Difference between revisions of "Kenneth Bowhay Clark (1914-1991), Architect"

Latest revision as of 14:12, 1 March 2017

DBA: K. B. Clark

Kenneth Bowhay Clark was born in Liberty, Nebraska, on September 1, 1914.[3][5] He attended the University of Nebraska, studying under Harry Francis Cunningham, and receiving his degree in 1936.[3][5][7:11] He then continued at the university for another year, attending classes in the College of Engineering.[3] He received his master's degree in architecture from Harvard University in 1941.[2][3] In 1946, Clark co-founded the firm, Clark & Enersen, in Lincoln, which became a highly successful firm.[1]

Clark received many awards. He was honored for his lifetime of achievement by both the Univesity of Nebraska and the College of Architecture with distinguished alumni awards in 1988 and 1987, respectively.[4] In 1987, he was additionally honored as the Nebraska Society of Architects' Distinguished Architect.[4] Part of his legacy includes the establishment of the American Institute of Architects as a national clearinghouse of information on state laws relating to professional practice.[4]

He was married to Martha; they had a son, Kenneth H., and a daughter, Barbara.[3][5] When Clark died on August 10, 1991, he was survived by his wife and their children, as well as his mother Goldie L. Clark and two grandsons.[5]

This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and content page for more information on the compilation and page organization.

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1943-1959, 1961-1976

Educational & Professional Associations

1932-1936: student, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1936: Bachelor's Degree, Architecture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.[3]

1936: draftsman, Nebraska Highway Department.[6]

1936: draftsman-designer, Davis & Wilson.[3][6]

1937: draftsman, Nathan Bruce Hazen, Lincoln, Nebraska.[6]

1937: draftsman, Davis & Wilson, Architects.[6]

1937-1938: draftsman, McClure & Walker, Architects, Boston, Massachusetts.[3]

1937-1938: draftsman-designer, McClure & Walker, Architects, Kearney, Nebraska.[6]

1937-1939: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1939: draftsman-designer, Davis & Wilson.[3]

1939-1940: Harvard University work in association with Lawrence A. Enersen.[6]

1940-1941: draftsman, Clyde C. Pearson.[3][6]

1940-1941: designer, Alabama Highway Department.[6]

1941: Master's Degree, Architecture, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.[3][7:12][a]

1942: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1942: designer-inspector, Davis & Wilson, War Department.[6]

1942-1946: draftsman-designer, Davis & Wilson, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]

1945: architect, Davis & Wilson, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1946-1963: architect and partner, Clark & Enersen, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][f]

1963-1970: architect and partner, Clark & Enersen, Olsson, Burroughs & Thomsen, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[c]

1971-1976: architect and partner, Clark & Enersen, Hamersky, Schlaebitz, Burroughs & Thomsen, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1977-1982: architect and partner, The Clark Enersen Partners, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1983-1991: architectural consultant to The Clark Enersen Partners, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Principal Works

Broken Bow High School (1937-1938), Broken Bow, Nebraska.[6][g]

UNL Women's Dorms (1938-1939), Lincoln, Nebraska.[6][h]

Naval Training Center (1948), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][b][e]

Master Plan (1950), Lincoln Air Force Base [3][e]

LDC Parking Garage (1952), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][e]

High School (1954), Hebron, Nebraska, Architect Associated, M. I. Aitken, Nebraska.[3][e]

Merle Beattie Elementary.School (1955), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][e]

Lincoln Senior High School (1955), Hastings, Nebraska.[3][e]

Harvard School (1955), Harvard, Nebraska.[3][e]

Lincoln Clinic (1956-1958), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][e]

Capehart Housing (1957), Lincoln Air Force Base [3][e]

University of Nebraska Agriculture College Dorms, (1958), Lincoln, Nebraska [3][e]

Scottsbluff High School (1960), Scottsbluff, Nebraska.[3][e]

Community Service Building (1960s), Lincoln, Nebraska [3]

University of Nebraska East Campus Library (1960s), Lincoln, Nebraska [3]

St. Elizabeth Hospital (1960s), Lincoln, Nebraska [3]

Nebraska Wesleyan University Olin Hall of Sciences (1960s), Lincoln, Nebraska [3]

Lincoln & Lancaster County & City Building (1960s), Lincoln, Nebraska [3][d].

Honors & Awards

Dated

1954: Harvard School First Prize.[3]

1954: First Prize, Nebraska Concrete Masonry Association.[3]

1955: Award of Merit, AASA-AIA, Denver, Colorado.[3]

1958, 1959, 1961: Residential Design Honor Award, Nebraska Architects Association.[3]

1987: University of Nebraska Alumni Achievement Award.[5]

1987: Distinguished Architect, Nebraska Society of Architects.[4]

1987: Distinguished Alumni Award, UNL College of Architecture.[4]

1988: Distinguished Alumni Award, UNL.[4]

Undated

Outstanding Service Award, YMCA of the Rockies.[5]

Notes

a. Larry Enersen relates that his degree from Harvard was a Master's of Architecture.[2]

b. Supervising architects for the project.[3]

c. Clark & Enersen, Olsson, Burroughs & Thomsen, Architects, organized in 1963.[3]

d. Hemphill & Vierk, Architects, associated architects.

e. These were done on behalf of Clark & Enersen.

f. Formation of the Clark & Enersen partnership, Lincoln; February 1, 1946.[1]

g. In association with McClure & Walker, Architects.[6]

h. In association with Davis & Wilson.[6]

References

1. Dennis Scheer and Kent Munster, “The Clark Enersen Partners: Six Decades of Design,” Preservation Association of Lincoln, Brownbag Lecture Series, Museum of Nebraska History, April 8, 2003.

2. “An Interview with Lawrence Enersen,” Arch@UNL #6 (Fall 1976).

3. The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, s.v. “Kenneth Bowhay Clark,” (ahd1007866), http://public.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1007866.aspx (accessed February 3, 2017).

4. “Retired Clark Enersen partner died Sunday,” Lincoln Journal-Star (August 11, 1991), 1E:5-6.

5. “Clark,” Lincoln Journal (August 12, 1991).

6. “From the Files,” The Nebraska Professional Newsletter of the State Board of Examiners for Engineers and Architects (August 1996), 5.

7. Ryan R. Horner, The Clark Enersen Partners: 50 Years of Design [in three parts]. [Lincoln: The Clark Enersen Partners, ca. 1996].

Page Citation

D. Murphy, “Kenneth Bowhay Clark (1914-1991), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, October 30, 2014. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 27, 2025.

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