H. Ray Burks Explained

H. Ray Burks
Nationality:	American
Birth Date:	26 June 1889
Birth Place:	Monticello, Arkansas
Death Place:	Little Rock, Arkansas
Practice:	H. Ray Burks; Burks & Anderson

H. Ray Burks (July 26, 1889 – March 17, 1948) was an American architect in practice in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1922 until his death in 1948. Burks developed a substantial, statewide practice and was responsible for the design of county courthouses, municipal and institutional buildings and the original Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.

Life and career

Harvey Ray Burks was born July 26, 1889, in Monticello. He was educated in the Monticello public schools and at Washington University in St. Louis. In 1915 he joined the office of Monticello architect W. A. Halley before moving to Little Rock in 1917, where he worked for architect James A. Bliss. With the exception of service during World War I, Burks remained with Bliss until he opened his own office in 1922. Burks developed a statewide practice, designing the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock as well as courthouses, schools and other large projects. In 1945 he formed the partnership of Burks & Anderson with Bruce R. Anderson.^[1] At the time of his death the firm was beginning design work for the restoration of the Old State House.^[2]

Personal life

Burks was married and had one son. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), local fraternal and social organizations and the First Presbyterian Church. He died March 17, 1948 in Little Rock at the age of 58.^{[3] [1]}

Legacy

After Burks' death, his colleagues in the AIA eulogized him as "one of the outstanding architects who have practiced in the State of Arkansas ... [he gave] to his work in architecture a feeling of color, balance and harmony which can best be appreciated by observing his many outstanding buildings and tasteful homes throughout the State. As was spoken of another eminent architect, 'If you seek his monuments, look about you,' also, appropriately, do we speak of H. Ray Burks."^[4]

Burks' practice was continued by his partner, Anderson, under his own name. His work included major projects for the University of Central Arkansas, Harding University and Ouachita Baptist University. He died in 1985.^[5]

At least seven buildings designed by Burks have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

H. Ray Burks, 1922–1945

• 1925 – Arkansas Baptist Hospital, 12th and Marshall Sts, Little Rock, Arkansas^[1]
• 1927 – Agriculture Building, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas^[6]
• 1927 – Ederington House, 326 S Main St, Warren, Arkansas^[7]
• 1927 – Joe Storthz house, 450 N Midland St, Little Rock, Arkansas^[8]
• 1928 – Lonoke County Courthouse, 301 N Center St, Lonoke, Arkansas^[9]
• 1931 – Pope County Courthouse, 100 W Main St, Russellville, Arkansas^[10]
• 1931 – Warren Municipal Building, 104 Myrtle St, Warren, Arkansas^[11]
• 1932 – Arkansas County Courthouse-Southern District, 101 Court St, DeWitt, Arkansas^[12]
• 1932 – Drew County Courthouse, 210 S Main St, Monticello, Arkansas^[13]
• 1934 – Monticello City Hall, 203 W Gaines St, Monticello, Arkansas^[1]
• 1935 – University of Arkansas Medical School (former), 1201 McMath Ave, Little Rock, Arkansas^[1]
• 1937 – Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E 9th St, Little Rock, Arkansas^[1]
• 1939 – Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2600 W Markham St, Little Rock, Arkansas^[1]
• 1940 – Blankinship Motor Company Building, 120 E Cypress St, Warren, Arkansas
• 1941 – Hotel Freiderica expansion, 625 W Capitol Ave, Little Rock, Arkansas^[14]
• 1942 – Arkansas Museum of Natural History and Antiquities (former), 503 E 9th St, Little Rock, Arkansas^[3]
• 1943 – Camp Como, Panola County, Mississippi^[15]

Burks & Anderson, 1945–1948

• 1947 – Stebbins and Roberts Office Building and Factory, 1300 E 6th St, Little Rock, Arkansas^[1]
• 1948 – War Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Dr, Little Rock, Arkansas^[1]

Notes and References

1. Charles Witsell and Gordon Wittenberg, "H. Ray Burks" in Architects of Little Rock, 1833-1950 (Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 2014): 88-90.
2. G. E. Kidder Smith, Source Book of American Architecture: 500 Notable Buildings from the 10th Century to the Present (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996): 181.
3. "H. Ray Burks, Architect, Passes," Arkansas Gazette, March 18, 1948, 18.
4. Burks, H. Ray, Membership Files, The American Institute of Architects Archives, The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, s.v. “Burks, H. Ray,” (ahd1005986), https://aiahistoricaldirectory.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AHDAA (accessed August 21, 2024).
5. Thomas A. Teeter, "Bruce Roy Anderson (1907–1985)," Encyclopedia of Arkansas, June 16, 2023.
6. Cyrus A. Sutherland, Buildings of Arkansas (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 59-60.
7. Cyrus A. Sutherland, Buildings of Arkansas (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 210.
8. Cyrus A. Sutherland, Buildings of Arkansas (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 144.
9. Cyrus A. Sutherland, Buildings of Arkansas (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 257.
10. Cyrus A. Sutherland, Buildings of Arkansas (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 106.
11. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/16000433 Warren Commercial Historic District NRHP Registration Form
12. Cyrus A. Sutherland, Buildings of Arkansas (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 265.
13. Cyrus A. Sutherland, Buildings of Arkansas (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 211.
14. "Freiderica Hotel" in Architectural Forum (June, 1942): 378-379.
15. "Let contracts for new alien internment camps" in Engineering News-Record (October 1, 1942): 13.