View source for Martin Inglis Aitken (1907-1974), Architect

<div style="white-space:nowrap;font-size:125%">'''Lincoln, Nebraska, 1933-1974'''</div style="white-space:nowrap;font-size:125%">


DBA: Martin I. Aitken

'''Martin Inglis Aitken''' was born November 26, 1907 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Martin I. and Clara Aitken. His father was a banker and had been the Lincoln city treasurer.  His grandfather James Aitken, a tailor in Lincoln in the 1880s and 1890s, immigrated from Scotland.  Martin (Jr.) received his B.A. from the University of Nebraska in 1929, after which he became a draftsman for the firm Davis & Wilson. Aitken received his B.F.A. in Architecture from Yale University in 1933, and worked the next year in the Engineering Department of Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Company (LT&T).[[#Notes|[b]]] Martin Aitken began his own private practice in Lincoln in 1935. He was a principal involved in several related partnerships during the last few years of his life. Aitken died on July 14, 1974, and was survived by his wife and two children. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Nebraska Architects Association.[[#References|[1][5][6][7][8][9][13]]]
 
This page is a contribution to the publication, '''[[Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects]]'''. See the [[Format and contents of Nebraska architect entries|format and contents]] page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
[[File:DM201305_254_11w.jpg|thumb|center|upright=3.00|alt=DM201305_254_11w.jpg|Phi Delta Theta, (1937) (''D. Murphy'')]]
==Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings==
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1929-1972

==Educational & Professional Associations==
1929-1934: student, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1930: draftsman, [[Davis & Wilson, Architects]], Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[1]]]

1934-1935: draftsman, Engineering Department, Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Co., Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[1]]]

1935-1970: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[6]]]

1938: Registered Professional Architect, Nebraska; A-75.[[#References|[1]]]

1970-1971: partner, [[Aitken, Graf, Hazen, Hoffman & Hull]], Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
[[#References|[8]]]

1971: partner, [[Aitken, Graf & Hazen, Architects]], Lincoln, Nebraska.

1972-1973: partner, [[Aitken, Hazen, Hoffman & Hull, Architects]], Lincoln, Nebraska.

1973-1974: partner, [[Aitken, Hazen, Hoffman & Miller, Architects]], Lincoln, Nebraska.

==Architectural Study Travel== 
France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, England.[[#References|[6]]]

==Buildings, Projects & Principal Works== 
[[File:DM201607_067_11w.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2.50|alt=DM201607_067_11w.jpg|Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph, Telephone Equipment Building, 1950-1953 (''D. Murphy'')]]

[[:File:DM201305_254_11w.jpg|'''Phi Delta Theta Fraternity House, (1937)''']], 1545 R St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2][4]  (LC13:D09-511)

KFOR Transmitter House (1940), 48th & Vine, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[10]]]

Telephone Exchange Building (1942), Plattsmouth, Nebraska.[[#References|[6]]] 

Car Park Building (1952), 13th & M SE, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[6]]][[#Notes|[a]]]

[[:File:DM201607_067_11w.jpg|'''Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph, Telephone Equipment Building (1950-1953)''']], Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[6][11]]] 

Telephone Exchange Building (1954), Falls City, Nebraska.[[#References|[6]]] 

Sheridan Elementary School Addition (1954), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[6]]] 

House at 2635 Woodscrest Ave (1954), Lincoln, Nebraska (LC13:D05-490)

House at 2490 Garden Road (1954), Lincoln, Nebraska (LC13:D05-484)

Sacred Heart Church (1955), 3218 S St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[6]]] 

Hardy Furniture Company Remodel (1955), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[7]]] 

House at 2470 Garden Road (1956), Lincoln, Nebraska (LC13:D05-483)

House at 2541 Woodleigh Lane (1956), Lincoln, Nebraska (LC13:D05-476)

National Guard Readiness Center (1956), 817 S 1st Ave, York, Nebraska. (YK11-555)

"Y" Building, Beatrice State Home (1956), Beatrice, Nebraska.[[#References|[7]]] 

