Difference between revisions of "Harry Francis Cunningham (1888-1959), Architect"

Latest revision as of 13:34, 11 April 2024

Cunningham, 1949 (NSHS)

Colonel Harry Francis Cunningham was a distinguished member of the architectural profession in Nebraska, first as the lead draftsman for design development and construction documents for the Bertram G. Goodhue Associates (BGGA) during the tower construction phase of the Nebraska Capitol, 1926-1930, then as founder and first chairman of the Department of Architecture in the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska in 1930, where he served as chair until 1934. Cunningham enjoyed a rich and varied career as an architect practicing in Washington, D. C., New York, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as serving in the U.S. Army in both WWI and WWII.

Harry F. Cunningham was born in Washington, D. C. on April 15, 1888, to Theodora and Joseph H. Cunningham.[2][92][s] For many years Joseph was a cartoonist for the Washington Herald.[43][n] After high school Harry studied design in Worcester (Massachusetts), New York City, Washington, D.C., and Paris, apparently without completing a degree.[5] He was working as a draftsman and perhaps designer for Washington architects and for the Supervising Architect of the Treasury before he married Katherine D. Merry in 1907.[44] They had two children, Harry Jr. in 1912 and Katherine in 1916 before Harry was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army in 1917 and mobilized to France with a machine gun unit in 1918.[5][28][m] He did not return permanently to the U.S. until 1922, having extended his stay in France volunteering in reconstructing devastated villages. Katherine and their children resided with her parents while he was abroad.[45] She divorced Harry in March, 1922, in Washington, D.C. and he married a Frenchwoman, Adele Ferrand, in Manhattan a month later.[46] That same year Cunningham established an architectural office in Washington and joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In 1924 he opened a second office in St. Petersburg, Florida and registered as a professional architect in that state as well, while remaining active in the D.C. AIA chapter. Joseph Harry Cunningham was born to Harry and Adele in Florida in 1925. Harry was president of the Florida Chapter of the AIA in 1925-26 and gained major commissions developing residences, apartment houses, and hotels in and around St. Petersburg, reportedly designing and superintending $3,500,000 worth of construction in 1926.[47]

Cunningham's most prominent professional contribution was his involvement with the Bertram G. Goodhue-designed Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska. After Goodhue died in 1924, the Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Associates (BGGA) of NYC continued the phased construction to completion in 1932. Cunningham was hired as lead draftsman at the New York office around 1926 and separated from BGGA before he was chosen in 1930 by the University of Nebraska (NU) as the founding director and first professor of NU's new architecture department in the College of Engineering.[1][69][70] He was joined in Lincoln by Adele and his two sons, relocating from Manhattan.[83][84] Harry and his family returned to Washington, D.C. in 1934, where Cunningham continued his private practice, until 1939. Then he resumed active duty in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer and strategic planner and saw service overseas in WWII. In 1949 he retired from the Army as a colonel and returned to Lincoln where he remained until his death on April 25, 1959. He was a member of American Legion Post 3, the Roundtable, and the AIA, which elected him a Fellow in 1955.[2][3][5][10][15][16]

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

Nebraska Capitol, tower (D. Murphy)

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1949-1951, 1953-1958

Educational & Professional Associations

1894-1905: Public Schools, Washington D.C., Captain of Cadet Company C, graduated with diploma from 4-year course at McKinley Manual Training [High] School.[5][23][74]

1905-ca. 1907: student, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts. (Listed as "rem[ove]d to Washington D.C." in 1907 Worcester, Massachusetts city directory; among "The Dear Departed" in 1909 Aftermath yearbook.)[5][24][97][v]

1906-1911: draftsman and designer, for Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury Department, Washington, D.C.; and for Wood Donn & Deming, Architects.[3][5][25][a]

ca. 1907-1908: student, Beaux-Arts Institute of Design, New York, New York.[3][5][98][t]

ca. 1908-1909: student, Columbian University (renamed George Washington University in 1904), Washington D.C.[5]

1909: member, Washington Architectural Club Atelier.[30]

ca. 1909-1910: student, Academie Julian, Paris, France.[5][99][100][u]

1911-1916: architect in Washington, D. C. in office of Clarke Waggaman and partnering with Edward L. Bullock, Jr., William E. Humphreys, Jr., and Toxaway B. Everman, Architects, Washington, D. C.[5][26][27][i]

1914: surveyed and produced measured drawings "of the best examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the District of Columbia," with architects Joseph Arthur Younger and J. Wilmer Smith.[31][k]

1917: draftsman in architectural office of Briggs & Nelson, Cleveland, Ohio.[28][j]

1917-1919: Captain and Major, Machine Guns, U.S. Army.[5][28][j]

1917-1947: student at various military schools, including Command and General Staff Schools, Armed Forces Staff College, National War College, and the French Ecole Supericure de Guerre, Paris, France.[5]

1919: director of "industrial and commercial branch" of College of Letters of "A.E.F. university" in former hospital at Beaune, France.[8][32][86][c]

1919-1922: volunteer architect without compensation, French Government.[5][c]

1922: opened Washington, D.C. architectural office (in association with his brother, J. Maxson Cunningham); joined the American Institute of Architects.[7][42]

1922-1927: Harry F. Cunningham, Architect, Washington D.C. and St. Petersburg, Florida.[5][a]

