Kenneth W. Brooks Papers, 1959-2000

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Brooks, Kenneth W., 1917-1996
Title
Kenneth W. Brooks Papers
Dates
1959-2000 (inclusive)
1959-1974 (bulk)
Quantity
9 Linear feet of shelf space, (2 Boxes + 13 Rolls of drawings + Oversize)
Collection Number
Cage 775 (collection)
Summary
This collection consists of graphic, printed, and manuscript material related to urban design, architecture, and city planning, chiefly in Spokane, WA. It includes architectural drawings, sketchbooks, photographs, and other papers related to Kenneth Brooks' professional activities as an architect.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

(From the guide to the Kenneth Brooks papers, Cage 685)

Architect Kenneth W. Brooks was born in Cedarvale, Kansas in 1917. He received his undergraduate degree in Architectural Engineering in 1941 and a master's degree in Architecture in 1948, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He served in the Caribbean with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1941-1943) and the U.S. Marine Corps (1944-1946).

In 1948 Brooks traveled to Europe on a University of Illinois Francis Plym Fellowship, spending most of his seven-month trip in Sweden working with Sven Markelius, a Swedish city planner and architect.

He moved to Spokane in 1948 and established his architectural practice there in 1951 (Kenneth Brooks, Architect; later Brooks, Hensley, Creager). He became an award-winning urban designer and city planner; one of his most ambitious and noteworthy projects was "A Place in the Sun," an urban design plan for downtown Spokane. He participated very actively in the planning process for Expo '74, the World's Fair held in Spokane in 1974. He designed several major commercial buildings, including the headquarters for Washington Water Power in Spokane, the Rogers-Orton Dining Hall at Washington State University, the Intermountain Gas Company Central Service Facility in Boise, and the art-music-drama complex at Columbia Basin Community College in Pasco, Washington.

Brooks was very active in his profession, frequently presenting papers to local, regional, and national groups on topics in architecture, urban design, transportation planning, and environmental policy.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of graphic, printed, and manuscript material related to urban design, architecture, and city planning, chiefly in Spokane, WA. It includes architectural drawings, sketchbooks, photographs, and other papers related to Kenneth Brooks' professional activities as an architect.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Kenneth W. Brooks Papers, 1959-2000 (Cage 775)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in a single series, with materials grouped according to format and size.

Acquisition Information

Kenneth Brooks' family donated these papers to the Washington State University Libraries in 2011 (MS 2011.47).

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Cheryl Gunselman.

Related Materials

Kenneth W. Brooks Papers, 1936-1992 (Cage 685)

Kenneth W. Brooks Oral History, 1988 July 25 (CT 24)

Preliminary Guide to the Kenneth W. Brooks Architectural Drawings, 1963-circa 1999 (MS 2022.01)

Preliminary Guide to the Donald Howard Murray Papers, 1922-1983 (MS 2022.07)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Pendell House history, including photographs (reproductions) and an essay by Patrice Pendell 2000
1 2 Community and Junior College Design Awards Program application, Columbia Basin Community College 1971
1 3 AIA Honor Awards Program, Walla Walla High School 1965-1966
1 4 "Lessons from Europe." Article by Brooks, including published version in Spokane Magazine and drafts 1980
1 5 Brooks paper: A Tax Non Sequitur (Agricultural Zone) 1980
1 6 Brooks paper: Food Wonderful Food--Will It Shape Our Cities, 1982. With newsletters from Whatley Farms circa 1980s
1 7 Sketchbook, trip to Montreal 1967
1 8 Sketchbook, Denver Platte River flood control 1965
1 9 Trip to Manila circa 1980
1 10 Benson Brown letter and paper 1973
1 11 Unlabeled sketch of copy shop exterior undated
2 12 Long range plans for Washington Trust Bank building, Spokane (bound volume) undated
2 13 Aerial color photograph of Spokane 1981
2 14 Spokane Unlimited urban design project proposal (poster) undated
2 15 Proposed contribution of the AIA to the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, Sweden 1972
2 16 Awards 1959-1964
2 17 Grand Coulee Dam Environmental Plan ("Ecouleegia") (bound volume) 1968
Oversize O/S 18 "Downtown Spokane's East Quadrangle" (mounted drawing) [Location note: large oversize] circa 1970s
Oversize O/S 19 Supplement to the Grand Coulee Plan (renderings by Gerald Exline), July 1971. "Ecouleegia," master volume for presentation use Miscellaneous mounted drawings and photographs (loose items) 1968-1971
Oversize O/S 20-21 Grand Coulee Dam Third Powerplant drawings, including interiors circa 1970s
Oversize O/S 2w Exteriors of unidentified buildings (Spokane?). 2 items: black and white photoprints mounted on masonite [Location note: large oversize] undated
roll
1 Washington Water Power Central Operating Facility architectural plans 1972
2 Deaconess Hospital Addition plans 1969
3 Northside Junior High School plans 1964
4 Washington State University, Rogers-Orton Dining Hall plans 1964
5 Grand Coulee Dam Third Powerplant, master environmental plan circa 1960s-1970s
6 GTE Northwest, Moscow (ID) central building plans 1966
7 Concept Spokane 1960-1965 (a six-year plan for Spokane), bound set of plans
8 Centrum number 2 proposal talking paper 1988
9 Walla Walla High School [proposal?]
10-12 Grand Coulee Dam Third Powerplant plans circa 1970s
13 Domestic Pavilion number 30, Expo '74 circa 1970s

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architects -- Northwest, Pacific -- Archives
  • Architects -- Washington (State) -- Spokane -- Archives
  • Architecture -- Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Brooks, Kenneth W., 1917-1996 -- Archives