Résumé

Apprentice/Draftsman, Clarence B. Cutler, Architect, Troy, NY, 1879-1887. Clarence Bennett Cutler (born 08/09/1853 in Albany County, NY-d. 08/13/1927 in Albany, NY) worked from c. 1873 until 1878 in Albany, NY. From about 1880-1887, he had a practice in Troy, NY. Between about 1887 until just after 1900, he resided in New York City, and from c. 1906-1927, he again lived in Albany. He was listed as a "consulting architect" in the Albany, New York, City Directories, 1926 and 1927 (p. 386 and 390), suggesting that he might have retired from active practice in 1925.

Clarence B. Cutler's wife, Emma Conklin Hunt Cutler, (born 01/19/1858 in Troy, NY-d. d. 10/02/1936), was Sumner's elder sister and closest sibling in age. Due to this connection, the Cutlers and the Hunts remained closely tied. In 1880, the families lived next door to each other in Albany, NY, and the 1900 US Census noted that Sumner's mother, Harriet, lived with the Cutlers in Brooklyn at 64 7th Avenue. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Brooklyn Ward 9, Kings, New York; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 0122; FHL microfilm: 1241048, acccessed 01/14/2019.) The US Censuses of 1910 and 1920 indicated that Cutler lived in Schodack, NY, the same town in which Harriet Hunt died in 1918.

Draftsman, Clarence B. Cutler, Architect, New York, NY, 1887-1889.

Designer, Caukin and Haas, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1889.

Draftsman, Solomon I. Haas, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, 1890. Haas had an office at 109 North Fort Street in 1890. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1890,n.p.)

Principal, Sumner P. Hunt, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, 1892-1895. The Press Reference Library, Southwest Edition said of Hunt's career: "On arriving in Los Angeles Mr. Hunt was employed in the firm of Calkins [sic] & Haas in that city from 1889 to 1892; by that time his personality had been recognized to such an extent in the class of designs he had been turning out that he felt empowered to enter the business for himself, and so occupied himself, with a high degree of success, until 1895, when, with Theodore A. Eisen, he formed a partnership under the firm name of Eisen & Hunt, which continued until 1899." (See "Hunt, Sumner P.," Press Reference Library, Southwest Edition, [Los Angeles: Los Angeles Examiner, 1912], p. 82.) In 1893, he had his office in Room #19 of the California Bank Building in Los Angeles. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1893, p. 422.)

Partner, Eisen and Hunt, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1895-1899; Hunt and Theodore Eisen (1852-1924) formed a partnership in 01/1895.

Partner, Hunt and Eager, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1899-1907. Hunt and Eager had an office in Room #701 of the Laughlin Building. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1902, p. 563.)

Partner, Hunt, Eager and Burns, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1908-1910.

Partner, Hunt and Burns, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1910-1930. Hunt and Burns continued to make its office in Room #701 of the Laughlin Building in 1915. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1915, p. 1100.)Silas R. Burns (1855-1940) retired from practice in 1930, but Hunt continued to practice alone from an office at 701 Laughlin Building, Los Angeles until c. 1938.

During his career, Hunt designed many notable residences and country and social clubs in Southern CA.

Professional Activities

Hunt presented a talk, "Architecture and Education," with his former business partner, Theodore Eisen, before the Sunset Club in Los Angeles, CA, 02/04/1905.

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Southern California Chapter, c. 1913.

