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Male, US, born 1893-07-31, died 1978-09-22
Associated with the firms network
Ambrose, William Clement, AIA, and Spencer, Eldridge T., FAIA, Associated Architects; Maybeck, Bernard R., Architect; Spencer and Ambrose, Architects; Spencer, Blanchard and Maher; Spencer, Eldridge T., Architect; Spencer, Lee, and Busse, Architects
Résumé
Architectural Designer, Riddell Building Services Corporation, Berkeley, CA, c. 1917. His World War I draft registration card indicated that he supported his mother, who was widowed by 1917. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Alameda; Roll: 1530663; Draft Board: 1, accessed 10/05/2017.)
Aviator, US Army Air Service, World War I, c. 1918.
Designer, Bernard R. Maybeck, Architect, San Francisco, CA;
Designer, Grosvenor Atterbury, Architect, New York, NY, c. 1921.
Principal, Eldridge T. Spencer, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1927- c. 1942.
Director of Planning and Supervising Architect, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1948-1960.
Partner, Spencer and Ambrose, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1957; in 1957, Spencer and Ambrose maintained offices at 251 Keurny Street, San Francisco.
Partner, Spencer, Blanchard and Maher, Architects, San Francisco, CA;
Partner, Spencer and Lee, Architects, Palo Alto, CA; c. 1962. This firm was located at 251 Kearny Street in San Francisco in 1962.
Partner, Spencer, Lee, and Busse, Architects, Palo Alto, CA.
Teaching
Lecturer in Architecture, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1944-1960.
Professional Activities
When surveyed in 1962, Spencer indicated that he was Registered Architect in the States of CA, WY, and VA. His firm worked on large-scale projects in both WY and VA, at Grand Teton National Park and Colonial Williamsburg. He also indicated in 1962 that he had been NCARB certified.
Between 1944 and 1949, Spencer served in various capacities, including as a Director and President, of the San Francisco Art Association.
Spencer served as the Professional Advisor for the University of California, Berkeley, Arts Center Compeition in 1965. (See "Competitions," Architecture/West, vol. 71, no 1, 01/1965, p. 9.)
Professional Awards
Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA).
High School / College
Graduate, Berkeley High School, Berkeley, CA, 06/1912. Spencer was a member of the Berkeley High School basketball team in 1911 and 1912, the latter team having won the state championship. He was on the yearbook staff in 1911 and the school band in 1910. (See Berkeley High School Olla Podrida Yearbook, 1912, p. 44.)
B.Arch., University of California, Berkeley (UCB), Berkeley, CA, c. 1917.
In a 06/18/1923 US Passport application, Spencer listed the UC Berkeley Architecture Professor William C. Hays as a reference. (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 #: 2308; Volume #: Roll 2308 - Certificates: 311350-311849, 18 Jun 1923-18 Jun 1923, accessed 10/05/2017.)
Coursework, École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France. c. 1918.
Relocation
A tall and thin man, Eldridge Theodore Spencer moved in lofty artistic circles within the San Francisco Bay Area. He was born in Woodland, CA on 07/31/1893, but resided for most of his life in the City of San Francisco. There is some confusion as to his date of birth. Some sources put it in 1892, others in 1893. A US passport application of 06/18/1923, his World War I draft registration card of 06/04/1917 and his World War II draft registration card of 04/26/1942 all listed his date of birth as 07/31/1893.
At age 8, the 1900 US Census noted that Eldridge lived at 2330 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, CA, with 10 of his brothers and sisters, and one nephew. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Berkeley Ward 3, Alameda, California; Roll: 83; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0397; FHL microfilm: 1240083, accessed 10/05/2017.) He graduated from Berkeley High School in its class of 06/1912. (See Berkeley High School Olla Podrida Yearbook, 1912, p. 44.)
In 06/1917, Spencer had attended the University of California for two years, and had been an ROTC cadet there. He resided at 1737 Channing Way in Berkeley at this time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Alameda; Roll: 1530663; Draft Board: 1, accessed 10/05/2017.)
The 1920 US Census indicated that Eldridge lived at home with his mother, Mary, sister, Doris Spencer, Madge Stephenson (a sister-in-law) and H. Bruce Stephenson (a brother-in-law) at 105 Tunnel Road in Berkeley, CA. The Spencer Family owned the residence free and clear. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Roll: T625_92; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 163, accessed 10/05/2017.) In 1921, he resided in New York, NY, at 2295 Grand Concourse, Apartment #1F.
