Finding Aid for the George Washington Smith papers, circa 1912-circa 1930
0000176
Finding aid prepared by Alex Hauschild, Melinda Gandara, Jocelyn Gibbs, Jillian O'Connor, Jennifer Whitlock, Caitlyn Ehisen,
and Chris Marino.
The finding aid for this collection was made possible by a Getty Foundation Archival Arrangement & Description Grant.
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Arts Building Room 1434
University of California
Santa Barbara, California, 93106-7130
805-893-2724
adc@museum.ucsb.edu
2009
Title: George Washington Smith papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0000176
Contributing Institution:
Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
162.0 Linear feet
(30 record storage boxes, 1 tube, and 43 flat file drawers)
Date (inclusive): circa 1912-circa 1930
creator:
Smith, George Washington, 1876-1930, American Architect -- Archives
Access
Partially processed collection, open for use by qualified researchers.
Custodial History note
Gift of Lutah Maria Riggs, 1973. Additional materials gifted by M. A. Seamster in 1975, Marc Appleton in 2002, and Professor
Paul V. Turner in 2005.
Preferred Citation note
George Washington Smith papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California,
Santa Barbara.
Biographical/Historical note
Born in Pennsylvania on February 22, 1876, George Washington Smith began his education with the study of art and painting
at the Pennsylvania Academy of fine arts, and later attended Harvard University (1895-1987) where he studied architecture,
but never graduated. After leaving Harvard, Smith took a position supervising construction with Newman, Woodman and Harris,
but, unhappy with the work, left to join the Francis R. Welsh bond company, where he made enough money to retire to a life
of painting by 1912. After marrying, he travelled through Europe, eventually settling in Paris where he studied painting at
the Académie Julian of the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Smith and his wife left Europe in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I, and
settled in New York, where he continued to paint and exhibit his work. In 1915, Smith and his wife traveled to California
to see one of his paintings exhibited at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. While in California, the two decided
to take a trip to Santa Barbara. After seeing Santa Barbara, Smith and his wife made the decision to settle temporarily there
to wait out the war, until they could return to Europe. They rented a house in Montecito while Smith built a house for them,
later known as the Heberton house, designed to resemble the Spanish farmhouses he had seen in Europe. This house brought George
Washington Smith national attention when it appeared in the 1920 issue of
Architectural Forum. As his neighbors asked him to build similar houses for them, Smith developed an architectural practice, with the help of
Lutah Maria Riggs who joined his office in 1921. Smith became very well known nationally for his Spanish Colonial Revival
style. He continued to practice architecture in Santa Barbara until his death in 1930.
Scope and Content note
The George Washington Smith papers span 162 linear feet and date from circa 1912 to circa 1930. The collection contains architectural
drawings and reprographic copies, presentation boards, travel sketches and photographs, correspondence, specifications, project
progress reports, newspaper and magazine clippings, and financial records in the form of invoices, receipts, estimates, and
requisitions.
Related Archival Materials note
Lutah Maria Riggs papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California,
Santa Barbara.
Door frame from the Edward Heller house (Atherton, Calif.), Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture
Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Riggs, Lutah Maria, 1896-1984
Smith, George Washington, 1876-1930, American Architect
Smith, George Washington, 1876-1930, American Architect
Architects -- California
Architectural drawings
Architectural photographs
Architecture -- California -- 20th century
Architecture, Spanish Colonial -- California, Southern
Blueprints
Correspondence
Photographic prints
Sketches
Specifications
Personal Papers I.
1915-1925
Physical Description:
3.021 Linear feet
Scope and Contents
Personal Papers inlcudes portraits of George Washington Smith and images of his office.
Photographs A.
N.D.
Physical Description:
0.021 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 1
Smith, George Washington Office
N.D.
Box 1, Folder 2
Smith, George Washington Portraits
N.D.
Travel B.
1915-1925
Physical Description:
3.0 Linear feet
Box 19, Folder 722-727
"Andalucia" Volume III Photograph Album
1924
Box 19, Folder 736-740
"Churches" Volume IX Photograph Album
1924
Box 19, Folder 728-730
"Granada, Cordoba" Volume IV Photograph Album
1924
Box 19, Folder 731-735
"Ronda" Volume V Photograph Album
1924
Box 18, Folder 694-700
"Snapshots in Spain" Album #1 [George F. Steedman]
1923
Box 18, Folder 701-707
"Snapshots in Spain" Album #2 [George F. Steedman]
1923
Box 18, Folder 708-714
"Snapshots in Spain" Album #3 [George F. Steedman]
1923
Box 18, Folder 715-721
"Snapshots in Spain" Album #4 [George W. Smith]
1924-1925
Box 20, Folder 741-745
Spain, Volume I Photograph Album
1915, 1924
Box 20, Folder 746-751
Spain, Volume II Photograph Album
1924
Box 20, Folder 752-756
Spain [unnumbered album] Photograph Album
1924
Box 20, Folder 757-760
Spain [unnumbered album] Photograph Album
1924
Professional Papers II.
