University of Texas Buildings collection
Scope and Content of the collection
The University of Texas Buildings Collection consists of approximately 10,000 architectural drawings in addition to 164 linear feet of manuscript material. The primary bulk of the material consists of that which Robert Leon White generated during his tenure as the University's Supervising Architect (1924-1958). These records encompass the University of Texas at Austin as well as buildings from other University of Texas System campuses, such as the Medical Branch at Galveston. The Collection holds original drawings for buildings that no longer exist, or for changes in interior or exterior design that have been superceded in later years. The Collection contains prints (not original drawings) for extant buildings, but by no means includes every building represented within the University System. The papers of the University's Supervising Architect's Office include extensive correspondence, specifications, Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant applications, shop drawings, and construction photographs.
The oldest drawings in the collection are for the Old Main Building and date from 1882. The building campaign of the 1930s, during which time the University constructed 17 buildings funded by oil money and WPA funds, is comprehensively documented. The period after World War II is not as well represented in this collection. Documents are continually being transferred from the relevant departments to this collection although no formal records management schedule is in place.
Material was transferred from both the Center for American History (formerly the Barker Texas History Center) and the Architectural and Engineering Services of the UT Austin Physical Plant. Related material on UT buildings can be found in the following collections within the Architectural Drawings Collection: Ayres and Ayres Records; Paul Philippe Cret Drawings; Greene LaRoche and Dahl Records; Donald Nelson Papers and Frederick Ruffini Papers. Important material related to the building campaign of the 1920s and 1930s may be found in the William Battle Papers at the Center for American History. The papers of Cass Gilbert at the New York Historical Society also contain important materials relating to the history of the campus.
Current records and architectural drawings (including as-built documents) are maintained by Architectural and Engineering Services of the Physical Plant Division at The University of Texas at Austin and the Facilities Planning and Construction Division of The University of Texas System Office.
Dates
- Creation: 1882-2022
Creator
- University of Texas at Austin (contributor, Organization)
Policies Governing Use and Access
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.
Administrative History of the University Supervising Architect's Office
The 1876 Constitution of Texas provided for the establishment of a state university. It was not until 1881, however, that an election was held to determine the location of this public institution. The cornerstone for the first University building was laid on November 17, 1882 on College Hill in Austin, Texas and the first classes were held the following fall in the unfinished west wing of the new building. The "Old Main" Building, demolished in 1933, was only the first in a long succession of building campaigns that have continued to this day.
The University hired architects as needed to design individual buildings in a variety of eclectic styles from 1882 through the turn of the century. Included among these architects were James O'Connor; Coughlin and Ayres; Cass Gilbert; and Frederick Mann. Cass Gilbert, however, was the first architect to receive the title of "University Architect," serving from 1910 until his dismissal in 1922. Under pressure to hire a Texas architect, the University appointed the Dallas firm of Herbert M. Greene as university architect in 1922 with a ten year contract, but in 1923 named James M. White as "University Consulting Architect" to develop a comprehensive master development plan for future construction on the campus. Shortly thereafter, Robert Leon White, a professor in the School of Architecture, was named as the University's "Supervising Architect" in 1924.
The University operated under this team approach with one or more consulting architects and a staff supervising architect until 1968. Subsequent consulting architects included Harbeson, Hough Livingston and Larson of Philadelphia; Mark Lemmon of Dallas; Page, Southerland and Page of Austin; and Jessen, Jessen, Millhouse and Greeven of Austin. Since the late 1960s, the University has hired individual architects for the design of campus buildings with the work coordinated through the Facilities Planning and Construction Division of the University of Texas System Office.
