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Male, US, born 1874-11-13, died 1955-02-11
Associated with the firms network
Woollett and Woollett, Architects; Woollett, William Lee, Architect
Résumé
William L. Woollett (1874-1955) followed in an unbroken line of architects stretching back to his grandfather and father, and continued by his son (William Woollett) and grandson.
Draftsman, Fehmer and Page, Architects, Boston, MA, c. 1892-1896.
Partner, William Lee Woollett and John W. Woollett, Albany, NY, -1906. This firm operated solely in the Albany, NY, area until 1906. A note in the Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide of 04/18/1903 stated: "William L. Woollett, architect, of Albany, has completed plans for alterations to St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, to cost $10,000, and for an addition 65x45, to cost $50,000. The latter will be fireproof and contain all appliances that go to equip a modern hospital. No expense will be spared to furnish the best plumbing,, heating and ventilating apparatus. The contract for the carpentry has been let to Patrick McCann, and the masonry to Collins Bros." (See "The World of Building: In Other Cities," Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, vol. LXXI, no. 1831, 04/18/1903, p. 763.)
Partner, Woollett and [J.W] Woollett, Architects, San Francisco, CA, and Albany, NY, 1907-1917. It appears that Woollett chose to leave Albany to start a new branch of the Woollett and Woollett architectural firm in San Francisco following the Great Earthquake and Fire of 04/18/1906.Woollett and Woollett had its office in the Monadnock Building in 1907-1908. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1907, p. 1705 and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1908, p. 1876.) In 1915, the Woollett and Woollett office was located at 260 California Street in San Francisco, (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1915, p. 2035.) On his World War I draft registration form, Woollett indicated that he lived in Los Angeles, but worked in Sacramento, CA.
In 1921, his office was located at 405 South Hill Street, Room #216. (SeeLos Angeles, California, City Directory, 1921, p. 2688.) He moved to new quarters at523 West 6th Street, Room #1121, by 1924. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1924, p. 2393.)
Teaching
Instructor, Albany Boys' Academy, Albany, NY, 1895-1896. (See Catalogue of the Alpha Delta Phi, [New York: Executive Council of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, 1899], p. 585.) It is not clear if Woollett taught here while he attended Union College or whether he took a break from undergraduate school to teach here.
Professional Activities
Woollett served on the Los Angeles Municipal Art Commission until 1936.
Member, Architect and Engineer, Consulting and Advisory Editors board, 1932. Woollett served with J. Harry Blohme, Lewis P. Hobart, Timothy L. Pflueger, Elmer Grey, Clarence A. Tantau, John J. Donovan, John Bakewell, Jr., Edwin L. Snyder, Thomas J. Kent, Albert F. Roller, J. Stewart Fairweather, John W. Gregg, Emerson Knight, Charles H. Cheney, W. Adrian, Julian C. Mesic, H.J. Brunnier, and L.H. Nishkian.
Archives
William Lee Woollett's son, William L. Woollett, gave papers belonging to his father and himself to the Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design and Architecture Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), in 1981. The collection contained about 10 linear feet of material, and was called the William Lee Woollett papers, circa 1920-circa 1980 Collection #0000198.
College
The 1940 US Census indicated that Woollett had completed four years of college, as had his second wife Louise. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00404; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 60-176, accessed 09/23/2025.)
B.S., Union College, Schenectady, NY, 1897. A catalog of graduates of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity of 1899, indicated that William Lee Woollett graduated from Union College in Schenectady, NY, in 1897. (See Catalogue of the Alpha Delta Phi, [New York: Executive Council of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, 1899], p. 585.)
Prior to 09/24/2025, PCAD indicated that William Lee Woollett had coursework at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This does not appear to have been the case. His father, William M. Woollett, graduated from MIT in 1870.
Relocation
Woollett was born in Albany, NY, on 11/13/1873. In 1875, Woollett lived with his parents, infant brother and paternal grandmother, Mary Mills Woollett, in Watervliet, NY, according to that year's NY State Census. In addition, the household inlcuded a boarder, Oliver Lobovell, a book agent, and Ellen Lavinia (born c. 1849 in Canada), a household worker. Watervliet, a town about eight miles northeast of Albany, became one of the earliest towns populated by Euro-Americans in the area. Much of Albany County was contained within the town's boundaries, except for Albany's city limits. In the early nineteenth century, the town had several metal foundries and accommodated the government's Watervliet Arsenal, which capitalized on the region's metalworking expertise, and made large-bore cannons. Watervliet was also located on the Erie Canal, which enabled the city to ship its manufactured goods easily both east and west.
The residence they lived in was a wood-frame building, valued at about $5,000, a relatively substantial amount for the time. This was more than many in the vicinity, but less than two neighboring dwellings. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, NY, USA; Census of the State of New York, 1875, accessed 09/23/2025.) The Woolletts continued to reside in Watervliet in 1880, although the household included two more children and had lost its boarder and servant. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Watervliet, Albany, New York; Roll: 808; Page: 422c; Enumeration District: 056, accessed 09/23/2025.)
In 1900, the architect lived with his first wife, daughter Sylvia and a servant, Lizzie Smith (born c. 12/1880 in NY) at 43 1/2 ten Broeck Street in Albany, NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Albany Ward 6, Albany, New York; Roll: 1004; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0024, accessed 09/23/2025.) He and his family continued to live in Albany in 1905, as noted by the NY State Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: E.D. 05; City: Albany Ward 06; County: Albany; Page: 14, accessed 09/23/2025.)
