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Morris H. Whitehouse Architectural Collection, circa 1905-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Whitehouse, Morris H., 1878-1944
Title
Morris H. Whitehouse Architectural Collection
Dates
circa 1905-1974 (inclusive)
circa 1905-1950 (bulk)
Quantity
98 linear ft. architectural drawings, (241 projects—approximately 6,476 architectural drawings in 345 oversize folders)
9.5 linear ft records, (19 document cases)
Collection Number
Mss 3007
Summary
The collection documents much of the work of Morris H. Whitehouse (1878-1944), Portland, Or.-based architect whose firms and successors operated for 77 years, making it the longest lived architectural firm in Oregon history. The collection consists of architectural drawings (circa 1905-1974), including details, elevations, perspectives, plans, sections, sketches, tracings, and blueprints that trace the design development of hundreds of residential, commercial and government projects. The collection also contains records (circa 1910-1969), including contracts, correspondence, estimates, invoices, notes, and specifications. Many records correspond with sets of architectural drawings and provide detailed historic overviews of an assortment of jobs, particularly residences. The majority of the drawings and records in the collection are connected with projects in Portland, Or. Some jobs are included from various cities and towns in Oregon and Washington state. The collection also includes a small amount of Whitehouse's early personal papers (circa 1905-1919).
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

Collection is open for research.

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 (M.I.T.). After his graduation in 1905, he won the first Guy Lowell Traveling Fellowship in architecture ever awarded by M.I.T. 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.

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 collection documents 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 collection consists of architectural drawings (circa 1905-1974), including details, elevations, perspectives, plans, sections, sketches, tracings, and blueprints that trace the design development of hundreds of residential, commercial and government projects. The collection also contains records (circa 1910-1969), including contracts, correspondence, estimates, invoices, notes, and specifications. Many records correspond with sets of architectural drawings and provide detailed historic overviews of an assortment of jobs, particularly residences. The majority of the drawings and records in the collection are connected with projects in Portland, Or. Some jobs are included from various cities and towns in Oregon and Washington state. The collection also includes a small amount of Whitehouse's early personal papers (circa 1905-1919).

The majority of the materials in the collection are original pencil, colored pencil and ink drawings on tissue and linen. The remainder of the collection consists of reproductions, including blueprints. Many of the residential jobs and building projects include drawings that illustrate fine details of ornamentation and design. Developments in the field of architecture from the 1910s to the 1940s, particularly in Portland, Or., can be traced through the numerous buildings designed by the Whitehouse firms.

The Whitehouse firms designed barns, churches, country clubs, government buildings, office buildings, residences, schools, warehouses, and World War II-era housing projects in Portland, Or., and Vancouver, Wash. The collection includes drawings for several notable early projects, including Jefferson High School (1910), Lincoln High School (1910-1912), Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club clubhouse and grandstand (1911, 1917, 1921), University Club (1912-1913), and the Waverley Country Club (1912-1914).

During the 1920s and 1930s the Whitehouse firms designed several signature projects in Portland and Oregon. The collection includes drawings and records for Temple Beth Israel (1926-1928), Multnomah Civic Stadium (1926), Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist (1928-1932), Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse (1930-1933), the Oregon State Capitol (1936-1938), and the Oregon State Library (1937-1939).

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Plans for the Henry Ladd Corbett residence are viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Morris H. Whitehouse Architectural Collection, Mss 3007, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series:

  • Series A: Architectural Drawings, circa 1905-1974
  • Series B: Records and Personal Papers, circa 1905-1969

Acquisition Information

Gift of Schuette & Wheeler, 1984-1985 (Accession nos. 17100 and 17141). Gift of Gainor Minott, 1980 (Accession no. 15194).

Future Additions

Additional architectural drawings and records, circa 1950-1984, will be added to the collection in the future.

Separated Materials

Photographs have been separated into the Morris H. Whitehouse Architectural Photographs Collection, Organized Lot 321, at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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

John and Lila Leach Photographs Collection (Org. Lot 370), Oregon Historical Society Research Library. The collection includes photographs of Sleepy Hollow, which was designed by Whitehouse & Church, Architects.

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

Waverley Country Club Photographs Collection (Org. Lot 585), Oregon Historical Society Research Library. The Waverley Country Club was designed by Whitehouse & Fouilhoux, Architects.

Aaron M. Frank Family Photographs Collection (Org. Lot 657), Oregon Historical Society Research Library. The collection includes photographs of Aaron Frank's residence and his Garden Home, Or., estate, designed by Morris H. Whitehouse, Architect.

Wauna Apartments Photographs Collection (Org. Lot 871), Oregon Historical Society Research Library. The Wauna Apartments were designed by Whitehouse & Fouilhoux, Architects.

Walter Boychuk Photographs Collection (Org. Lot 977), Oregon Historical Society Research Library. Walter Boychuk photographed several buildings, including the Gus J. Solomon United States 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.

Finding aid prepared by Andrew N. Bryans
2004

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