1924-1929
Physical Description:
0.084 Linear feet
Scope and Contents
The Professional Papers series is divided into three sub-series: Correspondence, Research Notes and Reference Files.
Correspondence A.
1925-1926
Physical Description:
0.021 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 3
Allied Architects Association of Los Angeles
1925-1926
Research Notes B.
N.D.
Physical Description:
0.021 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 4-5
Book Collection Inventory
N.D.
Reference Files C.
1924-1929
Physical Description:
0.042 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 6
Millwork Institute of California Service Bulletin
1924-1925
Box 1, Folder 7
Millwork Institute of California Service Bulletin
1926-1927;1929
Box 1, Folder 8
Vendor Product Specifications
N.D.
Office Records III.
1916-1932
Physical Description:
0.834 Linear feet
Scope and Contents
The Office Records series inlcudes materials related to the running of an office and the promotion of George Washington Smith's
architectural work.
Administrative A.
1924-1929
Physical Description:
0.042 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 9-10
Employment Applications
1924-1925
Box 1, Folder 11-12
Employment Applications
1926-1929
Correspondence B.
1922-1926
Physical Description:
0.042 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 13-15
Foreign Shipment of Spanish Antiques
1924-1926
FlatFile 221
Howard Studios Inc., European Architectural Details (includes measured drawings)
1922
Financial Records C.
1916-1930
Physical Description:
0.167
Box 1, Folder 16
Book Receipts and Book Dealer Invoices
1919-1926
Box 1, Folder 17-20
Costs, Estimates, and Requisitions by Project Number
1916-1930
Box 1, Folder 120a-120b
Invoices and Receipts
1924
Box 1, Folder 21
Office Expenses, March 16- July 12,
1929
Public Relations D.
1920-1930
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
Box 1, Folder 24
The American Architect
1927
Box 1, Folder 26
The Architect and Engineer
1925-1928
Box 1, Folder 27
Architectural Book Publishing Company
1926-1927
Box 1, Folder 28
The Architectural Clearing House (Dorothy Draper)
1926
Box 1, Folder 29
The Architectural Forum
1927
Box 1, Folder 30
Architectural Record
1924-1928
Box 1, Folder 32
Arts and Decoration
1925-1958
Box 1, Folder 33
Barker Brothers Studio
1926
Box 1, Folder 35
Brown, Frank Chouteau (Architect)
1927
Box 1, Folder 36
California Redwood Association
1926
Box 1, Folder 37
City Ornamental Iron Works
1927
Box 1, Folder 39
Craig, Maragaret (Photographer)
1926
Box 1, Folder 40
Direct Color Photo Company
1928
Box 1, Folder 42
The Furniture Record and The Furnisher
1925-1926
Box 1, Folder 43
The Furniture Reporter
1924
Box 1, Folder 44
Garden Magazine and Home Builder
1924-1925
Box 1, Folder 45
Gladding, McBean and Company
1926
Box 1, Folder 46
Good Housekeeping
1927-1930
Box 1, Folder 47
Gruen Berger, Arthur (Architect)
1925
Box 1, Folder 48
Harvard University, School of Architecture, G.H. Edgell
1927
Box 1, Folder 49
Hiller Studios (Photographer)
1926-1928
Box 1, Folder 50
Hollins, Marion
1925-1926
Box 1, Folder 51
House Beautiful
1923-1927
Box 1, Folder 52
Keith's Beautiful Homes
1925-1926
Box 1, Folder 53
Kent, William Winthrop
1920
Box 1, Folder 54
Klaber, John J. (Architect)
1926-1927
Box 1, Folder 56
Mead, Marcia (Consulting Architect, McCall's Magazine)
1925-1926
Box 1, Folder 58
Pacific Coast Architect
1925-1927
Box 1, Folder 59
Pickett, Barbara
1923-1924
Box 1, Folder 60
"Plans for Publication" Label and List
N.D.
Box 1, Folder 61
Princeton University, School of Architecture
1927-1928
Box 1, Folder 62
Riverside Portland Cement Company
1926
Box 1, Folder 63
Santa Barbara Community Arts Association
1926
Box 1, Folder 64
Sears, Margaret (Landscape Architect)
1927
Box 1, Folder 66
Smith, Mary Greenough Renaissance Gallery
1930-1932
Box 1, Folder 67
Southern Architect and Building News
1927
Box 1, Folder 68
Southern California Chapter, AIA, Exhibition, New York
1925
Box 1, Folder 70
Taack, De-Fry Nicholas Van
1925
Box 1, Folder 71
Tallmadge, Thomas E.
