Résumé

Edward H. Bennett was an architect and urban planner whose significance lay primarily in his work on a variety of Beaux-Arts city plans for San Francisco, CA, Chicago, IL, Portland, OR, and many others cities. As such, he was one of the most influential and successful exponents of city planning as an occupation in the first half of the twentieth century.

Draftsman, Robert H. White, Architect, San Francisco, CA.

Architect, George Post, Architect, New York, NY, c. 1902-1903.

Designer, D.H. Burnham and Company, Chicago, IL, c. 1903-1905. Bennett collaborated with Burnham on the grand San Francisco City Plan of 09/1905, created several months before the chaos of the Great Earthquake and Fire of 04/18-19/1906. This plan was never adopted.

Architect, Howard Van Doren Shaw, Architect, Chicago, IL, c. 1905;

Partner, Bennett, Parsons and Frost, Architects and Planners, Chicago, IL, c. 1906-1944. This firm became best known for its city plans for Chicago, IL, (in association with D.H. Burnham), Portland, OR, Detroit, MI, and Minneapolis, MN. The Portland, OR, plan was done in association with A.L. Barbur and Marshall N. Dana. (See Bennett, Edward Herbert, Sr., Barbur, A. L.., and Dana, Marshall N., "The Greater Portland Plan of Edward H. Bennett" (1912). Portland City Archives, Portland, OR.)

Archives

Edward H. Bennett, Sr., and his wife Carolyn donated his papers to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1954. The collection consisted of holograph papers, typescript papers, correspondence, printed papers, bound scrapbooks and diaries, black and white photographic prints, color photographic prints, ephemera and realia, ink drawings, graphite drawings, architectural reprographic prints, and microfilm. Dimensions: 79 boxes, 3 portfolios, 2 oversize portfolios, flatfile materials and 34 microfilm reels: W.: 731.6 cm (288 in.) (See Art Institute of Chicago, Ryerson and Burhham Art and Architecture Archive.org, "Bennett, Edward H., Collection, 1901-1954," accessed 08/07/2025. See also https://artic.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/findingaids/id/24874/rec/1.)

College

B.A., University of California, Berkeley (UCB), Berkeley, CA. Bennett and his cohort that included Julia Morgan, Lewis Hobart, Arthur Brown, Jr., John Bakewell, G. Albert Lansburgh and Loring Rixford, worked with Bernard Maybeck in the Art and Civil Engineering Departments at Berkeley after 1894, before an official architectural curriculum was begun by John Galen Howard in 1903. (See Daniella Thompson, Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA).com, "Berkeley Landmarks Designated in 2007," accessed 08/07/2025 and and Daniella Thompson, Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA).com, "North Gate Hall {'Ark')," accessed 08/07/2025.)

Relocation

Edward H. Bennett, Sr., was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, on 05/12/1874. Bennett was baptized at the Church of Saint Mary, Cheltenham on 06/21/1874. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Numbers: P78/1 in 1/20, accessed 08/07/2025.)

In 1881, Bennett lived in Clifton, Bristol, England, with his mother, four siblings, paternal grandmother Mary Bennett (born c. 1813 in Hadleigh, Suffolk, England), aunt Mary Bennett (born c. 1840 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England) as well as a servant Pamela V. Rudge (born c. 1864 in England). The family occupied a residence named "Windsor Villa." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Class: RG11; Piece: 2481; Folio: 5; Page: 4; GSU roll: 1341597 Source Information: 1881 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004, accessed 08/07/2025.)

It is possible that his parents split up during the late 1880s or early 1890s. They no longer lived together in 1891, and Margaret took at least some of her children to San Francisco, CA, to live. Edward was known to have attended the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and came into contact with Berkeley architect Bernard Maybeck (1862-1957) who encouraged him to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, under the patronage of Phoebe Apperson Hearst (1842-1919), a prominent philanthropist for schools in the Bay Area.

