Rudolph Weaver was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
architectAn 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...
and university
professorA professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and
administratorAn academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
renowned for various buildings that he designed in
FloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
,
IdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Washington, many of which are academic.
Early life, work and education
Rudolph Weaver was born in
Johnstown, PennsylvaniaJohnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, the son of Henry Weaver and his wife, Sara Jane Barnhart. Before college he worked as a bookbinder, printer and steelworker. He attended Pennsylvania State College for the year 1902-1903 and then went to Drexel Institute where he received a diploma in architecture in 1905, He continued his study of architecture at
Columbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, 1906–1907 and at the atelier of
Henry HornbostelHenry Hornbostel was an American architect.He designed more than 225 buildings, bridges, and monuments in the United States; currently 22 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
of the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects, 1907. He later received a
Bachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in
EngineeringEngineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
from Drexel in 1919.
Illinois
From 1909-1911, Rudolph Weaver was an instructor in architecture at the University of Illinois.
Washington
From 1911 to 1923, he was the first chairman of the architecture department at what is now
Washington State UniversityWashington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in
PullmanPullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
and was the first architect for the institution. He designed seven buildings, including:
- The Beef Barn, now the Lewis Alumni Centre, 1922
- Carpenter Hall, which was not finished until 1927.
- Community Hall. 1921
|
McCroskey Hall, 1920
President's House, 1912.
Stimson Hall, 1922
Wilson Hall, 1917, first used, but not finished until later. |
Idaho
From 1923 to 1925 he held the same positions at the
University of IdahoThe University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
in
MoscowMoscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, where he did the campus plan and in 1923 designed the Science Building, now Life Sciences South.
Florida
From 1925 until his death in 1944 he was founding dean of
University of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
's
College of ArchitectureThe College of Design, Construction and Planning is the academic unit at the University of Florida. Established in 1925, the college today includes two schools and three departments...
. During that time he was also the architect for the
Florida Board of ControlThe Florida Board of Control was the statewide governing body for the State University System of Florida, which included all public universities in the state of Florida. It was replaced by the Florida Board of Regents in 1965.- History :...
, which governed the state's three institutions of higher education as well as the
Florida School for the Deaf and BlindThe Florida School for the Deaf and Blind is a state-supported boarding school for deaf and blind children established in 1885, in St. Augustine, Florida, USA.-History:...
. As board architect, Weaver succeeded
William Augustus EdwardsWilliam Augustus Edwards, also known as William A. Edwards, was an Atlanta-based American architect renowned for the educational buildings, courthouses and other public and private buildings that he designed in Florida, Georgia and his native South Carolina.- Early life and education :William...
, the first architect to the board, and continued designing buildings in the Collegiate Gothic begun by Edwards. Among the buildings he designed are:
Gainesville
- The following buildings in the University of Florida Campus Historic District
The University of Florida Campus Historic District is a historic district on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The district, bounded by West University Avenue, Southwest 13th Street, Stadium Road and North-South Drive, encompasses approximately and contains 11 listed...
:
- Dauer Hall
Dauer Hall is a historic building on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States.Dauer Hall is a contributing property in the University of Florida Campus Historic District which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 20,...
, 1936
- Fletcher Hall
Fletcher Hall, originally called North Hall, is an historic dormitory building on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. It makes up half of the "F" in the "U.F." in the Murphee Area. The "U.F" in the building design can be seen from an aerial view...
, 1938–1939
- Infirmary
The Infirmary, now known as the Student Health Care Center, is a historic building on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida in the United States. It was designed by Rudolph Weaver in the Collegiate Gothic style and was built in 1931...
, 1931
- Leigh Hall
The Leigh Hall, originally known as the Chemistry-Pharmacy Building, is an historic building on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. It was designed by Rudolph Weaver in the Collegiate Gothic style and was built in 1927. In 1949 the pharmacy...
, 1927 |
- Murphree Hall
Murphree Hall is a historic student residence building located in the Murphree Area on the northern edge of the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida. It was designed by architect Rudolph Weaver in the Collegiate Gothic style and completed in 1939. The building was named for Albert...
, 1939
- Sledd Hall, 1930
- Rolfs Hall
Rolfs Hall is an historic building on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is located in the northeastern section of the campus...
, designed by Edwards, finished by Weaver
- Walker Hall
Walker Hall, originally known as the Mechanical Engineering Building, is an historic classroom building on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. It was designed by Rudolph Weaver in the Collegiate Gothic style and was built in 1927 It was later named...
, 1927 |
- Other campus buildings on the National Register
- Norman Hall, east of S.W. 13th Street
|
- Old WRUF Radio Station
The Old WRUF Radio Station is a historic site in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is located on the University of Florida campus . On September 21, 1989, it was added to the U.S...
(now the University of Florida Police Department headquarters) |
- Other campus buildings not on the National register:
- Dairy Sciences Building, now Building 120, 1937
- Private buildings off campus include:
- Chapel of the Incarnation - Episcopal Chapel House, 1522 West University Avenue
-
- Dixie Hotel (Gainesville, Florida)
The John F. Seagle Building is a historic building located at 408 West University Avenue in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States. Built in 1926, it was designed by noted University of Florida architect and professor Rudolph Weaver and built by G...
, also known as the John F. Seagle Building, 408 West University Avenue, 1926.
FSU
Florida State College for Women (
Florida State UniversityThe Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
):
Campus buildings designed by Rudolph Weaver include:
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- Cawthon Hall, 1946–1948, built after Weaver's death, based on his drawings. It was the last Gothic building at FSU. His designs were followed so closely that even the FSCW stone relief at one entrance was not changed to use the new initials: FSU.
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- Gilchrist Hall, 1926
- Landis Hall, 1939
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- Longmire Alumni Building, 1938
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|}
Marriage
On August 22, 1922, Rudolph Weaver married Alice Rossing Walden who was born on March 30, 1877.
Death
Rudolph Weaver died in Gainesville in 1944 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. His wife, Alice, died on July 26, 1960, and was buried next to him.
Honors
Rudolph Weaver Hall at the University of Florida was named for him, but is now called Fine Arts Building A and houses the UF Architecture & Fine Arts Library. There is also a Weaver Residence Hall, which some UF sites say was named for him, while others say it was named for his wife,
Martha. Since his wife was named
Alice and survived him, it appears that the first version is correct.
External links