William H. Willcox (1832-1929), Architect

Brooklyn and New York City, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Minnesota: Winona, Stillwater, Saint Paul; Seattle, Washington; California: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Alameda

Page under development.

William H. Willcox designed a trio of significant buildings in Lincoln, Nebraska between 1879 and 1885, while practicing in Chicago, Illinois and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Those were just two stops on a career in architecture that extended more than a half century and across the breadth of the U.S. Willcox was born in England in 1832, immigrated to New York State with his family as a child, and married Henrietta Malloy (or Mallory) around 1854.[1][2][28][a] They were living in Brooklyn, New York at the time of the 1855 New York State census and he was already listed as an architect. He served in the 95th New York Infantry in the Civil War as a topographical engineer.[3][4] The family lived in Brooklyn until 1870, but relocated to Chicago soon after, presumably for the opportunity posed by the rebuilding efforts necessitated by the Great Chicago Fire of October 8-10, 1871.[6][27][e] Willcox was residing in Chicago when he designed the second Nebraska State Capitol.[5][6][27] In the early 1880s he married Mary Prescott and moved to Minnesota, settling in Saint Paul for a productive partnership with Clarence H. Johnston through 1889. Then he successively relocated to and practiced in Seattle, Washington; Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the Bay Area, California. He died in the Veterans Home in Yountville, California on February 1, 1929. [7][8][9][17][a]

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.

Second Nebraska State Capitol, 1879 (Nebraska State Historical Society)

Nebraska Directory Listings

Willcox does not appear to have ever been listed in a Nebraska directory as a resident or architect, instead he resided in Illinois and Minnesota at the time of his known Nebraska commissions.

Educational & Professional Associations

1854-1861: architect, Brooklyn, New York.[1][28][29][32]

1861-1863: topographical engineer, U. S. Army.[4]

1863-1870: architect, Brooklyn and New York City, New York.[29]

1872: architect with Burling & Adler, Chicago, Illinois.[27][e]

1873-1874: architect, Chicago, Illinois.[27][e]

1875-1877: architect and partner with Willcox & Miller, Chicago, Illinois.[27][e]

1878-1882: architect, Chicago, Illinois.[6][27][e]

1882-1885: architect, Saint Paul, Minnesota.[20]

1885-1889: architect and partner, Willcox & Johnston, Saint Paul, Minnesota.[7][20][21][22]

1889: architect, Saint Paul, Minnesota.[20]

1890-1892: architect and partner with William E. Boone, Seattle, Washington.[17][20][23][71]

1882: architect, Seattle, Washington.[71]

1896-1898: architect, Los Angeles, California.[45]

1899-1904: architect, San Francisco, California.[23][34][39][k]

1905-1906: architect and building inspector, Santa Rosa, California.[54]

1910s: architect, Alameda, California.[55][n]

1920: retired in Oakland, Alameda County, California.[12][n]

Other Associations

1860-1867: project in Brooklyn, New York, with Gameliel King, architect, Brooklyn and New York City.[29][30][31][47]

1900-1903: multiple projects in and around San Francisco, California, with John M. Curtis, architect, San Francisco.[i][j][k]

Buildings & Projects

1854-1870, Brooklyn

Willcox and his family resided in Brooklyn through this period, although he was listed among architects in the New York City directories. His most significant known project of these years, the Kings County Savings Bank in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, was undertaken jointly with Gameliel King (1795-1875), a New York City architect best known for multi-story cast-iron buildings.[[#References{47]]] Based on currently available information, describing them as partners throughout this period may overstate their association.[[#References|[29][30][31][f]

Design for "Rural Home No. 3" (1854), published in John Bullock, The American Cottage Builder, 1854.[32][g]

Design for "Suburban Octagonal Cottage" (1854), published in John Bullock, The American Cottage Builder, 1854.[32][g]

Grammar School 51 (1856-1858), 519 W 44th Street, New York City, New York.[16][48][72][l]

Kings County Savings Bank (1860-1867), 135 Broadway, Brooklyn, New York City, New York.[30][31][f]

1861-1863, topographical engineer, U. S. Army

Willcox served in the 95th Regiment of the New York State Infantry in the Civil War, attaining the rank of Captain. He produced at least two topographical maps which were published after the major battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. See Publications below.[4]

