Charles Stevens Dilbeck collection

Collection

Identifier: DILB

Scope and Content of the collection

Charles Stevens Dilbeck drawings consists of Project Records. 907 architectural drawings, representing 191 projects, document the career of Dallas architect, Charles Stevens Dilbeck (1907-1990). 788 digital scans of Dilbeck's work were donated along with the original drawings. There are specifications for 18 projects in the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1929-1969

Creator

Dilbeck, Charles Stevens, 1907-1990 (contributor, Person)

Policies Governing Use and Access

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This collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using archival materials. As all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site, advance notice of at least three working days is required for retrieval. Certain items may require additional time for flattening or humidifying before they can be viewed. Access is by appointment only. Please contact the archives' reference staff for further information.

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasions of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person).

The Alexander Architectural Archives operate in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and regulations, providing unrestricted access to university records not covered by state and federal right to privacy acts.

The Alexander Architectural Archives, The University of Texas Libraries, and The University of Texas at Austin, assume no responsibility for infringement of literary property rights and copyright or for liability to any person for defamation or invasion of privacy that results from a researcher's use of collections.

Researchers agree to indemnify and hold harmless The University of Texas at Austin, and their officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of collections held by the libraries. Please alert staff if anything inappropriate is found during research.

Copyright interests in this collection may not have been transferred to the University of Texas. Researchers assume full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply. Additionally, the public use of material must be cited. See citation information below.

Biographical Sketch of Charles Stevens Dilbeck (1907-1990)

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Charles Stevens Dilbeck was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1907. He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of eight. As a boy, he gained drafting experience by working with his father, who built apartments and churches. Dilbeck attended Oklahoma A & M for two years before leaving school to open an architecture practice in Tulsa in 1929. He relocated his office to Dallas in 1932 to capitalize on Texas oil wealth during the Depression. Dilbeck worked with George Marble briefly until he established a clientele that allowed him to open his own office.

From the 1930s through the 1960s, Charles Dilbeck built numerous French farmhouses and Ranch houses in Dallas, particularly in the Preston Hollow and Park Cities neighborhoods. The Harder residence (1937) and the Griffith residence (1934) demonstrate Dilbeck's range during this period of his career. He was adept at designing romantic cottages, drawing from French and Irish vernacular architecture as well as early Texas structures. Dilbeck was particularly noted for his development of the Texas Ranch house, adapting the prevalent residential style to suit North Texas.

In 1939, the Ford Foundation brought Dilbeck into a partnership with Norman Bel Geddes to design prefabricated housing. Unfortunately the plans to mass produce homes was cancelled due to World War II, as Ford had to generate military vehicles.

Dilbeck designed hundreds of houses during his long career, contributing significantly to the residential environment in Dallas and the surrounding area. In addition to his single-family homes, he built a number of apartment buildings, hotels, shopping centers, and country clubs. Charles Dilbeck and his wife, Doris, had three children, Elaine, Steve, and Donald. Charles Dilbeck retired in 1970 and died in 1990.

Partial Extent

907 drawings

Partial Extent

5 cds

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Charles Stevens Dilbeck (1907-1990) designed hundreds of houses during his long career, contributing significantly to the residential environment in Dallas and the surrounding area. In addition to his single-family homes, he built a number of apartment buildings, hotels, shopping centers, and country clubs. The collection consists of architectural drawings and specifications.

References to works by or about Charles Stevens Dilbeck

Armstrong, Allyson and Laura Flores. Discover Dallas! "Charles Stevens Dilbeck." Preservation Dallas, https://preservationdallas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Discover-Dallas-neighborhood-directory.pdf
Bonini, Charlotte D. Preservation Nation: Historic preservation news, networking, and know-how. "Charles Stevens Dilbeck: The Tulsa Homes (exposed!)." National Trust for Historic Preservation, http://blogs.nationaltrust.org/preservationnation/?p=666
Dilbeck, Charles Stevens and Alan Mason. Interview of Charles Dilbeck. [S.l : s.n., 1979?]. "Recorded September 20, 1979." Transcript of sound recording.
Dillon, David and Doug Tomlinson. Dallas Architecture, 1936-1986. Austin: Texas Monthly Press, 1985.
Good, R. Lawrence. "Charles Steven Dilbeck." Texas Architect 39 (1989): 50.
Henry, Jay C. Architecture in Texas, 1895-1945. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993.
Patterson, Jann. Charles Dilbeck: The Romantic Eclectic. Dallas: Preservation Dallas, 2006.
Preservation Dallas. Preservation Dallas Presents Homes of Charles Stevens Dilbeck: A Private Tour. Dallas: Preservation Dallas, 1997.
Preservation Dallas. The Oak Cliff houses of Charles Stevens Dilbeck. Dallas: Preservation Dallas, 2000.
Walton, John Brooks. The Architecture of Charles Stevens Dilbeck. Tulsa: JBW Publication, 2006.