Résumé

Draftsman, Peter R. Schmidt, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1890.

City Architect, City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Coffey specialized in the design of schools and hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Partner, [F.H.] Martens and Coffey, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1907.

Principal, Alfred I. Coffey, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1925. Between 1922 and 1925, at least Coffey leased an office at 785 Market Street, San Francisco. (See Crocker-Langley San Francisco, California, City Directory,1922, p. 479 and Crocker-Langley San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1925, p. 1725.)

Partner, Coffey and [Martin J.] Rist, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1930.

Graduate, Saint Mary's College, Moraga, CA.

Relocation

Alfred Coffey was born in San Francisco on 08/06/1866 to John and Mary McArdle Coffey, born in England and Ireland, respectively. The 1870 US Census noted that the Coffeys resided in San Francisco, where John worked as a harbor policeman, but listed only one son in the household, James Coffey. Alfred nor any of his other siblings was listed. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: San Francisco Ward 10, San Francisco, California; Roll: M593_83; Page: 178B, accessed 08/05/2024.) It is known that his parents had many children between c. 1855 and c. 1882, so Alfred grew up in a big family, with deep social connections in the city. Alfred, like two of his brothers, became successful and prominent professionals, further reinforcing his family's social status.

In 1880, Alfred Coffey dwelled with his parents and six siblings--Joseph F. Coffey, Henry E. Coffey, Mary Coffey, Walter Coffey, Ellen Coffey and Louis Coffey--at 914 Dolores Street in what is now San Francisco's Dolores Heights district. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 78; Page: 439c; Enumeration District: 178, accessed 08/02/2024.)

Alfred continued to live with his family at 914 Dolores Street in 1891. (See Langley's San Francisco Directory, 1891, p. 373.)

By 1900, Coffey made his residence at 1182 Valencia Street in Dolores Heights. The US Census listed his brother Walter B. Coffey, a well-known physician as the "head" of the household, even though he was not Alfred's oldest male sibling. Others living in the house at 1182 Valencia included his mother Mary, and siblings Joseph Coffey, Mary A. Coffey, Helen T. Coffey and Alice Coffey. The Coffeys could afford to employ a household worker, "Morcyanio" (born c. 04/1863 in Japan), who was listed as married, but whose wife and/or family did not reside in the Coffey household. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 102; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0110, accessed 08/05/2024.)

He and Gladys lived in San Francisco at 2301 Polk Street between 1920 and 1922, at least. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 32, San Francisco, California; Roll: T625_137; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 177, accessed 08/02/2024 and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1922, p. 479.)

The 1930 US Census found Coffey, his wife and their daughter living on Prospect Road in Saratoga, CA. The 1930 census recorded that the Coffey's house had an estimated value of $75,000. If the estimate was accurate, Coffey and his wife were quite comfortable financially, as this was a large amount for most Bay Area neighborhoods at that time.

In 1931, Alfred and Gladys Coffey resided at 257 Arlington Road in Redwood City, CA. (See Redwood City, California, City Directory, 1931, p. 53.)

The architect passed away from atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries in Saint Francis Hospital, Redwood, CIty, CA, at the age of 65 years, 2 months and 3 days. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, U.S., San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1895-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 08/02/2024.) He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, CA.

Parents

His father John Coffey, had been born in England to Irish parents (born c. 1829 in Liverpool, England-d. 01/19/1893 in San Francisco, CA), and held a number of jobs during his lifetime. Before Alfred's birth in 1860, John Coffey managed a tavern, the Western House, that also took in lodgers. This business selling lodging and alcohol likely earned him a decent income, as he managed to purchase property by 1870. Occupants of the Western House in 1860 included John, his wife Mary, their four sons John, James, Joseph and P. Henry. and the following boarders: William Yakes, a fireman, (born c. 1825 in England); William Robinson, a mariner (born c. 1835 in MA); James Mallon, a mariner, (born c. 1830 in England); George Monroe, a mariner, (born c. 1825 in France); Peter Manning, a mariner, (born c. 1835 in Ireland); and Peter Cook, a cook, (born c. 1820 in Germany). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: San Francisco District 1, San Francisco, California; Roll: M653_68; Page: 860; Family History Library Film: 803068, accessed 08/05/2024.)

John was a harbor policeman in 1870 as per that year's census. He owned $5,000 worth of real estate by this time, and had $200 of other assets. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: San Francisco Ward 10, San Francisco, California; Roll: M593_83; Page: 178B, accessed 08/05/2024.)

By 1880, John Coffey worked as a detective, although the census did not disclose whether this was for the San Francisco police force or a private detective service. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 78; Page: 439c; Enumeration District: 178, accessed 08/02/2024.)

John's wife, Mary A. McArdle (born c. 03/1833-d. 02/03/1912 in San Francisco, CA) was four years younger than he, and born in Ireland. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 78; Page: 439c; Enumeration District: 178, accessed 08/02/2024.) Mary immigrated to the US from Liverpool, England, arriving in New York, NY, on 03/19/1849, aboard the SS Atlas. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Immigration Lists, 1820-1850 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003, accessed 08/05/2024.) The 1900 US Census indicated that Mary had had thirteen children during her lifetime, only six of whom survived in that year. If this was true, this 64% mortality rate would have been high for that time and place.

