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Morris H. Whitehouse architectural photographs collection, 1906-1975

Overview of the Collection

Title
Morris H. Whitehouse architectural photographs collection
Dates
1906-1975 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.14 cubic feet, (Approx. 1,600 photographs, 585 negatives, 10 slides, and 26 works of art in 5 document boxes and 4 oversize boxes)
Collection Number
Org. Lot 321
Summary
This photographs collection documents much of the work of Morris H. Whitehouse (1878-1944), a Portland, Or.-based architect whose firms and successors operated for 77 years, making it the longest operating architectural firm in Oregon history. The images, dating from, 1911-1975, include construction progress photographs and exterior and interior views of buildings designed by Whitehouse and successor firms primarily in Oregon, but a few in Washington and Idaho.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
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Historical Note

Morris H. Whitehouse (1878-1944) was a prominent Portland, Or.-based architect whose firms and successors designed hundreds of projects in the Pacific Northwest from 1907 through 1985. Whitehouse, who was born in Portland to Benjamin Gardner and Clara (Homans) Whitehouse, studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After his graduation in 1905, he won the first Guy Lowell Traveling Fellowship in architecture ever awarded by MIT. Whitehouse used this award to continue his studies at the American Academy in Rome, Italy, in 1906-1907. He returned to Portland, Or., and in 1907 opened his office.

The following year, Whitehouse formed a partnership with engineer Bruce R. Honeyman, and in 1909 became a member of the firm of Lazarus, Whitehouse & Fouilhoux. This firm later became known as Whitehouse & Fouilhoux. During the years before World War I, the firm designed several significant Portland, Or., buildings, including Lincoln High School and the University Club. The war caused the dissolution of Whitehouse & Fouilhoux, and associate Jacques André Fouilhoux (1879-1945) went on to become a successful New York City-based architect after serving in the military.

During the early 1920s, Whitehouse practiced under the firm name of Morris H. Whitehouse, Architect. In 1926, the name was changed to Morris H. Whitehouse & Associates after he established a partnership with A. Glenn Stanton and Walter E. Church. Significant projects from this period include Temple Beth Israel, the United States Courthouse, and Multnomah Civic Stadium in Portland, Or. In 1932, the firm became known as Whitehouse, Stanton & Church, but Stanton left to start his own firm in 1935. In 1936, Whitehouse & Church lost a competition to design the new Oregon State Capitol, but they supervised its construction, which was completed in 1938. The firm designed the Oregon State Library, which was completed in 1939.

After Earl P. Newberry and Frank Roehr became partners, the firm name changed to Whitehouse, Church, Newberry & Roehr in 1942. Whitehouse died in 1944, and the name was changed to Church, Newberry & Roehr in 1949. The firm that had been established by Whitehouse continued with various changes in partners and names until 1985.

Whitehouse was active in the Portland Architectural Club, served as director and president of the Oregon Chapter, American Institute of Architects, and on the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners, 1919-1930.

The following list contains the names and dates in chronological order of Whitehouse and successor firms:

1908-1909
Whitehouse & Honeyman, Architects
1909-1911
Lazarus, Whitehouse & Fouilhoux, Architects
1910-1920
Whitehouse & Fouilhoux, Architects
1920-1925
Morris H. Whitehouse, Architect
1926-1931
Morris H. Whitehouse & Associates, Architects
1932-1935
Whitehouse, Stanton & Church, Architects
1935-1942
Whitehouse & Church, Architects
1943-1949
Whitehouse, Church, Newberry & Roehr, Architects
1949-1957
Church, Newberry & Roehr, Architects
1957-1961
Newberry, Roehr & Schuette, Architects
1961-1966
Newberry, Roehr & Schuette, Architects
1966-1971
Newberry & Schuette, Architects
1971-1975
Newberry, Schuette & Associates, Architects
1975-1985
Schuette & Wheeler, Architects