1927
Box 1, Folder 73
Town and Country
1925-1928
Box 1, Folder 74
Unidentified, Re: Holme, C. Geoffrey of Studio Magazine
1926
Box 1, Folder 75
University of Illinois, Dept. of Architecture, Rexford Newcomb
1925-1928
Box 1, Folder 76
Vogue and Vanity Fair
1926-1927
Box 1, Folder 77
Western Architect
1923-1925
Box 1, Folder 78
Western Horticulture
1928
Box 1, Folder 79
Youngstown Pressed Steel Company
1927
Drawer 491, FlatFile 73
Ajo Church; Ajo, Ariz.
1924-1925
Drawer 491, FlatFile 75
Ambassador Hotel; Santa Barbara, Calif.
1925
Drawer 491, FlatFile 389
Baxter, Frederick Residence; Santa Barbara, Calif.
1922
Drawer 491, FlatFile 399
Bryce, Peter Cooper Residence; Santa Barbara, Calif.
1925-1926
Drawer 491, FlatFile 400
Cameron, George T. Residence; Burlingame, Calif.
1925-1926
Drawer 492, FlatFile 211
Heimann, Mrs. Richard Residence; Burlingame, Calif.
1928-1929
Drawer 492, FlatFile 242
Johnson, Kirk B. Residence; Santa Barbara, Calif.
1927-1930
Drawer 492, FlatFile 402
Kaime, Alvah Residence; Pasadena, Calif.
1926
Drawer 492, FlatFile 251
Knight, Samuel Residence; Pebble Beach, Calif.
1922
Drawer 492, FlatFile 253
Little Town Club; Santa Barbara, Calif.
1928
Drawer 492, FlatFile 275
Maverick, Mrs. Robert Van Wyck Residence; San Antonio, Texas
1926-1928
Drawer 492, FlatFile 278
Moffet, Dr. Herbert Residence; Woodside, Calif.
1925-1926
Drawer 491, FlatFile 283
Ojai Hotel; Ojai, Calif.
1924
Drawer 491, FlatFile 290
Oviatt, E.A.; Santa Barbara, Calif.
1929
Drawer 491, FlatFile 401
Physician's Building (Mrs. Lee Graham); Santa Barbara, Calif.
1925-1926
Drawer 492, FlatFile 359
Thorne, James W. Residence; Santa Barbara, Calif.
1927
Clippings and or Scrapbooks E.
1920-1932
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
Box 2, Folder 80
List of Architectural Publications Relating to George Washington Smith
1922-1929
Box 2, Folder 81
"The American Country House", The Architectural Record, October
1920
Box 2, Folder 82
The Architectural Record, November
1925
Box 2, Folder 84
The Architect and Engineer, December
1924
Box 2, Folder 85
The Architect and Engineer, February
1925
Box 2, Folder 86
The Architect and Engineer, April
1926
Box 2, Folder 87
The Architect and Engineer, May
1929
FlatFile 390
"Architects suggest colorful types for State Street," Santa Barbara Daily News, July 18,
1925
Box 2, Folder 88
"Architecture with Personality", The Architect and Engineer, December
1922
Box 2, Folder 89
Brainard, Harry: House Beautiful, September
1924
Box 2, Folder 90
"California's War on Ugliness",The Saturday Evening Post, July
1926
Box 2, Folder 91
Courtney, Geoffrey Stewart: The Architect, August
1925
Box 2, Folder 92
Crocker, Mrs. Helen Irwin
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 93
Crocker, Mrs. Helen Irwin: The Architect, June
1929
Box 2, Folder 94
Cunningham, Mrs. Edward: The Architectural Record
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 95
Cunningham, Mrs. Edward Residence: California Southland
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 96
Cypress Point Golf and Country Club: California Arts and Architecture, June
1931
Box 2, Folder 97
"A Dialogue Which Touches Upon Mr. Smith's Architecture", Architect and Engineer, July
1924
Box 2, Folder 98
"From California - Modern Domestic Architecture", Arts and Decoration
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 99
Gavit, Palmere: House and Garden, December
1927
Box 2, Folder 101
Heberton, Craig: The Architect, February
1924
Box 2, Folder 102
Heberton, Craig:The Architectural Record, May
1924
Box 2, Folder 103
Heberton, Craig: The House Beautiful
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 104
House and Garden, April
1925
Box 2, Folder 105
"Houses Showing a Distinguished Simplicity", Arts and Decoration, October
1930
Box 2, Folder 107
Johnson, Kirk B.: Architect and Engineer, June
1930
Box 2, Folder 108
Johnson, Kirk B.: The Architectural Forum, April
1932
Box 2, Folder 110
Kern, Henry: The Architect, August
1928
Box 2, Folder 111
Lobero Theater: The Architectural Forum
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 112
Lobero Theater: Architectural Forum, September
1922
Box 2, Folder 113
Lobero Theatre: Scribners, November
1922
Box 2, Folder 114
Magee, John: California Arts and Architecture, August
1929
Box 2, Folder 115
Maravilla Company: The Architectural Record, October
1922
Box 2, Folder 116
Maravilla Company: Country Life, September
1924
