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Male, US, born 1872-02-23, died 1967-12-06

Associated with the firm network

Farquhar, Robert D., Architect


Professional History

Résumé

Draftsman, Hunt and Hunt, Architects, New York, NY, c. 1901.

Designer, Carrère and Hastings, Architects, New York, NY, c. 1903; work in Los Angeles, CA, c. 1905-1910.

Principal, Robert D. Farquhar, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1910-1918; restarted 1919-1940; like many architectural offices in the US, World War I disrupted Farquhar's usual business; many architects joined the armed forces or worked in defense related building projects. Farquhar closed his architectural practice in Los Angeles, CA, in 02/1918. In 08/1918, it was reported that he had left for Italy to work for the Red Cross. By late 10/1919, he had reopened his office in Los Angeles. Architectural practices, for the most part, stayed frozen between 1917-1919. A note in the American Architect and Architecture reported: "Robert D. Farquhar has again opened offices in Los Angeles at 426-7 Security Building." (See "Personal," American Architect and Architecture, vol. 116, no. 2295, 1919, p. 763.)

The virulent Spanish Flu Pandemic also caused a public health emergency across the US between of 03/1918 and mid-1919, (becoming most serious in CA, OR, and WA between 09/1918 and 11/1918, but lingering through the Spring of 1919), further stagnating architectural and construction operations. (See American Historical Association.org, "The Great Pandemic," published 05/04/2009,accessed 10/27/2014.)

Professional Activities

Member, Architectural Commission, Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE), San Francisco, CA, c. 1912-1914. A note in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's alumni periodical, Technology Review, said of Farquhar: "Robert D. Farquhar, '95, a resident of Los Angeles, has been appointed by President Moore of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition as a member of the architectural commission of the exposition. Mr. Farquhar was a graduate of Harvard College before coming to Technology; he afterwards obtained his degree at l'École des Beaux Arts, at Paris." (See "Tech Men in the Public Eye," Technology Review, vol. XIV, no. 4, 04/1912, p. 229.)

Professional Awards

Distinguished Honor Award, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Southern California Chapter.

Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA), 1919.

Archives

Farquhar's papers, "Robert D. Farquhar Architectural Drawings, 1920-1940," were donated to the the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections, Collection #1579; letters from Farquhar to the decorative wrought iron manufacturer, Edward G. Trinkkeller (1872-1945), are held at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Robert E. Kennedy Library, Special Collections Department, Manuscript Collection #097;

Education

Graduate, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH, c. 1889; undergraduate degree, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1893; degree in architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 1893-1895; Dipl., École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, 1896-1901.

Personal

Born in NY, he resided at 381 California Terrace, Pasadena, CA, in 1930. According to the US Census of that year, the house had a value of $18,000. He lived alone except for a servant, his cook, Bettina Kjolmoen (1885-1972), born in Norway, who came to the US c. 1909. In 1930, he lived next door to architect Roland E. Coate, Sr., (1890-1958) who resided with his family at 389 California Terrace. Farquhar died in Hayward, CA, at the age of 95.

His parents were David Webber Farquhar (1844-1905) and Sarah Malvina Joslyn, both born in MA.

SSN: 550-34-9624;


PCAD id: 212


"Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Hills, Calif., Robert D. Farquhar, architect.", American Architect, 135: 115-120, 1929-01. "Farquhar leaves for Italy", Architect and Engineer, 109, 08/1918. "Architect for the William Andrews Clark, Jr., Library, Los Angeles", Architect and Engineer, 87, 04/1927. "Plans for Beverly Hills High School buildings", Architect and Engineer, 62, 1928-07. "Farquhar closes practice", Architect and Engineer, 109, 02/1918. "California Club, Los Angeles: Robert D. Farquhar, Architect, George W. Kelham, consulting architect", Architectural Digest, 8: 2, 4-10, 1931-1933 ?. "Clark Library, Los Angeles", California Arts and Architecture, 38-40, 06/1929. "Clark mausoleum wins gold medals", Hollywood Citizen, 1, 01/06/1922. Gebhard, David, Winter, Robert, Los Angeles An Architectural Guide, 265, 1994. Gebhard, David, Winter, Robert, Los Angeles An Architectural Guide, 160, 1994. "Mausoleum picture feature of exhibition--plans for structure at Hollywood Cemetery is special winner..."", Los Angeles Examiner, 1, 01/04/1923. "Redlands home Italian villa", Los Angeles Times, 1, 05/03/1908. "Old California Club’s Successor", Los Angeles Times, 2, 1930-09-01. "Farquhar, Robert David, Obituary", Los Angeles Times, 28, 12/08/1967. Beyette, Beverly, "A rescue mission that's closer to home", Los Angeles Times, E6, 11/03/1995. Daneker, Jerome G., Romance of Georgia Marble, 68, 1927. "Beverly Hills High School", Southwest Builder and Contractor, 33, 1928-07-13. "Farquhar reopens architectural office", Southwest Builder and Contractor, 11, 10/31/1919. "Plans for library building at Torrance", Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer, 12, col 2-3, 39, 05/24/1913. "Library building at Torrance", Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer, 16, col 2, 06/07/1913. Bradshaw, Jon, "The Club Game", West, 9, 8/6/1972. "Residence of Dr. R.P. McReynolds, Los Angeles, California", Western Architect, 17: 2, np, 02/1911.