Ralph H. Cameron (1892-1970)

Name

Cameron, Ralph H.

Personal Information

Birth/Death:    b. 1892, d. 10/05/1970
Occupation:    American architect
Location:    San Antonio, TX

This record has not been verified for accuracy.

AIA Affiliation

Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 1921-decease
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) 1937

Biographical Sources

American Architects Directories:
Address listed in 1956 American Architects Directory
Address listed in 1962 American Architects Directory
Biographical information:
Contributed by the Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas:
Born in San Antonio in 1892, Ralph Cameron worked in the office of Alfred Giles at age 13 and later, at age 14, worked for Adams and Adams. In 1914 he established his own office in San Antonio but his career was interrupted by the advent of World War I where Cameron served in the U.S. Army. While recuperating from a war injury in France, Cameron attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts at Fontainbleau. He returned to San Antonio in 1919.
Cameron worked in the popular revival styles of the early 20th century. Among his buildings were designs for the Medical Arts Building in San Antonio (1925-26), the competition winning Grace Lutheran Church (1928) and the United States Post Office and Courthouse in San Antonio (1934-37) for which he served as associate architect with Paul Philippe Cret. Cameron also worked extensively in South Texas designing such buildings as the McAllen High School (1928), the A.Y. Baker House in Edinburg (1930) and the Hidalgo State Bank in Mercedes (1929).
Cameron is best known for his residential design in San Antonio and, in 1920, he was appointed to the board of directors of the San Antonio Development Co. which developed the historic Monte Vista neighborhood. Cameron's work spanned the entire range of revival styles popular in the early decades of the 20th century, including the Italianate home of Dr. Oscar H. Judkin (1920), the Georgian Revival Hornaday House (1929), and the Colonial Revivial Spencer-Noble House (1929).
Cameron was again called to serve his country in World War II, serving with the Army Corps of Engineers in North Africa, Italy, France, Germany and Austria. He continued to serve in the Army Reserve Corps until his retirement in 1952.
Cameron was involved in professional affairs and served as the first president for the Texas Society of Architects, as well as the West Texas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He was elected to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects in 1937.

Related Records

Archival Holdings

The American Institute of Architects Archives
      Membership file may contain membership application, Fellowship nomination, related correspondence. Contact the AIA Archives at archives@aia.org for further information.
Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas
Ralph Cameron (1892-1970) Drawings and architectural records, San Antonio, South and Central Texas
The Ralph Cameron Papers contain approximately 8,000 architectural drawings in addition to photographs, daybooks, specifications, job files, and product catalogs. The drawings include design development sketches for many projects, working drawings, and some presentation renderings documenting over 200 projects in San Antonio, Central Texas, and the Rio Grande Valley area. Neither the job files (less than 15 projects) nor the specifications (approx. 40 projects) are comprehensive in scope. The daybooks, dating from 1958 to 1970, are from late in Cameron's career. Other material includes general office files, such as project lists and product catalogs.
For more information https://www.lib.utexas.edu/about/locations/alexander-architectural-archives

Publications