Laurence Hall Fowler papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0413

Staff Only

This collection contains most of the working papers from Fowler's architectural practice (1906-1945) as well as photographs documenting other architects' work in the area. These plans, photographs and documents represent one of the most important archives on the built environment of Baltimore, and have been described in an on-line database entitled "Laurence Hall Fowler's Lost Baltimore."

Dates

1905-1958

Creator

Fowler, Laurence Hall, 1876-1971 (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Extent

33.91 Cubic Feet (1 letter size document box, 57 legal size document boxes, 3 legal half-size document boxes, 3 flat boxes (20.5 x 14.5 x 1.5 inches), 3 flat boxes (15.5 x 12 x 3 inches), 7 flat boxes (15.5 x 10.5 x 3 inches), 3 pamphlet boxes (7.25 x 4 x 10 inches), 1 cardfile box (12.5 x 8.5 x 5.25 inches), 3 cardfile boxes (12.5 x 6.5 x 4.5 inches), 1 oversize box (19 x 13 x 6 inches))

Additional Description

Biographical Note

Laurence Hall Fowler, Baltimore architect, was born in Catonsville MD, Sept. 5, 1876. He received the AB degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 1898 and the BS degree in architecture from Columbia in 1902. Following a tour in Italy in 1904, Fowler was admitted to the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He returned to Baltimore, and in 1907, opened his own architectural firm. Fowler's designs were chosen for several public buildings including the War Memorial building (1921, Baltimore) and the Hall of Records building, (1932, Annapolis, MD). Fowler's most distinguished work emerged after 1911 when he began designing private residences. His association with the Roland Park Company and other builders in the city afforded him the opportunity to design houses and cottages, many of which are still standing. One of his lasting works is the re-design and renovation of parts of Evergreen House, the residence of Alice and John Work Garrett. Laurence Hall Fowler died in Baltimore in 1971.

Scope and Contents

The collection of Baltimore architect, Laurence Hall Fowler contains the drawings, plans, and photographs that document his distinguished career. The papers are arranged into three series: Drawings, Photographs, and Working Papers. Fowler's drawings form Series I and are arranged chronologically beginning with those made while he was a student at Columbia (1898-1902) and those made during his stay in Europe (1904). Drawings for his architectural projects (1905-1947) complete the series.

Provenance

The collection was given to The Johns Hopkins University in 1945 by Laurence Hall Fowler.

Related Materials

A catalog describing the collection, edited by Egon Verheyen, and published in 1984, is available in Special Collections.

The collections of the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore MD include a collection of Laurence Hall Fowler's student notebooks and personal correspondence. Papers of the Roland Park Company are available at Cornell University, Collection of Regional History and University Archives. A collection of plans from the Roland Park Maintenance Company is available at The University of Baltimore, Langsdale Library.