Series Descriptions
Series I.
PROFESSIONAL PAPERS, 1931-1969
Physical Description:
Boxes 1-5
Series Scope and Content Summary
Documents Wurster's professional activities outside of the firm. Includes correspondence with other architects, as well as
correspondence, reports, and newsletters from organizations such as the American Institute of Architects and the San Francisco
Housing Association. Writings and presentations are minimal, but of note is a talk given by Wurster on the topic of war housing.
Awards include Wurster's individual and firm awards. Wurster's work on the juries of the Governor's mansion and Boston city
hall are also represented.
B.
Writings & Presentations
C.
Associations & Committees
Series II.
OFFICE RECORDS, 1927-1977
Physical Description:
Boxes 6-38
A.
Administrative
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Contains correspondence and drawings in relation to the location of the firm office.
B.
Correspondence
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Contains a letter/ink drawing from Theodore Bernardi to the office. The drawing is a representation of Bernardi's New Mexico
campsite.
C.
Public Relations
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Subseries C and D consist of materials that illustrate and promote the firm's work. Includes photographs of completed projects,
presentation boards, a model of the Golden Gateway apartments, and clippings of articles about Wurster and WBE projects.
The clippings were partially color-coded to indicate which partner was lead architect, and this information has been noted
on the articles.
D.
Photographs & Presentation Boards
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Portraits of the partners and photographs by noted architectural photographer Roger Sturtevant can be found in Subseries D.
Series III.
WWW PROJECT RECORDS, 1922-1944
Physical Description:
Boxes 39-120
A.
Files
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Correspondence, contracts, telephone notes, preliminary sketches, reports, specifications, financial records, vendor information,
legal documents, and notes. Records in Series III were generated by the firm William W. Wurster, with the exception of a few
projects he completed independently in 1922 and a few projects completed as the firm Wurster & Bernardi (1944-1945).
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by project.
B.
Photographs
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Construction photographs (and negatives) taken by the architects during the course of a project.
Arrangement
Included in project files.
C.
Drawings
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Drawings of the firm's projects from 1922-1944. Residential projects are documented more completely than commercial and institutional
commissions. Selected projects are also available on microfilm roll numbers 17-18.
Arrangement
Arranged by alphabetically project.
Series IV.
WBE PROJECT RECORDS, 1945-1969
Physical Description:
Boxes 123-209 and Tubes
A.
Files
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Correspondence, contracts, construction photographs, telephone notes, preliminary sketches, reports, specifications, financial
records, vendor information, legal documents, and notes. Series IV contains project files dating after the organization of
the WBE partnership. The bulk of these records date from 1950-1962, the years of Wurster's greatest involvement in the firm.
Projects involving Thomas Church or Lockwood deForest may include correspondence or landscape drawings by these individuals.
A few projects from 1944-1945 were created by the partnership of Wurster and Bernardi, prior to Emmons' arrival at the firm.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by project.
B.
Photographs
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Construction photographs (and negatives) taken by the architects during the course of a project.
Arrangement
Included in project files.
C.
Drawings
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Drawings of the firm's projects from 1945-1974. Residential projects are documented more completely than commercial and institutional
commissions. Selected projects are also available on microfilm roll numbers 17-18.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by project.
D.
Specifications
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Contains large bound volumes of specifications for non-residential projects from 1949-1969. Specifications for most projects
will be found interfiled with the files or drawings.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by project.
Series V.
UNITED STATES HOUSING AGENCY, 1939-1947
Physical Description:
Boxes 210-223
Series Scope and Content Summary
Correspondence, reports, financial records, notes, drawings, related to Wurster's work as an architect for the United States
Housing Agency and as architect on defense housing projects in Vallejo and Sacramento. Reports and correspondence include
records created by contractors, vendors, inspectors, and government housing agencies. This series also include files, specifications
and drawings for Bernardi's independent work on housing projects in Wurster's absence. Some housing authority projects are
also represented in photograph and clippings files in the Office Records series.
Arrangement
Arranged by contract number.
Series VI.
