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Overview

San Francisco architect Edward R. Swain amalgamated the Richardsonian Romanesque and Italian Renaissance Revival Styles to create this elegant and understated mansion for the paint magnate William Franklin Whittier.

Building History

Architect Edward R. Swain designed this residence for William Franklin Whittier and his family, soon after he sold his share of the paint business that he owned with W.P. Fuller II and F.N. Woods. The Fuller Family paid Whittier $400,000 for his ownership position, paid in 32 monthly payments. This sum was considerable for the time, and underwrote the costs of this extensive Pacific Heights residence.

This structure was built to be a private home, but was used for the German Consulate before World War II. It also was the home for Mortimer Adler's Institute of Philosophical Research.

Building Notes

This structure had elements of the Richardsonian Romanesque and Italian Renaissance Revival (aka the "Second Renaissance Revival").

The Whittier House was photographed and documented by the Historic American Building Survey (HABS). (See Library of Congress.gov, Historic American Building Survey, "Whittier Mansion, 2090 Jackson Street, San Francisco, San Francisco County," accessed 10/05/2022. CA HABS CAL,38-SANFRA,75-.)