Birge Clark

Birge Malcolm Clark (April 16, 1893 – April 30, 1989) was an American architect, called “Palo Alto's best-loved architect” by the Palo Alto Weekly; he worked largely in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.[1]

Birge Clark
Born(1893-04-16)April 16, 1893
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedApril 30, 1989(1989-04-30) (aged 96)
Resting placeAlta Mesa Memorial Park
EducationStanford University,
Columbia University
Occupationarchitect
Spouse(s)Lucile Townley
Children4
Parent(s)

Biography

Early life

Clark was born April 16, 1893, in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, California,[2] though his birth certificate was destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake. He was the son of Hanna Grace Birge and Arthur Bridgman Clark, a professor of art and architecture at Stanford and the first mayor of Mayfield, California, later part of Palo Alto.[3][4] He graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1910.[2] He received an A.B. degree in Graphic Design from Stanford University in 1914, and received a Bachelors degree in Architecture from Columbia University in 1917.[1][2] He served in the United States Army, as an observation balloon pilot in World War I; he was shot down by a German pilot and won the Silver Star for gallantry.[2]

Career

His principal architectural works at Stanford University are the Lou Henry Hoover House (assisting his father and now the residence of the university President),[5] the three John Stauffer laboratories (1960’s), and the Seeley G. Mudd Chemistry Building (1977).

His principal works in Palo Alto include the old Police Station and Fire station (now the senior citizen’s center), the Lucie Stern Community Center, the President Hotel, the Palo Alto Post Office (1932),[6] the Palo Alto Medical Clinic,[7] and much of the 500 block of Ramona Street in downtown Palo Alto.[8] Some of the notable and historic homes Clark built in Palo Alto include the Norris House at 1247 Cowper Street, the Dunker House at 420 Maple Street and Lucie Stern’s house at 1990 Cowper Street.[9]

Personal life

He was married to the former Lucile Townley, daughter of Stanford mathematician and astronomer Sidney Dean Townley for sixty-three years, until her death in 1986. They had four sons: Richard Townley Clark, Dean Townley Clark, Birge Gaylord Clark, and Malcolm Mallory Clark, along with 18 grandchildren.[3]

Notable buildings by Birge Clark
Year built Name City Style Notes
1919 Lou Henry Hoover House, 623 Miranda Avenue Stanford, California International style house This house was designed by Lou Hoover, with supervision by Arthur Bridgman Clark and his son, Birge Clark.[10]
1921 Townleys House, 661 Cabrillo Avenue Stanford, California He designed this home with his father, for his future in-laws. He was married here.[11] Previously located at 613 Salvatierra.

[12]

1924 Addison School, 650 Addison Avenue Palo Alto, California [11]
1925 Dunker House, 420 Maple Street Palo Alto, California Spanish Colonial Revival listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982.[11]
1926 Elizabeth Hughes Chapel, Castilleja School, 1310 Bryant Street Palo Alto, California Craftsman style 500-seat capacity auditorium. the school has no religious affiliation.[13] The similar style building on the campus, the administration building was designed by Roy C. Heald.[14]
1926 Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona Street Palo Alto, California Spanish Colonial Revival
1927 440 – 450 Bryant Street Palo Alto, California Spanish Colonial Revival Former police station and fire station.[11]
1927 Charles and Kathleen Norris House, 1247 Cowper Street Palo Alto, California [11]
1929 President Hotel, 480 – 498 University Avenue Palo Alto, California [11]
1932–1936 Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, California Spanish Colonial Revival A complex of buildings. The construction was done by Wells P. Goodenough.[15]
1932 Alta Mesa Memorial Cemetery, 695 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, California [11]
1932 United States Post Office (Palo Alto, California) Palo Alto, California Mediterranean Revival style [11]
1932 Palo Alto Medical Clinic, 300 Homer Avenue Palo Alto, California Spanish Colonial Revival [11]

Publications
  • Birge Clark (1971). World War I Memoirs. Unknown publisher. p. 176pp. ASIN B00072VNZ2.
  • Birge Clark (1969). Memoir About Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Hoover, with Particular Emphasis on the Planning and Building of Their Home on San Juan Hill. Privately published.

See also

References
  1. Kushman, Rick (April 13, 1994). "Birge Clark: the man behind the blueprints". Palo Alto Online, Palo Alto: The First 100 Years. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  2. "Historic Houses III, San Juan Neighborhood, Stanford University" (PDF). Stanford Historical Society. Stanford Historical Society. 2005. pp. 9–10. ISBN 0-9664249-4-8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2007-07-07. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  3. "Obituary: Birge Clark (1893-1989)". PaloAltoOnline. May 25, 1994. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  4. Hayde, Monica (April 15, 1994). "Paintings of the past". PaloAltoOnline.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  5. "About Birge M. Clark". A Stanford Atlas - Spotlight at Stanford. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  6. "Palo Alto Historical Association Photograph Collection". Palo Alto Historical Association. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  7. “Birge: After the War,” article by Frederic O. Glover, ibid. pp. 8–9; reprinted in An Architect Grows Up in Palo Alto; Memoirs of Birge M. Clark
  8. Weinstein, Dave (2003-07-05). "Birge Clark: Palo Alto's favorite architect mixed romance with realism". SFGate. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  9. "Birge Clark: Palo Alto's In-House Designer". Palo Alto History Project. Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  10. Feuer, Margaret (2013). "Lou Henry Hoover House". Palo Alto Stanford Heritage. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  11. "Birge Clark Architectural Works in Palo Alto, CA". www.pastheritage.org. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  12. "S. D. Townley (residence), 613 Salvatierra, Stanford, California, 1921". A Stanford Atlas - Spotlight at Stanford. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  13. "Cultural Resources Study for the Castilleja School Project, City of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California". City of Palo Alto. Samantha Murray, MA, Sarah Corder, MFA, Kara Dotter, MSHP, William Burns, MSc, RPA, and Adam Giacinto, MA, RPA. Dudek of Auburn. March 2019. p. 51.CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. "1310 Bryant Street". www.pastheritage.org. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  15. "Lucie Stern Center". www.pastheritage.org. Retrieved 2020-11-09.

Research resources
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