George A. Applegarth (1876-1972)

Name

Applegarth, George A. (George Adrian)

Personal Information

Birth/Death:    b. 10/04/1876 – d. 01/19/1972
Occupation:    American architect
Location (state):    CA

This record has not been verified for accuracy.

AIA Affiliation

Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 1916-1942; 1957-decease
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) 1971

Biographical Sources

American Architects Directories:
Biographical listing in 1962 American Architects Directory
Address listed in 1970 American Architects Directory
Biographical information:
Contributed by the Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley:
George A. Applegarth was born October 4, 1876 in Oakland, California. He began his professional career as a draughtsman for his uncle George Sanders, of the architectural firm Wright & Sanders in San Francisco. After studying at the University of California, Berkeley under Bernard Maybeck, and at his encouragement, Applegarth attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts, where he was a member of La Loux atelier, and received his diploma in 1906.Upon his return to the United States, he formed a partnership with Kenneth MacDonald in an architectural firm, which lasted for six years, after which time Applegarth practiced on his own. Applegarth's career comprised over forty projects, including the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, the Clift Hotel, residential and commercial projects for the Spreckles family, and the town of Clyde, California. He was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He died in 1972.
Applegarth's most recognizable project is the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, which was financed by Adolph and Alma de Brettville Spreckles and presented to the city of San Francisco in 1924. He also designed several other commercial and residential projects for the Spreckles family. Clyde, California was a company town built for the employees of the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company and funded through a U.S. government loan. Applegarth prepared the plans for the town for funding purposes and was the architect of the project. During the Clyde project he worked with Bernard Maybeck, who was hired as the supervising architect to oversee the government's interests. As the plans for the project were generally completed prior to the hiring of Maybeck, the project layout is more the work of Applegarth, with the influence of Maybeck coming in later designs and improvements.
Sources: Applegarth, Katherine. "Reflections on my Grandfather." term paper, University of California, Santa Barbara, n.d.
Cardwell, Kenneth H.. Bernard Maybeck: Artisan, Architect, Artist. Santa Barbara, CA: Peregrine Smith, Inc., 1977.

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.

Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley

Collection Number: 1956-3. Extent: 2 boxes, 4 card file boxes, 4 oversize folders, 1 tube. The George A. Applegarth papers focus on the construction of Clyde, California, a residential and commercial development for the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company. The collection is important for documenting both the planning and growth of company towns, and the construction of low cost housing. The collection contains no personal papers, and very few papers on other projects. Link to online finding aid: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf4j49n80d

Publications