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George A. Applegarth Collection, ca. 1917-1919
1956-3
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Title: George A. Applegarth Collection,
Date (inclusive): ca. 1917-1919
Collection number: 1956-3
Creator:
Applegarth, George A., 1876-1972
Extent:
2 boxes, 4 card file boxes, 4 oversize folders, 1 tube
Repository:
Environmental Design Archives.
University of California, Berkeley.
Berkeley, California.
Abstract: The collection documents the architectural work of George A. Applegarth, with a focus on his work in Clyde, California.
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research.
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the
Curator.
[Identification of item], George A. Applegarth Collection, (1956-3), Environmental Design Archives. University of California,
Berkeley. Berkeley, California.
The collection was donated in 1956.
George A. Applegarth, (1876-1972)
George A. Applegarth was born October 4, 1876 in Oakland, California. He began his professional career as a draughtsman for
his uncle George Sanders, of the architectural firm Wright & Sanders in San Francisco. After studying at the University of
California, Berkeley under Bernard Maybeck, and at his encouragement, Applegarth attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts, where
he was a member of La Loux atelier, and received his diploma in 1906.
Upon his return to the United States, he formed a partnership with Kenneth MacDonald in an architectural firm, which lasted
for six years, after which time Applegarth practiced on his own. Applegarth's career comprised over forty projects, including
the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, the Clift Hotel, residential and commercial projects for the Spreckles family,
and the town of Clyde, California. He was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He died in 1972.
Applegarth's most recognizable project is the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, which was financed by Adolph and Alma
de Brettville Spreckles and presented to the city of San Francisco in 1924. He also designed several other commercial and
residential projects for the Spreckles family. Clyde, California was a company town built for the employees of the Pacific
Coast Shipbuilding Company and funded through a U.S. government loan. Applegarth prepared the plans for the town for funding
purposes and was the architect of the project. During the Clyde project he worked with Bernard Maybeck, who was hired as
the supervising architect to oversee the government's interests. As the plans for the project were generally completed prior
to the hiring of Maybeck, the project layout is more the work of Applegarth, with the influence of Maybeck coming in later
designs and improvements.
Sources:
Applegarth, Katherine. "Reflections on my Grandfather." term paper, University of California, Santa Barbara, n.d.
Applegarth, Katherine. "Reflections on my Grandfather." term paper, University of California, Santa Barbara, n.d.
Cardwell, Kenneth H. "Bernard Maybeck: Artisan, Architect, Artist." Santa Barbara, CA: Peregrine Smith, Inc., 1977.
The George A. Applegarth papers focus on the construction of Clyde, California, a residential and commercial development for
the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company. The collection is important for documenting both the planning and growth of company
towns, and the construction of low cost housing. The collection contains no personal papers, and very few papers on other
projects.
Series I. Town of Clyde is the largest series in the collection. It includes the files of the project, specifications, photographs,
and drawings. The files include correspondence between Applegarth, Maybeck, and the Clyde Company, which was the subsidiary
of the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company responsible for the construction of the town. The series documents the planning
of the town and the construction of the hotel and residences. The drawings include blueprints for commercial buildings which
were not constructed.
Series II. Additional Donations contains a donation of photographs of the Clyde Hotel taken after the building was no longer
in use, drawings of an Applegarth commercial project located at Two Pine Street, San Francisco, and one blueprint of the California
Palace of the Legion of Honor.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Architects--California.
Architecture--California.
Company towns.
Clyde (Calif.)
California Palace of the Legion of Honor.
Maybeck, Bernard R., 1862-1957.
Bernard Maybeck Collection
Identifier/Call Number: 1956-1
Contributing Institution: Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley
Title: George A. Applegarth papers
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 73/43
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Title: George A. Applegarth photographs
Identifier/Call Number: BANC PIC 1973.032--PIC
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Title: Views of San Francisco residences and office buildings designed by George Adrian Applegarth
Identifier/Call Number: BANC PIC 1977.062--fALB
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA