Résumé

Partner, Locke and Munsell, Architects, Los Angeles, 1900-1901. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1900, p. 552.) The firm operated in Room #212 of the Potomac Building in Los Angeles. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1901, p. 1226.)

Partner, Hudson and Munsell, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1902-1930s; from at least 1929 until 1931, the firm of Hudson and Munsell occupied leased quarters at 714 West 10th Street Room #631. (SeeLos Angeles, California, City Directory, 1930, p. 2463.)

Principal, William A.O. Munsell, Architect, Pasadena, CA, 1932- . Munsell had his office at 35 South Raymond Avenue , Room #319. (SeePasadena, California, City Directory, 1932, p. 899.) This city directory (p. 481) listed his profession as "City Judge and architect." The Pasadena, California, City Directory, 1933, p. 419, indicated that Munsell was a City Judge in San Marino, CA, where he lived. Being an architect, Munsell would have had very little work during the nadir of the Depression, and so his second career as a judge would have come at an opportune time.

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Southern CA Chapter. Member, Los Angeles Allied Architecture Association.

Relocation

William A.O. Munsell lived in a series of towns in OH, MO and KS during his childhood. From c. 1866-1870, his family resided in the following cities with rough dates: Coldwater, OH (c. 1866), North Star, OH (c. 1867); Norborne, MO, (c. 1873), Rock Port, MO (c. 1876-03/1880), and Kidder, MO (c. 06/1880). In 1891, he had settled in Denver, CO, as noted in the Quaker periodical, Christian Worker, 07/23/1891, p. 475. After William left home, his family lived in the State of OR.

He lived at the intersection of Avenue 64 and Elgin Street, on the southeast corner, in 1900. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1900, p. 552.) The 1900 US Census had his family and him residing on Crescent Street in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Los Angeles Ward 1, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 88; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0001; FHL microfilm: 1240088, accessed 05/05/2017.)

In 1910, William Munsell resided in South Pasadena, CA. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1910, p. 1059.) The Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1917, p. 1484, indicated that he lived in Pasadena in that year.

By 1920, Munsell lived at 1970 El Molino Avenue in San Marino, CA. See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: San Marino, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_118; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 583; Image: 630, 05/05/2017.)

Munsell and his wife, Julia, lived at 2405 Ridgeway Road in San Marino, CA in 1932-1933. (SeePasadena, California, City Directory, 1932, p. 899.)

He died at age 78, and was buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI.

Parents

His father was Elmore Yocum Munsell (born 02/1838 in OH), his mother, Ariadne (Addie) Goodwin Farrington Munsell (born c. 12/1857 in NH). Elmore was a physician and, perhaps, an oculist. They married on 07/02/1871 in Carroll, MO.

William was the eldest son of four children. His sisters were: Allie Munsell (born 07/21/1867 in North Star, OH), Ladessa Munsell Burroughs (born 01/13/1873 in Norborne, MO), Blanche Munsell (born 03/25/1880 in Rock Port, MO). He also had a younger brother, Paul Munsell (born 08/08/1890 in Wichita, KS-d. 08/1972 in Longview, WA).

Spouse

Munsell married twice. He wed Octavia S. Winder (born c. 1870) on 06/25/1891 in Sedgwick, KS. Her father, Abner G. Winder (1835-1906), was a horticulturist, her mother, Eunice Wood Winder (1837-1907), supervised the household.

He married Julia V.K. Wilkes Munsell (1870-1955) on 08/13/1903 in Chicago, IL. Julia may have been born in WI.

Children

He and Julia had one daughter, Elizabeth Munsell Eberle (1897-1979).

Biographical Notes

William Munsell was named for his paternal grandfather, William A.O. Munsell (born 1812 in Fletcher, OH-d. 1902 in Cameron, MO), a pioneer farmer in the State of OH and Methodist Episcopal clergyman. He married Deborah Gray (1818-1849), and they had four children, two of whom, Levi S. Munsell and Elmore Y. Munsell, became physicians, who, at times, practiced together. (See Joseph B. Thoburn, A Standard History of Oklahoma, [New York and Chicago: American Historical Society, 1916], vol. 5, p. 1998)

The architect William Munsell was also an artist, and was a member of the Society of Independent Artists and the Laguna Beach Art Association. He had works in the collections of the Los Angeles Museum; Scottish Rite Cathedral, Los Angeles; San Marino City Hall; and the Hospital for Tubercular Soldiers, Soldiers' Home, Los Angeles, CA.

• Menominee, MI (Architect's Death)
  Menominee, MI

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• Coldwater, OH (Architect's Birth)
  Coldwater, OH

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