1923-1924: Professor of Architecture, George Washington University, served on "Committee of 100" on planning Metropolitan Washington, D. C.[3][52]

1924: Secretary of Washington, D.C. Chapter of A.I.A.[36]

1924: opened architectural office in St. Petersburg, Florida; registered as architect in Florida.[50][51]

1925: one of 17 members of "Allied Architects of Washington, D.C." organized to undertake major public projects.[53]

1925-1926: President, Florida Chapter of A.I.A.[3]

1925-1926: Lecturer in the Theory of Design, New York University.[3]

1926: formed St. Petersburg partnership with architect William L. Steele of Sioux City, Iowa.[34][35][l]

1926-1927: President of Rotary Club of Washington, D.C.[37]

1926-1930: Lead draftsman for 3rd construction phase, Nebraska Capitol tower, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Associates, Architects, New York, New York.[3][5][8][65][83][85][a][q]

1930: nominated for secretary of AIA (not chosen).[3][86]

1930-1934: Professor and founding head of newly organized Architectural Engineering Department, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1][3][5][8][15][18][69][70][94][95][a][b]

1934-1939: Harry F. Cunningham, Architect, Washington D. C.[5][a]

1939-1948: Intelligence Officer and Strategic Planner, U. S. Army.[5][75][a][p]

1949: Registered Professional Architect, Nebraska, March 4, 1949; A-214.[5][d]

1950-1954: member and professional advisor, Capitol Murals Commission, Lincoln.[3][12][13]

1952-1957: listed in directories and phone books as residing in Lincoln.

1953: Master's degree, political science, University of Nebraska.[76]

1954: University of Nebraska Board of Regents candidate (unsuccessful).[76][77]

1955, 1957: candidate for election to Board of Education, Lincoln Public Schools (unsuccessful).[78][79]

Buildings & Projects

Proposal for "an Italian center"/skyscraper (1919) for New York City.[86][r]

Washington & Florida, 1922-1926

Hotel Dennis, St. Petersburg (H. R. Cunningham, 1925)

Burning Tree (country club) Clubhouse (1923), Washington, D. C. vicinity.[3][5][33]

Pasadena Community Methodist Episcopal Church/Sunday school unit (1924), St. Petersburg, Florida.[54]

Dennis-McCarthy Hotel (1924-1926), 326 First Ave N, St. Petersburg, Florida.[6][56][h]

Louis Racquet residence (1925), Coffee Pot Bayou, St. Petersburg, Florida.[58]

Project for $1,000,000 hotel on Lookout Mountain for Robert L. Ely (1925--not built), near Chattanooga, Tennessee.[59]

Ambassador Hotel (1925), Pass-a-Grille Island, St. Petersburg, Florida.[60]

Plat for Ruppert Beach development (1925), Pass-a-Grille Island, St. Petersburg, Florida.[61]

De Ville Hotel (1925-1926), 535 Second Avenue south, St. Petersburg, Florida.[57]

Lakewood Elementary School (1925-1926), St. Petersburg, Florida.[3][6]

Salvation Army Citadel (1925-1926), St. Petersburg, Florida.[3][5][6]

The Carmack Co-operative Apartments (1926), St. Petersburg, Florida.[55]

Shuffle Board Club (1926), for the City of St. Petersburg, Florida.[5][21]

Manson Arcade (1926), Clearwater, Florida.[62]

Warm Friend Tavern "bachelor hotel" (1926-1928), Third Street & First Avenue south, St. Petersburg, Florida.[63][73]

Dr. H. G. Hart residence (1926), Grenada Terrace, St. Petersburg, Florida.[64]

Penn-Flora Arcade (1926), 445 First Ave. N (later Dusenberry Arcade, demolished 1963), St. Petersburg, Florida.[5][19[20]

New York, New York, 1926-1930

Nebraska Capitol tower (1926-1930), Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Associates, Architects, New York, New York.[3][5][8][a][q]

Lead draftsman at BGGA on multiple projects of 1926-1930 period including Woodward Building (Washington, D.C.), Humanities and Biology buildings at California Institute of Technology, new Methodist church (Winston-Salem, N.C.).[86][87][q]

Washington, D.C., 1934-1939

"Chancery and garden" of Brazilian Embassy (1934-1936), 3007 Whitehaven St. NW, Washington, D. C.[3][33][88][89][90][91][r]

Heatherington Apartments (1936), 1421 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D. C.[3][5][6][33][82]

Associate architect for proposed new German Embassy (1938-1939), Washington, D.C. Resigned from project in protest, 1939.[11][80][81][e]

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1949-1959

Cunningham residence (1949), 2700 Sheridan Boulevard, Lincoln, Nebraska.[22][g]

Consulting architect, Memorial Chapel (1949-1952), Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2110 Sheridan, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][4][f]

'57 Trend Strauss Brothers Homes in Eastridge Planned Community (1957), at Sunrise Road & Meadowbrook Lane, Lincoln, Nebraska.[17]

Disputed Attributions

St. Petersburg Times Building (1926-1927), St. Petersburg, Florida.[6][66][67][o]

Exhibitions

1908: Washington Architectural Club exhibition of drawings at Corcoran Gallery, including "Two prize drawings by H. F. Cunningham, of this city, [which] are much admired. That of a book cover took first honors in the club's competition. The other is a prize design of a private residence."[38][39]

Publications

Harry Francis Cunningham, Joseph Arthur Younger, [and] J. Wilmer Smith. Measured Drawings of Georgian Architecture in the District of Columbia, 1750-1820. Washington: Architectural Book Publishing Co., 1914. A digital scan of the publication is available on-line through HathiTrust, accessed January 15, 2024 at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=gri.ark:/13960/t4sj8mk33&seq=24

_____, "Do Architects 'Draw Plans'" (letter to editor), Tampa Bay (St. Petersburg, Florida) Times (October 25, 1926), 4. Essay arguing that "the practice of architecture...[is not]...merely a matter of 'drawing plans'...".