President, AIA, Southern California Chapter, 1922. Hunt was President of the Southern California AIA Chapter in 1922, when a forum was convened by building contractors, architects and engineers, designed to improve communication among the three groups. The Los Angeles Times wrote in 11/21/1922: "Architects, engineers and contractors will meet at dinner this eveneing at the University Club for the purpose of organizing a forum through which co-operation among these three important branches of the building industry can be promoted, and through which differences can be settled. The purpose of the meeting, according to a letter issued by the Associated General Contractors' local chapter is 'to enter into a frank and open discussion of our problems and endeavor to find some means of effecting that co-operation which should exist between three such important factors in the construction industry.'" (See "Builders' Alliance Planned," Los Angeles Times, 11/21/1922, pt. II, p. 12.) "Architects, engineers and contractors will meet at dinner this eveneing at the University Club for the purpose of organizing a forum through which co-operation among these three important branches of the building industry can be promoted, and through which differences can be settled. The purpose of the meeting, according to a letter issued by the Associated General Contractors' local chapter is 'to enter into a frank and open discussion of our problems and endeavor to find som means of effecting that co-operation which should exist between three such important factors in the construction industry.'" (See "Builders' Alliance Planned," Los Angeles Times, pt. II, p. 12.) Representing the local chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) at the dinner were J.C. Edwards, President, along with F.J. Twaits, Godfrey Edwards, P.M. Jones, William Simpson, Brook Hawkins, W.E. Burke, W.W. Brier, P.L. Ferry, P.H. Ehlers and Stanley Bent. The following men of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) attended: Ralph J. Reed, President, F.D. Howell, Vice-President, W.H. Code, Vice-President, F.G. Dessery, Secretary, E.R. Bowen, Treasurer, W.K. Barnard Past President, and H.W. Dennis, Past President. Members of the AIA included: Sumner P. Hunt, President, A.M. Edelman, Vice-President, Charles F. Plummer, Secretary, Alfred W. Rea, Treasurer, C.E. Noerenberg, Director, D.C. Allison, Director, and Edwin Bergstrom, Director.

Member, Engineers and Architects Association of Southern California, c. 1913.

Vice-President, Los Angeles City Planning Commission, Los Angeles, CA, 1921.

Professional Awards

Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA).

High School

Hunt was apparently educated in private schools in the area around Schodack, NY, probably in Albany. His biography published in the Press Reference Library, Southwest Edition (1912) said: "He was educated in private schools up to the age of fourteen years, when the profession of architecture having been selected by him, he studied that art in the office of Clarence B. Cutler of Troy, New York." (See "Hunt, Sumner P.," Press Reference Library, Southwest Edition, [Los Angeles: Los Angeles Examiner, 1912], p. 82.)

Relocation

Hunt was born in Brooklyn, NY, and lived in this city until at least 1865. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, State Census, 1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, acccessed 01/14/2019.)

His parents moved to Schodack, NY, in Rensselaer County, just south of Albany,before the turn of the decade. By 1870, Hunt's family was financially comfortable. Stephen could retire and afford a live-in servant, Ellen Morgan, (born c. 1846 in Ireland), according to the US Census of 1870. The value of the Hunt's real estate was a substantial $10,000 in that year, and the family had savings of approximately $5,000. The US Census of 1870 also noted that Sumner's maternal grandmother, Emma Conklin, (born c. 1810 in NY), resided with the family at that time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Schodack, Rensselaer, New York; Roll: M593_1083; Page: 346B; Family History Library Film: 552582, acccessed 01/14/2019.)

In 1880, He lived with his mother, Harriet, who had been widowed in 1872. At age 15, he lived next door to a 26-year-old architect, Clarence Cutler, for whom he worked from 1879 until 1889. Emma Cutler (born c. 1857 in NY), Clarence's wife, was only seven years older than Sumner in 1880. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Schodack, Rensselaer, New York; Roll: 922; Family History Film: 1254922; Page: 482C; Enumeration District: 170; Image: 0482, accessed 10/17/2016.)

He received architectural training as a draftsman in the office of Clarence B. Cutler of Troy, NY. The architect came to California in 1889, and obtained work with the short-lived but notable firm of Caukin and Haas, and formed several partnerships thereafter. He worked in Los Angeles from 1889 until 1930.

TheLos Angeles, California, City Directory, 1893, (p. 422), had Hunt living at 2637 Severance Street in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 1897, Sumner P. Hunt lived at 2645 Severance Street. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1897, p. 481.) Three years later, the 1900 US Census listed the Hunts as living in the Wilmington neighborhood of the city. At this time, his wife's mother,Elizabeth Hancock, (born 10/1828 in OH), lived with the family. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Wilmington, Los Angeles, California; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0137; FHL microfilm: 1240092, acccessed 01/14/2019.) At this address, the Hunts lived nearby to Walter Nordhoff (1855-1937), son of the travel writer and New York Herald correspondent Charles Nordhoff (1830-1901), who also achieved fame as a writer, penning the novel The Journey of the Flame (1933). Walter Nordhoff had a mining degree from Yale University, and also had worked as a European correspondent for the New York Herald before moving to the West Coast to manage land in Baja CA. He farmed in Wilmington, CA, in 1900. His son, Charles Bernard Nordhoff, (1887-1947), co-wrote the Mutiny on the Bounty trilogy. The city of Ojai, CA, was named originally for the elder Charles Nordhoff.

