Proudfoot & Bird Explained

Proudfoot & Bird was an American architectural firm that designed many buildings throughout the Midwest region of the United States. Originally established in 1882, it remains active through its several successors, and since 2017 has been known as BBS Architects | Engineers.

History

The firm of Proudfoot & Bird was originally established in Huron, Dakota Territory in 1882 by William Thomas Proudfoot (1860–1928) and George Washington Bird (1854–1950). Though they practiced variously in South Dakota, Kansas, Utah and Iowa, they are best known for their works in Iowa.

William T. Proudfoot (who later went by Willis) was born May 2, 1860, in Indianola, Iowa, to Elias Proudfoot, a carpenter, and Martha Ann (Barnett) Proudfoot. He attended the local schools, and by 1880 was working as a draftsman for William Foster, then the leading architect of Des Moines. George Washington Bird was born September 1, 1854, in New Jersey. His early life or when he came west is unknown, but he was probably educated in Philadelphia. By 1882, he had joined Proudfoot in Foster's office. That same year, the two young architects went northwest to Huron in what is now South Dakota, and first established the firm of Proudfoot & Bird. At that time the Dakota Territory was at the peak of what is referred to as the Great Dakota Boom, when the territory experienced significant investment and population growth. In 1883 the partners relocated to Pierre, though it was not yet the capital. They designed several buildings in Pierre which survive. It was during this time that Proudfoot briefly went east, spending the winter of 1884–85 in the architecture school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After his return in 1885, when the Dakota Boom was beginning to slow, the partners moved south to Wichita, Kansas, then undergoing an even larger boom. They were more successful in Wichita, where they designed the City Hall, the YMCA, several colleges and universities and many homes and businesses. However, by 1890 the boom had collapsed, and in 1891 the partners went even further west to Salt Lake City.[1]

In Salt Lake City the partners formed a partnership with the established local architect Henry Monheim (1824–1893), which was known as Monheim, Bird & Proudfoot. This firm almost immediately won the competition to design the new Salt Lake City and County Building. Monheim died in 1893, and Proudfoot & Bird was reestablished. In addition to the City and County Building, completed in 1894, they designed several homes and other structures in Salt Lake City. In 1895, with the economy in decline, Proudfoot went to Kansas City, and Bird to Philadelphia.[1] In 1896 they returned to Iowa, and reestablished Proudfoot & Bird in Des Moines, where it would remain.[2] In 1898 they won the job to design Schaeffer Hall at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, a project which cemented their reputation in Iowa, and over the next decade became the leading architects in the state.[1]

In 1910 Proudfoot & Bird was merged with the firm of Hallett & Rawson, and became Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson with third partner Harry D. Rawson (1872–1934).[3] In 1913, owing to ill health, George W. Bird retired, though his name was not removed from that of the firm.[4] In 1925 Proudfoot and Rawson were joined by H. Clark Souers (1888–1970) as partner, and the firm finally dropped Bird's name and became Proudfoot, Rawson & Souers.[1] In 1928 Proudfoot died, and in 1929 the partnership was further expanded to include Oren Thomas (died 1955), a school specialist, and became Proudfoot, Rawson, Souers & Thomas.[5] [1] In 1932 Souers and Thomas both retired, and J. Woolson Brooks (1897–1982) and Elmer H. Borg (1893–1970), who had joined the firm in 1912 and 1913 respectively, joined the partnership. By this time the Great Depression was well underway and the firm's business was severely reduced. Whereas Souers had invested $50,000 to join the partnership, Brooks and Borg only had to contribute $2,000 each. The new firm was known as Proudfoot, Rawson, Brooks & Borg. When Rawson died in 1934, Brooks and Borg were the sole partners.[1] Following World War II, in 1945, the firm was renamed Brooks-Borg.[6] In 1966 they were joined by Paul Skiles (1921-1991) as partner, and the firm became Brooks-Borg-Skiles. It kept this name under several changes of leadership until 2017, when it became BBS Architects | Engineers, which it remains in 2022.[7]

Legacy

Proudfoot & Bird and their successors were the leading architects in Iowa for several decades. Under its founders the firm had a conservative design philosophy, and worked in the popular Revival styles of the time. Early works were designed in the Italianate or Victorian Gothic styles, before the rise in popularity of the Richardsonian Romanesque in the mid-1880s. The architecture at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 spurred the popularity of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States, and Proudfoot & Bird followed suit. Though other styles were chosen for other buildings, the Classical architecture of the Beaux-Arts movement was the norm in the firm's work until Proudfoot's death. After this, the surviving members of the firm looked to more modern styles, including the Art Deco, Streamline Moderne and International Style during the Great Depression and lead-up to World War II.[1] After the war, Brooks-Borg embraced Modern architecture, was associated with Eliel Saarinen and Eero Saarinen on several projects, and later designed several Brutalist and Postmodern buildings.[8]

A large number of their pre-war buildings which survive are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Many of these were listed as part of one 1988 study and multiple property submission.[9] In 1988 there were 25 known surviving Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson buildings in Des Moines alone.[9] Their work was also part of the architecture event in the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics.[10]