_____, Sleeping Beauty. S. l.: William Dana Orcutt, 1926. [limited edition of 100 copies] See Worldcat.org, http://www.worldcat.org/title/sleeping-beauty/oclc/18105200 Accessed October 12, 2011.

_____, “An Appreciation of the New Church,” letter to Minister of First Plymouth Congregational Church, First Plymouth Herald Vol. 5. No. 12. (November 22, 1930).

_____, “Disclaims Personal Credit,” Omaha World-Herald (June 18, 1931), 16:5.

_____, The Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska ([Lincoln]: The Capitol Commission, 1931). A digital scan of the publication is available on-line through HathiTrust, accessed January 15, 2024 at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112002656863&seq=30&view=2up

_____, “A Record of Successful Experiments,” American Architect 146:2626 (October 1934): 15-23.

_____, “The Capitol Murals,” Guest Editorial, Lincoln Star (April 20, 1951): 4:1.

_____, "New Governmental Structures in the Far East: A Study Based upon the Constitutions of the States Concerned." Masters Thesis, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 1953.

_____, The Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska: An Architectural Masterpiece. Lincoln: Johnson Publishing Co., 1954.

Honors & Awards

1908: First prize, architectural contest for students and draftsmen, age 25 or under, sponsored by New Jersey Chapter of American Institute of Architects for best design "of a street front for a three-story dwelling, to be built on a city lot of twenty-five feet."[29][30]

1916: Architectural Review competition for design of a wood-frame suburban house, resulting in "one set of plans published and favorably commented upon...are those of Harry F. Cunningham...described as 'a simple and direct handling of the farmhouse type...[and] 'a cleverly composed and crisply presented drawing.'"[40][41]

1936: Outstanding Building of the Year, Washington Board of Trade (Brazilian Chancery).[3][88]

ca. 1946: recipient, French Legion of Honor, WWII.[16]

1955: elected Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.[7][15]

Notes

a. Cunningham's "appointment...to a position in the Supervising Architect's Office, Treasury Department" was noted in August of 1906. The city directory of Washington D.C. listed Harry as "draftsman" in 1908 and "cl[er]k treas[ury]" in 1909, suggesting his stay at the Treasury Department may have extended at least a couple of years. The Supervising Architect from 1897 to 1912 was James Knox Taylor. Cunningham's work for Wood, Donn & Deming seems to have occurred before 1912. Additional information can be found in Cunningham's original Nebraska registration document.[5][25][96]

b. Cunningham founded the N.U. architecture program in 1930.[1][8] In its first semester, Cunningham reported an enrollment of eighty students and a catalog of eighteen courses, two taught by Prof. W. G. Hill, one on landscape architecture by Ernst Herminghaus, and the rest by Cunningham himself.[71] Cunningham combined his experience with the Capitol project and his new role as a public educator, speaking at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in 1930, urging that the community "should see to it that it [the State Capitol] does not become walled up by a lot of tall buildings in its near vicinity...[and]...urged the future construction of buildings in Lincoln not exceed five or six stories."[72] Cunningham resigned from his position with University of Nebraska in January of 1934, to be effective February 1. A Lincoln newspaper reported that: "Cunningham indicated he was carrying on negotiations with a man whom he would recommend for the position. New work will take Cunningham east."[102] In July of 1934, Linus Burr Smith was appointed to succeed Cunningham as director and professor of University of Nebraska's architecture program. The announcement of Smith's appointment mentioned that Cunningham "resigned to accept a position in Washington during the last semester." Smith served thirty years as chairman and thirty-six as professor.[94][95]

c. Developed reconstruction plans for seventeen villages in the Aisne region, and plans for the extension of Laon, etc.[5][42] Cunningham applied for two U.S. passports in 1920 and 1921. The first application explained that he had no prior passport "as I was discharged in France and came back to U.S. on my discharge papers." He intended to visit France and Greece, noting in regard to the former "am established there as architect for reconstruction" and in regard to Greece also mentions "reconstruction work in Oriental Macedonia." The second application included a letter on letterhead for "H. Cunningham Architecte et Ingenieur" with "Specialement pour les Regions Liberees" ("specializing in liberated areas"), and "Evaluations des degats de la guerre" ("assessments of war damage"). A sidebar added "Directeor de l'Ecole des Arts Decoratifs en l'Universite Americanine de Beaune, Cote-d'Or." His second passport application detailed that Cunningham had resided in France for Jun 1918 to Jun 1919 as an army officer, and from June 1919 to August 1921 as a civilian. He intended to visit France on "Personal Business" and Belgium and the British Isles conducting "Architectural Research."[49]

d. His registration lapsed on December 31, 1952, and he was re-registered on July 11, 1953. He was also registered in the District of Columbia, New York, Florida (1924), Maryland, and Tennessee.[5][51]