A US passport application of 03/12/1923 indicated that Bennett sailed from Southampton, England to the US in 05/1902, and lived uninterruptedly in New York, San Francisco and Chicago between 1903 and 1923. He was naturalized a US citizen (#588860) on 04/20/1906 in Chicago, IL. This document simplified Bennett's chronology, although was true in that he did spend twenty uninterrupted years in the US between 1903 and 1923. He intended to sail on the Cunard Line's RMS Berengaria from New York City to England, where he would travel in that country, France, Italy, Holland and Spain. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 2197; Volume #: Roll 2197 - Certificates: 255850-256349, 14 Mar 1923-15 Mar 1923, accessed 08/07/2025.)

The architect settled in Chicago, IL, in 1903, where he practiced for many years.

Bennett lived with his wife, son, and two servants at 1315 Ritchie Court in Chicago' posh Gold Coast neighborhood in 1920. The servants included a waitress Anna Norman (born c. 1885 in IL). a maid Hildur Olson (born c. 1892 in Sweden) and a cook, Caroline Olson (born 1855 in Sweden). Their next-door-neighbor at 1322 was Charles C. Adsit (1853-1931), the scion of one of Chicago's earliest banking families, whose brokerage lost a fortune during the 1910s and 1920s. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 21, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_331; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 1157, accessed 08/07/2025.)

In 1923, Bennett listed a residence at 303 Deerpath Avenue, Lake Forest, IL. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 2197; Volume #: Roll 2197 - Certificates: 255850-256349, 14 Mar 1923-15 Mar 1923, accessed 08/07/2025.) This was likely a country house that he maintained in addition to a Chicago address.

By 1930, the Bennetts dwelled at 43 East Burton Place also in the Gold Coast neighborhood. The household included Edward and Olive Bennett, their three children and three household staff. Mary Larsen (born c. 1891 in Norway), Marie Johnson (born c. 1895 in Sweden) and Agnes Krobst (born c. 1890 in Switzerland). The dwelling, according to the 1930 US Census, was worth an estimated $80,000, a staggering sum in 1930. Neighboring houses were worth between $26,000 and $200,000. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Page: 20B; Enumeration District: 1591; FHL microfilm: 2340219, accessed 08/07/2025.)

The 1940 US Census located the architect and his family at 89 Deerpath Avenue (located on the southwest corner of Green Bay Road and Deerpark Avenue) in Lake Forest, IL. They lived here along with a household staff of three.including Elsie Elfstrom (born c. 1892 in IL), Marie Johnson and Alice Forsman (born c. 1896 in Finland). This country estate had an estimated value of $75,000, a very large sum for the period, although one other house nearby had an equal value. Interestingly, most houses in the vicinity were rentals, costing between $15 and $40 per month, not high amounts. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Lake Forest, Lake, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00828; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 49-33, accessed 08/07/2025.)

On 04/08/1940, the US Census also located Bennett as staying in a hotel in Tryon, NC. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Tryon, Polk, North Carolina; Roll: m-t0627-02960; Page: 81A; Enumeration District: 75-8, accessed 08/07/2025.) He may have been working on a commission or scouting the area out as a potential spot at which to retire. It is likely that the Bennetts bought or rented a property in Tryon and spent increasing amounts of time there after he retired as an architectural consultant during World War II.

The 1950 US Census recorded that he and Olive continued to live in Lake Forest at 89 Deerpath Avenue. A Lake Forest neighbor was Henry B. Huntington and his wife, whose house had a drawing accessioned in the Art Institute of Chicago. A will of 1953 indicated that Bennett owned valuable Chinese porcelains, jewelry, artwork, furniture, silverware, and horses. He gave his estate in Lake Forest to his son, and divided the real estate in NC between his two step-children. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Probate Records (Polk County, North Carolina), 1663-1978; Author: North Carolina. Secretary of State, accessed 08/07/2025.)

The architect and planner passed away from coronary thrombosis in Tryon, NC, on 10/14/1954. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation North Carolina State Archives; Raleigh, North Carolina; North Carolina Death Certificates, accessed 08/07/2025.) He was buried at the Lake Forest Cemetery, Lake Forest, IL.

Parents

His father was J. Edwin C. Bennett (born c. 1843 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England-d. 1920 in England), a merchant seaman, his mother, Margaret Julia Callas (born 1846 in Reading, Berkshire, England-d. 08/10/1890 in San Francisco, CA). They wed is Selsley, Gloucestershire, England on 04/10/1871. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Numbers: P284 in 1/11, accessed 08/07/2025.)

