Résumé

Working in Los Angeles during the 1910s and 1920s, Valk specialized in the lucrative and expanding field of theatre design.

Draftsman, A.F. Rosenheim, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, 1905.

Principal, A.Lawrence Valk, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1914. Valk became Registered Architect #345 in the State of California.

Teaching

In an ad published in the Los Angeles Times, 10/16/1906, Valk was called "Prof. A. Lawrence Valk."

Relocation

Arthur Lawrence Valk was born in Brooklyn, Kings County, NY, on 04/27/1865, to Lawrence Bolton Valk, an architect, and Ellen Leonard. In 1870, Arthur lived with his parents, two siblings and two household servants in a dwelling in Queens, NY.

The New York State Census of 1875 reported that Arthur lived in a rented apartment at 250 5th Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, with his parents--"Louis B." and Ellen--his three siblings and two domestic workers. Mary Vaughn (born c. 1851 in Ireland) and Annie Reed (born c. 1861 in Ireland). His father's name was actually Lawrence Bolton Valk. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, NY, USA; Census of the State of New York, 1875, accessed 04/01/2025.)

At age 15 in 1880 he continued living with his parents, two siblings, maternal grandmother and three household staff back in Queens. Arthur and his younger brother Franklin attended school in New York. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Queens, Queens, New York; Roll: 919; Page: 347d; Enumeration District: 292, accessed 04/01/2025.)

An advertisement placed in the Los Angeles Times, 3/13/1904, indicated that Valk had recently arrived from New York City. In 1905, Valk lived at 1010 West 23rd Street in Los Angeles. (SeeLos Angeles, California, City Directory, 1905, p. 1470.)

As noted in the 1920 US Census, Valk and his wife Linda resided in an apartment at 243 South Olive Street in Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 64, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_107; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 204, accessed 03/26/2025.)

Parents

His father, Lawrence Bolton Valk (born 11/17/1837 in Pensacola, FL-d. 01/02 or 03/1924 in Altadena, CA), a Civil War veteran between 05/1861 and 12/1861, worked as an architect in Brooklyn, NY, in 1875. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, NY, USA; Census of the State of New York, 1875, accessed 03/26/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts of New York State Volunteers, United States Sharpshooters, and United States Colored Troops [ca. 1861-1900]; Box #: 1223-1224, accessed 03/26/2025.)

Arthur's mother was Ellen Eliza Leonard (born 09/29/1840 in Williamsburg, MA-d. 06/30/1919 in Los Angeles County, CA), whom Lawrence had married c. 1862.

Lawrence Valk would practice architecture in Alhambra, CA, registering to vote there on 06/15/1894. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 22; FHL Roll Number: 976931, accessed 03/26/2025.)

The 1900 US Census indicated that Ellen and Lawrence had had eight children, of whom only three survived at that time. It is not known if this census information is correct, as the destruction of the 1890 US Census data makes it hard to corroborate who consitituted the Valk Family. It is known that at least five Valk children were born.

Ellen and Lawrence's children included: Arthur Lawrence Valk (born 04/27/1865 in Kings County, NY-d. 10/12/1929 in CA); Franklin Rudolph Valk (born 10/15/1866 in Kings County, NY-d. 10/25/1951 in Los Angeles County, CA); Ada Valk (born c. 1870 in Kings County, NY); Carrie Louise Valk (born 02/04/1872 in Brooklyn, NY-d. 06/21/1872 in Brooklyn, NY); Helen May "Nellie" Valk Borden (born 08/06/1872 in Kings County, NY-d. 02/29/1956 in Los Angeles County, CA); Mabel Valk (born 11/07/1874 in Brooklyn, NY). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York City Department of Records & Information Services; New York City, New York; New York City Birth Certificates, accessed 04/01/2025.) Carrie died at age four months of "cholera infantum." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York City Department of Records & Information Services; New York City, New York; New York City Death Certificates; Borough: Brooklyn; Year: 1872, accessed 04/01/2025.) Ada likely died in early childhood as she was not listed living with the family in the 1875 New York Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, NY, USA; Census of the State of New York, 1875, accessed 04/01/2025.)

The California Death Index listed Helen's date of birth as 08/06/1872. Another source, Find a Grave.com, indicated that Helen had been born on 08/06/1873. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Global, Find a Grave® Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, accessed 04/01/2025.) A US passport application of 12/30/1907 listed it as 08/06/1874. (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 #: 50; Volume #: Roll 0050 - Certificates: 43370-43951, 13 Dec 1907-31 Dec 1907, accessed 04/01/2025.)

Spouse

Valk married Carrie G. Myer on 09/29/1887 in Manhattan, NY.