Résumé

Architectural apprentice, Jonas J. Bradshaw, Architect, Bolton, Lancashire, England, c. 1874-1880.

Joiner, Bolton, England, 1881.

Principal, John Parkinson, Architect, Napa, CA, 1885-1889.

Partner, Parkinson and Evers, Architects, Seattle, WA, 03/1889-06/1890; according to Woodbridge and Montgomery, Parkinson worked in the busy architectural office of Elmer Fisher, when he first came to Seattle. (See Sally Woodbridge and Roger Montgomery, "Yesler Building," Guide to Architecture in Washington State, [Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1980], p. 113.)

Principal, John Parkinson, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1890-1894. In 1890, Parkinson had his office in Rooms #202 and 203 of the Butler Block. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle City Directory, 1890, p. 553.)

Between 1891 and 1894, he worked for the Seattle School Board, designing schools. The book, Our Architecture Morgan & Walls John Parkinson Hunt & Eager, Los Angeles, California, 1904, stated the following about his time in Seattle: "In January 1889, Mr. Parkinson went to Seattle and remained there until 1894, during which time he constructed three million dollars worth of buildings, among which were the Butler Building, the Pacific Building occupied by the Seattle National Bank, the Seattle Athletic Club Building, and the Epler Building. Mr. Parkinson was the city architect of schools of Seattle and during his incumbency constructed about thirty of the school buildings." (See J.L. LeBerthon, Our Architecture Morgan & Walls John Parkinson Hunt & Eager, Los Angeles, California, 1904, [Los Angeles: Commercial Printing House, 1904], n.p.)

Partner, [James Lee] Burton and Parkinson, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1894-1895. In 1895, Burton and Parkinson operated in Rooms #94-95 of the Stowell Block, at 226 South Spring Street. (See Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1895, p. 1506.)

Principal, John Parkinson, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, 1896-1905. He left Seattle during the 1893 Depression in late 1894 for Los Angeles, where he remained, building a very successful practice. Parkinson maintained an office in Room #213 of the Currier Building, located at 212 West 3rd Street, in 1896 and 1897. (See Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 1061 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 21; FHL Roll Number: 976930, accessed 07/12/2018.) He moved to Room #606 in Los Angeles's Laughlin Building by 1899 and to Room #702 by 1901. Parkinson remained here through 1904. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, Classfied Business Directory, 1899, p. 1000, Los Angeles, California, City Directory, Classfied Business Directory, 1901,p. 1226, Los Angeles City Directory 1904, p. 1001.)

Principal, John Parkinson, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1916-1920.

Partner, Parkinson and [George Edwin] Bergstrom, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1906-1914. In 1905, John Parkinson was listed as practicing on his own in Room #1215 of the Braly Building, Los Angeles. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, Classfied Business Directory, 1905,p. 2001.) The Parkinson and Bergstrom Office was located at 508 South Spring Street, Room #1335 in 1907. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, Classfied Business Directory, 1907,p. 1652.)

After the dissolution of Parkinson and Bergstrom and before he partnered with his son, Donald, John Parkinson operated on his own, moving offices frequently. In 1915, he had his headquarters in Rooms #1035-1037 of the Security Building. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1916, p. 2290.) By 1916, he leased space at 510 South Spring, Room #1037. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1916, p. 2146.) In 1918, Parkinson had two offices, one at 458 South Spring Street, Room #420, and 746 South Central Avenue, Room #248. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1918, p. 2246.)

Partner, Parkinson and Parkinson, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1920-1935.

Professional Service

Architect, Seattle Public Schools, Seattle, WA; Member, State of California, Board of Architecture, 1919-1933; Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA); Founding Member, City of Los Angeles, Municipal Art Commission, 1903-1910.

Parkinson held six U.S. Patents for various electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic machines.

Archives

Most of Parkinson and Parkinson's drawings are held by Parkinson Architectural Archives LLC, Parkinson Field Architects, P.O. Box 2506, Galveston, TX 77553-2506;

Education

Parkinson attended the Saint Luke's School, Bolton, England, UK; his secondary school education ended at age 13; like many architects of the 19th century, he learned by apprenticing himself to an established practitioner in Bolton, England, Jonas J. Bradshaw, until c. 1880; Parkinson took night school classes in architectural drawing and engineering at the Mechanics' Institute, Bolton, UK, earning a Diploma in Engineering and Architecture in 1882.