1872-1882, Chicago, Illinois

The Great Chicago Fire of October 1871 created an enormous need for new buildings, and a corresponding opportunity for architects and others in the construction sector. A "Fire Edition" of Edwards's Chicago Directory attempted in a slim volume to publish "the names of all person in business in the city whose location could be ascertained up to Dec. 12, 1891." Among the architects listed was E. Burling & Co. By 1872, Burling's listing had expanded to "Burling, Adler & Co. (E. Burling, D. Adler and W. H. Willcox), architects." Willcox's association with the long-established Edward Burling and the recently arrived, but fast-rising Dankmar Adler was short-lived, but Willcox remained in Chicago for a decade and secured major commissions, including the second Nebraska State Capitol. He also had a brief partnership with Charles C. Miller from 1875-1877 as Willcox & Miller.[6][50][m]

Plymouth Congregational Church (1874), Michigan Avenue just north of 26th St., Chicago, Illinois.[67][68][s]

First (now Olivet) Baptist Church (1875-1876), 31st & King Drive, Chicago, Illinois.[14][51][m]

Peoria Mercantile Library (1878), S. Main and Jefferson, Peoria, Illinois.[14][49][60]

Second Nebraska State Capitol (1879-1888), 15th & J, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5][10][11][24][26][33][57][b][d]

State Reform School for Boys (1879), Kearney, Nebraska.[16][57][62]

Shattuck School "dining" hall (1880), Faribault, Minnesota.[57][63][q]

State Journal Building (1880), northeast corner of 9th & P Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16][r]

First Congregational Church (1880-1882), Winona, Minnesota.[13][14][c]

1882-1889, Saint Paul, Minnesota

The decade of the 1880s was one of the most productive in Willcox's career as an architect. Several of his buildings of that era still stand, including major institutional, religious, and residential projects. He relocated from Chicago to Stillwater northeast of the Twin Cities, then to Saint Paul, forming a partnership there with Clarence H. Johnston late in 1885. He also entered into a second marriage around 1884 with Mary Prescott, lasting until his death in 1929.[7][20][21][22][o]

St. Mary's Hall (1881-1883), Faribault, Minnesota.[14][57][63][81][p]

A.B. Safford Public Library (1883), 1609 Washington Avenue, Cairo, Illinois.[59]

Edward L. Hersey (Hersey/Atwood) House (1883), 320 Pine Street West, Stillwater, Minnesota.[65][66]

St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church (1883-1885), Lincoln, Nebraska.[14][15][57]

Frederick Driscoll House (1884), 266 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota.[14][22][52][53]

"Old Main" of Macalester College (1884-1887), 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota.[61]

Bank of Minnesota (1885), Jackson and Sixth Streets, Saint Paul, Minnesota.[58]

University of Nebraska Chemistry Laboratory (1885), 12th & R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[25]

1896-1898, Los Angeles, California

Remodeling and enlarging St. John's Episcopal Church (1896), Adams Street near Figueroa, Los Angeles, California.[74][v]

Kings County Courthouse (1896-1898), Hanford, California.[46][69][75][w]

1898-1904, San Francisco, California

Military Hospital for the Presidio (1898), San Francisco, California.[73][u]

Gibbs Building of St. Luke's Hospital (1900), Valencia & 27th Street, San Francisco, California.[36][37][i]

Design for a 7-story hotel for Miss H. McIlvaine (1901), Atlantic City, New Jersey.[77][x]

Carnegie Library (1902), 2264 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, California.[38][40][j]

Carnegie Library (1903), Reno, Nevada.[78]

Gymnasium for St. Ignatius College (1903), San Francisco, California.[34]

1905-1906, Santa Rosa, California

Willcox apparently arrived in Santa Rosa, California, just months before the major earthquake of April 18, 1906. His proposal for a major convention hall was gathering pledges and an even more ambitious plan to transform the center of the city by damming Santa Rosa Creek to create a lake and park attracted interest, before the earthquake devastated the town and swept away those plans. He was appointed building inspector for the city and assisted with reconstruction efforts at least into 1907.[56]

Improvements for Sonoma County Courthouse (1905), Santa Rosa, California.[79][z]

Project for a convention hall (1906), Santa Rosa, California.[56]

Project for Santa Rosa Creek, including bridge, lake, and park (1906), Santa Rosa, California.[56]

1910s, Alameda, California

Prince Building (1910), corner of Western Avenue and Kentucky Street, Petaluma, California.[76]

Project for "Dream Hotel" for Murphy H. Durst (1911), Oakland, California.[35]

Undated

First Presbyterian Church (n.d.), Clinton, Iowa.[16]

Episcopal Church (n.d.), Emmetsburg, Iowa.[16]

Presbyterian Church (n.d), Stillwater, Minnesota.[57]

Presbyterian Church (n.d.), Chippewa Falls, Minnesota.[57]

Publications

William H. Willcox, "Map of the battlefield of Antietam," lithograph, (Philadelphia: P. S. Duval & Son, 1862). Online at Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3844s.cw0252000 Accessed March 3, 2017.

