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American Institute of Architects Houston (AIA Houston) oral history interview collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS 603
Finding aid note: Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of tape recorded interviews with nine people who were closely familiar with the architectural work of William Ward Watkin. The interviewees include a student of Watkin who also became a faculty member in the Rice School of Architecture and helped Watkin design some of his most highly regarded buildings; another student of his who worked with Watkin on the renovation of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston and became one of his sons-in-law; John F. Staub, the best known and most highly regarded architect of houses in Texas during Watkin’s lifetime and after; and Watkin’s daughter Ray Watkin Hoagland.

The recordings are in digital mp3 format and on original microcassettes, including the recording equipment with which they were made. No transcripts currently exist for this material.

Dates

  • 1980-1985

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the American Institute of Architects Houston (AIA Houston) Oral History Interview Collection, 1980-1985 must be obtained through the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

Biographical / Historical

The individuals interviewed on these tapes all had some connection to William Ward Watkin (1886- 1952), the architect of the initial buildings on the Rice University campus and the founder of the architecture department at Rice. Nolan Barrick , a student of William Ward Watkin, worked with Watkin on the renovation of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston and also married one of Watkin’s two daughters. Ray Watkin Hoagland (1915-2011) was one of Watkin’s two daughters. Karl F. Kamrath (1911-1988) designed many noteworthy buildings and houses in Houston. He and his partner, F. J. Mackie, Jr., were among the first Houston architects to design modernist buildings. Hermon Lloyd (1909-1989) earned a B.S. in Architecture at Rice in 1931 and became one of the architects of the Rice Stadium. Milton McGinty (b. 8-11-1905) earned a B.A. in 1927 and a B.S. in Architecture in 1928 at Rice. From 1930 to 1934 he worked with John F. Staub and later became a partner with Stayton Nunn. McGinty was one of the architects of the Rice Stadium. Stayton Nunn graduated from Rice Institute in 1921. In 1928 he became an assistant professor of architecture at Rice and taught until 1945. He also worked for William Ward Watkin at his architectural firm, helping him design some of his best buildings. Harry Payne (b. St. Louis, Mo., 5-20-1891) became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1963. John F. Staub (1892-1981) was the pre-eminent designer of houses in Houston and in Texas during his lifetime. Eugene Werlin earned a B.A. in architecture at Rice in 1927 and subsequently had an architectural firm in Houston.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet ( (1 box and digital content))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

The collection consists of tape recorded interviews with nine people who were closely familiar with the architectural work of William Ward Watkin. The recordings are in digital mp3 format and on original microcassettes, including the recording equipment with which they were made. No transcripts currently exist for this material. (1 box and digital files)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was a gift donated by the American Institute of Architects Houston on August 1, 2012, via Gerald Morehead.

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital files in archival information package format (unique identifier # MS0603aip_001) on nearline server. Contact woodson@rice.edu for access.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the American Institute of Architects Houston (AIA Houston) oral history interview collection, 1980-1985
Status
Unprocessed Addenda
Author
Amanda Focke
Date
2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892