Box 2, Folder 117
Maravilla Company: Residences A-D at Arbolada
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 118
"Mary Pickford - Student of Architecture", Pacific Coast Architect, December
1927
Box 2, Folder 119
Osthoff, Otto E.: The Architectural Record, November
1927
Box 2, Folder 120
Parshall, Dewitt: The Architect, February
1924
Box 2, Folder 121
Santa Barbara Cemetary Association: The Architect, March
1928
FlatFile 391
Santa Barbara Cemetary Association: Santa Barbara Daily News, October 11,
1924
Box 2, Folder 122
Santa Barbara Daily News Building: The Architect, August
1925
Box 2, Folder 123
Santa Barbara Daily News Building: The Architectural Record, May
1924
Box 2, Folder 124
Smith, George Washington: Biographical
1926
Box 2, Folder 125
Smith, George Washington Residence 1: The Architect and Engineer
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 126
Smith, George Washington Residence 2
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 127
Smith, George Washington Residence 2: The Architect, February
1924
Box 2, Folder 128
Smith, George Washington Residence 2: The Architectural Record, November
1923
Box 2, Folder 129
Smith, George Washington Residence 2: The Architectural Record, November
1925
Box 2, Folder 130
Smith, George Washington Residence 2: The House Beautiful, January
1922
Box 2, Folder 131
Smith, George Washington Residence 2: Vogue, August 1
1927
Box 2, Folder 132
"Some Spanish Residences in Southern California...", The Western Architect, May
1922
Box 2, Folder 133
"Some Work of George Washington Smith", Architectural Forum, August
1921
Box 2, Folder 134
"Spanish Atmosphere", Pacific Coast Architecture, May
1926
Box 2, Folder 135
Steedman, George F.: The Architectural Record, November
1926
FlatFile 390
"A Street in Spain," Santa Barbara Daily News, May 20,
1922
Box 2, Folder 136
"Stucco Houses- East and West", Arts and Decoration, December
1925
Box 2, Folder 137
"Two Houses in California", The House Beautiful, June
1926
Box 2, Folder 138
Vincent, Mrs. Arthur Rose: The Architect, July
1925
Box 2, Folder 139
Vincent, Mrs. Arthur Rose: The Architectural Record, November
1926
Box 2, Folder 140
Vincent, Mrs. Arthur Rose: Arts and Decoration, October
1925
Box 2, Folder 141
Vincent, Mrs. Arthur Rose: Better Homes- Modes and Manners, February/March
1927
Box 2, Folder 142
Vincent, Mrs. Arthur Rose: Country Life
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 143
Vincent, Mrs. Arthur Rose: Game and Gossip
N.D.
Box 2, Folder 144
Wright, Irving: The Architectural Record
N.D.
Reports F.
1922-1930
Physical Description:
0.083 Linear feet
Box 2, Folder 146
Project Progress Reports
1922-1923
Box 2, Folder 147-149
Project Progress Reports
1927-1928
Box 2, Folder 150
Time Spent on Various Projects
1922-1930
Project Records IV.
1916-1932
creator:
Riggs, Lutah Maria, 1896-1984
creator:
Smith, George Washington, 1876-1930, American Architect
Scope and Contents
The Project Records contain the documents realted to the design and construction of buildings. The series is divided into
six sub-series: Lists, General Details and Specifications, Files, Photographs, Drawings, and Building Materials.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Riggs, Lutah Maria, 1896-1984
Smith, George Washington, 1876-1930, American Architect
Lists A.
1920-1930
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
Scope and Contents
The Project List subseries includes lists generated by George Washington Smith or his office in the process of buidling and
designing buildings.
Box 2, Folder 151
Index of Projects by Project Number
1922-1930
Box 2, Folder 152-154
Index to Working Drawings (by Client Name)
1923-1930
Box 2, Folder 155-161
Record of Blueprints (By Job Number 132-307; Riggs; Office Building)
1920-1929
General Details and Specifications B.
Circa 1928
Physical Description:
0.33 Linear feet
Scope and Contents
The Project General Details and Specifications includes drawings of architectural details and specifications for construction
that were created by George Washington Smith's office. These materials are not tied to a specific project but
Box 2, Folder 162
General Specifications
1928
Box 2, Folder 163-165
Office Details Volume I
N.D.
Box 2-3, Folder 166-169
Office Details Volume II
N.D.
Box 3, Folder 170-173
Office Details Volume III
N.D.
Files C.
1920-1930
Physical Description:
15.0 Linear feet
Note
see Project Index
Building Materials F.
N.D.
