Hugh Lyon McMath (1904-1992)

Name

McMath, Hugh Lyon

Personal Information

Birth/Death:    AIA notified of decease 11/15/1992
Occupation:    American architect
Location:    Austin, TX

This record has not been verified for accuracy.

AIA Affiliation

Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 1939-decease

Biographical Sources

American Architects Directories:
Address listed in 1956 American Architects Directory alphabetized as if it were Mac
Address listed in 1962 American Architects Directory alphabetized as if it were Mac
Address listed in 1970 American Architects Directory alphabetized under Mc
Biographical information:
Contributed by the Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas:
Hugh Lyon McMath was born in Watertown, South Dakota May 9, 1904.
McMath studied engineering and architecture at North Dakota State University (Fargo, North Dakota) in the 1920s, receiving a bachelor's of architecture in 1927. He was an instructor in architecture at North Dakota State College from 1927-1928 and at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois from 1928-1929. He arrived in Austin in 1930 to teach at The University of Texas. Subsequently he received a master's in architecture from University of Texas in 1934 and from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1936.
In 1942 McMath entered the U.S. Army Air Corps along with a number of other University faculty members. He served as an instructor and later as a director of the ground school at Moore Field Army Corps Base in Mission, Texas. He headed the educational guidance staff of the Austin Air Reserve Group in the 1950s and retired as lieutenant colonel in 1964.
During his 44 years of teaching in the School of Architecture at The University of Texas, McMath served as chair from 1946-1948, director from 1948-1950, and acting director from 1953-1954. In addition to his private practice, McMath lists professional experience in offices of Frederic J. Klein (Peoria, Illinois), Walter T. Rolfe (Austin, Texas), Walter C. Harris, (Austin, Texas), Golemon and Rolfe (Houston, Texas), and McKee and Kamrath (Houston, Texas).
McMath held a deep interest in the art and architecture of Mexico. He developed courses in pre-Hispanic and Colonial architecture of Mexico and published several monographs on the subject. From 1950 until 1960 he organized an architectural workshop at the Instituto Technologico of Monterrey, Mexico, attended by students from all over the U.S. His sponsorship aided the admission of the architecture school at the Instituto Technologico into the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. He organized "Arctours" to Mexico in 1968, 1969 and 1970 to inspire interest in historic Mexican architecture by touring sites. Funded by a University Research Institute grant, he conducted a photographic survey of architecture in Puebla, Mexico in 1968.
In 1957, serving as a consultant and coordinating architect for design and construction of the American School in Monterrey, he arranged an association of Monterrey architects and representatives from the Houston form of Caudill Rowlett and Scott Architects and Planners.
McMath was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts of Great Britain for his work to develop cultural relations with Mexico. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Texas Society of Architects and served on the AIA National Committee on Education and Foreign Relations.
Hugh McMath retired from University of Texas in 1974.

Related Records

Archival Holdings

The American Institute of Architects Archives
      Membership file may contain membership application, related correspondence. Contact the AIA Archives at archives@aia.org for further information.
Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas
Hugh L. McMath papers, 1928-1977
The Hugh McMath papers include textual and photographic material documenting his education and 44-year teaching career in the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin. McMath served as chair from 1946-1948, director from 1948-1950, and acting director from 1953-1954. He held a deep interest in the art and architecture of Mexico and developed courses in pre-Hispanic and Colonial architecture of Mexico and published several monographs on the subject. From 1950 until 1960 he organized an architectural workshop at the Instituto Technologico of Monterrey, Mexico. He also organized "Arctours" to Mexico in 1968, 1969 and 1970 to inspire interest in historic Mexican architecture by touring sites. Funded by a University Research Institute grant, he conducted a photographic survey of architecture in Puebla, Mexico in 1968.
       For more information https://www.lib.utexas.edu/about/locations/alexander-architectural-archives

Publications