Résumé

Draftsman, Albert Kahn Associates, Incorporated, Architects and Engineers, Detroit, MI, and Chicago, IL, c. 1938-1940.

Draftsman, J. Fletcher Lankton, Architect, Peoria, IL, c. 1940. He worked for Lankton in Peoria on 10/16/1940, when he filled out his World War II draft registration card. Booth had an office at 1805 Knoxville Street in Peoria, IL. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Illinois, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 164 Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 04/15/2021.)

During World War II, Booth worked in Honolulu, HI, working as an architect. His obituary stated: "Corwin spent the war as a civilian architect in Honolulu, mostly working directly for the Navy." (See Legacy.com, "Corwin L. Booth," published 03/12/2008, accessed 04/15/2021. The obituary appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle between 03/12/2008 and 03/14/2008.)

Designer, Weihe, Frick and Kruse, Architects, San Francisco, CA, 1945-c. 1949. "At war's end he got a job with SF architecture firm Weihe, Frick & Kruse, and was sent to Manila, where he later became chief architect for the design and construction of what was to be Clark Air Force Base." (See Legacy.com, "Corwin L. Booth," published 03/12/2008, accessed 04/15/2021.)

Partner, Falk and Booth, Architects and Engineers, San Francisco, CA, c. 1949-1965. Mark Falk had previously worked with Ernest Kump, Jr., who developed a comprehensive design practice, in part specializing in school design.

Principal, Corwin Booth and Associates, Architects, San Francisco, CA, 1965-1979. Booth's firm, at its height operated with as many as 75 people, focused on the design of schools in Northern CA during the period c. 1965-1970. Demand for school expansion waned in about 1970, and Booth reoriented his practice around real estate development. His obituary stated: "In 1969 and 1970, with the end of the baby boom driven demand for new schools, he changed his focus to real estate development. He acquired the parcels surrounding the Folgers Coffee Building and proceeded with the design, construction and leasing of 211 Main Street (1973) and 221 Main Street (1975), thereby marking the beginning of the neighborhood transformation from light industrial use to what is now the heart of San Francisco's thriving South Financial District. His final design and development project was 180 Montgomery Street (1979)." (See Legacy.com, "Corwin L. Booth," published 03/12/2008, accessed 04/15/2021.)

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), San Francisco Chapter, San Francisco, CA.

Vice-President, AIA, San Francisco Chapter, San Francisco, CA.

High School/College

Graduate, Springfield High School, Springfield, IL, c. 1931. Booth sang in the Juniot and Senior Glee Club at Springfield High in 1930 and 1931. (See Springfield High School, Capitoline Yearbook, 1930, p. 168 and Springfield High School, Capitoline Yearbook, 1931, p. 176.)

B.S., Architectural Engineering, University of Illinois, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Champaign-Urbana, IL. 1938. During college, Booth worked in various jobs, as a soda fountain employee, ballroom dancing instructor and waiter, to earn money for college. (See Legacy.com, "Corwin L. Booth," published 03/12/2008, accessed 04/15/2021.)

College Awards

Booth graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL. (See Transactions of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Board of Trustees, vol. 24, [Champaign-Urbana, IL: University of Illinois, 1938], p. 538.)

Relocation

Corwin L. "Cory" Booth was born on a farm near Paloma, IL, a township on Highway 24 between Coatsburg and Fowler. It wss located in the west-central part of the state near the Mississippi River. According to his obituary, "...Corwin attended elementary school in Columbus, Camp Point, and Quincy, [IL] and high school in Springfield [IL]." (See Legacy.com, "Corwin L. Booth," published 03/12/2008, accessed 04/15/2021. The obituary appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle between 03/12/2008 and 03/14/2008.)

By 1940, his parents resided at 1825 ½ South 4th Street in Springfield, IL. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Illinois, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 164 Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 04/15/2021.)

Booth lived in Peoria, IL, while he worked for architect J. Fletcher Lankton in 1940.

He lived at 6066 Thornhill Drive in Oakland, CA, in 1955. (See Oakland, California, Telephone Directory, 1955, p. 61.)

Parents

His father was Archie Anderson Booth. Erma Little was his mother.

Erma and Archie had four sons: Corwin Booth, Kenwood Anderson Booth, Robert Keith Booth and Byron Demming Booth.

Spouse

He wed Caroline Hammond in 1949.

Children

He and Caroline had five children, two daughters and three sons: Julianne Booth Knell, Carolyn Booth McFarland, Christopher Booth, Douglas Booth, and Corwin Booth.

Biographical Notes

His World War II draft registration card listed Booth as being Caucasian with a light complexion, standing 6-feet, 2-inches tall and weighing 146 pounds. His eyes were gray and his hair brown. The form also noted that he had a chip off his front tooth. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Illinois, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 164 Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 04/15/2021.)

Booth enjoyed travel and was a kite-flying enthusiast. He was an Episcopalian.

Member, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, Board of Trustees.

Member, Saint Paul's Towers, Advisory Board, Oakland, CA.

Member, Grace Cathedral, Advisory Board, San Francisco, CA.

Member, Episcopal Homes Foundation, Advisory Board, Walnut Creek, CA.

• Oakland, CA (Architect's Death)
  Oakland, CA 94612

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• Paloma, IL (Architect's Birth)
  Paloma, IL 62359

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