Résumé

Interpreter, US Army, World War II. Krisel worked as a Chinese interpreter during the war. The US Army awarded Krisel a Bronze Star for his wartime service.

Active in Palm Springs c. 1960. He worked closely with the Alexander Construction Company operated by George Alexander (d. 1965) and his son, Robert (d. 1965).

Partner, [Dan] Palmer and Krisel, AIA, Architects, 1949-1966.

Partner, Krisel / [Abraham] Shapiro and Associates, Architects, 1969-1980. In 1970, Krisel had an office at 1145 Gayley Avenue, Suite #301, in Westwood Village. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 01/25/2023.)

Principal, William Krisel, AIA, Architect, Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA, 1980- c. 2015. His office was located in the Brentwood Neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA, c. 2011.

Professional Activities

Krisel was both a Registered Architect (1950) and a Registered Landscape Architect (1954) in the State of CA.

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Professional Awards

Recipient, AIA Los Angeles Chapter, Lifetime Achievement Award, Los Angeles, CA, 2009.

High School

Graduate, Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Hills, CA, c. 1940.

B.Arch., University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, 1941, 1946-1949. Krisel arrived on the USC campus in 1941, his time then interrupted by America's entry into World War II. He attended USC between 1946 and 1949, studying with such faculty as architects Raphael Soriano (1907-1988) and Calvin Straub (1920-1998), as well as the noted landscape architect, Garrett Eckbo (1910-2000).

Relocation

Krisel grew up in Shanghai, China, where his father was a diplomat. and made summer trips to Japan. In the 1920s, the Krisels gave an address of 162 Hamthorne Street, Brooklyn, NY, that of Alexander Krisel's mother. This permanent US address was given while they resided in China in 1927 for US immigration Service officials. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 01/26/2023.) While still living in Shanghai, the Krisels continued to list 162 Hawthorne as their permanent US address. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Series: RG 76-C; Roll: T-14903 Source Information: Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010, accessed 01/26/2023.)

His family returned permanently to the US by 06/1936, relocating to a residence in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, according to an US Immigration Service ship's manifest. They sailed aboard Dollar Steamship Liner, the S.S. President Coolidge, from Shanghai to Los Angeles between 05/19/1936 and 06/07/1936. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 01/26/2023.)

By 1940, at least, the Krisels had found a new home in Beverly Hills, CA, where the architect attended high school. Before World War II, the 1940 US Census found Krisel living with his parents and two brothers at 1120 Summit Drive in Beverly Hills, CA. This census listed the residence having an approximate value of $40,000, about ten times the average American house price at the time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00220; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 19-36, accessed 01/25/2023.)

On 12/26/1945, Krisel conitnued to reside at 1120 Summit Drive in Beverly Hills. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 990, accessed 01/25/2023.)

In 1993, Krisel and his wife resided at 568 North Tigertail Road in the Brentwood Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 01/25/2023.)

Krisel died at age 92.

Parents

His father Alexander Krisel (born 12/18/1890 in Alliance, NJ) served the US Court for China in 1933. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Series: RG 76-C; Roll: T-14903 Source Information: Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010, accessed 01/26/2023.) The US Court for China was established by Congress in 1906 and repealed on 09/01/1948. Lawyer Sean Hogle described the court's jurisdiction: "Established by virtue of treaties between the US and China and various acts of Congress, the court had civil and criminal jurisdiction over US citizens living in China and, later, in the Philippines, Guam, and other US 'possessions.'” (See Sean Hogle, Lexology.com, "The US District Court for the District of… China?" accessed 01/26/2023.)

By 1940, Alexander worked as a lawyer in private practice in Los Angeles, and was clearly quite prosperous.

Cecilia Young (born 04/22/1891 in New York, NY), William's mother, was born in NY. As per the 1940 US Census, Cecilia completed high school, while Alexander had finished college. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00220; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 19-36, accessed 01/25/2023.)

He had two brothers, Lionel Krisel (born c. 1921 in Brooklyn, NY) and Henry Charles Krisel (born c. 1923 in China).

Spouse

He wed Corrine Ruth Jaffee (born 01/07/1833- died 12/05/2022) on 09/20/1953 in Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Marriage Index, 1949-1959 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, accessed 01/25/2023.)

Her obituary in the Los Angeles Times said of her: "She was active in the early days of Los Angeles in the promotion of modern architecture, classical music, and women's volunteerism." (See Los Angeles Times.com, "Corinne Ruth Krisel 1933 - 2022," published 12/07/2022, accessed 12/07/2022 Thank you to Diane Childs for send this link to the author, 12/07/2022.)

Children

William and Ruth had two children: William E. "Bill" Krisel and Michelle Krisel. At the time of their mother's death in 2022, Bill resided in Paris, France, and Michelle in Washington, DC. (See Los Angeles Times.com, "Corinne Ruth Krisel 1933 - 2022," published 12/07/2022, accessed 12/07/2022.)

Biographical Notes

In 1927 at age 2, Krisel traveled from Yokohama, Japan, to Los Angeles between 04/22/1927 and 05/09/1927. He accompanied his mother Cecilia and brothers Lionel and Henry. His family sailed aboard the Admiral Oriental Liner S.S. President Jackson. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 01/26/2023.)

As noted on his World War II draft registration card, Krisel was Caucasian with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and hair. He stood 6-feet tall and weighed 185 pounds. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 990, accessed 01/25/2023.)

His entire family traveled from Manila, Philippines, to Victoria, BC, Canada between mid-06/1933 and 07/04/1933 on the Canadian Pacific Steamship Liner, S.S. Empress of Japan. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Series: RG 76-C; Roll: T-14903 Source Information: Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010, accessed 01/26/2023.)

Krisel traveled alone aboard the Matson liner, S.S. Lurline, between Los Angeles and Honolulu, HI, that left the former port on 05/16/1951. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At Honolulu, Hawaii, Compiled 02/13/1900 - 12/30/1953; NAI Number: A3422; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: RG 85, accessed 01/26/2023.)