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Thomas Wilson Williamson

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Thomas Wilson Williamson (August 4, 1887 – November 16, 1974) was a Kansas architect who specialized in designing school buildings in Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri.

Thomas W. Williamson
Born(1887-08-04)August 4, 1887
Hiawatha, Kansas
DiedNovember 16, 1974(1974-11-16) (aged 87)
NationalityUnited States
OccupationArchitect
PracticeThomas W. Williamson;
Thomas W. Williamson & Company;
Thomas W. Williamson, Victor H. Loebsack & Associates;
Williamson-Loebsack & Associates
The Cheyenne County Courthouse in St. Francis, designed by Thomas W. Williamson & Company and completed in 1925.
Topeka High School, designed by Theodore R. Griest for Thomas W. Williamson & Company and completed in 1931.

Life and career

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He was born August 4, 1887 in Hiawatha, Kansas.[1] He graduated from Topeka High School in 1907. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with an A.B. degree from its school of architecture and returned to Kansas in 1911.[2] He worked briefly for the Kansas state architect's office and for one year for architect John F. Stanton (whose El Dorado Carnegie Library is NRHP-listed). He then opened his own practice in 1912.[3][2]: 33 

He practiced architecture for more than 50 years, designing schools and courthouses in Kansas and neighboring U.S. states. A number of his works were listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places for their architecture.[4] Firm names including him operated as Thomas W. Williamson and Company, as Thomas W. Williamson, Victor H. Loebsack & Associates, and later as Williamson-Loebsack & Associates. The firm grew to a size of 46 architects, draftsmen, engineers and other specialists.[2]

He designed schools,[5] courthouses[2] and the Jayhawk Theater and linked hotel in Topeka in 1926.[6]

Williamson grew up in Topeka, Kansas[1] and is best known for designing Topeka High School, a magnificent Perpendicular Gothic public high school, completed in 1931. Assisting Williamson was his chief designer Theodore R. Griest, and Linus Burr Smith from Kansas State College (now Kansas State University) to oversee the plans.

Williamson and Griest also designed Clay Elementary School (now Cair Paravel-Latin School), which was completed in 1926.

Works

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Works include (with attribution to self or firm):

References

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  1. ^ a b Thomas Wilson Williamson - Kansas Memory - Kansas Historical Society Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  2. ^ a b c d Sally F. Schwenk (2002). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Historic County Courthouses of Kansas" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Dana Cloud and Sally F. Schwenk (April 30, 2000). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Cheyenne County Courthouse". National Park Service. and accompanying 11 photos
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. ^ Brenda R. Spencer (2005). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Historic Public Schools of Kansas" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Elizabeth Rosin, Dale Nimz, and Kristen Ottesen (2004). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Historic Theaters and Opera Houses of Kansas" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved March 11, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Bibliography

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  • William Elsey Connelley, History of Kansas, State and People, (1928)
  • United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places submission for Topeka High School, Shawnee County, Kansas, (22 April 2005)
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