Archives West Finding Aid

Plan book of blueprints of architectural drawings of residential homes designed by Universal Plan Service in Seattle, Washington located on Dexter Street. The name was originally Thomas & Totty and was changed around 1929. There does not seem to be a relationship with the Portland, Oregon firm named Universal Plan which started in 1926. House illustration drawings and plans from the (Seattle) firm appeared in "The Home Builders" column in the Seattle Times quite often from 1928-1930. Both firms produced plan books that allowed the public to be able to have individually designed houses for a low fee. They created a large number of stock plans and published plan books. Plan books became very popular and were used by people across the country. This work had a significant impact on the urban landscape by creatings buildings that the middle class could afford.