Male, born 1904-10-11, died 1978-05-20

Associated with the firm network

Byrd, Robert, Architect


Professional History

Résumé

Employee, Zoss Construction, Company, Long Beach, CA, c. 1942. In that year, the Zoss Construction had its office located at Santa Fe Avenue and Pacific Coast Boulevard, Long Beach, CA.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 254, accessed 07/30/2020.)

Principal, Robert Byrd, Designer, Los Angeles, CA. He was best known for designing rustic ranch houses, including one for the French actress, Michèle Morgan, (1920-2016), at 10050 Cielo Drive, an address made infamous as the residence where actress Sharon Tate (1943-1969) and four others were murdered by the followers of Charles Manson.

Education

High School

Robert Lee Byrd did not advance beyond the 9th grade, according to the US Census of 1940. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00404; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 60-174, accessed 01/28/2019.)

Personal

Relocation

Byrd was born in Jonesborough, TN, in the northeast part of the state.

In 1910, Byrd lived with his family on Main Street in Jonesborough (sometimes written "Jonesboro"), TN. At the time, Robert's mother's sister, Nellie C. Bullock, (born c. 1896 in TN), also resided with the family. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1524; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0208; FHL microfilm: 1375537, accessed 07/30/2020.)

Byrd's parents moved to Southern CA during the 1920s. Once in the region, he would change houses frequently as he developed his business as a buildng contractor.

He lived with his first wife, Elsie, in a rented dwelling at 9205 Alden Drive in Beverly Hills, CA, in 1930. They paid $50 per month in rent. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0823; FHL microfilm: 2339859, accessed 07/30/2020.) Voter records showed that Byrd had moved to 6069 Saturn Avenue by 1932. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 07/30/2020.) In 1934, the contractor had moved back into his parents' Glendale house at 1222 Reynolds Court after his break-up with his first wife. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 07/30/2020.)

Los Angeles County voter rolls indicated that Byrd and his second wife, Zona, lived at 611 South Cloverdale Avenue in Los Angeles in 1936. Theydwelled at 2753 ½ Waverly Drive by 1938.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 07/30/2020.)

The 1940 US Census located Byrd, his wife and two children living at 8263 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The family could afford to employ a servant, Thelma Meigs (born c. 1910 in OK). The house had an estimated value of $12,500 in 1940, comparable to others in this well-heeled neighborhood. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00404; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 60-174, accessed 01/28/2019.)

World War II draft registration documents listed his place of residence as the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles in 02/1942. Voter rolls of 1942 and 1944 had Byrd's address as 5226 Parkglen Avenue in the View Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 07/30/2020.)

Between 1948 and 1950, the Byrds lived at 1519 North Harper Avenue. They rhad relocated to 12512 Alarka Street in 1954.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 07/30/2020.)

Byrd, his wife and their two children lived at 8263 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles between 1954 and 1960, at least. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 07/30/2020.)

Byrd was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA.

Parents

In 1910, his father, James Sidney Byrd, (born 10/03/1869 in Horse Levee, Washington County, TN-d. 01/24/1944 in Los Angeles, CA). worked as a hardware merchant. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, accessed 07/30/2020.) James's parents were Amos Byrd (born c. 1822 in TN) and Lucinda Mauk (born c. 10/1827 in TN), who maintained a farm in Washington County, TN. As per the 1880 US Census, Lucinda's father lived nearby to them and worked as a carpenter, possibly setting an example for both James and Robert, who would both adopt that line of work. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: District 1, Washington, Tennessee; Roll: 1284; Page: 433D, Enumeration District: 028, accessed 07/30/2020.) Lucinda bore ten children according to the 1900 US Census, eight of whom were alive in that year.

Robert's mother was 12 years younger than his father, Annie Bess Worley, (born 11/03/1882 in TN-d. 01/15/1952 in Los Angeles County, CA). By 1910, she had had four children, two girls and two boys. The Byrd children included James Worley Byrd, (born 1903 in TN-d. 1938 in Los Angeles County, CA), Robert, Mary E. Byrd, (born c. 1906 in TN), Bessie Byrd, (born c. 1909 in TN).

By 1930, James and Anna had moved to Glendale, CA, where he worked as a carpenter. They owned their own house at 1222 Reynolds Court (later renamed "Reynolds Drive"), a dwelling valued at $4500. To make ends meet, two young women lived with the Byrds as lodgers.

Spouse

Byrd married at least twice. He wed Elsie Sharples,(born c. 1904 in England),on 06/26/1929 in Los Angeles County, CA. Elsie arrived in the US in 1910, and had been naturalized prior to 1930 as per the census. Their marriage did not last long.

He married Zona L. Cunningham (born 09/24/1910 in NE-d. 02/17/1963 in Los Angeles County, CA) on 09/30/1935 in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 01/28/2019.) In 1935, Zona lived in Riverside, CA, before her marriage. She graduated from a four-year college, according to the 1940 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00404; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 60-174, accessed 01/28/2019.)

A "Robert L. Byrd" married Maureen A. Smith on 04/18/1964 in Monterey, CA, although it is not clear if this was the same Robert Byrd. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007, accessed 01/28/2019.)

A Robert L. Byrd also wed Marilyn G. Hall on 07/26/1974 in Las Vegas, NV. They divorced a little over two years later in 08/1976 in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, Divorce Index, 1966-1984 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007, accessed 01/28/2019.)

Children

With Zona, he had twins: Judith A. Byrd (born 1939 in CA) and Gary L. Byrd (born 1939 in CA).

Gary Byrd, also became a designer of houses.

Biographical Notes

Byrd was a large man, standing 6-foot, 3-inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds in 02/1942. He had a light Caucasian complexion with blue eyes and brown hair at age 37. It noted that het had a scar on his left forearm. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 254, accessed 07/30/2020.)

The contractor was a registered Democrat in 1936, as was his wife.

SSN: 572-20-5520.



Associated Locations

PCAD id: 3342