William H. Willcox, "Map of the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 1863, showing line of battle on P.M. of 2nd," lithograph, (1863). Online at Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/item/99466787/ Accessed March 3, 2017.

William H. Willcox, Hints to Those Who Propose to Build--Also a Description of Improved Plans for the Construction of Churches. (Saint Paul, Minnesota: Pioneer Press, 1884).

Notes

a. Willcox's date and place of birth were reported inconsistently in various censuses and other primary sources. Most frequently, he was listed as born in England, but occasionally New York was noted instead. The record of his birth family in the 1850 census identifies his parents as Samuel and Mana and gives William's age as 15. William, the parents, and one younger sibling (age) were all born in England, and four more siblings were born in New York (between 1838 and 1846). Also in the household were 24 year old Henrietta Malloy and her sons Henry and Edward (7 and 3, respectively).[1] The 1855 New York State census lists William (age 23) as an architect residing in Brooklyn, married to Henrietta (age 24), and her two children Henry (11) and Edward (8) Mallory. That census appears to have added a few years to William's age, and subtracted a few from Henrietta's.[28] New York Herald reported in April 1854 that Gertrude Louisa Henrietta, "only daughter of William H. and Henrietta B. Wilcox [sic]," had died April 14 at 13 months of age, suggesting William and Henrietta may have married as early as 1852 or 1853.[70]

b. The cornerstone of the second Nebraska State Capitol was retained upon demolition of the building, and installed at the northeast corner of the current (third) State Capitol, alongside a new cornerstone. The old stone identifies William H. Willcox as "Architect & Superintendent" and provides a date of 1884--the commencement of the central portion of the building. The Chicago Daily Tribune noted with a dateline "Lincoln, Neb., Aug. 27 [1879] "that the plans submitted by Mr. Wilcox, of Chicago, for the new State-House have been adopted..." The Tribune describes that "The Wilcox plan provides for a building the extreme length of which is 290 feet; extreme breadth, 130 feet; the hight [sic] of cornice from water-table, 66 feet; hight [sic] of roof, 86 feet; of dome, 200 feet." Some modern sources misidentify the architect as B. H. Wilcox.[5][10][11]

c. The Saint Paul Globe advertisement of 1886 for the partnership of Willcox and Johnston lists twenty of "our recent buildings." The list clearly includes Willcox projects preceding the partnership, such as "State House, Lincoln, Neb." and "M. E. Church, Lincoln, Neb." "Congregational Church, Winona" is another example thereof.[9]

d. Luebke's succinct description of the Willcox Capitol in A Harmony of the Arts: The Nebraska State Capitol opines: “Not an ugly building like its predecessor, this capitol was reasonably attractive, given the haphazard character of its evolution. In terms of its architectural style, it may be judged at best as competent. Designed by another Chicago architect, B. H. Wilcox [sic], it was another unimaginative manifestation of the neoclassical style patterned on the national capitol with its dominating dome.”[26]

e. In the Chicago city directories, Willcox was first listed in 1872 with Burling, Adler & Co. The entry for that firm reads "Burling, Adler & Co., (E. Burling, D. Adler and W. H. Willcox), architects, 167 and 169 Madison." While his name was not in the firm's title, the listing implies he was a partner. Edward J. Burling (1819-1892) was long-established in Chicago's architectural community and was about a dozen years older than Willcox. Dankmar Adler (1844-1900) was about a dozen years younger than Willcox and had just started the firm with Edward Burling early in 1871, a few months before the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871 devastated the city. The rebuilding effort attracted numerous architects. Willcox was listed as a sole practitioner in 1873 and 1874 directories, then as a partner with Charles C. Miller in 1875-1877, and as a sole practitioner again in 1878. William and Henrietta Willcox were recorded as residing in Chicago in the 1880 Census, the same year as his first known commissions in Minnesota. Willcox does not appear in the 1882 edition of the Chicago city directory.[6][27]

f. Kings County Savings Bank, designated a NYC Landmark since 1966 and listed on the National Register in 1980, is a well-preserved three-story French Second Empire building of Dorchester sandstone. Banks occupied the building for over a century. Since 1996, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center has occupied the building. The design is credited to "William H. Wilcox [sic] of Brooklyn, in partnership with prominent New York architect Gamaliel King, working as King & Wilcox [sic]."[30][31]

g. Bullock's book of 1854 refers includes a perspective of "Rural Home No. 3" (between pages 263 and 264) which is described (on pages 219-223) as "a beautiful design by Mr. W. H. Willcox, a young Architect of much promise." Willcox is also afforded four pages of description in "the artist's own words..." which extend beyond mere description of the design to render advice on landscaping the house site "with winding or curved paths, neatly bordered with various flowers, blending their gaudy colors harmoniously together..." The 22-year-old resident of Brooklyn concludes: "Were our country residences more generally decked with simplicity and taste, we imagine that the number of our young men who wander from the patrimonial estate, and precipitate themselves into the dissipated and vitiated follies of a city life, would be very materially lessened." [32]

