Burket Eugene Graf (1918-2007), Architect
Burket Eugene Graf was born in Beatrice, Nebraska, on May 26, 1918 to Hazel Lucile and Fordyce Havilah Graf. He attended the University of Nebraska and graduated in 1939 with an AB and in 1941 with a BA in architecture, with Distinction. He served in the Naval Air Corps in the South Pacific in WWII, on active duty from 1942-1946. He also served in the Naval Reserve for 21 years, retiring with the rank of Commander in 1978. His architectural practice in Lincoln included numerous residences, commercial buildings, and churches. Burket married (1st) Nanette (nee Hope) in 1952. They had four children.[4][7][a] In 1972 he married (2nd) Sheila Lee (nee Dickinson) Dinsmore (1923-1996). He died in Lincoln at the age of 89 in 2007.[1][3][b]
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
Lincoln, Nebraska,
Educational & Professional Associations
1935: graduated from Beatrice High School, Beatrice, Nebraska.
1939: earned AB, University of Nebraska, College of Arts & Sciences, Lincoln, Nebraska (UN-L).
1941: earned BA with distinction, architecture, UN-L.
1941-1991: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1941-1942: architect, Federal Housing Administrations.
1946-1947: instructor in architecture, UN-L.
1970-1991: member of architectural consortium in various combinations with Martin Aitken, Bruce Hazen, Woody Hull, and Bill Hoffman, Lincoln, Nebraska.
1985-1987: assistant professor in architecture, UN-L.
Other Associations
1942-1946: Naval Air Corps, US Navy, active duty in South Pacific.
1947-1978: US Naval Reserve, retiring 1978 with rank of Commander.
Buildings & Projects
Dated
Wm. T. Edwards house (1949, with playroom addition in 1957), 5501 (sometimes called 5555) A Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[8]
Gary Hunt house (1950), 1140 Piedmont Road, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9]
Mrs. Margaret (Geo. H) Rogers duplex (1951), 725 South 14th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]
Putney house (1952), 1213 Crestdale Road, Lincoln, Nebraska.[11]
Burket & Nanette Graf residence (1956, with addition in 1967), 4303 Franklin, Lincoln, Nebraska.[6][12]
St. David's Episcopal Church (1955-1956), 63rd & Judson (3232 N. 63rd), Lincoln, Nebraska.[19][c]
Richard D. Wilson residence (1956), 1145 Piedmont Road, Lincoln, Nebraska.[13]
Buffalo Motel addition (1956-1957), 347 N. 48th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[14][15]
Vine Congregational Church (1957), 1800 Twin Ridge Road, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16][17]
Bethany Branch, Lincoln City Libraries (1958), 1810 North Cotner Blvd., Lincoln, Nebraska.[18]
Undated
Notes
a. Nanette (nee Hope) Graf was a native of California. She received her undergraduate and master's education at Stanford in English before coming to Lincoln in the early 1950s to teach English at University of Nebraska. She taught at Nebraska Wesleyan for 28 years. In 1991, she received her PhD in English from UNL.[7]
b. Burket and his second wife, Sheila, are both recognized as community philanthropists by Lincoln Community Foundation.[3]
c. St. David's sold the property in 1994 and the Graf-designed church is no longer extant (2025).[20]
References
1. "Burket E. Graf" (obituary), Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (June 21, 2007), 14.
2. Roger Bruhn, "Building Beauty: Architect and Philanthropist has Designs on Community," L Magazine (December 2002), 46-47 (illustrated with portrait).
3. "Burket E. Graf" and "Sheila Dickinson Dinsmore Graf", Lincoln Community Foundation: Empowering Donors, on-line database accessed January 28, 2025, at https://www.lcf.org/empowering-donors/benefactors/detail/Burket-E--Graf* and https://www.lcf.org/empowering-donors/benefactors/detail/Sheila-Dickinson-Dinsmore-Graf*
4. "Weds Nebraskan" (announcement of wedding of B. E. Graf & Nanette Hope), Sioux City (Iowa) Journal (July 26, 1952), 3.
5. "To Live in Lincoln" (announcement of marriage of Mrs. Sheila (nee Dickinson) Dinsmore and Burket E. Graf), Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (January 11, 1972), 8.
6. "In the Lincoln Record Book--Building Permits" (for Burket E. Graf, new residence, 4303 Franklin), Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (February 16, 1956), 25.
7. "Dr. Nanette 'Nan' Hope Graf" (obituary), Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (October 26, 2018), A4.
8. City of Lincoln building permit #49323, issued April 8, 1949; 1957 playroom addition by permit #70796.
9. City of Lincoln building permit #54160, issued December 15, 1950.
10. City of Lincoln building permit #56791, issued December 12, 1951.
11. City of Lincoln building permit #57132, issued March 6, 1952.
12. City of Lincoln building permit #68105, issued February 10, 1956; 1967 addition by permit #95134.
13. City of Lincoln building permit #70036, issued November 5, 1956.
14. City of Lincoln building permit #70178, issued 1956; demolished.
15. "Local Motel Plans To Add 8 Units," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (January 5, 1957), 3.
16. City of Lincoln building permit #70829, issued 1957.
17. "Vine Congregational Building to Commence Immediately," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (May 8, 1957), 13.
18. City of Lincoln building permit #73226, issued 1958.
19. "St. David's Breaking Ground Today for Their New Building," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (September 18, 1955), 41.
20. "Realty...Transfers...St. David's Episcopal Church to Thompson...," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (April 3, 1994), 39.
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer, “Burket Eugene Graf (1918-2007), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, January 30, 2025. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 10, 2025.
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