List of works

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=64500144}} Architectural Legacy of Proudfoot & Bird in Iowa MPS]. Barbara Beving Long. November 23, 1988.
  2. "Personal" in Architecture and Building 24, no. 4 (January 25, 1896): 48.
  3. "Personal and General" in Improvement Bulletin 40, no. 7 (January 15, 1910): 20.
  4. "Trade Notes" in Western Contractor 24, no. 640 (April 16, 1913): 41.
  5. "Personals" in American Architect 135, no. 2563 (February 20, 1929): 18.
  6. Web site: Brooks Borg Skiles. Iowa Architectural Foundation. 2019-10-08.
  7. Web site: Our Firm BBS Architects Engineers. www.bbsae.com. 2019-10-08.
  8. https://www.bbsae.com/our-firm/timeline/ Firm History
  9. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=64500144}} Architectural Legacy of Proudfoot & Bird in Iowa MPS]. Barbara Beving Long and Ralph J. Christian . November 23, 1988 .
  10. Web site: Proudfoot, Rawson & Souers . Olympedia . 25 July 2020.
  11. Inland Architect and Building News 4, no. 4 (November, 1884): 9.
  12. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/71000328 University Hall, Friends University NRHP Registration Form
  13. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/76000839 Hillside Cottage NRHP Registration Form
  14. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/88002824 Riverside Cottage NRHP Registration Form
  15. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/72000527 Scottish Rite Temple NRHP Registration Form
  16. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/72000505 Bethel College Administration Building NRHP Registration Form
  17. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/85001979 Fairmount Cottage NRHP Registration Form
  18. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/91000535 Science Hall NRHP Registration Form
  19. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/78001288 McCormick School NRHP Registration Form
  20. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/71000329 Wichita City Hall NRHP Registration Form
  21. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/70000629 Salt Lake City and County Building NRHP Registration Form
  22. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/02001250 Best-Cannon House NRHP Registration Form
  23. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/78001230 Pentacrest NRHP Registration Form
  24. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/78001259 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church NRHP Registration Form
  25. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/73000723 Dallas County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form
  26. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/96000236 Seven Oaks NRHP Registration Form
  27. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/79000925 Polk County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form
  28. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/04001097 Jefferson Street Historic District NRHP Registration Form
  29. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/78001260 Alumni Hall NRHP Registration Form
  30. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/84001295 First Methodist Episcopal Church NRHP Registration Form
  31. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/97000101 Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George NRHP Registration Form
  32. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/88001341 Drake University Campus Historic District NRHP Registration Form
  33. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/90001853 Champlin Memorial Masonic Temple NRHP Registration Form
  34. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/13001138 Chautauqua Park Historic District NRHP Registration Form
  35. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/88001327 Norman Apartment Building NRHP Registration Form
  36. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/89000856 August H. Bergman House NRHP Registration Form
  37. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/81000249 Jasper County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form
  38. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/85001056 Warfield, Pratt and Howell Company Warehouse NRHP Registration Form
  39. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/12000003 Colonials Club House NRHP Registration Form
  40. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/77000549 Municipal Building NRHP Registration Form
  41. https://www.carnegielibrariesiowa.org/library/audubon/ Aububon Public Library
  42. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/98000380 Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church NRHP Registration Form
  43. https://www.carnegielibrariesiowa.org/library/colfax/ Colfax Public Library
  44. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/04001325 Herring Motor Car Company Building NRHP Registration Form
  45. Johnson County Savings Bank NRHP Registration Form (2017)
  46. https://www.carnegielibrariesiowa.org/library/sac-city/ Sac City Public Library
  47. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/99000491 Teachout Building NRHP Registration Form
  48. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/86000874 Hawkeye Insurance Company Building NRHP Registration Form
  49. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/04000818 Hubbell Building NRHP Registration Form
  50. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/97000961 Masonic Temple of Des Moines NRHP Registration Form
  51. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/91000384 Grinnell Commercial Historic District NRHP Registration Form
  52. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/00001456 Hallett Flats–Rawson & Co. Apartment Building NRHP Registration Form
  53. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/88003232 First National Bank NRHP Registration Form
  54. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/10000918 Fort Dodge Downtown Historic District NRHP Registration Form
  55. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/90002131 Grinnell Herald Building NRHP Registration Form
  56. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/12000815 Hotel Ottumwa NRHP Registration Form
  57. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/84001300 Northwestern Hotel NRHP Registration Form
  58. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/07000346 D. S. Chamberlain Building NRHP Registration Form
  59. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/78001222 Greene County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form
  60. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/82002636 Hotel Fort Des Moines NRHP Registration Form
  61. https://www.carnegielibrariesiowa.org/library/corydon/ Corydon Public Library
  62. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/88003233 John H. Herman House NRHP Registration Form
  63. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/90001210 Lake City Community Memorial Building NRHP Registration Form
  64. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/16000363 Apperson Iowa Motor Car Company Building NRHP Registration Form
  65. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/15000154 Equitable Building NRHP Registration Form
  66. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/02001250 Abraham Lincoln High School NRHP Registration Form
  67. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/02001234 Theodore Roosevelt High School NRHP Registration Form
  68. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/96000391 Penn College Historic District NRHP Registration Form
  69. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/81000264 Pocahontas County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form
  70. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/91001836 Fish and Game Pavilion and Aquarium NRHP Registration Form
  71. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/87000020 Christian Petersen Courtyard Sculptures, and Dairy Industry Building NRHP Registration Form
  72. https://www.mu.iastate.edu/about/architecture Architecture
  73. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/13000829 Des Moines Building NRHP Registration Form
  74. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/79000924 Iowa-Des Moines National Bank Building NRHP Registration Form
  75. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/02001251 David W. Smouse Opportunity School NRHP Registration Form
  76. David Gebhard and Gerald Mansheim, Buildings of Iowa (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993)
  77. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/10001085 Hofmann Building NRHP Registration Form
  78. St. Paul's Episcopal Church NRHP Registration Form (2010)

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