h. Citing "Oakland Edition of Bulletin," Western Architect and Engineer reported in 1919 that "Mr. William H. Wilcox [sic], 88-year-old architect, who drew the plan in 1911 of the famous "Dream Hotel" for Mr. Murray H. Durst, today won his suit for payment for those plans...awarded Wilcox [sic] $23,425, approximately 1 per cent. of the cost of the projected hotel, $2,500,000. The money must be paid by the Durst estate. The hotel was to be ten stories high, with an airplane landing on the roof and a subway railroad terminal in the basement. The site announced was an entire block...The defense in the suit argued that Durst had permitted Wilcox [sic] to draw the elaborate plans just to humor the aged architect, and with no idea that the hotel would ever be built. But the court holds that the scheme was a serious one in the minds of the exploiters."[35]

i. The San Francisco Chronicle reported in 1900 that "Ground was broken this week for the initial building for the new St. Luke's Hospital. The contract for the work ran $1000 under the estimates of Curtiss & Willcox, the architects."[36] In December 1900, the Chronicle provided an illustration of the hospital and noted that the hospital "When completed...will constitute group of pavilions and other buildings, the first of which is already under roof. All of the group are to be constructed of pressed red brick. They will cost $225,000, and were designed by John M. Curtis and William A. [sic] Willcox.[37]

j. Oakland Tribune of January 13, 1902 reported that the plans of "Wm. H. Willcox and John M. Curtis, architects, of San Francisco" were chosen for a new Carnegie Library in Alameda. "The first prize gives drawings of a handsome building one-story height, to be built of either light pressed brick or stone....In all probability, the architects who secured the first prize will supervise the work, as Mr. Willcox, one of the firm, has had extensive experience in that line." $750 was awarded; $30,000 named as the budget limit. The building was constructed in brick on a high basement of stone.[38][40]

k. Willcox was listed as an architect in San Francisco city directories from 1899-1904. He was not listed in the editions of 1898 or 1905 and he was never listed with a partnership or firm, although newspaper sources record several projects with John M. Curtis and refer to the firm of "Curtis & Willcox." In the 1901 San Francisco city directory, the offices of Curtis and Willcox were listed as 124 Kearny and 126 Kearny, respectively. Clearly they were associates and occasional collaborators, but they may not have practiced as an on-going partnership. John Morrison Curtis was born Sept. 7, 1852 in Missouri and died Sept. 6, 1917 in San Francisco. He was interred with family members in Lexington, Kentucky. A long-time resident of San Francisco, Curtis was credited by San Francisco Call of December 19, 1897 with the design of the San Francisco City Hall and numerous county courthouses including those of Placer, Humboldt, Glenn, Mendocino, Fresno and Sonoma County, as well as the Kohler & Frohling winery in San Francisco.[34][36][37][38][39][41][42] No one architect should bear the full credit or blame for the ambitious "Old" City Hall complex that was constructed over a period of more than two decades stretching from the early 1870s well into the 1890s, but Curtis was architect in charge of construction for a few years, beginning in 1883.[43] Also in 1883, Sonoma County accepted plans of "Curtis & Bennett of this city [San Francisco]" for a courthouse in Santa Rosa.[44] In 1911, Willcox filed "a petition in involuntary insolvency" reporting $4655 in debts and $3157 in assets and noting "His heaviest creditor is John M. Curtis of San Francisco for $1600 with $1027 interest."[80]

l. Willcox claimed in the 1880s to have designed a public school in New York City on West 44th Street in the 1850s or 1860s, but never to have been properly credited for the project. New York Daily Tribune of January 31, 1856, verifies Willcox's claim, advertising for proposals to build that school and indicating "The plans and elevations can be seen at the office of W. H. Wilcox [sic], Architect..." New York City researcher Christopher Gray pointed out that Grammar School 51 was built at 519 West 44th Street by 1858, and that while the Board of Education's Annual Report for that year published the school's plans, but did not identify the architect. Gray also noted that Willcox lived in the vicinity of that school in the early 1860s.[16][48][71]

m. First Baptist Church (now Olivet Baptist) of 1875-1876 is Willcox's only known Chicago project, although commissions outside Chicago, including the Nebraska Capitol, date from the period of his Chicago residency. That church coincides with the brief period of the Willcox & Miller partnership. Charles C. Miller, may be best known as the original designer of a Stick Style house in Oak Park, Illinois, the William Cunningham Gray House of 1883, which Frank Lloyd Wright totally transformed into a Prairie School gem in 1906, the Hills-DeCaro House located at 313 Forest Avenue in Oak Park, Illinois.[14][50][51]

n. Directories, censuses, and newspaper accounts list Willcox at various Bay Area communities after his sojourn in San Francisco--Santa Rosa in 1905 and 1906, Alameda in the 1910 and 1920 censuses (the latter listing him as retired), and finally residing and dying in 1929 at the Veterans Home in Yountville, California, where he was interred.

