Welton Davis Becket (1902- ) was a Los Angeles based architect with Becket, Wurdeman, and Plummer (later renamed Welton Becket and Associates) - one of the largest firms in Los Angeles with building credits throughout the world. He also served as the Master Planner and Supervising Architect for UCLA from 1949 to 1969. After Becket's death, the firm continued under the same name, directed by his nephew, MacDonald Becket. Around 1985, the firm was acquired by Ellerbe Incorporated to become Ellerbe Becket. The collection consists of photographs related to the work of the Welton Becket & Associates architectural firm. Most of the photographs represent projects in and around the Los Angeles area and include examples of both residential and commercial buildings with interior and exterior views.

Welton Davis Becket was born in Seattle, Washington, on August 8, 1902; BA, Architecture, University of Washington, (1927), with one year of graduate study at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Fontainebleau, France, (1928); partnered with Walter Wurdeman and Charles Plummer under the name Becket, Wurdeman, and Plummer in 1933; following Plummer's death in 1939 and Wurdeman's death in 1949, Becket continued the firm as Welton Becket and Associates, serving as President (1949-68) and Chairman of the Board (1968) until his death in 1969; served as Master Planner and Supervising Architect, UCLA, 1949-69; Becket's philosophy of total design, embracing all requirements demanded of architectural design, became integral to the firm; the firm's designs are not identified with a particular style, but are individual to each client; the firm was one of the largest firms in Los Angeles with building credits throughout the world, including: Pan Pacific Auditorium (with Wurdeman, 1934), Beverly Hilton Hotel (1955), Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles Music Center (1964), Gulf Life Tower, Florida (1967), Xerox Square, New York (1968), several Bullock's Department Stores in California (1951-77), and various UCLA campus structures (1958-70); after Becket's death, the firm continued under the same name, directed by his nephew, MacDonald Becket; around 1985, the firm was acquired by Ellerbe Incorporated to become Ellerbe Becket.

62 boxes (31.0 linear ft.)

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