1882 Cornerstone for first building laid on College Hill
1882-1909 Architects hired as needed for individual buildings, including James O'Connor, Cass Gilbert, Coughlin and Ayres, and Frederick Mann
1910-1922 First University Architect -- Cass Gilbert
1922- University Architect -- Herbert M. Greene (10 year contract)
1923- University Consulting Architect James M White hired to create a comprehenseive master development plan
1933 Old Main demolished
1924-1958 Supervising Architect -- Robert Leon White
1924-1968 Team approach with one or more consulting architects and a staff supervising architect
1968- Individual architects coordinated through the Facilities Planning and Construction Division of the University of Texas System Office
Biographical Sketch of Robert Leon White
Robert Leon White (1898-1964) was born near Cooper, Texas and graduated as valedictorian from Cooper High School in 1916 before attending the North Texas State Normal School during the summer of 1917. In 1918, he entered the University of Texas and completed his Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1921 after serving in the infantry during World War I. He subsequently worked for several architectural firms in San Antonio, including Ralph Cameron and Phelps and DeWees before returning to the University of Texas for a masters degree in 1923. His thesis, completed in 1930, was a study of the Mission San Joseph de San Miguel de Aguago.(known as Mission San Jose). He married Viola Baker of Austin in 1922.
While attending graduate school at The University of Texas, he also served as instructor and adjunct professor. In 1924, he was appointed to the newly created post of "supervising architect" for the University wherein he coordinated the University's largest building campaign during the 1930s. Among the many buildings erected at this time were the Main Building, Goldsmith Hall, Home Economics, the Texas Union, and Hogg Auditorium. He served as supervising architect for the University until 1958.
In addition to his work for the University, White was responsible for the design of other important structures in Texas including the Central Christian Church in Austin (1928); the Masonic Grand Lodge Temple in Waco (1948); and numerous structures for the John Sealy Hospital in Galveston (1928-1937). Robert Leon White died on July 28, 1964.
Partial Extent
164 Linear Feet
Partial Extent
10000 drawings
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The University of Texas Buildings collection consists of architectural drawings and manuscript material documenting buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus and from other University of Texas System campuses. The Collection includes original drawings and prints for buildings that no longer exist, or for changes in interior or exterior design that have been superseded in later years. The majority of the collection consists of records generated by Robert Leon White during his tenure as the University's Supervising Architect (1924-1958).
Other Finding Aids
Unpublished inventory in Archive.
References (1924-1958) to works by or about University Supervising Architect's Office
- Alexander, Drury B. "An Architect's Eye View."Alcalde (March 1961).
- Battle, William J. "A Concise History of the University of Texas, 1883-1950."The Southwestern Historical Quarterly (April 1951).
- Battle, William James. The Construction Program of the University of Texas. Austin: n.p., 1935
- Berry, Margaret Catherine. A Pictoral Account of its First Century. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1980.
- Cret, Paul Philippe. Report Accompanying the General Plan of Development. Austin: n.p., January 1933.
- Halton, Cheryl. "Battle Hall." Alcalde (July/August 1978): p. 15.
- Harris, August Watkins. "Cass Gilbert's Old Library Building: The Eugene C. Barker Texas History Center, 1910-1960." Southwestern Historical Quarterly (July 1960): p. 1.
- McMichael, Carol Louise. Paul Philippe Cret at the University of Texas: A Study of Style, Patronage and the Communication of the Universitys Image. Austin: University of Texas Thesis, 1979.
- Payne, Elwood. The University of Texas in Portrait: 1939. Austin: W.C. Dunn, 1938
- Reese, Carol McMichael. Paul Cret at Texas: Architectural Drawing and the Image of the University in the 1930's. Austin: Archer M. Huntington Art Gallery, College of Fine Arts, 1983.
- Speck, Lawrence. Landmarks of Texas Architecture. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1986.
- Williamson, Roxanne Kuter. A History of the Campus and Buildings of the University of Texas with Emphasis on the Sources for the Architectural Style. University of Texas Report, 1965.
Processing Information
Collection contains unprocessed oversized flat material. This collection is not completely processed because acquisitions are ongoing.
Collection Processors
Knight, 1982; Means, 1998; Vasquez, 1998; Patel, 1999; Kam, 1999; Kammerer, 2000.
Subject
- White, Robert Leon, 1898-1964 (contributor, Person)
- Paul Philippe Cret (contributor, Person)
- University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (contributor, Organization)
- Title
- University of Texas Buildings collection
- Date
- 2003
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Alexander Architectural Archives Repository
University of Texas Libraries
101 E. 21st Street
Austin Texas 78712 United States
(512) 495-4621
apl-aaa@lib.utexas.edu