o. William and Henrietta Willcox were residing in Chicago at the time of the 1880 Census. By 1883, the city directories of Saint Paul, began including W. H. Willcox, through 1891, when it was noted he had "removed to Tacoma, Washington." Both professional and personal changes were occurring at this period in Willcox's life, as he entered into a second marriage in the early 1880s. (It is unclear at this time whether William and Henrietta's marriage ended by divorce or by her death.) From 1900 onward, the censuses record William's wife as Mary or Mary P. (probably Prescott), indicating their marriage began in 1882 or 1884. They had a considerable difference in age--in 1900 she as listed as 34 years old and William as 54. However, as William was born in 1832, he was 68 years old, not 54. The 1910 census listed their ages as 64 and 45; not until 1920 was there a more accurate report--of William as 87 and Mary as 54.[6][8][12]

p. Shattuck-St. Mary's is an Episcopal school in Faribault, Minnesota, which was originally St. Mary's Hall for girls and Shattuck School for boys. The cornerstone for "new St. Mary's Hall on the bluff" was laid in June 1882, although construction had been underway for nearly a year. The school moved into the new "castle on the Rhine" in Sept. 1883.[63][81]

q. Manney Memorial, a gymnasium and drill hall, was built at Shattuck School in 1880. This probably was the Hall designed by Willcox.[63]It was described in 1882 as "The new gymnasium, a fine, large building of blue limestone, and named in honor of Dr. Manney, was completed in 1880. It is finished off in all the modern improvements, and is one of the most useful buildings of the mission."[81]

r. The Nebraska State Journal Building is also attributed to Lincoln architect James Tyler.

s. The Inter Ocean newspaper of June 27, 1874 describes at length the cornerstone laying for Plymouth Congregational Church in Chicago, estimated to cost $80,000 and to seat 2,500. Willcox presented the minister an engraved silver trowel to use in laying the cornerstone.[67] Chicago Daily Tribune of Dec. 13, 1874 describes a "Bazaar of All Nations" at Plymouth Congregational Church "in the rear of the new edifice...The different nations will be represented by the young ladies of the church appropriately costumed, who will show the wares they have for sale in booths erected under the supervision of Mr. Wilcox [sic], the architect of the church, and elegantly decorated with national flags and draperies."[68]

t. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer of June 28, 1892, published a brief notice titled "A Dissolution of Partnership" reading: "The partnership heretofore existing between W. E. Boone and W. H. Willcox, architects, has been dissolved, and Mr. Boone will continue the business alone."[71]

u. San Francisco Call of October 29, 1898 provides a perspective sketch and description of the new Military Hospital Willcox designed for the Presidio in San Francisco, noting "The plans were drawn by W. H. Wilcox [sic], an architect of long and varied experience. He has made a specialty of hospital construction."[73]

v. The Los Angeles Herald reported on July 23, 1896 that "Architect W. H. Wilcox [sic] has prepared plans for the remodeling and enlarging of the St. John's Episcopal church, on Adams street, near Figueroa; cost, $5000."[74]

w. San Francisco Call of February 12, 1896, reported that "the plans for the Kings County courthouse offered by Architect W. H. Wilcox [sic] of Los Angeles" were adopted after a week's consideration. The cost for the building was estimated at $32,000.[75]

x. Philadelphia Inquirer reported on October 1, 1901 that "M. P. Wells & Co. are receiving estimates for a large seven-story hotel to be built at Atlantic City , N. J., for Miss H. McIlvanine, John M. Curtis and William H. Wilcox [sic], of San Francisco, are the architects. The hotel is to be of brick and iron, and will be finished with the latest improvements in Hotel facilities. A roof garden will be one of the features."[77]

y. Willcox was on-site at least twice to inspect the construction of the Carnegie Library in Reno, Nevada. In April 1904 he was in Reno two days and made his report "approving the work with some slight exceptions," requiring that the "embellishing of the four Corinthian columns in the center of the building" be done over because "These were pointed and polished before the interior work was thoroughly dry..."[78]

z. The Petaluma Argus-Courier reported on July 12, 1905 that the County Supervisors "devoted some time Tuesday morning to a consideration of the improvements contemplated on the Court House building. Architect William H. Wilcox [sic] was present and the matter was fully discussed."[79]

References

1. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. S. V. “Samuel Wilcox.” Accessed February 18, 2017.

2. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. S.V. “William H. Wilcox” with “Henrietta Wilcox.” Accessed February 18, 2017.

3. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. S.V. “William H. Wilcox.” Accessed February 18, 2017.

4. Francis Bernard Heitman,Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903, 1039. Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=iIUiAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA56#v=onepage&q&f=false Accessed May 21st, 2013.

5. "Nebraska Notes. Description of the New State-House Soon to Be Put Up," Chicago Daily Tribune (August 29, 1879), 3.

6. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. S. V. “William H. Wilcox,” with “Henrietta Wilcox.”

7. Announcement of partnership of Willcox & Johnston, Saint Paul Daily Globe (December 10, 1885), 8.

8. Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1905-1939 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Age 96, date of death Feb. 1, 1929.

9. Burial at Veterans Memorial Grove Cemetery, Yountville, Napa County, California, USA “Findagrave” http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Willcox&GSfn=William&GSmn=H.&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=7522206&df=all& Accessed February 18, 2017.

10. Oliver, Richard. Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue (American Monograph Series, ed. Robert A. M. Stern). New York: The Architectural History Foundation, and Cambridge & London: The M.I.T. Press, 1983, 184.

11. Pollak, Oliver B., Nebraska Courthouses: Contention, Compromise, and Community. (Images of America Series) Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2002, 11.

12. 1920 U.S Census, Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. S.V. "Will H. Willcox" with "Mary P. Willcox."

13. Alan K. Lathrop, Churches of Minnesota: an Illustrated Guide, (University of Minnesota Press, 2003), 228-229.

14. "Willcox & Johnston, Architects," advertisement in Saint Paul Globe (January 10, 1886), 2.

15. A. B. Hayes & Sam D. Cox, History of the City of Lincoln, (Lincoln: State Journal Company, 1889), 248-249, 251.

16. William H. Willcox, Hints to Those Who Propose to Build, (St. Paul, Minnesota: The Pioneer Press Publishing Company, 1884).

17. “Willcox, William H.” in Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Historical Guide to the Architects (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994), 354.

18. Minnesota Missionary vol. 1 (August 1881).

19. Minnesota Missionary vol. 5 (June 1882).

20. Saint Paul (Minnesota) city directories, 1883-1891. Willcox is listed in solo practice in 1883-1885, with Clarence H. Johnston 1886-1889, solo in 1890, and "removed to Tacoma, Wash." in 1891.

21. ”Architects’ Biographies: William H. Willcox (1832-1929),” in Alan K. Lathrop, Churches of Minnesota: an Illustrated Guide, University of Minnesota Press, 2003, 306.

22. Jeffrey A. Hess and Paul Clifford Larson, St. Paul’s Architecture: A History, U of Minnesota Press, 2006, 57-60 and subsequent footnotes.

23. Pacific Coast Architectural Database: “William H. Willcox (Architect)”, http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/person/2497/ Accessed February 19, 2017.

24. "History of Nebraska's Capitols," Nebraska State Capitol, http://Capitol.org/building/history/nebraska-capitols Accessed January 27th, 2013.

25. Kay Logan-Peters, "Chemistry Laboratory (Old)," UNL Historic Buildings, http://historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=45 Accessed February 27, 2017.

26. Frederick C. Luebke, “The Capitals and Capitols of Nebraska,” in A Harmony of the Arts: The Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln & London: University of Nebraska Press, 1990, 10.

27. Chicago (Illinois) city directories, 1871-1878, 1882.

28. Ancestry.com. New York, State Census, 1855 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. S.V. "Wm H Wilcox" with "Henrietta V. Wilcox."

29. New York City directories, 1857, 1868, 1870. Listings for Willcox, architect, residing in Brooklyn.

30. "Kings County Savings Bank," Landmarks Preservation Commission (now New York City Landmarks Commission), March 15, 1966. http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/KINGS-CO-BANK.pdf Accessed March 1, 2017.

31. "Kings County Savings Bank" in Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_County_Savings_Bank Accessed March 1, 2017.

32. John Bullock, The American Cottage Builder: a series of designs, plans, and specifications, from $200 to $20,000, for homes for the people. (New York: Stringer & Townsend, 1854), 219-223 and 239-244, with illustrations interleaved between 264-265 (Rural Home No. 3) and 316-317 (Suburban Octagon). On-line at https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008634222 Accessed March 1, 2017.

33. A. E. Sheldon, Semi-Centennial History of Nebraska: Historical Sketch (Lincoln: Lemon Publishing, 1904), 114, 116, 117.