e. Cunningham resigned from the project in 1939 when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, writing to the German Charge d'Affaires that his government's actions "are so offensive to my solidly founded American ideals that it is impossible for me to be of further service to your government." Cunningham was to have adapted plans by German architect "Prof. E. A. Breuhaus" and to have superintended construction. He also complained that the German government's architects "have displayed dilatory tactics which have been exceedingly detrimental to the efficient progress of the work and very, very costly to me and my engineering collaborators." [11][80] The unrealized embassy design was by prominent German architect and interior designer Fritz August Breuhaus de Groot (1883-1960), selected in a design competition. Breuhaus' large body of work included numerous county houses, a design for the Imperial Japanese embassy in Berlin, and interior designs including the first-class spaces on the luxury ocean liner "Bremen" and the passenger lounge of the Zeppelin airship "Hindenberg." He coined the term kultivierte Sachlichkeit (sophisticated simplicity/functinality) to describe his personal design style. Ironically for Cunningham and the Washington embassy project, Breuhaus too became opposed to the Nazi regime and his wife is credited with assisting Jewish friends flee Germany to California. Goebbels eventually barred Breuhaus from practicing architecture and confiscated his home, giving it to Zarah Leander, the "best-paid film star of the Third Reich." Cunningham's frustration with the "dilatory tactics" of the German architects may not have been of Breuhaus' choosing.[81]

f. Working with Hazen & Robinson, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.

g. According to Lincoln City directories, Cunningham occupied 2700 Sheridan Blvd. in 1950, then having lost the residence by foreclosure, in 1951-55 resided in an apartment nearby at 27th & Lake, before moving to Margo Street in 1956 in the Strauss Brothers' "Eastridge" development.

h. The Dennis Hotel has been listed on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) since 1986. The NRHP nomination form, written in 1986, drew together considerable information on Cunningham, especially on his Florida work, but differs in many particulars from sources cited on this page. Especially confusing is an assumption that Cunningham began his work with the Goodhue Associates very soon after B. G. Goodhue's death in 1924, rather than late in 1926 or early in 1927, which would have meant he was simultaneously working in Florida and on the Nebraska Capitol (from NYC). Cunningham seems to have maintained his links (especially social connections) with Washington, D.C. while working in St. Petersburg in 1924-1926, Goodhue Associates' projects seem to have been his focus from 1927 to 1930.[EFZ]

i. City directories for Washington, D.C. list Cunningham as a draftsman in 1908 and "cl[er]k treas[ury Dept.]" in 1909, during his tenure with the office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury. He was listed simply as "architect" beginning in 1911 and repeating in 1912 and 1913. In 1914, his entry read "architect Clarke Waggaman," then in 1915-17 as an architect in partnership with Edward L. Bullock, Jr. as "Cunningham & Bullock." Washington Post noted on April 22, 1917 the issuance of a building permit to "Cunningham, Bullock & Humphreys, architects" for a frame dwelling at 3306 Rittenhouse Street, to cost $8,400. William E. Humphreys, Jr., was a draftsman with "Chas Waggaman" according to the 1917 Washington city directory. William Humphrey's wife was a sister of T. B. (Toxaway Bronte) Everman (1879-1940); their father was Dr. Barton W. Evermann, a prominent ichthyologist and Washington civic figure. Toxaway was a graduate of and architecture instructor at Cornell University before practicing in both San Francisco and Washington, D.C.[26][27]

j. "Harry F. Cunningham, Cleveland" was on a long list of reserve officers accepted for U.S. Army training in Indiana in May of 1917. A Washington Star announcement of Cunningham's commission as an infantry captain included a brief synopsis of his career to date (1917): "Capt. Cunningham is a graduate of the Technical High School...After graduating...he entered an architect's office, and for several years was connected with the firm of Wood, Donn & Deming, and later with Clark Waggaman. He left Washington a year ago to take a place with an architect firm in Cleveland, and entered the training corps from that city."[28] The Cleveland city directory of 1917 listed Cunningham as a draftsman. The address given (669 Rose Building) was the architectural office of Briggs & Nelson (Herbert B. and Harry S., respectively).

k. Washington's Evening Star newspaper reported in 1915 that Cunningham, Younger and Smith "architects of this city," studied, measured, and made drawings of details of approximately 20 buildings in the District built between 1750 and 1820. Numerous examples of the buildings and their architects were cited, including George Hatfield's courthouse, St. John's Episcopal Church, and the Stephen Decatur house; Latrobe's "Brentwood;" and Bulfinch's gate lodge of the Capitol.[31] The project resulted in a book published in 1914. SEE "Publications" above.

