Roy L. Thomas (1886-1968)

Name

Thomas, Roy L.

Personal Information

Birth/Death:    deceased 11/21/1968
Occupation:    American architect
Location:    Austin, TX

This record has not been verified for accuracy.

AIA Affiliation

Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 1930-decease

Biographical Sources

American Architects Directories:
Biographical listing in 1956 American Architects Directory
Repeat of 1956 biographical listing in 1962 American Architects Directory
Biographical information:
Contributed by the Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas:
Thomas was born in San Marcos, attended Southwestern University in Georgetown in 1905, and enrolled in the school of engineering at The University of Texas, Austin, in 1906. He left Austin in 1908 and spent a year in San Marcos as a construction superintendent. In 1909 Thomas took a job as a draftsman with Endress and Walsh, Austin, and worked on the firm's behalf in San Benito. In 1911 he opened his own practice in the Scarbrough Building. He served during World War I as an architectural draftsman for the Department of Public Works in the Key West naval yards. In 1919 he returned to Austin and in 1933 he established a permanent office at his home, 2812 Hemphill Park. He was president of the Hill Country Chapter American Institute of Architects in 1935.
During World War II he supervised construction of a magnesium plant for the International Mineral & Chemical Corp. In 1944 he organized a partnership with his son, William, back from military duty. They practiced together through the 1950s. William died in 1967; Roy died a year later.
One of the more memorable designs produced by Thomas' office is the Herbert Bohn House (1938), 1301 West 29th St. Other Thomas works are the Stephen F. Austin Hotel (1924) at 701 Congress, Robert E. Lee Elementary School (1939) at 3308 Hampton Rd., Tarrytown Methodist Church (1947) at 2701 Exposition, and Ebenezer Baptist Church (1954) at 1010 East Tenth St.

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
Roy L. Thomas (1886-1968) Archival records, drawings, photographs, Austin, Central Texas, 1910-1966
Roy L. Thomas designed a number of important Austin buildings from the 1920s through the 1950s. The scope of his work covers many building types: homes, schools, churches, commercial buildings, apartments and service stations.
Correspondence, office files, financial records, job files, specifications, floor plans, photographs, maps, and drawings document the career of Austin architect, Roy Thomas (1886-1968). The record group dates from 1910 to 1966. Information about Thomas' buildings, including the job files, specifications, and 10,000 drawings constitute the bulk of the material.
The map series contains maps of Austin and the surrounding areas, dating from 1910 to 1949.
The photograph series consists of a folder of unidentified photographs and a set of construction photographs of the Stephen F. Austin Hotel.
For more information https://www.lib.utexas.edu/about/locations/alexander-architectural-archives

Publications