34. "Ground Broken for New Gymnasium," San Francisco Chronicle (February 3, 1903), 9.

35. "Magnificent Dream Hotel Bared in Suit," Oakland (California) Tribune (February 11, 1919), 18; "Dream Hotel Architect is Paid $23,425," Oakland (California) Tribune (May 19, 1919), 16; "Dream Hotel," The Architect and Engineer of California (Western Architect and Engineer) (June 1919), LVII:3, 110.

36. In "General Notes," San Francisco Chronicle (August 4, 1900), 7; "Bishop Nichols Lays Hospital Cornerstone. Handsome, Modern Brick Buildings to Replace St. Luke's Wooden Structures," (September 20, 1900), 5.

37. "Reality Linked with Business Prosperity," San Francisco Chronicle (December 30, 1900), 8.

38. "Fine Building for Alameda. Library Trustees Award the Prize to San Francisco Firm." Oakland (California) Tribune (January 13, 1902), 2.

39. San Francisco (California) city directories, 1881, 1898-1905, 1917, 1930.

40. "Alameda Free Library" in National Register of Historic Places in Alameda County. http://noehill.com/alameda/nat1982002152.asp Accessed March 2, 2017.

41. "Architect J. M. Curtis" in San Francisco Call (December 19, 1897).

42. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Accessed February 2, 2017.

43. Regarding John M. Curtis and San Francisco's "New City Hall," see San Francisco Chronicle: "The New City Hall. The Larkin-Street Wing to Be Completed" (October 9, 1883), 8; "The Larkin-Street Wing. The Architect and Contractor at Odds on Gas-Fixtures." (July 29, 1884), 8; "New City Hall. A Contractor's Claim. A Meeting of the Commission Held Yesterday." (April 28, 1887), 5, involving contract dispute from 1884 involving 'J. M. Curtis, the architect emyloyed [sic] at that time by the city..."

44. "Sonoma's New Courthouse. Plans for a Fine Structure at Santa Rosa." San Francisco Chronicle (September 1, 1883), 3.

45. City Directories, Los Angeles, California, 1895-1897. W. H. Willcox was listed among architect in 1896 and 1897.

46. Pacific Coast Architectural database, "Superior Court of California, County of Kings, Courthouse, Hanford, CA" http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/7626/ and "John Haggerty, Architect" http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/person/3673/ Accessed March 2, 2017.

47. "Gameliel King" in Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamaliel_King Accessed March 3, 2017.

48. Christopher Gray, "Streetscapes: Readers Questions," New York Times (September 1, 1991), online at: http://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/01/realestate/streetscapes-readers-questions-the-house-of-harry-thaw-s-half-brother.html Accessed March 3, 2017.

49.“Mercantile Library in Peoria, Illlinois,” Peoria Historical Society Image Collection (Bradley University), http://collections-test.carli.illinois.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=%2Fbra_peoria&CISOPTR=225&DMSCALE=100.00000&DMWIDTH=600&DMHEIGHT=600&DMMODE=viewer&DMFULL=0&DMOLDSCALE=16.16379&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&DMTHUMB=1&REC=3&DMROTATE=0&x=27&y=48 Accessed February 25, 2017.

50. "Edward R. Hills House," Wikipedia with link to illustration of William C. Gray House. Online at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_R._Hills_House Accessed March 3, 2017.

51. "Church Architecture," Encyclopedia of Chicago Online at: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1058.html Accessed March 3, 2017.

52. "Driscoll-Weyerhaeuser House, 266 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota", in Placeography,online at: http://www.placeography.org/index.php/Driscoll-Weyerhaeuser_House,_266_Summit_Avenue,_Saint_Paul,_Minnesota Accessed March 3, 2017.

53. Christopher J. Keith, “Frederick Driscoll House,” Saint Paul Historical website, http://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/315 Accessed February 25, 2017.

54. Santa Rosa (California) City Directories, 1905, listing Willcox as architect, 1908, not listing Willcox.

55. Alameda (California) City Directories, 1921-1917, listing Willcox as architect, 1922, listing Willcox without occupation.

56. "New Pavilion to be useful," Santa Rosa Republican (February 2, 1906); and "Architect Willcox Prepares Plan for Beautifying Creek Banks" Santa Rosa Republican (February 10, 1906); both transcribed and illustrated in "Santa Rosa's Forgotten Future," I See by the Papers... blog based on historic Sonoma County newspapers. http://comstockhousehistory.blogspot.com/2009/07/santa-rosas-lost-architect.html Accessed March 4, 2017.

57. "Our Architects Abroad. The Artist Architects of St. Paul Employed in All the Northwest States." The Saint Paul (Minnesota) Globe (January 7, 1884), 5.