Woollett lived in Berkeley, the year after the Great Earthquake of 1906. His first wife passed away in 1909, and Woollett lived with his three children at 2709 Ridge Road in Berkeley. He had a boarder, Eva E.. French (a widow, born c. 1875 in MI) and a household worker, Theresa LeGrand (born c. 1878 in Belgium/France) living with him at the time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Berkely, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_72; Page: 9b; Enumeration District: 0046; FHL microfilm: 1374085, accessed 09/23/2025.) From at least 1912 until 1917, William L. Woollett lived at the intersection of Ridge Road and Highland Place, Berkeley, CA. (SeePolk-Husted Directory Company, Oakland, California, City Directory, 1917, p. 1410.)
By 1917, he worked in Sacramento, CA, but maintained a permanent residence at 5330 Loma Linda Avenue in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles; Roll: 1530903; Draft Board: 14, accessed 12/15/2017.) He resided at this address until at least 1934. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1918, p. 2114 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/14/2017.) In 1920. Woollett and his family resided at 5330 Loma Linda Street in Los Angeles, CA. The architect lived here with his second wife, three children and a household worker, Anna Fox (born c. 1880 in Ireland). The 1920 US Census listed his occupation as "theatre decorator." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 63, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_106; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 156, accessed 09/23/2025.) The Woollett remained at this location in 1930, renting this house at a monthly cost of $75. Only one child remained at home in 1930, the youngest daughter Prudence. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0060; FHL microfilm: 2339869, accessed 09/23/2025.)
He and Louise Knappen resided in a rented dwelling at 6923 Franklin Avenue also in Hollywood by 1940. Monthly rent had barely changed since 1930, at $78. The Woolletts housed two lodgers at this time, Margaret Woodburn (born c. 1875 in NY) and Helen Y. Rush (born c. 1890 in IL), the latter of whom worked as a nurse for a private family. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00404; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 60-176, accessed 09/23/2025.)
In 1950, the Woolletts made their home at 490 Maylin Street in Pasadena, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Pasadena, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 5509; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 68-113, accessed 09/23/2025.)
He died in Glendale, Los Angeles County, CA, at the age of 80.
Ancestry
William Lee Woollett's grandfather, William L. Woollett, Jr., (05/02/1815-04/02/1874), born in Maidstone, Kent, UK, and father, William M. Woollett (07/06/1850-10/17/1880), born in Albany, NY, were architects in and around Albany. (William L. Woollett's birthplace has also been cited as Wateringbury, Kent, England, a town about five miles west of Maidstone.) William M. Woollett was the author of the widely-read pattern book, Villas and Cottages; or, Homes for All (1876). The 1855 NY State Census recorded that four-year-old William M. Woollett lived with his parents, William L. and Mary Mills Woollett(born 1824-d. 1891) in Albany, NY, a household that also included two domestic workers, Mary McFarlane (born c. 1835 in Ireland), C. Smith (born c. 1899 in Ireland) and a boarder, Oliver Scill (born c. 1812 in Lewis County, NY). This census indicated that William M. Woollett earned his living as an engineer. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, NY, USA; Census of the state of New York, 1855, accessed 09/23/2025.) The Woolletts had moved to Watervliet, NY, by 1870, at least. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Watervliet, Albany, New York; Roll: M593_903; Page: 59A, accessed 09/23/2025.)
He had two brothers, John Woodward Woollett (1876-1938) and Francis Ives Woollett (1878-1943).
Spouse
William Lee Woollett married twice. He first wed Louise M. Briggs (born 10/1871 in IA-d. 1909 in Berkeley, CA) on 05/20/1898 in Manhattan, NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 09/23/2025.)
He next married Louise Sarah Knappen (sometimes written "Sarah Louise Knappen," born 05/15/1875 in Minneapolis, MN-d. 08/04/1855 in Glendale, CA) on 11/28/1917 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The Los Angeles Times; Publication Date: 21/ Nov/ 1917; Publication Place: Los Angeles, California, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/380367502/?article=b5a14d8d-b485-41fa-91c5-e7bb057cfc24&focus=0.011821435,0.104892656,0.1368177,0.19237016&xid=3398, accessed 09/23/2025.) In 1920 and 1930, the US Censuses indicated that Louise Sarah Knappen worked as the principal of a girl's school in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 63, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_106; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 156, accessed 09/23/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0060; FHL microfilm: 2339869, accessed 09/23/2025.)
Children
William Woollett and Louise Briggs had three children by 1905, including Sylvia Parker Woollett Syvertsen (born c. 1898 in Albany, NY), William L. Woollett (born 02/20/1901 in Albany, NY-d. 10/13/1988 in Santa Barbara County, CA), and Prudence Woollett (born c. 1903 in Albany, NY).
William L., also an architect; worked with his father between 1926-1929. William Lee Woollett's grandson Joseph L. Woollett was also an architect in CA.
Biographical Notes
According to CA Voter Rolls of 1912, William L. Woollett was a registered Republican. In 1932, he and his wife, Louise, were registered Republican voters. Two years later into the Depression, he declined to state a party affiliation. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/14/2017.)
His World War I draft registration card noted that Woollett was of medium height and build, with gray hair and gray eyes. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles; Roll: 1530903; Draft Board: 14, accessed 12/15/2017.)
PCAD id: 495