l. Soon after announcing in an Iowa newspaper that he was forming an architectural partnership in Florida with Cunningham, Steele was a featured speaker at a national city planning conference in St. Petersburg.[34][35] The same edition of Tampa Bay Times announcing the planning conference also reported that Cunningham's practice had current apartment and hotel projects totaling $3.5 million of construction. Steele was also vying for election to national offices of A.I.A. in 1926 and Cunningham was president of the A.I.A. Florida chapter.[EFZ]

m. In 1916, Washington Post published a charming photo of 4-year-old Harry Francis Cunningham, Jr., costumed in a sailor's "whites," under a title "A Nice Little Boy." Harry Jr. was captioned as the "Interesting little son of Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Cunningham and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. J. Harry Cunningham."[48]

n. Washington Herald mentioned in 1912 that Joseph H. Cunningham "has made an enviable reputation as a cartoonist on The Washington Herald, a reputation which became national before he retired from the art." The story added: "mr. Harry F. Cunningham, a prominent young architect...inherits his father's talent in art..." [43]

o. St. Petersburg newspapers and his obituary repeatedly cited Henry L. Taylor (1884-1958), a well-established local architect with major commissions in the 1920s, as the designer of the "Times Building," the 8-story headquarters of Tampa Bay Times.[66][67]. Taylor served on the board of directors and executive committee of the St. Petersburg Society of Architects in 1925-1926, of which Cunningham was the founding president. No connection between the two architects on the Times Building project has not been identified through the local press.[68] However, the "Dennis Hotel" nomination for to the National Register of Historic Places (listed 1986) repeatedly in Section 8 mentions Cunningham as the designer of the "St. Petersburg Times Building" and even describes plans on file with that newspaper (presumably Tampa Bay Times).[6]

p. In 1943, a Washington, D.C. newspaper described Cunningham as the "only American officer to accompany Gen. Leclerc's Fighting French forces on their famous march across the Libyan Desert last winter." Cunningham admired Leclerc as "a great soldier, a great Frenchman and a great man." The article concluded "Col. Cunningham now is on his way back to the front, where he feels he belongs until peace is declared." Cunningham was then 55 years old.[75]

q. Bertram G. Goodhue won the design competition for Nebraska's third State Capitol in 1920. Construction commenced in 1922. Goodhue died in 1924 and his office completed the project as Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue Associates (BGGA). William Younkin of BGGA was "Clerk of the Works" and superintended construction on-site through three major phases over the decade of construction (1922-1932). Cunningham was hired in late 1926 or early 1927 as lead draftsman at the New York office for the third phase--the construction of the 400-foot-tall tower. Many of the third-phase drawings bear HFC's initials as both drafter and reviewer.[85]

A lengthy article on Cunningham in the Omaha World-Herald magazine section of June 7, 1931 was effusive in its praise of Goodhue, but overreached in crediting Cunningham with the design of the Nebraska Capitol and BGGA's other projects of that period.[86] BGGA sent a stinging communication of the World-Herald editor and Cunningham fired off a heated reply to BGGA. Then the cooler head of T. R. Kimball, the Omaha architect who designed and oversaw the design competition for the Nebraska State Capitol, intervened with Cunningham, who send a conciliatory letter to the World-Herald editor.[87] All together, the writings illuminate Cunningham's passion, personality, and colorful career. The Nebraska Capitol Archives has copies of the letters, listed below as "Other Sources."

r. To establish a permanent Embassy in the American capital, Brazil purchased the McCormick mansion at Massachusetts Avenue and Whitehaven Street, built c. 1908-1910 and designed by John Russell Pope. The original intention appears to have been to remodel that house to serve as both the ambassador's residence and the embassy chancery (offices), but Cunningham received approval late in 1934 from the Fine Arts Commission for a separate, single-story chancery, sharing the Whitehaven frontage with the McCormick house. Cunningham's Brazilian Chancery design was recognized with an award from the D.C. Board of Trade in 1936. It was removed when the modernistic Chancery designed by Brazilian architect Olavo Redig de Campos was built in 1973, oriented to Massachusetts Avenue.[3][33][88][89][90][91]

s. Records provide contradictory information on Cunningham's date of birth. The earliest available census records (1900 and 1910) identify 1888 as his year of birth. On his passport applications in 1920 and 1921, Cunningham entered "April 15, 1885" on both forms. Cunningham's entry in the 1956 AIA Directory, presumably provided by Cunningham, gives his birthdate as April 15, 1888. His wife Adele's application to the Veterans' Administration for a headstone enters "April 15, 1887" in type, corrected to "April 15, 1888" in red handwriting. The stone in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska appears to be inscribed "1887-1959" with the date of birth altered to "1888." On the preponderance of evidence, the dates of 1888-1959 are accepted on this web-page.[2][3][92]

t. Cunningham listed "B.A.I.D., 07-11" among his educational credits in both his 1949 application for professional registration in Nebraska and his 1956 AIA Directory listing. However, Beaux-Arts Institute of Design (BAID) in New York City was not founded until 1916. BAID grew out of the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects, a club of American architects who had attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Prior to the founding of BAID, that Society had developed standardized "programmes" of architectural problems for student use and perhaps Cunningham had studied those materials. [3][5][98]

u. Academie Julian was an art school focused on painting and sculpture which operated in Paris for a century from 1868-1968. It was said to have attracted diverse students from around the world, including many Americans. Precisely when or even why Cunningham attended is not clear, but its reputation for fostering collegial, individualized learning that "related as much to the conduct of life as to the uses of brush and chisel" may have been echoed in Cunningham's claim, repeated twice in his AIA Directory entry, that the subject he taught as professor and first director of the University of Nebraska architecture program was "The Art of Living a Full Life."[99][100]

v. While Cunningham was a student at Worcester Institute of Technology in the fall of 1905, Boston Globe newspaper published a brief notice of the marriage in North Andover, Massachusetts of "Miss Mary Theresa Davis of 37 Osgood st [in North Andover] and Harry Francis Cunningham of Worcester..." Massachusetts marriage records clarify that the wedding took place between Henry Francis Cunningham, a 30-year-old station master from Worcester, and 32-year-old Mary Theresa Davis of Taunton, in North Andover.[101]

References

1. Robert E. Knoll, Prairie University: A History of the University of Nebraska (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1995), 83.

2. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Theodora W. Cunningham," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

3. American Institute of Architects, comp. American Architects Directory, First Ed. (New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1956), 120, accessed January 15, 2024, https://aiahistoricaldirectory.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AHDAA/pages/20644319/1956+American+Architects+Directory?preview=/20644319/2218721511/Bowker_1956_C.pdf

4. 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.

5. Application for Registration to Practice Professional Engineering and Architecture, Nebraska State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Architects, December 15, 1948. Nebraska State Historical Society RG081 SG2.

6. Howard Hansen & Diana Primelles (Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation), "Dennis Hotel" nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (January 1986). Footnote 3 cites "Archives of the St. Petersburg Times, Inc. 420 1st Ave. S. Planson [sic] file."

7. “Harry Francis Cunningham,” archINFORM website, accessed October 12, 2011, http://eng.archinform.net/arch/202992.htm

8. Ellery Lothrop Davis, “Harry F. Cunningham, FAIA,” TS (typed on Francis Cunningham stationary, with handwritten note from Francis to Larry Sommer, director, Nebraska State Historical Society, May 7, 1994).

9. Dale L. Gibbs, “An Architectural Album: Lincoln Historic Houses,” Preservation Association of Lincoln, Brown-bag Lecture Series, Nebraska State Historical Society, October 11, 2011.

10. R. McLaran Sawyer, Centennial History of the University of Nebraska. II The Modern University, 1920-1969 (Lincoln: Centennial Press, 1973), 77.

11. "Associate Architect for New German Embassy Quits. Unable to serve Reich government further, Cunningham says," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), March 20, 1939), 6.

12. “Col. Harry Cunningham Is Persuaded To Rejoin Capitol Mural Commission,” Lincoln Star (March 3, 1953), 3:7.

13. “Capitol Murals,” in “The People Speak,” Lincoln Star (November 3, 1954), 4:7.

14. “Capitol Murals,” in “The People Speak,” Lincoln Star (July 2, 1954), 6:4.

15. “Col. Cunningham Is AIA Fellow,” Lincoln Star (June 24, 1955), 9:3.

16. “Cunningham,” Lincoln Star (April 27, 1959; April 29, 1959); Lincoln Journal (April 27, 1959; April 28, 1959).

17. “The '57 Trend Home Show,” Lincoln Journal and Star (March 31, 1957), 1E.

18. Wes Welbers, “Foreign Service Career Began In Lincoln,” The Lincoln Star (January 8, 1976).

19. "Yes We Are On the Move...[to]...the New Penn-flora Arcade...," Tampa Bay (Florida) Times (December 30, 1925), 40.

20. Monica Kile, "The Era of the Arcade: Shade, Shopping, and a Shortcut," Green Bench Monthly: St. Pete's Community Magazine (July 10, 2023), accessed on-line January 9, 2024 at https://greenbenchmonthly.com/st-petersburg-history/the-era-of-the-arcade-shade-shopping-and-a-shortcut/

21. "Park Buildings Given Approval--Covered Roque Courts and Shuffleboard Club Are Planned by Board," Tampa Bay (St. Petersburg, Florida) Times (December 28, 1926), 3.

22. City of Lincoln Building Permit #50198, issued July 22, 1949.

23. "Tech. School Awards--Graduates in Two Branches Receive Their Rewards," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (June 16, 1905), 10.

24. "Harry F. Cunningham from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute...will spend Christmas at home," Washington (D.C.) Times (December 24, 1905), 24.

25. "Harry F. Cunningham received the appointment a few days ago to a position in the Supervising Architect's Office, Treasury Department," Washington (D.C.) Times (August 19, 1906), 31.

26. "Dr. Evermann dies at Berkeley, Calif.--Formerly with Bureau of Fisheries and Board of Education Here," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (September 29, 1932), 10.

27. "Toxaway Bronte Everman to be buried today," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (December 2, 1940), 7.

28. "Harry F. Cunningham, Cleveland" on "List of Accepted Candidates, Reserve Officers' Training Camp, Ft. Benj. Marrison...for training as officers for the new American Army," Indianapolis (Indiana) News (May 12 1917), 20; "Commissioned as Captain.--Harry F. Cunningham, Washington Boy, an Officer of Infantry," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (August 19, 1917), 3.

29. "Competition for the Draughtsmen--New Jersey Chapter of American Institute of Architects to Stimulate Genius," Jersey Observer and Jersey Journal (Jersey City, New Jersey) (January 2, 1908), 6.

30. "Wins First Prize. Washington Boy Successful in Architectural Competition," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (April 4, 1908), 12.

31. "Study Buildings Erected During Georgian Period--Local architects make survey of structures erected in this locality between 1750 and 1820--prepare detail drawings," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (March 27, 1915), 16.

32. Edward M. Thierry, "5000 Yanks in U.S. Army University in France Training for Better Place in Civil Life," The Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press (April 17, 1919), 12; "Yanks Crowd to Enter College," Champaign (Illinois) Daily News (May 19, 1919), 2.

33. "Architect Says Downtown Site Is Preferred for Auditorium--Traffic and Esthetic Conditions Both Favor That Location, Holds Cunningham," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (February 28, 1939), 2.