Beginning in the early 1890s, it appears that the Hunts maintained a residence on Severance Street as their main house, but also had other dwellings elsewhere in the Los Angeles area. The address changed from 2637 to 2645 between 1893 and 1897. After 1897, Hunt's address was most consistently listed as 2645 Severance. (See also Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1903, p. 640, Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1912,p. 792.)

In 1910, the US Census listed the architect living with his wife and daughter at 1901 Oak Street also located in University Park. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 71, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_82; Page: 17B; Enumeration District: 0200; FHL microfilm: 1374095, acccessed 01/14/2019.) The Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1910, listed Hunt as living at 924 West Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1910,p. 730.)

Hunt and his family lived at 2325 Scarff Street in University Park in 1920. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 75, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_115; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 443, acccessed 01/14/2019.) This Scarff Street address was corroborated by California voter registrations rolls for 1924.

He again lived at 2645 Severance Street in 1930. The house had a value of $30,000, a significant amount at that time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0377; FHL microfilm: 2339882, acccessed 01/14/2019.) He resided at this address until his death in 1938.

He was buried at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA.

Parents

His father was Stephen P. Hunt (born c. 1811-died 05/09/1872 in Brooklyn, NY), a Brooklyn grocer when Sumner was born in 1865, and his mother, Harriet M. Conklin (born c. 1830 in Sand Lake, NY-d. 10/04/1918 in Schodack, NY), who managed the family of five children. Harriet was about 19 years younger than her husband and died 46 years following him.

Sumner, the baby of the brood, was seven years younger than his closest sibling. They included: George R. Hunt (born c. 1840), Albert H. Hunt (born c. 1841), Charles P. Hunt (born c. 1846), Margaret J. Hunt (born c. 1848), and Emma Conklin Hunt Cutler(born 01/19/1958 in Troy, NY-d. 10/02/1936 in Albany County, NY). In 1855, Stephen worked as a miller in Sand Lake, NY, and five years later, he resided in Troy, NY, with his large family, where he became a grocer. (See Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, State Census, 1855 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, accessed 10/17/2016 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Troy Ward 3, Rensselaer, New York; Roll: M653_846; Page: 246; Family History Library Film: 803846, acccessed 01/14/2019.)

Spouse

Hunt married Mary Hancock Chapman of Cincinnati, OH, on 01/21/1892 in Los Angeles, CA. Mrs. Sumner P. Hunt was a past-President of the California Federation of Women's Clubs, Los Angeles District, an organization that included women in the influential Friday Morning and Ebell Clubs. She served in this capacity before 1916. (See "Women's Work, Women's Clubs," Los Angeles Times, 06/29/1916, pt. II, p. 3.) As a result of his wife's influence, Hunt designed the large Ebell Club building at Figueroa and 18th Streets in Los Angeles. She laid the cornerstone of this building on 07/31/1905.

This was Mary Chapman Hunt's second marriage.

Children

He and Mary had a daughter, Louise Hunt, (born 04/13/1894 in Los Angeles, CA-d. 09/03/1972 in Los Angeles, CA). At age 27, Louise worked as a secretary, and traveled in Mexico, according to a US passport application of 11/28/1921. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration [NARA]; Washington D.C.; Roll #: 1789; Volume #: Roll 1789 - Certificates: 102376-102749, 03 Dec 1921-05 Dec 1921, acccessed 01/10/2019.)

Biographical Notes

Member, California Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1913.

Member, Sunset Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1913.

Member, Los Angeles Country Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1913.

Member, Crags Country Club, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1913.

As per California voter records, Hunt remained a lifelong Republican. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, acccessed 01/14/2019. See records for 1922, 1924, 1930, 1932 and 1934.)

• Brooklyn, NY (Architect's Birth)
  Brooklyn, NY

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