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Content Description

The photographs document much of the work of Morris H. Whitehouse (1878-1944), Portland, Oregon-based architect whose firms and successors operated for 77 years, making it the longest lived architectural firm in Oregon history. The images (1911-1975) include construction progress photographs and exterior and interior views of buildings designed by Whitehouse and successor firms primarily in Oregon, but a few in Washington and Idaho. Many images from the 1920s through 1940s were made by renowned architectural photographer Walter Boychuk and offer superior documentation of such buildings as the Oregon State Capitol and Library in Salem. A few portraits of Morris Whitehouse and Walter E. Church, a principal member of several Whitehouse firms, are included in the collection. The collection also incorporates several works of art produced by Whitehouse while studying and traveling in Europe on a fellowship from the Massachusetts Institute of Techonology, 1906-1907.

The mounted black-and-white Boychuk photographs feature several signature Whitehouse projects, including Temple Beth Israel (1926-1927), First Presbyterian Church (1928), Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist (1932), and Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse (1932-1933), all in Portland, Or., and the Oregon State Capitol (ca. 1939), and Oregon State Library (1939) in Salem. Construction progress photographs, many taken by professional studios, document the Portland Civic Auditorium (1916-1917), Multnomah Civic Stadium (1926), the Oregon State Capitol (1936-1938), and the Oregon State Library (1938-1939). Many of the photographs from the early 1950s through the early 1970s also detail construction on various projects. The photographs include very few examples of residential design, although the Whitehouse firms did extensive residential work.

The works of art produced by Morris Whitehouse in 1906-1907 include pencil sketches and watercolors of scenes and historic structures in France, Great Britain, and Italy. The collection includes one drawing of a church interior by Walter E. Church (1926), and a photograph titled “Artisans,” probably by Albert Jordan (1926).

Other photographers represented in this collection include Columbia Commercial Stduio, Photo-Art Commercial Studio

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Morris H. Whitehouse architectural photographs collection, Org. Lot 321, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series:

  • Series A: Architectural photographs and portraits, 1911-1975
  • Series B: Works of art, 1906-1926

Acquisition Information

Library accession no. 17100 (Photo accession no. 1984D146) and Library accession no. 18517 (Photo accession no. 1987D071).

Processing Note

Photographic prints were made from some original negatives at the Oregon Historical Society in 2004 to improve access to the collection.

Separated Materials

The Morris H. Whitehouse Architectural Collection, Mss 3007, is located in the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Manuscripts Collection.

Bibliography

Ritz, Richard Ellison. Architects of Oregon: A Biographical Dictionary of Architects Deceased—19th and 20th Centuries. Portland, Or.: Lair Hill Publishing, 2002.

Related Materials

William Bassett Photographs Collection (Org. Lot 473), Oregon Historical Society Research Library. The collection include photographs of the construction of the Oregon State Capitol, a project which involved Whitehouse & Church, Architects.

Walter Boychuk Photographs Collection (Org. Lot 977), Oregon Historical Society Research Library. Walter Boychuk photographed several buildings, including the Gus Solomon Courthouse and Oregon State Library, which were designed by various Whitehouse firms.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architects--Photographs.
  • Church architecture--Photographs.

Personal Names

  • Whitehouse, Morris H., 1878-1944.

Corporate Names

  • Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse (Portland, Or.)--Photographs.
  • Oregon State Capitol (Salem, Or. : 1938- )--Photographs.
  • Oregon State Library--Photographs.
  • Portland Civic Auditorium (Portland, Or.)--Photographs.
  • Temple Beth Israel (Portland, Or.)--Photographs.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Negatives.
  • Photographic prints.
  • Slides.
  • Works of art.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Boychuk, Walter, 1886-1967. (photographer)

    Corporate Names

    • Acme Commercial Studio (Portland, Or.). (photographers)
    • Columbia Commercial Studio (Portland, Or.). (photographers)
    • Photo Art Studios. (photographers)

Finding aid prepared by Andrew N. Bryans
2004

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