Relocation

Parkinson was born in the northwestern English town of Scorton in Lancashire in 1861. Scorton was located on the eastern bank of the River Wyre, that had a station on the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, but had developed limited industries. The most significant during John Parkinson's childhod was a mill owned by Peter Ormrod (1796–1875) that spun cotton yarn used in the large textile mills of Bolton, England. Ormrod built a large manor house, Wyresdale Hall, in 1856, designed by the notable Lancashire architect Edward Graham Paley (1823-1895), a building John may have known. According to the 1861 British Census, Thomas Parkinson and his family lived in the township of Nether Wyresdale, in the village of Scorton. Neighbors of the Parkinsons worked in agriculture or labored in the Ormrod cotton mill. The Parkinson household consisted of Thomas, his wife, Mary Ann, daughter Margaret Sarah (then 1 year old), his mother Margaret Parkinson (born c. 1788 in Lancaster, Lancashire, England), and his brother, Richard, (born c. 1817 in Lancaster, England). Richard worked as a night watchman at the town's cotton mill. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Class: RG 9; Piece: 3153; Folio: 143; Page: 6; GSU roll: 543088, accessed 07/12/2018.) John had not been born yet when the 1861 census had been taken.

In 1871, the Parkinson Family lived at 477 Jane Lane in Worsley, England. Most of the Parkinson's Worsley neighbors either worked in cotton mills or mined coal. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Class: RG10; Piece: 3966; Folio: 155; Page: 4; GSU roll: 841956, accessed 07/11/2018.)

The British Census of 1881 showed the Parkinsons living in Halliwell, Bolton, England. John worked as a joiner at this time, while his father continued to drive the engine at a local cotton mill. His sister, Margaret, worked as a draper's assistant. Richard, John's 65-year-old uncle, stoked the furnace at the local cotton mill at age 65. The family lived at 50 Bashall Street in Halliwell. A next-door neighbor at 52 Bashall, Joseph Salton, (last name perhaps misspelled, born c. 1846 in England), also worked as a joiner, and may have assisted John in finding work in this trade. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Class: RG11; Piece: 3823; Folio: 66; Page: 47; GSU roll: 1341914, accessed 07/12/2018.)

In about 1883, Parkinson emigrated from England to Winnipeg, MT, (where he found work building fences), and then to Minneapolis, MN. The US Census of 1900 recorded that he entered the country in 1884, while the 1920 US Census put the date as 1882. (See Ancestry.com, Year: 1900; Census Place: Los Angeles Ward 3, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 89; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 0033; FHL microfilm: 1240089, accessed 07/12/2018 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 63, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_106; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 150, accessed 07/12/2018.) A source has indicated about this period of his life: "After spending two years in Minneapolis he moved to the Coast, arriving in California in 1885 and locating in the charming city of Napa. During his stay in Napa he designed a business building for the Napa Bank." (See J.L. LeBerthon, Our Architecture Morgan & Walls John Parkinson Hunt & Eager, Los Angeles, California, 1904, [Los Angeles: Commercial Printing House, 1904], n.p.)

Some sources have indicated that Parikinson returned to England from Minneapolis. The Wikipedia article on him stated: "He returned to England only to discover that the English construction trades demanded more time and service for advancement. He decided that his then capabilities would be more appropriate to the less-structured opportunities in America." (See Wikipedia.com, "John Parkinson," accessed 07/12/2018.)

From England, he relocated to Napa, CA, where he worked as a stairbuilder by 1885. Here, he designed the Bank of Napa (1888), his first commission. (See Shaping Seattle Architecture, A Historical Guide to the Architecture, Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, ed., [Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994], p. 28.)

Just before the Fire of 1889, Parkinson came to Seattle, WA, in 01/1889; according to a ship's manifest of 1923, he was naturalized in Seattle in 03/1889. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 07/11/2018.) According to a later ship's manifest, Parkinson also filed naturalization paperwork on 03/05/1930 in Washington, DC, and renewed this paperwork on 04/06/1932. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1933; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 5315; Line: 16; Page Number: 64, accessed 07/11/2018.) Voter's registration rolls of 1896 recorded that he was naturalized on 06/09/1892. It is possible that he started the process in 1889 and completed it by 1892. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 21; FHL Roll Number: 976930, accessed 07/12/2018.)

In 1890, Parkinson dwelled at 1222 Main Street in Seattle. (SeePolk's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle City Directory, 1890, p. 553.)

Parkinson relocated to Los Angeles, CA, in 1894. Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1895, (p. 1078) mistakenly listed two residential addresses for Parkinson, one at 553 Union Avenue and another at 820 Westlake Avenue. A year later, he had an address of 824 Westlake Avenue. (See Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 1061.)

