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Lenard Gabert, Sr. architectural records

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0695
Finding aid note: Boxes 1-3 stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586. Architectural drawings stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

The Lenard Gabert, Sr. Architectural Records, 1930-2002 contains over 250 drawings on a variety of paper types and sizes, reflecting the architectural style of the time. Older drawings are often on brown tracing paper, moving to sheaves of pre-marked white planning paper, with the more modern ones printed in bound packets. Some of the drawings have complete plans with indexes (Arranged by category: Constructive, Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing), and many include partial plans, blueprints or sketches.

The drawings are dated from 1930 to 2002, with the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s most heavily represented, with more than 50 jobs completed during each decade. Though the collection is certainly not a comprehensive gathering of Lenard Gabert’s work, it provides insight into the astonishing range of commissions that the architect (and later his company) took on.

Gabert’s most famous works are his synagogues--including temples for the congregations Israel, Shearith Israel, Emanu El, Adath Emeth, Beth Jacob, and Beth Yeshurun. He also designed a number of churches and chapels for different faiths. The bulk of Gabert’s work was in store buildings and warehouses, especially those focused on packing, processing, and distribution.

He also designed commercial buildings, such as groceries, food supply stores, restaurants, banks, and professional and office buildings, as well as elementary schools, and clinics. The residences, apartment buildings, and motels that Gabert conceived show off his personal touch with concept sketches and attention to presentation. Some of the more unique commissions that Gabert took on include a Mobile Home Park, Dog Pound, Rabies Control Center, N.A.S.A Space Food Preparation Facility, Zoo Service Center and Commissary, and a Health Club in Saudi Arabia. A large portion of the collection is also devoted to plans drawn up for Additions and Alterations to Gabert’s past projects, remodeling commissions, or partial contributions to larger commissions, like sign supports, derrick details, rice dryers, and swimming pools.

Dates

  • Creation: 1930s-2002

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research. Boxes 1-3 are stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Lenard Gabert, Sr. Architectural Records, 1930-2002 must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University

Biographical Note

Lenard Gabert was born in 1894 in Navasota, Texas. He attended college at Texas A and M University and Rice University, where he was a student in the first entering class, and received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1917. He was among the first to graduate from Rice with a B.S. in Architecture. Gabert served in World War I and World War II. On March 14, 1922, Lenard married Gladys Thelma Rotholz, with whom he had a son, Lenard Morris Gabert Jr., and daughter, Rilda Gabert.

Lenard Gabert had a long career designing both residential and commercial buildings in Houston from the 1920s to 1970s. As the principal at the architectural firm of Lenard Gabert and Associates, Gabert designed many works of note, including the 1930 Congregation K’Nesseth Israel Synagogue in Baytown (Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1991), the 1939 Eldorado Ballroom on Elgin Avenue, the 1940 Brochstein’s Inc. building (with I. S. Brochstein), the 1949 Temple Emanu El (with MacKie and Kamrath), and the 1958 Julian Hurwitz House (with W. Jackson Wisdom).

Gabert continued to practice architecture until his death in September 1976. Lenard Morris Gabert grew up to be a civil engineer, and continues his father’s legacy as part of Gabert-Abuzalaf. Today the firm survives under Green Dome Services. The mid-century modern style architecture of Gabert’s celebrated works is still beloved and cherished today as a defining characteristic of Houston’s ambience.

Extent

40 Linear Feet (3 boxes, 15 map drawers)

16.1 Gigabytes (MS0695aip_001)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Lenard Gabert, Sr. Architectural Records, 1930-2002 contains over 250 drawings on a variety of paper types and sizes, reflecting the architectural style of the time. Older drawings are often on brown tracing paper, moving to sheaves of pre-marked white planning paper, with the more modern ones printed in bound packets. Some of the drawings have complete plans with indexes (Arranged by category: Constructive, Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing), and many include partial plans, blueprints or sketches.

Arrangement

The materials in this collection have been arranged in two series as follows:



Series I: Photographs, Newsclippings, Scrapbooks Series II: Architectural Drawings



The materials in the second series have been arranged based on Job Number, which reflects the year of the commission, as follows:

  1. Drawer 213: Job # 4210-4961
  2. Drawer 214: Job # 5000-5507
  3. Drawer 215: Job # 5508-5716
  4. Drawer 216: Job # 5717-5912
  5. Drawer 217: Job # 6000-6518
  6. Drawer 218: Job # 6602-6922
  7. Drawer 219: Job # 7001-7209
  8. Drawer 220: Job # 7235-7725
  9. Drawer 221: Job # 7804-8103
  10. Drawer 222: Job # 8103
  11. Drawer 223: Job # 8105-8936
  12. Drawer 224: Job #9020-9610
  13. Drawer 225: Job #9632-0214
  14. Drawer 226: Job # Unknown, 1930-1999
  15. Drawer 227: Preliminary Plans (Job # Unassigned), Dated 1965-2002
  16. Drawer 227: Preliminary Plans, Date Unknown
  17. Drawer 227: Job # Unknown, Date Unknown

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The materials were donated to the Woodson Research Center by Lenard Gabert, Jr. and his daughter, 2017.

Title
Guide to the Lenard Gabert, Sr. Architectural Records, 1930-2002
Status
Unprocessed Addenda
Author
Gabby Parker
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

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

Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA
713-348-2586