ADDITIONAL DONATIONS, 1939-2004
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series includes all materials acquired from donors other than Wurster, Bernardi, and Emmons. Records of the Pierce residence
consist of drawings; records of the Sexton residence include drawings and correspondence. The Wiley residence is documented
with drawings, correspondence, specifications, and financial and legal records. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Exhibit
materials include mounted photographs of Wurster and WBE projects as well as models made from Wurster/WBE drawings by model
makers at a later date. The Valencia Gardens HABS Cultural Report was completed prior to the demolition of the buildings
in 2003 and includes several photographs. Blueprints and specifications of Valencia Gardens previously retained by the planning
department were also transferred at this time.
A.
Statement of Partnership
B.
Catherine Bauer Wurster Portraits
F.
Catherine Bauer Wurster AIP Award
G.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Exhibit
H.
United States Housing Agency: Low Rent Housing - Valencia Gardens HABS Cultural Report
Container List
SERIES I.
PROFESSIONAL PAPERS, 1931-1969
Box/Folder 1 : 1-6
Correspondence, 1938-1941, 1966
B.
Writings & Presentations
Box/Folder 1 : 7
Magazine of Art: "San Francisco Bay Portfolio", 1944
Box/Folder 1 : 8-9
Things to Know About Buying or Building a Home,
1945
Box/Folder 1 : 10
Kingsley Art Club: "War Housing", 1942
C.
Associations & Committees
Box/Folder 1 : 11
American Institute of Architects (AIA), 1931-1942
Box/Folder 1 : 12
San Francisco Housing Association, 1940-1941
Box/Folder 1 : 13
State Association of California Architects: Legislative Committee, 1941
Box/Folder 1 : 14
AIA: Committee on Post-War Reconstruction, 1942-1943
Box/Folder 1-2 : 15-16
Professional Activities, 1946-1949
Box/Folder 2 : 17-18
National Capital Park & Planning Commission, 1948-1950
Box/Folder 2 : 19
AIA: Civic Design Committee, 1949
Box/Folder 2 : 20-21
U.S. Foreign Building Office: Architectural Advisory Committee, 1959-1960
Box/Folder 3 : 22-23
AIA: 1960 Convention, 1959-1962
Box/Folder 3 : 24
American Institute of Architects (AIA), 1960-1967
Box/Folder 3 : 25
Proposed Changes to Building Code, 1961
Box/Folder 3-4 : 26-30
AIA: 20/20 Committee, 1961-1962
Box/Folder 4 : 31
Washington DC Redevelopment Land Agency, 1962
Box/Folder 4 : 32
San Francisco Planning and Urban Renewal Association, 1969
Box/Folder 4, 5 : 33, 36-37
AIA Awards, n.d., 1966, 1969
Box/Folder 5 : 38
Wurster Honorary Degree, 1964
Box/Folder 4 : 34
California Governor's Mansion, 1961-1963
Box/Folder 4 : 35
Boston City Hall Competition, 1962
SERIES II.
OFFICE RECORDS, 1927-1977
FF 26
William Wurster Office: Newhall Building, 1938
Box/Folder 6 : 1
List of Stored Blueprints, 1939
Box/Folder 6 : 1a
WB&E Partner Time Cards, 1946
Box/Folder 6 : 2
WB&E Office: (Proposed) North Point St., 1952-1956
Box/Folder 6 : 3-4, Tube
WB&E Office: 202 Green St., 1954-1961
Box/Folder 6-7 : 5-8, Tube
WB&E Office: 1620 Montgomery St., 1960-1966
Box/Folder 7 : 9
Fee Evaluation, 1961-1962
Box/Folder 7 : 10
Office Reorganization Proposal, 1962
Box/Folder 7 : 11-21
Correspondence, 1933-1962
Box/Folder 7 : 22
Project Descriptions, n.d.
