon again to advise on the rehabilitation of the structure (some of
his drawings were used during the building's rehabilitation). He also worked with Maybeck on a number of residences
Under the name of W. G. Merchant and Associates, Merchant practiced from approximately 1946 until shortly before his death
in 1962. He was a member of the Architectural Commission of Golden Gate International Exposition (1939) and architect for
three structures at the Exposition: the Temple of the East, the Pacific Building and the Recreation Building.
Merchant's work included many projects for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, including the Sub-station at 8th and Mission
Street (1957) and the Morro-Bay Power Plant (1953). Some of his San Francisco projects included the San Francisco Medical
Society building (1954) and Irving Memorial Blood Bank, San Francisco State College (1951), and the Sailors Union of the Pacific
(1946). Also among his projects were the World Trade Center (1946–1957), which was incorporated into the Ferry Building by
his firm, the Lick Wilmerding School (1955), and the Acme Brewery (1941–1945). In addition, as consultant for the Recreation
and Parks Department he drew up plans for a variety of San Francisco recreational areas and centers, among them were the
Chinese and Garfield Recreation centers, the development for the Camp Mather in the Sierras (1952), the masterplan for MacLaren
Park (1959), and various swimming pools.
From 1949-1961 he served as Regent of the University of California. In addition, he was president of the Mechanics' Institute,
and president of the Downtown Association. As a member of the Board of Governors of the San Francisco Opera Association he
designed settings for the annual Opera ball, Fol-De-Rol.
Sources:
"William G. Merchant Dies at 72," San Francisco Chronicle, February 27, 1962.
Biographical Record compiled by the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco, California.
Biographical Record compiled by the California Historical Society, San Francisco, California.
The William G. Merchant papers span the years 1934-1941 and are arranged into four series: Personal Papers, Golden Gate International
Exposition, Project Records, and Additional Donations. The collection contains correspondence, reports, drawings, financial
records, articles, blueprints and meeting minutes. The papers primarily relate to the Golden Gate International Exposition
(GGIE) held in 1939 in San Francisco, California. The drawings are primarily from the GGIE, however there are a few of private
residences (one in Sonoma), a mausoleum in San Mateo County, and a drawing of St. Mary's Square in San Francisco.
Bernard Maybeck Collection,1956-1, Environmental Design Archives