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Male, US, born 1910-10-04, died 1997-09-01
Associated with the firms network
Wurster, Bernardi and Emmons (WBE), Architects; Wurster, William W., Architect
Résumé
Emmons first worked as a Designer/Construction Superintendant for three Los Angeles Architects between 1934-1938: Edgar Bissantz, Winchton L. Risley, and Roland Coate, Sr.; Draftsman, William Wilson Wurster, Architect, c. 1938-1941; Lt. Commander, US Naval Reserve, 1943-1945. Partner, Wurster, Bernardi and Emmons (WBE), Architects, San Francisco, CA, 1946-1980s;
Teaching
Visiting Critic, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1956 and 1964.
Professional Activities
President, San Francisco Planning and Housing Commission, 1947-1949. Director, California Council of Architects, 1953-1954. President, Northern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, 1953-1954; Chairman, Northern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Bulletin Committee. When surveyed in 1956, Emmons reported being a registered architect in the state of CA.When surveyed in 1970, he reported being a registered architect in the states of CA, MA, and FL.
In 06/1965, Emmons was appointed to the US Department of the Interior's Potomac River Task Force; he served with Arthur Odell, Jr., Edmund R. Bacon, R. Max Brooks, Francis D. Lethbridge and Ian L. McHarg. Architectural Consultant, University of California, Berkeley (UCB), Berkeley, CA, 1968-1970s.
Professional Awards
Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA), 1960. Recipient (along with William Wurster and Theodore Bernardi), American Institute of Architects' Firm Award, 1965. Emmons received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada, 1988. He was awarded this for his 25-year contribution to the planning of the University of Victoria's campus. Recipient, American Institute of Architects' Collaborative Achievement in Architecture Award, 1966.
College
Coursework, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1929-1933; Coursework, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, 1934; Emmons also studied with the San Francisco Architecture Club.
Relocation
Born in Olean, NY, Emmons attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, and lived in the early 1930s in Los Angeles, CA. His brother, Frederick, also lived in Southern CA at that time and would become an important Los Angeles architect in partnership with A. Quincy Jones. Donn Emmons moved north to San Francisco, CA, in the late 1930s and remained here until he died in Sausalito, Marin County, CA at the age of 86;
Parents
His mother's name was Fogarty.
Spouse
Emmons was married twice. His first wife was Nancy Marianna Pierson Emmons (1913-2014), whom he married in 1942. They separated in 1955, and divorced thereafter.
His second wife was the architect, Audrey Emmons.
Children
With Nancy Emmons, he had two daughters, Zette Emmons (b. 1946), Janet Emmons (nicknamed "Luli," b. 1949), as well as a son, Andrew Pierson (Mush) Emmons (b. 1953).
Biographical Notes
He was the younger brother of Frederick E. Emmons (1907-1999), a partner in the Los Angeles, CA, architectural firm of Jones and Emmons. In 1956, Emmons reported to have traveled to 27 foreign countries, including those in Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe. SSN: 564-16-6471;
PCAD id: 338