His known siblings included: John T. Coffey (born c. 1854 in CA), James W. Coffey (born c. 1855 in CA), Joseph Francis Coffey (born c. 05/1857 in San Francisco, CA-d. 10/01/1910 in San Francisco, CA), P. Henry Coffey (born c. 1859 in CA-d. 06/21/1860 in San Francisco, CA), Henry Edmund Coffey (born c. 03/1861-d. 12/20/1922 in San Francisco, CA), Mary Agnes Coffey Schlueter (born 11/29/1867 in San Francisco, CA-d. 03/07/1941 in San Francisco, CA), Walter Bernard Coffey (born 04/26/1869 in San Francisco, CA-d. 03/25/1944 in San Francisco, CA), Helen Theresa Coffey (born 09/29/1872 in San Francisco, CA-d. 11/28/1955 in San Francisco, CA), Louis Coffey (born c. 1874 in CA), and Alice Coffey (born c. 08/1882 in San Francisco, CA). This list is likely inaccurate, as census data on the Coffey children is inconsistent.

In 1880, his brother John was the only child in the family to work. He was employed as a clerk in San Francisco's Prosecuting Attorney's office, where he worked between c. 1876 and 1882. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 78; Page: 439c; Enumeration District: 178, accessed 08/02/2024.)

The 1900 US Census recorded that Walter B. Coffey worked as a physician, Joseph, a lawyer, and Alfred, an architect. Mary, Alfred's mother, was listed as being a "farmer." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 102; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0110, accessed 08/05/2024.) Joseph became San Francisco's Prosecuting Attorney in 1883.

By 1922, Henry E. Coffey worked in real estate, and Louis managed San Francisco's Mission Central Hotel. (See Crocker-Langley San Francisco, California, City Directory,1922, p. 480.)

Walter Coffey became the chief surgeon of Southern Pacific Railroad Hospital in San Francisco by 1926, a position he held until at least 1935.

Spouse

Coffey appears to have wed Gladys Adelaide Coulter (born 07/29/1884 in CA-d. 01/11/1964 in Alameda County, CA) twice. A note in the Napa Weekly Journalreported that they wed "secretly" on 07/05/1907. (See "Calistoga News," Napa Weekly Journal, 08/09/1907, p. 8.) This first marriage must have foundered, because notice of a second marriage on 08/14/1915 in San Jose, CA, was published in the "Marriage Licenses," list of the San Francisco Chronicle on 08/15/1915, (p. 30). (See also Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 08/02/2024.) Gladys was 18 years younger than Alfred.

Gladys's father was George Trull Coulter (born 11/21/1831 in Baltimore, MD-d. 08/05/1890 in CA), her mother Jennie A. Buckler (born c. 1853-d. 11/26/1908 in Alameda County, CA). Jennie had been born in China, to English parents, and worked as an adjuster in the coinage department of San Francisco's US Mint in 1877. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1877, p. 172.)

George T. Coulter lived a colorful and, for a time, successful life, investing in various mining enterprises, including the Sierra Buttes Mine that yielded gold for some years. In his later years, Coulter spent himself increasingly into debt, and as his fortunes declined so, too, did his ability to resist alcohol and women. He passed away at age 48, from what the San Francisco Chronicle called "softening of the brain." (See "Bell's Firm Grip," San Francisco Chronicle, 07/19/1923, p. 12.) His heirs settled a lawsuit in 1894 with the estate of the enigmatic banking associate of Coulter, Thomas Bell (born 1822 in Scotland-d. 10/16/1892 in San Francisco, CA), in 1894, leaving Gladys some significant assets. (See "Settled Out of Court," San Francisco Call and Post, 06/24/1894, p. 17.)

The 1940 US Census indicated that Gladys had ended school at grade 8. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Oakland, Alameda, California; Roll: m-t0627-00434; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 61-169, accessed 08/02/2024.)

Children

He and Gladys had a daughter Gwendolyn Victoria Coffey (born 05/12/1908 in Oakland, CA-d. 03/04/1939 in Redwood City, CA). According to a newspaper report, Gwendolyn died from an ulcerated tooth that developed a streptococcus infection. Her obituary said of her: “A native of Oakland, Miss Coffey, who was 25 [sic], had come to Redwood City with her parents 20 years ago. She attended private schools, graduating from the Convent of Notre Dame in San Jose. Miss Coffey’s father was the late Alfred I. Coffey, widely-known architect who designed Sequoia High School, McKinley School and many other buildings. Her uncle is Dr. Walter B. Coffey of San Francisco, famed for his part in the Coffey-Humber cancer experiments.” (See "Gwendolyn Coffey Is Taken by Death," Redwood City Tribune, 03/02/1939, p. 1.)

• San Francisco, CA (Architect's Birth)
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