Donald Barthelme (architect)
Encyclopedia
Donald Barthelme, Sr. was a prominent architect
in Houston, Texas
, a teacher of architecture as a professor at the University of Houston
and Rice University
, and the father of novelist Donald Barthelme, Jr.
.
Barthelme was born on August 4, 1907 in Galveston, Texas
. After studying at the Rice Institute in Houston for two years, in 1926 he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania
, graduating in 1930. That same year he married Helen Bechtold of Philadelphia. After graduation he worked as an architect in Philadelphia until late in 1932, when he returned to Texas.
A highlight of Barthelme's early career in Texas was his work on the Texas Centennial Exposition
, for which he was the lead designer of the exposition's centerpiece building, the Hall of State
, which is considered a masterpiece of the Art Deco
style and is now the home of the Dallas Historical Society
. After the outbreak of World War II
he worked on war-related projects. He was a designer on the Avion Village Housing Project near Dallas
and later was supervising architect for the Big Spring Air Base
in West Texas
and war-related housing projects in Galveston and Sweeny, Texas
.
Beginning in 1942 and continuing through his retirement from architecture practice in 1963, he designed many school
buildings for the West Columbia Independent School District
in Brazoria County, Texas
. His school designs, the best known of which was the West Columbia Elementary School (1951), earned national and international awards and were featured in numerous publications. He came to be considered an expert on school design, wrote and lectured extensively on the subject, and was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
(AIA) in 1955 in recognition of his work in school architecture. His other notable projects included the St. Rose of Lima Church and School (1948), which was the first modernist
Catholic
church in Houston and the first building in the city to win an award of merit from the AIA.
From 1946 to 1973 Barthelme served on the faculty of the Architecture Department at the University of Houston, where was an influential member of the faculty and is credited with helping to shape the program in its early years. He also was William Ward Watkin Professor and chairman of the Architecture Department at Rice University from 1959 to 1961, and spent time as a visiting professor at both the University of Pennsylvania and Tulane University
.
Barthelme and his wife had five children. The eldest, Donald Barthelme
, Jr. (1931–1989), became famous as a writer and novelist and another son, Frederick Barthelme
(1943- ), became a prominent exponent of minimalism in American fiction. A third son, Steven Barthelme
, is also a prominent novelist.
Donald Barthelme, Sr. died on July 16, 1996.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, a teacher of architecture as a professor at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
and Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, and the father of novelist Donald Barthelme, Jr.
Donald Barthelme
Donald Barthelme was an American author known for his playful, postmodernist style of short fiction. Barthelme also worked as a newspaper reporter for the Houston Post, managing editor of Location magazine, director of the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston , co-founder of Fiction Donald...
.
Barthelme was born on August 4, 1907 in Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
. After studying at the Rice Institute in Houston for two years, in 1926 he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, graduating in 1930. That same year he married Helen Bechtold of Philadelphia. After graduation he worked as an architect in Philadelphia until late in 1932, when he returned to Texas.
A highlight of Barthelme's early career in Texas was his work on the Texas Centennial Exposition
Texas Centennial Exposition
The Texas Centennial Exposition was a World's Fair held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836. More than 50 buildings, for which "George Dahl was director general of a group of architects who designed the buildings ", were...
, for which he was the lead designer of the exposition's centerpiece building, the Hall of State
Hall of State
The Hall of State is a building in Dallas's Fair Park that commemorates the history of the U.S. state of Texas and is considered one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the state.-History:...
, which is considered a masterpiece of the Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style and is now the home of the Dallas Historical Society
Dallas Historical Society
The Dallas Historical Society is an organization dedicated to the history of Dallas, Texas . It was organized on March 31, 1922, by citizens who wished to encourage historical inquiry. In 1938, the Society assumed the management of the Hall of State at Fair Park at the request of the City of Dallas...
. After the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he worked on war-related projects. He was a designer on the Avion Village Housing Project near Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and later was supervising architect for the Big Spring Air Base
Webb Air Force Base
Webb Air Force Base , previously named Big Spring Air Force Base, was a United States Air Force facility of the Air Training Command that operated from 1951 to 1977 in west Texas within the current city limits of Big Spring. It was a major training facility, and by 1969 almost 9,000 pilots had...
in West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
and war-related housing projects in Galveston and Sweeny, Texas
Sweeny, Texas
Sweeny is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, USA. The population was 3,624 at the 2000 census, 7,316 if you include unincorporated areas of Sweeny. The city's motto is "A City With Pride", and is the westernmost incorporated town in the county.-Demographics:...
.
Beginning in 1942 and continuing through his retirement from architecture practice in 1963, he designed many school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
buildings for the West Columbia Independent School District
Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District
Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District is a public school district based in the Kenneth C. Welch Administration Building in West Columbia, Texas ....
in Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a...
. His school designs, the best known of which was the West Columbia Elementary School (1951), earned national and international awards and were featured in numerous publications. He came to be considered an expert on school design, wrote and lectured extensively on the subject, and was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
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...
(AIA) in 1955 in recognition of his work in school architecture. His other notable projects included the St. Rose of Lima Church and School (1948), which was the first modernist
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church in Houston and the first building in the city to win an award of merit from the AIA.
From 1946 to 1973 Barthelme served on the faculty of the Architecture Department at the University of Houston, where was an influential member of the faculty and is credited with helping to shape the program in its early years. He also was William Ward Watkin Professor and chairman of the Architecture Department at Rice University from 1959 to 1961, and spent time as a visiting professor at both the University of Pennsylvania and Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
.
Barthelme and his wife had five children. The eldest, Donald Barthelme
Donald Barthelme
Donald Barthelme was an American author known for his playful, postmodernist style of short fiction. Barthelme also worked as a newspaper reporter for the Houston Post, managing editor of Location magazine, director of the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston , co-founder of Fiction Donald...
, Jr. (1931–1989), became famous as a writer and novelist and another son, Frederick Barthelme
Frederick Barthelme
Fredrick Barthelme is an American novelist and short story author, well known as one of the seminal writers of minimalist fiction...
(1943- ), became a prominent exponent of minimalism in American fiction. A third son, Steven Barthelme
Steven Barthelme
Steven Barthelme is the author of numerous short stories and essays. His published works include And He Tells the Little Horse the Whole Story, Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss , and The Early Posthumous Work Steven Barthelme (born 1947) is the author of numerous short stories and...
, is also a prominent novelist.
Donald Barthelme, Sr. died on July 16, 1996.