The US Census of 1900 indicated that John Parkinson lived at 532 Coronado Street in Los Angeles. At this time, the household consisted of John and Meta Parkinson, their two children, and John's mother-in-law, Dorothea Breckenfeld (born c. 08/1825 in Germany-d. 12/12/1913 in Los Angeles, CA) and sister-in-law, Bertha H. Breckenfeld (born c. 08/1864 in NY). Dora Breckenfeld had had four children, three of whom survived in 1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Los Angeles Ward 3, Los Angeles, California; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 0033; FHL microfilm: 1240089, accessed 07/11/2018.)

In 1901, he resided at 600 Saint Paul Avenue in Los Angeles and remained here in 1904. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1901, p. 673 and Los Angeles, California, City Directory 1904, p. 1001.)

Parkinson had relocated to San Vicente Boulevard in Santa Monica, CA, by at least 1923. He lived with his second wife, her mother and two servants at 1201 San Vicente Boulevard in Santa Monica, CA, in 1930. His mother-in-law was Jospehine Gumaer (born c. 1864 in CA), who was listed as a widow in the 1930 census. One servant was Elisa Luscher (born c. 1909 in Switzerland). She migrated to the US in about 1926. The other servant was William B. Moorhead (born c. 1865 in PA), who worked as a caretaker on the Parkinson's $60,000 property. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 1477; FHL microfilm: 2339909, accessed 07/11/2018.)

In 1934, John and Florence Parkinson listed a home address of 808 South Spring Street in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1934; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 5524; Line: 23; Page Number: 106, accessed 07/11/2018.)

He lived and worked in Southern California until his death in 1935, becoming one of the city's most successful practitioners. He died at his home, 1201 San Vicente Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA.

Parents

His father was Thomas Parkinson (1818-1888); his mother was Mary Ann Bibby Parkinson (1816-1904); both were born in Lancaster, Lancashire, England, and they married on 09/20/1856 in Garstang, Lancashire, England. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 07/12/2018.) Thomas was an "engine boiler stoker" in the Ormrod cotton mill in Scorton in 1861. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Class: RG 9; Piece: 3153; Folio: 143; Page: 6; GSU roll: 543088, accessed 07/12/2018.) A decade later, living in Worsley, England, his father was an engine driver in a Worsley cotton yarn mill. The British Census of 1881 indicated that both Thomas and Mary Ann had been born in Wyresdale, England.

His mother supervised the household, that included two children, Margaret, (born c. 1859 in either Garstang or Scroton, England) and John, her mother, Elizabeth Bibby, (born c. 1795 in Lancaster, England), her sister, Elizabeth Bibby, (born c. 1833 in Garstang, England), who worked as a cotton winder in a Worsley mill, Thomas's brother, Richard Parkinson, (born c. 1816 in Lancaster, England), who worked as an agricultural laborer, and a young visitor, Elizabeth A. Nuttal (born c. 1863 in Cockerham, England). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Class: RG10; Piece: 3966; Folio: 155; Page: 4; GSU roll: 841956, accessed 07/11/2018.)

John Parkinson was named for his paternal grandfather, John Parkinson. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 07/12/2018.)

Spouse

Parkinson married his first wife, Meta B. Breckenfeld (born 1862 in NY-d. 03/12/1922 in Napa, CA), on 12/25/1889 in Napa, CA.

He married his second wife, Florence I. Gumaer (born 07/30/1884 in Buffalo, NY-d. 11/12/1966 in Los Angeles, CA) on 04/06/1923 in Los Angeles, CA. In 05/1923, he was 61, she, 38. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 07/11/2018.) From at least 1914 through 1917, she had a position as a stenographer with the Bank of Santa Monica. (See Santa Monica, California, City Directory, 1914, p. 138 and Santa Monica, California, City Directory, 1917, p. 139.) She was a note clerk in 1918 and by early1923, she worked as an assistant secretary at the Bank of Santa Monica, then a branch of the California Bank. (See Santa Monica, California, City Directory, 1918, p. 133 and Santa Monica, Oceanpark, Venice, Sawtelle and Westgate, California, City Directory, 1923-1924, p. 260.)

Florence Parkinson was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA.

Children

With Meta C. Breckenfeld, John Parkinson had a daughter, Mary Dorothea Parkinson Trent (born 10/17/1980 in Seattle, WA-d. 05/08/1980 in Los Angeles, CA) and a son, Donald Berthold Parkinson (1895-1945), who joined his father in the family architecture business, the firm being called "Parkinson and Parkinson" between 1920-1945.

