A native San Antonian, Leo Maria Joseph Dielmann was a product of the flourishing German-American community of south-central Texas. His father, John Charles Dielmann (1849-1923), was born in Hellenhahn, Germany, and immigrated to Texas in 1872. A stonemason, he became a partner in the San Antonio construction and building supplies business, Pauly and Dielmann. He later formed his own company, J. C. Dielmann Co., and was involved in numerous building projects in San Antonio and across Texas. He was active in city affairs and the German community. He was the first president of the Katholischer Staats-verband von Texas (the Catholic State League of Texas) and was a participant in many other church and civic groups.
Leo M. J. Dielmann was born on 1881 August 14, the second of nine children of John C. Dielmann and Maria Gros Dielmann. Following his graduation from St. Mary's College in San Antonio in 1898, Leo M. J. Dielmann studied architecture and engineering in Germany. Returning to San Antonio, he worked as an architect and an officer in his father's business. In 1909 he was appointed City Building Inspector by Mayor Bryan Callaghan, serving for three years. From 1913-1914, he was an Alderman-at-large for the City of San Antonio.
Dielmann left the J. C. Dielmann Co. and set up an independent architectural business. As an architect, Dielmann designed businesses, churches, institutional buildings, residences, and numerous other types of public and private structures throughout Texas. His churches and other church-related buildings are particularly noted and include San Antonio’s Fort Sam Houston Post Chapel, the Conventual Chapel at Our Lady of the Lake University, and churches in Brenham, High Hill, Boerne, Seguin, Weimar, and many other communities. He was also involved in such familiar San Antonio structures as the Joske Brothers Building and several area schools.
Dielmann was active in several civic and fraternal organizations, serving for many years on the San Antonio Public Library Board of Trustees. He was a prominent member of the Order of the Sons of Hermann as the president of the Harmonia Lodge and a committee member for the Home for the Aged in Comfort, Texas. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Order of the Alhambra, and St. Joseph's Society. His interest in music was demonstrated by membership in the San Antonio Liederkranz singing society.
Dielmann married Ella Marie Wagner in 1911. The couple had three children, and their son, Leo M. J. Dielmann, Jr., followed his father into the architectural profession. Leo M. J. Dielmann died in San Antonio on 1969 December 21.
Davis, Ellis A., and Edwin H. Grobe, comps. and eds.
Leo M. J. Dielmann biographical file, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library.
Jonas, Jason K. "John Charles Dielmann: Pioneer Businessman of San Antonio."
Newlan, Ralph Edward.
Robinson, Willard B. "To the Glory of God: Texas Churches Designed by Leo M.J. Dielmann."
Strong, Bernice. "Leo Maria Joseph Dielmann."
Correspondence, financial documents, business records, organization records, printed material, books, architectural drawings, maps, and photographs make up the Leo M.J. Dielmann Papers, documenting the business, civic, and personal life of the San Antonio architect and members of his family.
This collection is organized into nine series.
No restrictions. The collection is open for research.
Please be advised that the library does not hold the copyright to most of the material in its archival collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure those rights when needed. Permission to reproduce does not constitute permission to publish. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright, literary property rights, and libel.
Leo M. J. Dielmann Papers, 1904-1958, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
Leonard B. Plummer Collection, circa 1910-1961, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
[Identification of item], Leo M. J. Dielmann Papers, Drawings, and Photographs, 1847-1961, Col 883, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.
Gift of the Dielmann family, 1967-1983.
Processed by Bernice Strong, 1982.
Additional processing by Warren Stricker, 1991-2005.
Finding aid edited and encoded by Caitlin Donnelly, 2010 August.
This series includes correspondence, financial records, architectural records, and printed material. Some of the documents are related to John C. Dielmann, with the bulk associated with the architectural practice of Leo M. J. Dielmann. A few general records of architectural and construction projects are here, but the largest part of the series gathers architectural drawings. Many of these are presentation drawings intended to show the finished project. A lesser number of buildings are represented by more complete sets of working drawings. Most of the plans are Dielmann’s work, but drawings from other architects are found here, probably due to the involvement of the J. C. Dielmann company in the construction. The items are arranged by location. Maps and plats associated with architectural or construction projects in San Antonio are included in the series. Books on architecture and construction include many dating from Dielmann's training in Germany, as well as volumes, also German in origin, which apparently belonged to John C. Dielmann.
Gathered here is a small amount of material associated with Leo M. J. Dielmann’s term as a city Alderman. This series contains information on building projects, including the widening of Commerce Street.
Included here are minutes, correspondence, and project material from Dielmann’s service on the library’s Board of Trustees.
Material associated with the fraternal organization is fairly extensive and documents several specific activities, including state conventions and Leo M. J. Dielmann's involvement in the distribution of German-language books and newspapers to various institutions.
A few personal letters, printed material, organizations material, school material, scrapbooks and other items, primarily associated with Leo M. J. Dielmann, are part of this series. Notable items include a ledger book containing minutes from a San Antonio German-language organization dating from 1887-1889; printed material from a number of other institutions and organizations; and printed ephemera from a variety of local events. Books from the family’s personal library are included here.
Gathered here are all photographs, both professional and personal. Most of these show construction and architectural projects, and most of these are buildings designed by Leo Dielmann or built by the J. C. Dielmann company. Like the architectural drawings, these are arranged by location. Some photographs are of architectural drawings and include a few that are the work of other architects, particularly James Riely Gordon. Many photos also document the construction process. A small number of family and personal items include photos of the Dielmann businesses and school photos. Photos of organizations and people are primarily groups, including meetings of professional, religious and social organizations. A few general interest photographs are also found here.
See the DRT Library's online catalog for the location of these items.
See the DRT Library's online catalog for the location of these items.