58. Noted in "The City. Globules." The Saint Paul (Minnesota) Globe (June 10, 1885), 8.

59. Katharine L. Sharp, "Illinois Libraries," in The University Studies (University of Illinois), II:6 (December 1907), 10, 19, 21.

60. Katharine L. Sharp, "Illinois Libraries," in The University Studies (University of Illinois), II:6 (December 1907), 102.

61. Lynne VanBrocklin Spaeth, "Old Main--Macalester College," nomination to National Register of Historic Places, 1977. Online at www.mnhs.org/preserve/nrhp/nomination/77000765.pdf Accessed March 6, 2017.

62. "Kearney, Buffalo County," in Virtual Nebraska...Our Towns on-line at http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/buffalo/kearney/ Accessed March 6, 2017.

63. Robert E. Neslund, "Shattuck-St. Mary's Sesquicentennial Reunion weekend June, 2008. Formal Timeline Booklet Handout." On-line at http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~folp/museumtourguide/1858-2008timelinetxt.html Accessed March 6, 2017.

64. Contract awarded to erect reform school building at Kearney, Columbus (Nebraska) Journal (May 12, 1880), 2.

65. Historic Stillwater: The Birthplace of Minnesota. South Hill Walking Tours, "Pine Street Loop" (#7). Brochure on-line at http://www.ci.stillwater.mn.us/vertical/sites/%7B5BFEF821-C140-4887-AEB5-99440411EEFD%7D/uploads/STILLWATER_SH_brochure_07-2014.pdf (Accessed March 6, 2017.

66. "320 Pine St W" in Stillwater's Heirloom & Landmark Sites Program, on-line at http://www.stillwater-mn.org/hpc/Sample_interface/Categories/Parcel.asp?PIN=2803020430079 Accessed March 6, 2017.

67. "Plymouth Church. Laying of the Corner-stone of the New Edifice," The Inter Ocean (Chicago, Illinois) (June 17, 1874), 8.

68. "The Plymouth Church Bazaar," Chicago Daily Tribune (December 13, 1874), 13.

69. John Walker, "Kings County Courthouse" in Historical Perspectives: An occasional series by Bee photographer John Walker (June 21, 2010) Illustrations and text on-line at http://historical.fresnobeehive.com/2010/06/kings-county-courthouse/ Accessed March 7, 2017.

70. "Died," The New York Herald (April 15, 1854), 5.

71. Among advertisement for Seattle Architects, "Boone & Willcox, Boston Block," Seattle Post-Intelligencer (December 21, 1890), 6; "A Dissolution of Partnership," Seattle Post-Intelligencer (June 28, 1892), 5; "Architects" among advertisements, Seattle Post-Intelligencer (December 6, 1892), 6. Among six architects advertising, "William H. Willcox, Burke Building" is listed first and "W. E. Boone, New York Block" is second.

72. "To Builders.--Sealed Proposal will be received...," New York Daily Tribune (January 31, 1856), 2.

73. "New Military Hospital For the Presidio. It is to Cost $170,000 and Be Equipped with All the Most Modern Appliances." San Francisco Call (October 29, 1898, 14. Illustrated.

74. "Real Estate and Building...Uncontracted Work," The Los Angeles Herald (July 23, 1896), 6.

75. "Kings County's Courthouse," San Francisco Call (February 12, 1896), 3.

76. "To Be Elegant Structure," Petaluma (California) Argus-Courier (March 1, 1910), 5; "Splendid New Building Being Erected by M. Prince" (March 26, 1910), 1 (illustrated).

77. "Latest News in Real Estate," Philadelphia Inquirer (October 1, 1901), 11.

78. "Carnegie Library. Contract has been let and the building is to be completed by the first of January," Reno (Nevada) Gazette-Journal (August 4, 1903); "William H. Wilcox [sic], architect of the Carnegie library building, is up from San Francisco...," Nevada State Journal (September 12, 1903), 7; "Public Library Nearly Ready," Reno (Nevada) Gazette-Journal (April 23, 1904), 5.

79. "Tuesday with the Board of Supervisors," Petaluma (California) Argus-Courier, (July 12, 1905).

80. "Petitions in Insolvency," San Francisco Chronicle (May 27, 1911), 10.

81. "Educational Interests. As They Are Fostered at Faribault, the So-Called Athens of Minnesota...,Bishop Whipple's Address at Laying Corner Stone of New St. Mary's Hall," (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Star Tribune (June 20, 1882), 7.

Page Citation

E. F. Zimmer and D. Murphy, “William H. Willcox (1832-1929), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, March 7, 2017. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 24, 2024.

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