Oscar E. Wenderoth (1871-1938), Architect
Oscar E. Wenderoth was born in February 1871, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father Frederick was a portrait painter.[9] Oscar spent the majority of his career working public architecture, with the Architect of the U. S. Capitol and principally in the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury, which Wenderoth headed from 1912-1915. Wenderoth married Sarah Keyser in Philadelphia in 1898. He died on April 11, 1938, survived by Sarah and two daughters.[1][3][4][5][6][8][12][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.
Contents
[hide]Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
None.
Educational & Professional Associations
1886-1897: draughtsman, then listed as architect by late 1890s, active member of T-Square Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[6][17]
1897-1903: senior architectural draftsman, Supervising Architect of the Treasury, assigned as "foreman" to Philadelphia Mint construction.[5][6][8][10][17][18][a]
1903-1904: senior architectural draftsman, Supervising Architect's office, Washington, D.C.[6]
1904-1908: head draftsman, for Elliott Woods, Architect of U. S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.[6][11]
1909-1911: head draftsman, architectural firm of Carrere & Hastings, New York City.[3][6][11]
1912-1915: Supervising Architect of the Treasury.[6][11][12]
1915-1920: supervising architect, Weary & Alford Company, Chicago, Illinois.[4][6]
Buildings & Projects
U. S. Post Office & Courthouse (1914-1916), McCook, Nebraska. (RW05-154)
Addition to U. S. Courthouse & Post Office (1911-1915), Lincoln, Nebraska.[][][b]
Notes
a. The Wenderoths' wedding announcement in 1898 called him "a prominent architect of Philadelphia. He was formerly connected with the supervising architect's office at Washington, D. C., and is now assistant superintendent of the new Philadelphia Mint."[8] In the 1900 census, Oscar and Sarah are listed with a daughter Dorothy E. (age 1) and a newborn son Fred W. In 1910, Dorothy is joined by a 1-year-old sister Hastings; baby Fred is not listed after 1900.[3-5]
References
1. Henry F. Withey and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of Architects (Deceased) (Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970), 644.
2. AIA Historical Directory of American Architects: A Resource Guide to Finding Information About Past Architects, accessed August 10, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd3001038.aspx
3. 1910 United States Census, s.v. “Oscar Wenderoth,” Manhattan, New York County, New York, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
4. 1920 United States Census, s.v. “Oscar Wenderoth,” Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
5. 1900 United States Census, s.v. “O. Wenderoth,” Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
6. Antoinette J. Lee, "Oscar Wenderoth" in Architects to the Nation: The Rise and Decline of the Supervising Architect's Office (Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2000), 216-222.
7. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Oscar J. Wenderoth" [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
8. "Wenderoth-Keyser" (wedding announcement), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Times (June 16, 1898), 5.
9. Ancestry.com. 1880 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Oscar Wenderoth" [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
10. Ancestry.com. U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959, s.v. Oscar Wenderoth," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
11. "New Supervising Architect," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (June 7, 1912), 3.
12. "Former Treasury Architect Dies--Oscar Wenderoth Retired in 1915 After Three Years' Service," The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) (April 16, 1938), 14.
13. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1912, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1912), 105 (Alliance, Aurora, Beatrice, Chadron), 106 (Columbus, Fairbury, Falls City, Fremont); 107 (Fremont, Grand Island, Holdrege, Kearney); 108 (North Platte, Plattsmouth, York).
14. Oscar Wenderoth, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1913, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1913), xx (Alliance, Aurora, Beatrice, Chadron), xx (Columbus, Fairbury, Falls City, Fremont); xxx (Fremont, Grand Island, Holdrege, Kearney); xxx (North Platte, Plattsmouth, York).
15. Oscar Wenderoth, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1914, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1914), xx (Alliance, Aurora, Beatrice, Chadron), xx (Columbus, Fairbury, Falls City, Fremont); xxx (Fremont, Grand Island, Holdrege, Kearney); xxx (North Platte, Plattsmouth, York).
16. Oscar Wenderoth, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1915, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1915), xx (Alliance, Aurora, Beatrice, Chadron), xx (Columbus, Fairbury, Falls City, Fremont); xxx (Fremont, Grand Island, Holdrege, Kearney); xxx (North Platte, Plattsmouth, York).
17. "T-Square Club Member Ahead--Oscar Wenderoth is Appointed Senior Draughtsman to the Supervising Architect of the United States," The Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Times (March 25, 1897), 6.
18. "New Mint Foreman--Oscar Wenderoth Appointed to take Charge of the Building," The Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Inquirer (September 25, 1897), 7.
Additional Sources
Entry in Henry F. Withey, A.I.A., and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) (Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956. Facsimile edition, Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970).
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Oscar E. Wenderoth (1871-1938), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, April 7, 2015, updated December 2, 2024 http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 10, 2025.
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