He spent at least three years living in Paris, France, (02/1921-1923) and some time residing in the New York, NY, area. In 06/1923, he listed on a US Passport application a permanent address at 105 Tunnel Road, Berkeley, CA, and a Paris address at 4 Rue de la Manufacture, Vanves, Seine, France. During this 1921-1923 period, Spencer hoped to travel in the British Isles, Belgium, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Egypt, Germany, Austria, France, Straits Settlements (Malaysia), Singapore, China, Japan and India, according to a US Passport application of 06/18/1923. (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 #: 2308; Volume #: Roll 2308 - Certificates: 311350-311849, 18 Jun 1923-18 Jun 1923, accessed 10/05/2017.)
In 1930, Spencer lived with his wife and two daughters at 960 Chestnut Street in San Francisco. Their residence had a value of $25,000 at that time, and the family was wealthy enough to afford two servants, Josephine Coffrey (born c. 1897 in Northern Ireland) and Rose Boyne (born c. 1906 in Ireland). The elder servant's last name could have been "Caffrey," and the younger's "Boyce," as the 1930 US Census recorder's handwriting was not clear. The neighborhood in which the Spencers lived was inhabited by professionals, including two attorneys, an accountant, a broker, a building contractor and a physician living close to 960 Chestnut. According to the 1940 US Census, this house had increased to a value of approximately $35,000, an impressive gain during the Depression. The family in that year had one servant, Nora Riordan, (born c. 1886 in MA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: T627_303; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 38-129, accessed 10/06/2017.) He continued to live at this address in 1942.
At the end of his life, he suffered from diabetes and dementia. He died of a heart attack at age 86 in San Francisco, CA.
Parents
His parents were William Francis Spencer (born 1842 in Boston, MA), and Mary Marie Ballard (born c. 1850 in IL) She married William F. Spencer in 1866 in Amador, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Web: Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 10/05/2017.)
He had 11 brothers and sisters; they were: Pauline Spencer Millard (born c. 09/1867 in CA), Berdie E. Spencer (born 06/1868 in CA), Mary B. Spencer Sharpnack (born c. 08/1870 in CA), Winifred Spencer (born c. 11/1873 in CA), William C. Spencer (born c. 03/1876 in CA), Gertrude Spencer (born 01/1878 in CA), George W. Spencer (born 03/1880 in CA), Dahlia (born 04/1882 in CA), Blaine Spencer (born 10/1883 in CA), Madge Spencer (born 06/1887 in CA), Doris Spencr Churchill (born c. 09/1890 in CA). A nephew, son of Mary Spencer Sharpnack, was George Sharpnack (born 02/1900 in CA). In 1923, his sister, Doris Spencer Churchill, and his two brothers, William C. Spencer and George W. Spencer, lived in Berkeley, CA.
Spouse
Eldridge Spencer married the artist Jeannette Dyer Spencer (b. 11/04/1892 in Cleveland, OH- d. 01/08/1986 in San Francisco, CA) in 1920.
Children
He and Jeannette had two daughters, Frances (born c. 1925 in CA) and Doris (born c. 1928 in CA).
Biographical Notes
His first name was spelled "Eldrige" by some historical sources, including his high school yearbook and the 1920 US Census. (See Berkeley High School Olla Podrida Yearbook, 1912, p. 44.) Most sources spelled it "Eldridge."
He was known as "Ted" Spencer. His 1917 World War I draft registration card described him as tall with a medium, having blue eyes and brown hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Alameda; Roll: 1530663; Draft Board: 1, accessed 10/05/2017.) A 1921 US Passport application listed him as standing 6-feet tall, with a high forehead, blue eyes, long nose, medium mouth, medium round chin, brown hair, ruddy complexion and an oval face. (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 #: 1475; Volume #: Roll 1475 - Certificates: 134376-134749, 26 Jan 1921-27 Jan 1921, accessed 10/05/2017.)
Spencer's date of birth was noted mistakenly in the California Death Index as 07/31/1892. The U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File,also had his date of birth at 07/31/1892. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 10/05/2017.) The US Census of 1900 also indicated that he had been born in 07/1892. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Berkeley Ward 3, Alameda, California; Roll: 83; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0397; FHL microfilm: 1240083, accessed 10/05/2017.)
Eldridge Spencer and his wife, Jeannette, took a Grand Tour to Europe c. 1922; in Paris, the architect and UCB classmate, William W. Wurster (1895-1973), stayed with them for a time. The Spencers requested a 12-month US Passport extension on 06/18/1923.
Spencer got to know Stanford University's President Donald Tresidder (1894-1948) when the former was commissioned to repair the log roof trusses covering the dining room in Yosemite National Park's Ahwahnee Hotel in 1931. Tresidder was then President of the Yosemite Park and Curry Company (YPCC), the firm that commissioned the construction of the Ahwahnee. Spencer's firm later went on to design the second student union building on the Stanford Campus, named for Tresidder.
SSN: 559-50-6485.
PCAD id: 362