34. "Steele to Keep Interests Here--Sioux City Architect is to Spend Part of Time in Florida," Sioux City (Iowa) Journal (January 26, 1926), 5.

35. "City Planners to Gather for Annual Parlay...Many Noted Speakers to Address Eighteenth Conference," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (March 21, 1926), 1,2.

36. "Local Architects Ask Moore Ouster--Declare Fine Arts Commission Head Ignored D.C. in Naming Delano," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (April 3, 1924), 2.

37. "Ketcham tells Rotary of value of greetings," (Washington, D.C.) Evening Star (January 6, 1927), 30.

38. "Exhibit by Architects--Display by Washington Club Open at Corcoran Gallery," Washington (D.C.) Post (May 9, 1908), 2.

39. "Building Art Shown--Merit in the Exhibition at Corcoran Gallery. Cunningham's Prize Winner," Washington (D.C.) Herald (May 9, 1908), 2.

40. "Design Homes of Wood--H. F. Cunningham, of Washington, Highly Praised in Competition," Washington (D.C.) Post (September 24, 1916), 2.

41. "Designs for Some Smaller Wooden Houses by Younger American Architects with Comment by Frank Chouteau Brown," Architectural Review (August, 1916), v.IV:8, 109-115, 134, 135. Accessed on-line January 16, 2024, through HathiTrust at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c033261698&seq=340&q1=cunningham&view=1up

42. "Has Built 17 Villages. H. F. Cunningham has opened offices on Connecticut Avenue," Washington (D.C.) Post (May 7, 1922), 16.

43. "Entertainments" (long report on Joseph & Theodora Cunningham's 25th anniversary celebration), The Washington (D.C.) Herald (July 7, 1912), 2.

44. "H. F. Cunningham--Miss K. D. Merry," Washington (D.C.) Post (April 21, 1907), 17.

45. Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census, s.v. “Katherine Cunningham,” [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

46. Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Divorce Records, 1918-2014, s.v. "Harry Francis Cunningham," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015; Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937, s.v. “Harry F Cunningham” (to Adele Ferrand, Manhattan, April 21, 1922), [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

47. "Buildings will reach huge sum--Architects drawing plans for construction worth $20,000,000...," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (March 21, 1926), 2.

48. "A Nice Little Boy," Washington (D.C.) Post (July 23, 1916), 7.

49. Ancestry.com. Two U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925, s.v. "Harrey [sic] Cunningham," applied from Washington, D.C., January 23, 1920; and s.v. "Harry F. Cunningham," applied in U.S.A., September 6, 1921, [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

50. "Cunningham Opens Office in City," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (June 26, 1924), 11.

51. "Architects Registered," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (September 14, 1924), 14.

52. "Comprehensive Plan Drawn to Guard Growth of Capital," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (January 4, 1924), 5.

53. "17 Architects Busy on U. S. Building--New House Office Wing to Be Composite of Many Designs," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (August 12, 1925), 1.

54. "Work Started on Pasadena Church," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (June 27, 1924), 2.

55. "Proposed Co-operative Apartments," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (March 23, 1926), 30 (with perspective sketch); "the carmack co-operative apartments...the ultimate in comfort, charm and convenience" (advertisement, with rendering), Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (April 11, 1926), 7.

56. "Razing Work is Started for New Hotel Structure," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (April 15, 1925), 19; "Rapid Progress is Made on Erecting Hotel Dennis" (with elevation drawing), ''Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (June 12, 1925), 17.

57. "New St. Pete Hotel to be Started Soon," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (May 15, 1925), 7.

58. "Home on Bayou has real touch of ancient Spain," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (July 25, 1925), 15 (with interior and exterior photos).

59. "Hotel Architect Praises Mountain--Wonders of Lookout Eulogized by H. F. Cunningham. Floridian will design Million-Dollar Hotel for Robert L. Ely," Chattanooga (Tennessee) Daily Times (August 5, 1925), 9.

60. "St. Pete Group Plans Two Big Hotels at Pass-a-Grille--Ten Million May Be Invested in New Buildings," The Tampa (Florida) Times (September 12, 1925), 8.

61. "Start Work on Ruppert Beach--Development turns attention first to boulevard system," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (November 15, 1925), 49.

62. "Contract Awarded," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (May 18, 1926), 3.

63. "Erection of New Hostelry Starts Soon--Bachelor Hotel, Third Street and First Avenue South, Will Cost $300,000" Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg) (May 26, 1926), 32; "Work on Hotels Costs $750,000," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg) (October 3, 1926), 33.

64. "Construction of Three New Houses is Progressing," Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (August 6, 1926), 5.

65. "Cunningham Honored" (at St. Pete Society of Architects banquet "before leaving for New York City...to associate with the Goodhue Associates"), Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg) (March 27, 1927), 9.

66. Caption accompanying "Sketch of Proposed $1,250,000 Hospital-Sanitarium" in Tampa Bay Times (May 16, 1926), 8.

67. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Henry Lawrence Taylor," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; and obituary "Henry L. Taylor, 74 Dies in Arlington, Va.," St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (January 2, 1959).

68. "Change asked by architects--City society will request opportunity to submit municipal plans," Tampa Bay (Florida) Times (September 18, 1926), 2.

69. "Architect Visits Here--Harry F. Cunningham mentioned for university position," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (April 7, 1930), 1.