Perhaps due to Edwin's extended absences at sea, it appears that Margaret and Edwin led independent lives. They were not recorded as living together in the 1881 or 1891 English Censuses, although Margaret continued to have children after 1881. In 1891, Edwin llived on his own boarding with Agnes Whitley (born c. 1836 in England) and her family in Birkenhead, England, near Cheltenham. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2879; Folio: 36; Page: 15; GSU roll: 6097989, accessed 08/07/2025.) It is likely that the marriage officially ended sometime in the 1890s, if not before. According to the 1911 English Census, Edwin had married Myra Elizabeth Griffiths (born c. 1860 in Bristol, England) in about 1903. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911, accessed 08/07/2025.)

Edward's siblings included: Charles W. Bennett (born c. 1872 at sea); Jessie May Bennett (born 03/04/1876 at sea); Helen M. Bennett (born c. 1878 in Bristol, England); George E. Bennett (born c. 1879 in Bristol. England); Winifred Bennett (born c. 03/1882-d. 03/28/1882 in Gloucestershire, England); and Lewis Corder Bennett (born 02/19/1884 in Clifton, England). As noted, two of his siblings had been born at sea due to their father being a mariner.

Spouse

Bennett married twice. His first wife was Catherine Jones (born 05/23/1885 in Chicago, IL-d. 05/21/1925 in Chicago, IL). Jones was a member of a socially active Lake Forest, IL, family. She wed Edward on 10/18/1913 in Lake Forest, and the couple had their honeymoon in Bermuda. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 08/07/2025.) Catherine died twelve years later of scarlet fever in Cook County, IL.

In 1930, he married Olive Mary Holden (born 06/25/1893 in Henlow, Bedfordshire, England-d. 12/30/1969 in Tryon, NC). Olive previously married Arthur William Mead (born 10/05/ 1894 in South Africa-d. 07/26/1940 in Toronto, ON, Canada) in Wentworth, ON, Canada, on 06/06/1917 and with him had two children, Joseph Mead (born c. 1918 in Canada) and Betty Mead (born c. 1920 in Canada). Joseph and Betty lived with Edward and Olive in Chicago, as per the 1930 and 1940 US Censuses.

Children

He and Catherine Jones Bennett had one son: E. H. Bennett Jr., (c. 1916-12/07/1994), who later became an architect and even occupied the offices of his father on the top floor of Chicago's Santa Fe Building into the 1960s. Ted Bennett, Jr., worked in the firm of Schweikher and Elting from 1953-1954, and formed a partnership with Winston Elting from 1954-1956. Like his father, Ted Bennett had a strong interest in city planning, serving as the Director of the Chicago Regional Planning Association (1952-1958) and Chairman of the Lake County Regional Planning Association (1960-1970). (See "Obituaries: Edward Bennett, Architect," Chicago Tribune, 12/09/1994, accessed 07/27/2011.)

Biographical Notes

Bennett traveled aboard the Cunard Line's RMS Campania from Liverpool, England, to New York, NY, between 02/05/1910 and 02/14/1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 08/07/2025.)

Witnesses at Bennett's naturalization on 04/20/1916 were William Peirce Anderson (1870-1924) and Howard Judson White (1870-1936), both architects of Chicago. Anderson and White belonged to the successor firm of D.H. Burnham and Company, Graham, Anderson, Probst and White. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at Chicago; Chicago, Illinois; ARC Title: Petitions For Naturalization For the United States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration and Naturalization Service District 9, 1840-1950; NAI Number: M1285; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Record Group Number: Rg 85, accessed 08/07/2025.)

His World War I draft card of 09/12/1918 listed Bennett as being Caucasian with blue eyes and light hair. He was described as being tall with a medium build. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Lake County Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 08/07/2025.)

On Bennett's 1923 European trip, he was joined by his wife and son. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 2197; Volume #: Roll 2197 - Certificates: 255850-256349, 14 Mar 1923-15 Mar 1923, accessed 08/07/2025.)

• Bristol, Bristol United Kingdom (Architect's Birth)
  Bristol, Bristol United Kingdom

  ---

  OpenStreetMap (new tab)

  Google Map (new tab)

  

  ---