Mary Parkinson married Goodwin MurrayTrent, Sr., (1886-1946) in 03/1917. In 1940, Goodwin worked as a real estate salesman, and Mary as a drama teacher in an adult education high school. They had seven children together, including John Parkinson Trent (1918–2003), Mary Delorme Trent (1919–1995), Meta Catherine Trent (1923–1997), Christine Trent (1924–1927), Lamartine Cavanaugh "Marty" Trent (1927–1999), Goodwin (Buzzy) Murray Trent (1929–2006) and an unnamed child who died at birth in 1933. They and their five surviving childen resided at 900 San Vicente Boulevard in Santa Monica nearby to her father's old house at 1201 San Vicente, according to the US Census of 1940. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00257; Page: 61A; Enumeration District: 19-778, accessed 07/11/2018.)

Biographical Notes

A "Personals" note in the Los Angeles Times, 05/09/1894, (p. 10), stated: "John Parkinson, an architect of Seattle, who designed many of the largest buildings in that city, has come to Los Angeles with a view of locating."

Parkinson purchased a residential plot in the Wilshire Boulevard Tract offered by The Wilshire Company in 03/1897; he paid $1,725 for the land.

According to voter registration rolls of 1896, John Parkinson, at age 34, stood 5-feet, 10-and-1/2-inches tall, and had a light complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 21; FHL Roll Number: 976930, accessed 07/12/2018.)

Following his second marriage in 1923, he and wife began traveling more frequently. Between 05/05/1923 and 05/12/1923, he and Florence traveled from Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, to Los Angeles, CA, on a honeymoon vacation. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 07/11/2018.)

A notice in the New York Times, 07/08/1924, indicated that Mr. and Mrs. John Parkinson were listed aboard the Cunard Liner RMS Laconia, arrived from Liverpool and Queenstown on 07/07/1924. A ship's manifest can be found for this voyage, indicating that they returned to the US between 06/26/1924 and 07/07/1924. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1924; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 3509; Line: 4; Page Number: 170, accessed 07/11/2018.)

John and Donald Parkinson donated a sizeable $1,000 in 1924 to a YMCA fund drive for new facilities.

An article published in the Architect and Engineer, vol. 80-81, 1925 (unknown month), p. 115 stated that Parkinson was in Europe in early 1925, as well: "John Parkinson, in the practice of architecture, left the early part of February on a three-months' tour of Europe to continue his study of architecture of France and Italy. He will return to New York in time to attend the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects as delegate from [the] Southern California Chapter."

Apparently, the worst effects of the Depression did not affect John and Florence Parkinson, as they took extended trips to Europe in 1930, 1933, 1934 and 1935. They returned from Liverpool, England, to New York, NY, on board the White Star Lines' RMS Adriatic, between 05/31/1930 and 06/09/1930. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 4753; Line: 19; Page Number: 20, accessed 07/11/2018.)

He and Florence traveled from Los Angeles to New York, NY, aboard the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company's RMS Empress of Britain, between 03/28/1933 and 04/11/1933. According to the ship's manifest, the couple was "in transit to Europe." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1933; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 5315; Line: 16; Page Number: 64, accessed 07/11/2018.)

Between 07/28/1934 and 08/05/1934, they sailed between Liverpool and New York, NY on the MV Georgic, a White Star Liner. Due to the Depression and a fraud scheme involving the Irish White Star's ownership, it merged with its rival Cunard on 12/30/1933. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1934; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 5524; Line: 23; Page Number: 106, accessed 07/11/2018.)

John and Florence began a long ocean liner/train journey leaving Southampton, England on 08/10/1935 bound for Vancouver, BC, Canada, at first aboard the HMS Canada operated by the East Asiatic Company, Ltd. While in England, their last address was 94 Brighton Avenue in Bolton, England, probably the home of a relative. Less than four months after this trip, John Parkinson died. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, accessed 07/11/2018.)

Parkinson was a Presbyterian and, politically, a Republican, and known as "J.P." by friends and acquaintances.

Member, California Club, Los Angeles; Member, Jonathan Club, Los Angeles; Member, University Club, Los Angeles; Member, Union League Club, San Francisco, CA; Member, Los Angeles Country Club, Los Angeles; Member, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), Los Angeles.

British-born historian Stephen Gee produced a documentary that aired on PBS on 07/05/2018 called "Iconic Vision: John Parkinson, Architect of Los Angeles."

• Los Angeles, CA (Architect's Office)
  Los Angeles, CA

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• Wyre District, Scorton, UK (Architect's Birth)
  Wyre District, Scorton, UK

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• Santa Monica, CA (Architect's Death)
  Santa Monica, CA

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