Arthur Bohn
Encyclopedia
Arthur Bohn, AIA
, (August 9, 1861—January 13, 1948) was a German-American architect active from the 1880s to 1940s in Indiana
. He was a co-founder of the locally renowned Indianapolis architectural firm of Vonnegut and Bohn. The firm had distinct German influences.
Working in Indianapolis in the 1880s, Bohn entered into a partnership in 1888 with Bernard Vonnegut Sr.
, WAA
(from 1886), and Fellow (from 1889) to form Vonnegut & Bohn
. Vonnegut had been practicing with a client roster in Indianapolis since 1883 and had previous draftsman experience in the prominent New York firm of George B. Post
. He also came from a wealthy and respected family that may have led to several commissions. However, Vonnegut was not the most sociable individual and was not active in the community, which is where several commissions often originate. In addition, Vonnegut and frequently traveled and lived abroad, so Bohn was likely to have played a significant role in attracting clients and executing much of the day to day work, despite being overshadowed by the Vonnegut name.
The firm went on to create many landmarks in Indianapolis and greater Indiana, and a number have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Bernard Vonnegut died young in 1908 and Arthur continued the firm under the same name. Bernard's son, Kurt Vonnegut Sr.
returned from Germany in 1910 and became a partner in the firm, which remained named Vonnegut & Bohn, despite Bohn's seniority.
While with the firm, he worked as a local supervising architect for Holabird & Roche
's The Fletcher Trust Building
(after the original designer Electus D. Litchfield
was dismissed).
At some point, the firm took on an additional partner named Mueller, and the firm was renamed Vonnegut, Bohn & Mueller during the 1940s. Mueller was likely related to Vonnegut. Bohn retired in the 1940s. In 1946, a merger erased Bohn and Mueller's names from the successor firm of Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager
Bohn died in 1948 and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
in Indianapolis.
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
, (August 9, 1861—January 13, 1948) was a German-American architect active from the 1880s to 1940s in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He was a co-founder of the locally renowned Indianapolis architectural firm of Vonnegut and Bohn. The firm had distinct German influences.
Working in Indianapolis in the 1880s, Bohn entered into a partnership in 1888 with Bernard Vonnegut Sr.
Bernard Vonnegut Sr.
Bernard Vonnegut, Sr., WAA, FAIA, was an American lecturer and architect active in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century Indiana. He was a co-founder of the locally renowned Indianapolis architectural firm of Vonnegut and Bohn. He was active in a range of residential, religious,...
, WAA
Western Association of Architects
The Western Association of Architects was an American professional body founded in Chicago in 1884 separately from the American Institute of Architects by John Wellborn Root, Daniel Burnham, Dankmar Adler, and Louis Sullivan, because they felt slighted by East Coast architects of the AIA...
(from 1886), and Fellow (from 1889) to form Vonnegut & Bohn
Vonnegut & Bohn
Vonnegut & Bohn, was an architectural firm active in early- to mid-twentieth-century Indianapolis, Indiana.Founded in 1888 by Bernard Vonnegut Sr., FAIA and Arthur Bohn , all the partners were German Americans and were trained in both American and German architectural academies, which gave their...
. Vonnegut had been practicing with a client roster in Indianapolis since 1883 and had previous draftsman experience in the prominent New York firm of George B. Post
George B. Post
George Browne Post was an American architect trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition.-Biography:Post was a student of Richard Morris Hunt , but unlike many architects of his generation, he had previously received a degree in civil engineering...
. He also came from a wealthy and respected family that may have led to several commissions. However, Vonnegut was not the most sociable individual and was not active in the community, which is where several commissions often originate. In addition, Vonnegut and frequently traveled and lived abroad, so Bohn was likely to have played a significant role in attracting clients and executing much of the day to day work, despite being overshadowed by the Vonnegut name.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
Bernard Vonnegut died young in 1908 and Arthur continued the firm under the same name. Bernard's son, Kurt Vonnegut Sr.
Kurt Vonnegut Sr.
Kurt Vonnegut, Sr., AIA was an American architect and architectural lecturer active in early- to mid-twentieth-century Indianapolis, Indiana. He was partner in the firms of Vonnegut & Bohn, Vonnegut, Bohn & Mueller, and Vonnegut, Wright, and Yeager...
returned from Germany in 1910 and became a partner in the firm, which remained named Vonnegut & Bohn, despite Bohn's seniority.
While with the firm, he worked as a local supervising architect for Holabird & Roche
Holabird & Roche
The architectural firm of Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm's designs have changed many times — from the Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern Architecture to Sustainable Architecture.-History:...
's The Fletcher Trust Building
Fletcher Trust Building
Fletcher Trust Building, officially known as the Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Downtown, is a hotel high-rise in Indianapolis, Indiana. The building rises 16 floors and in height, and is currently the 22nd-tallest building in the city. The structure was completed in 1916...
(after the original designer Electus D. Litchfield
Electus D. Litchfield
Electus D. Litchfield, FAIA was leading American architect and town planner of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, practicing in New York City. His firm, Electus D...
was dismissed).
At some point, the firm took on an additional partner named Mueller, and the firm was renamed Vonnegut, Bohn & Mueller during the 1940s. Mueller was likely related to Vonnegut. Bohn retired in the 1940s. In 1946, a merger erased Bohn and Mueller's names from the successor firm of Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager
Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager
Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager was an architectural firm active in mid-twentieth-century Indiana. The firm was organized in 1946 as a partnership between the surviving partners of three Indiana firms: Kurt Vonnegut Sr...
Bohn died in 1948 and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
in Indianapolis.
List of works attributed to him
- The Athenæum (Das Deutsche Haus)Athenæum (Das Deutsche Haus)The Athenæum, originally named Das Deutsche Haus , is the most ornate and best-preserved building affiliated with the German American community of Indianapolis. Once used as a German American turnverein and clubhouse, it currently houses many groups, organizations, and businesses...
, 401 E. Michigan Street, German Renaissance Revival style building built in two phases—the east wing 1893–94, and the west wing, 1897–1898. Listed in 1973 on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.(Design by Bernard Vonnegut Sr. and Arthur Bohn)Photo of Athenæum - William H. Block Company (Indianapolis) building (after 1910) (Design by Bernard Vonnegut Sr. and Arthur Bohn)Photo in 1912, Photo in 1919, Photo in 1919, Photo in 1924,
- The Fletcher Trust Building (Indianapolis, Indiana) (as supervising architect for the firm of Holabird & Roche)