Box/Folder 7 : 23
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Exhibit, 1940-1941
Box/Folder 7 : 24
House & Garden Blueprints for Tomorrow Contest, 1945
Box/Folder 7 : 25
WB&E Brochure Materials, 1963
Box/Folder 7 : 26
"Den Funktionelle Tradition", 1950
Box/Folder 7 : 27
Engineering News-Record "California", 1967
Box/Folder 7 : 28
William Wurster Biographical Materials, 1957-1973
Box/Folder 7-10 : 29-189
Portfolio - Individual Projects: ** See Project Index
D.
Photographs & Presentation Boards
Box/Folder 11 : 200
Wurster Office Photograph, c. 1938
Box/Folder 11 : 201-204
Wurster, Bernardi & Emmons Portraits, c. 1949
Box/Folder 5 : 204a
Wurster Portrait w/ Daughter Sadie, c. 1970
Box/Folder 11-14 : 205-364
Project Photographs: ** See Project Index
Box/Folder 15-33 : 366-638
Mounted Project Photos: ** See Project Index
Box/Folder 34-35 : 639-759
Project Negatives: ** See Project Index
Box/Folder 36-37 : 760-780
Presentation Boards: ** See Project Index
Box/Folder 38 : 781
United Nations Competition, 1946
FF 3-25
Oversize Presentation Boards
SERIES III.
WWW PROJECT RECORDS, 1922-1944
Box/Folder 39-118 : 3-759
Box/Folder 119-120 : 760-981
Box/Folder 39-118 : 3-759
Clark, Dearborne Beach House, Aptos, CA, 1937
First Congregational Church, Stockton, CA, 1929
Green, Robert C.: Green Camp, Mt Diablo, CA, 1938
Gregory, Mrs. Warren: Farmhouse, Scotts Valley, CA, 1926-1929
Lyman, Oliver B. Residence, Tiburon, CA, 1940
Schuckl & Co.: Office Building, Sunnyvale, CA, 1941-1954
Sherman Clay & Co. (alterations), San Francisco, CA, 1936
United States Housing Authority: Low Rent Housing - Valencia Gardens, San Francisco, CA, 1939-1943
Voss, Carl L. Residence, Big Sur, CA, 1931
SERIES IV.
WBE PROJECT RECORDS, 1945-1969
Box/Folder 123-188 : 1-1723
Box/Folder 120 : 1724-1747
Box/Folder 123-188 : 1-1723
Box/Folder 189-206 : 1547-1690, Tubes, FF : 474-515
Box/Folder 207-209 : 1691-1722a
Baer, Morley Residence, Garrapata Creek, Big Sur, CA, 1963
Case Study House #3, Orinda, CA, 1947
Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, CA, 1954-1960
Coleman, James V. Residence, San Francisco, CA, 1956-1966
Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, CA, 1965
Golden Gateway, San Francisco, CA, 1964-1967
Heller, E.H. Residence, Crystal Bay, NV, 1950-1955
Prebilt House, San Anselmo, CA, 1944-1947
SERIES V.
UNITED STATES HOUSING AGENCY, 1939-1947
United States Housing Authority: Defense Housing - Carquinez Heights, Vallejo, CA, 1941-1942
SERIES VI.
ADDITIONAL DONATIONS, 1939-2004
Box/Folder 224 : 1
A.
Statement of Partnership, 1955
Box/Folder 224 : 2
B.
Catherine Bauer Wurster Portraits, n.d., 1942-1960
FF 365
C.
Pierce Residence, 1939
Box/Folder 224 : 3
D.
Sexton Residence, 1945-1947
Box/Folder 224 : 4-6
E.
Wiley Residence, 1962-1967
FF 1
F.
Catherine Bauer Wurster AIP Award, 1967
Box/Folder 5 : 11, Framed Storage
G.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Exhibit, 1995
H.
United States Housing Agency: Low Rent Housing - Valencia Gardens HABS Cultural Report
Box/Folder 224 : 7-8
United States Housing Agency: Low Rent Housing - Valencia Gardens HABS Cultural Report, 2004
Box/Folder 225 : 9-10
United States Housing Agency: Low Rent Housing - Valencia Gardens Photographs, 2003
FF 529-532
United States Housing Agency: Low Rent Housing - Valencia Gardens Drawings, 1941