Addition and remodel (1957), Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.
[[#References|[10]]]

House at 2601 Woodleigh Lane (1959), Lincoln, Nebraska (LC13:D05-475)

National Bank of Commerce Remodel (1960), 13th & O, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[7]]] 

Sacred Heart Convent (1960), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[7]]] 

"Y" Building Addition, Beatrice State Home (1961), Beatrice, Nebraska.[[#References|[7]]] 

Sacred Heart Rectory (1964), 500 N 31st St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[8][12]]] 

White Electric Supply Company Building (1966), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[8]]] 

First National Bank (1967), O'Neill, Nebraska.[[#References|[8]]]

National Bank of Commerce, remodel (1968), 13th & O, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[8]]] 

White Electric Supply Addition (1969), Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[8]]] 

===Undated===
Hardys Furniture Building (n.d.), 1314 O, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[2]]]

House (n. d.), 916 Fall Creek Road, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[3]]]

House (n. d.), 900 Fall Creek Road, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[3]]]

House (n. d.), 2033 S 33rd, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[3]]]

Hardy Furniture remodel (n.d.), 1314 O, Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[10]]]

==Notes==
a. In association with [[Clark & Enersen, Architects|Clark & Enersen]], Lincoln, Nebraska.[[#References|[6]]]

b. Martin's older brother William I. Aitken was a founder of Woods, Woods & Aitken law firm in Lincoln (now Woods & Aitken), along with Frank Woods and his son Thomas C.  Frank Woods was also president of LT&T.[[#References|[14][15]]]

==References==
1. “From the Files: Martin Inglis Aitken, A-75,” ''The Nebraska Professional'' (May 2001), 5. 

2. Personal conversation with Robert C. Ripley, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska, February 20, 2008.

3. Kay Logan-Peters, email to D. Murphy, February 20, 2008.

4. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

5.  AIA Historical Directory of American Architects: A Resource Guide to Finding Information About 
Past Architects, accessed April 5, 2010, 
http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1000341.aspx 

6.  American Institute of Architects, comp., ''American Architects Directory'', first ed. (New York: R. 
R. Bowker Co., 1956), 5, accessed March 3, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1956%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx 

7.  American Institute of Architects, comp., ''American Architects Directory'', second ed. (New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1962), 6, accessed April 4, 2010,
http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1962%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx

8.  American Institute of Architects, comp., ''American Architects Directory'', third ed. (New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1970), 8, accessed April 4, 2010,
http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1970%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx 

9.  “Aitken [obituary],” ''Lincoln Star'' (July 15, 1974), 13:2.

10. [[Thomas Lee Kaspar (1951-2017), Architect|Tom Kaspar]], comp. Inventory of architectural records in the archives of [[Davis Fenton Stange Darling, Architects]], Lincoln, Nebraska. 1996. Nebraska State Historical Society, RG3748, Box 16.

11. Martin I. Aitken, architect of the original 1950 building (first three stories of the west part of the whole, and a single-bay four story section along the east). See City of Lincoln Building Permit 54003, November 13, 1950, Olson Construction Company, Contractors. The 1958 additions, though credited to the LT&T Building Design Division, follow Aitken's design, materials and detailing. See City of Lincoln Building Permit 72669, May 27, 1958, particularly the south elevation drawing. Assenmacher Construction Company, Contractors.

12. City of Lincoln Building Permit #60925.

13. Ancestry.com. ''1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line].'' Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. 

14. “People You Know: James Aitken,” ''Nebraska State Journal'' (February 16, 1901), 6:2; and Lincoln city directories 1880-1901.

15. Woods & Aitken LLP, ''History'', https://www.woodsaitken.com/our-firm/history/ Accessed November 30, 2017.

==Page Citation== 

[[D. Murphy]], “{{PAGENAME}},” {{Template:ArchtPageCitation}} August 31, 2017.  {{Template:ArchtPageCitation2}} {{LOCALMONTHNAME}} {{LOCALDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.



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