70. "Architect Elected Nebraska Professor," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (April 27, 1930), 1.

71. "Eighty Students in University's New Department of Architecture," Lincoln (Nebarska) Star (October 19, 1930), 29.

72. "Is opposed to high buildings about Capitol," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (November 17, 1930), 12.

73. "Permit issued for $15,000 work on structure at Third St. and First Ave. So." (to complete first floor of planned five story building), Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida) (May 4, 1928), 16.

74. "Trophy Goes to Co. F....Flag, Medals, and Ribbons," The Washington (D.C.) Post (May 25, 1905), 2.

75. "District Officer Describes Trek Across Desert with Leclerc," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (November 12, 1943), 34 (with portrait).

76. "Cunningham Candidate for Regent," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (June 17, 1954), 16; "Interviewing the Candidates--7 Run for 3 NU Regent Spots," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (August 2, 1954), 6.

77. "For Regent University of Nebraska Harry Francis Cunningham" (political advertisement), Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (August 8, 1954), 6.

78. "Cunningham School Board Candidate," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (March 15, 1955), 2.

79. "Cunningham Files For School Board," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (March 17, 1957), 9.

80. “Bill Would Pay Lincoln Man For Designing Nazi Embassy,” Lincoln Journal-Star (January 25, 1953).

81. "Fabulous F.A.B.--the rediscovery of the legendary architect Fritz August Breuhaus de Groot," on-line archive accessed January 20, 2024 at http://fritz-august-breuhaus.de//breuhaus-works-3.html

82. "Massachusetts Avenue Apartment Planned," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (February 6, 1937), 27; "Architect's sketch" for rendering captioned "Harris [sic] Francis Cunningham, architect, designed the building."

83. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Adele Cunningham" in Manhattan, NYC, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

84. "Mrs. Harry F. Cunningham and her children have gone to...Lincoln, Nebr...," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (August 17, 1930), 34.

85. Email communication to E. F. Zimmer from Matthew G. Hansen, Capitol Preservation Architect, Office of the Capitol Commission, Nebraska State Capitol, January 21, 2024.

86. “Architect Who Completed Capitol Prefers to Teach,” Omaha World-Herald (June 7, 1931), Magazine Section 2.

87. Harry F. Cunningham, “Disclaims Personal Credit,” Omaha World-Herald (June 18, 1931), 16:5.

88. "The newly appointed Ambassador of Brazil..." (note on planned remodeling of McCormick House at 3000 Massachusetts Ave. as Brazilian ambassador's residence and chancery), Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (August 26, 1934), 35.

89. "Harry F. Cunningham...laid before the [Fine Arts] commission a design for a new chancery building for the Brizilian [sic] Embassy...," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (December 3, 1934), 6.

90. "D. C. Vote Denial is U.S. Disgrace, Mrs. Norton Says" (report on "Congressional Night" keynote and award ceremony at D.C. Board of Trade banquet), Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (March 20, 1936), B-18 (p.40, continued from B-1).

91. Pamela Scott & Antoinette J. Lee, Buildings of the District of Columbia, Oxford University Press: New York & Oxford, 1993, "Embassy of Brazil (Robert & Katherine McCormick House)" and "Chancery of Brazil," 390.

92. Ancestry.com U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985, s.v. "Harry F. Cunningham," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Harry F. Cunningham," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

93. Howard Hansen & Diana Primelles, Florida Bureau of Historic Preservation, "Dennis Hotel" nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (January 1986). Footnote 3 cites "Archives of the St. Petersburg Times, Inc. 420 1st Ave. S. Planson [sic] file."\

94. "Heads Architecture Here. Linus B. Smith to Succeed H. F. Cunningham," Lincoln (Nebraska) State Journal (June 14, 1934), 1.

95. "Prof. L. B. Smith New Chairman--Kansan named head of N.U. Architecture Department," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (July 7, 1934), 1.

96. "Office of the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, accessed on-line January 27, 2024 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_Supervising_Architect_for_the_U.S._Treasury

97. Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016, s.v. "Harry Francis Cunningham" at "Worcester Polytechnic Institute," 1909, [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

98. "Beaux-Arts Institute of Design," Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, on-line database, accessed January 29, 2024 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaux-Arts_Institute_of_Design

99. "Academie Julian," Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, on-line datebase, accessed January 30, 2024 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acad%C3%A9mie_Julian

100. Russell, John. "ART VIEW; An Art School That Also Taught Life," The New York Times (March 19, 1989).

101. "North Andover" news, Boston (Massachusetts) Globe (November 5, 1905), 99; Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Records, 1840-1915, s.v. “Mary T. Davis,” [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

102. "Cunningham Will Leave University," Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Journal (January 15, 1934), 7.

Other Sources

Copy of wire from Mayers, Murray, and Phillip to the World-Herald, Omaha. TS. From Nebraska Capitol Collections, June 1931. In NSHS file.

Letter from Harry F. Cunningham to Mayers, Murray and Phillip. TS. From Nebraska Capitol Collections, June 13, 1931. In NSHS file.

Letter from Harry F. Cunningham to The Sunday Editor, Omaha World Herald. TS. From Nebraska Capitol Collections, June 16, 1931. In NSHS file.

Page Citation

D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Harry Francis Cunningham (1888-1959), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, February 2, 2024. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, December 23, 2024.

Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.