Résumé

Eames worked in Saint Louis for various local practitioners before traveling to Europe in 1881.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Buildings, City of Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 1881-1883.

Partner, Eames and [Thomas Crane] Young, Architects, Saint Louis, MO, 1885-1915. This firm developed a national reputation designing large-scale office and institutional buildings throughout the US, particularly between 1900-1915. Eames and Young designed two buildings in Seattle, WA--the Alaska Building, Pioneer Square, (1903-1904) and the Josephinum Building, Belltown, (1908)--and one in San Francisco, CA, the United States Government, Department of the Treasury, Customs House #2 (1906-1911). They were also responsible for the 16-story Walker Bank Building (later known as the Walker Center), Salt Lake City, UT, 1911-1912, which, at its opening on 12/09/1912, was the tallest building between Chicago, IL, and San Francisco, CA.

Eames and Young operated a branch office in Seattle while it supervised construction of the Josephinum Building. It was located in Room #1111 of the Alaska Building in 1908. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1908, p. 1639.)

Professional Activities

Member, Board of Appeals, City of Saint Louis, Building Department, Saint Louis, MO.

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Saint Louis Chapter.

President, AIA, Saint Louis Chapter, 1890. The Saint Louis Chapter had been started in 1884, but it failed to catch on until 1890, when Eames took over as President.

President, AIA, National Organization, 1904-1905. Eames was the first Saint Louis architect to become President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), serving from 1904-1905; this was also the same year that the World's Fair was held in Saint Louis, at which Eames and Young designed the Palace of Education (1904). As President of the AIA, Eames became a delegate of the U.S. Department of State to attend two International Congress of Architects meetings in 1904 (Madrid, Spain) and 1906 (London, UK).

Life Member, American Academy, Rome Italy.

Member, National Society for Civic Improvement of Municipalities.

Member, Architectural League of New York, New York, NY.

Member, International Society of State and Municipal Building Commissioners.

Professional Awards

Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA); Member, National Council of Fine Arts, 1909.

Archives

The Eames and Young Partnership Papers were deposited at the Art and Architecture Library, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO.

College

Graduate, St. Louis School of Fine Arts, Saint Louis, MO, 1878.

A.B., Washington University, Saint Louis, MO. (This note indicating that Eames had an A.B. degree from Washington University was from Albert Nelson Marquis, The Book of St. Louisans; a Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of St. Louis and Vicinity, [Saint Louis, MO: Saint Louis Republic, 1912], p. 172.)

Eames also stated that he did "private study" in Rome, Italy.

Relocation

In 1912, Eames maintained a residence at 318 North Newstead Avenue, Saint Louis, MO.

Eames died on 03/05/1915 and was buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery, Saint Louis, MO.

Parents

His parents, William H. and Laura Maria Scofield Eames, were born in New York State, but moved to Saint Louis, MO, in 1863, when William was about 6. At his death he was survived by his mother, five sisters and one brother. Eames had a nephew, the celebrated architect and industrial designer, Charles Eames, who grew up in Saint Louis, MO.

Spouse

Young never married.

Biographical Notes

Eames traveled in Europe during 1881 with William R. Hodges, architecture critic for The Spectator.

He was known to vote Republican and affiliated with the Episcopal Church.

Member, Saint Louis Club, Saint Louis, MO.

Member, Algonquin Club; Boston, MA.

Member, Cosmos Club, Washington, DC.

His hobby was fishing in 1912.

• Clinton, MI (Architect's Birth)
  Clinton, MI

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• Saint Louis, MO (Architect's Death)
  Saint Louis, MO

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