Norman R. Brigham (1887-1972), Architect
Norman Brigham was born in Erie, Michigan on September 13th, 1887.[6] He received his undergraduate degree in Architecture from the University of Michigan in 1908, at the age of 20, and continued on to earn his Master's in Architecture from the prestigious Columbia University from 1909-1912.[6][7] Five years later, Brigham married and then in 1920, served on the Omaha City Planning Commission until 1922.[6]
He later worked for the government, serving on H.O.L.C. from 1934-1936, and helping with war projects from 1942-1943.[6] Brigham served as the President of the Nebraska Chapter of the AIA and continued to actively practice until his death in December of 1972.[7][8] Brigham is survived by his children, Dr. Dwight Peter Bent Brigham (Greeley, Colorado), and his daughter, Mrs. Walter Thomas Cotton (Omaha, Nebraska), as well as 11 grandchildren.[7][8]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the Format and contents of Nebraska architect entries page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
[hide]Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Omaha, Nebraska, 1917-1970
Educational & Professional Associations
1905-1908: draftsman, Mills, Rhines, Bellman & Nordhoff, Toledo, Ohio.[6]
1911-1913: Lord & Hewlett, New York.[6]
1913-1915: designer, Thomas R. Kimball, Omaha.[6]
____-____: Anderson & Spooner, Council Bluffs, Iowa.[9][a]
1929-1946: architect, Keeline Building, Omaha, Nebraska.
1949-1956: partner, Brigham & Jepsen, Omaha.[c]
1961-1967: architect,
1968: retired, Omaha, Nebraska.
Buildings & Projects
Dated
Commercial Building (1916), 2419 Leavenworth St., Omaha, Nebraska. (DO09:0205-015)
J. Robbins Store (1916), 2425 Leavenworth, Omaha, Nebraska.[3, 4] same as above? Site # in ref. 4.
R. Atchinson house (1917), 3503 Woolworth, Omaha, Nebraska.[3][4] (DO09:0202-034)
F. A. Bartling house (1918), Nebraska City, Nebraska.[10]
Duplex (1920), 316-18 S. 50th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0431-011)
Friedrichs (1922), 409 N. 49th St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0433-007)
Walnut Hill Elementary School (1926), 4370 Hamilton St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0328-002)
Sigma Nu Fraternity House (1927), 625 S 16th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][12][a][e]
Pearl Memorial M.E. Church (1928), Omaha, Nebraska.[6]
Benson Presbyterian-St Paul United Methodist Church (1932), 5410 Corby, Omaha, Nebraska.[3][4] (DO09:0446-003)
Lake Development Residence (1935), Omaha, Nebraska.[6]
Walnut Hill School (1936), Omaha, Nebraska.[6][d]
South Side Terrace Homes, U.S.H.A (1939), Omaha, Nebraska.[6]
Aulabaugh Fur Company Bldg. (1946), Omaha, Nebraska.[6][b]
Building (1946), 1701 Webster St., Omaha, Nebraska.[4] (DO09:0128-044)
Undated
Pearl Memorial Methodist Church (n.d.), Omaha, Nebraska [1]
South Side Terrace Homes (n.d.), Omaha Housing Authority [2]
Visual Arts
Measured drawings, Historic American Buildings Survey, St. Benedict’s Parish Church, Nebraska City, Nebraska [OT06:F-009], February-March, 1934.[11]
Notes
a. Associated architect with Anderson & Spooner, Architects, Council Bluffs, Iowa.[9]
b. In partnership with J.M. Nachtigall.[6]
c. Neither Brigham nor Jepsen listed the partnership in the directory; however they worked out of adjacent rooms in the same office building.
d. Walnut Hill Elementary in NeHBS and Omaha Architects database in association with Charles Steinbaugh.
e. Contractor John M. Alexander of Lincoln built Brigham's design for the fraternity house.[12]
References
1. Omaha World Herald (December 4, 1927), 10.
2. “Housing in Omaha, Nebraska (1939-40): South Side Terrace & Logan Fontanelle Homes Addition,” Omaha Housing Authority Annual Report, 1939-1940. [Filed, Nebraska State Historical Society, Museum Collections]
3. Landmarks, Inc., An Inventory of Historic Omaha Buildings (Omaha: City of Omaha and Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, 1980), 141, 182, 110.
4. City of Omaha Planning Department, Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, Database, Query on Architects, May 20, 2002; courtesy of Lynn Meyer, Preservation Planner.
5. AIA Historical Directory of American Architects: A Resource Guide to Finding Information About Past Architects, accessed April 13, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1005066.aspx
6.American Institute of Architects, comp., American Architects Directory, First Ed. (New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1956), 63, accessed March 3, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1956%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx
7. “Brigham,” Lincoln Evening Journal (December 26, 1972), 31:6.
8. “Brigham,” Omaha Herald (December 27, 1972), 58:1.
9. Thomas Lee Kaspar, comp. Inventory of architectural records in the archives of Davis Fenton Stange Darling, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1996. Nebraska State Historical Society, RG3748, Box 16.
10. The American Contractor (March 23, 1918), 60, accessed through Google Books on January 12, 2012, http://books.google.com/books?id=UCJYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA10-PA64&lpg=RA10-PA64&dq=f+w+clarke,+architect,+york+hotel,+nebraska&source=bl&ots=-QV--qNAlx&sig=yQZ--Gvu9ph8VGJ7unfHB-6P9QU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=whYPT97eOov9iQLF9M3fDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=f%20w%20clarke%2C%20architect%2C%20york%20hotel%2C%20nebraska&f=false
11. Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS NE-35-5, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, accessed through "loc.gov" on April 9, 2013, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/item/ne0035/
12. City of Lincoln Building Permit 16453, issued May 18, 1927.
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Norman R. Brigham (1887-1972), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, May 18, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 4, 2025.
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