William G. Merchant Collection 1962.-2
Archives Staff
Arrangement and description of this collection was funded by a grant from the Getty Foundation.
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives
1998
230 Bauer Wurster Hall #1820
Berkeley, CA 94720-1820
designarchives@berkeley.edu
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
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the
Curator
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], William G. Merchant Collection, (1962-2), Environmental Design Archives, University of California,
Berkeley.
Biographical / Historical
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Related Materials
Bernard Maybeck Collection,1956-1, Environmental Design Archives
Personal Papers I.
1935-1936
Box 1, Folder 1
Photographs of Merchant
undated
Box 1, Folder 2
Correspondence with Bernard Maybeck
1935
Golden Gate International Exposition II.
Scope and Contents
Contains a variety of materials concerning particular committees and general fair topics. Includes correspondence and documents
regarding the early planning for GGIE (including colored pencil plans), designs for the Redwood Empire Counties Exhibit in
collaboration with Maybeck, reference materials and reports of lectures discussing other fairs, correspondence and contractual
agreements with sculptors, and correspondence related to planning for a stadium facility at GGIE.
Also included are reports regarding rules and regulations, correspondence of the Architectural Commission and other GGIE committees,
and reports and correspondence created by the San Francisco Recreation Commission. There are also blue prints of the Temple
of Music and the Monolith Figures and Sculptural Models at East Towers and Lagoon and a photograph of the Pacific House.
The financial records include GGIE ledger books from 1936-41, the 1939 Bay Exposition Expense Account and the Redwood Empire
Expense Account. In addition, there is correspondence regarding Merchant's financial claim against the San Francisco Bay Exposition.
Box 1, Folder 2
Reports and copies of lectures discussing other fairs
1933-1938
Box 1, Folder 1
Planning and Correspondence Reports
1934
Box 1, Folder 3
Correspondence and Meeting Notes: Architectural Commission
1935-1937
Box 1, Folder 4
Correspondence: GGIE Committee
n.d., 1937
Box 1, Folder 5
San Francisco Recreation Commission and Youth Pageant
n.d., 1935-1938
Box 1, Folder 6
Sculptors: Correspondence, Contracts, and Costs
n.d.,1936-1938
Box 1, Folder 7
Rules and Regulations
1937
Box 1, Folder 9
Correspondence: Projects - the Exposition Model, East Towers, Temple of Music, Monolith Figures and Sculptural Models at
East Towers and Lagoon
1936-1937
Box 1, Folder 10
Correspondence: Stadium Facility
1936
Box 1, Folder 11
Pacific House Photograph
1939
Box 1, Folder 12
Ledgers and Expense Accounts: Exposition and Redwood Empire
1936-1941
Box 1, Folder 13
Financial claim against SF Bay Exposition
1940-1941
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File 1
Bergerot, Edmond Sonoma CA
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF2
Fleischman Co. San Francisco CA
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF8
Fleischman Co. San Francisco CA
1922
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF3, 3a
Golden Gate International Exposition San Francisco CA
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF4
Golden Gate International Exposition San Francisco CA
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF9
Hamilton Square Playground, Addition to Fieldhouse San Francisco CA
1944
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF6
Mausoleum & Chapel, Masonic Cemetery Association
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF
Mausoleum rendering San Mateo County CA
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF7
St. Mary's Square San Francisco CA
Creator: Lovell, C. Hathaway
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF10
U.S. National Housing Agency San Francisco CA
1943
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF11
National Housing Agency: Homes Use Program San Francisco CA
1943
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF 12
Golden State Baking Co. San Francisco CA
n.d.
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF 13
Aptos Playground Fieldhouse San Francisco CA
1950
flat-file-drawer W 11.7, Flat-File FF14-15
SF Recreation Commission: Glen Park San Francisco CA
1934
