Collection Summary
York, John G., 1914-1980
John G. York Drawings and records, South Texas and Oklahoma
1940-1977
YORK Accession number(s): 1985015
1,000 drawings, .33 linear feet of archival material
Alexander Architectural Archive,
The University of Texas at Austin.
York (1914-1980) was a modernist architect who practiced in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Born in Gainesville, Ala.; graduated from the University of Texas (1940); worked with a number of architects during the next 20 years, including Olin G. Boese, G. Meredith Musick, James Roger Musick, Walter C. Bowman, and Bartlett Cocke; appointed to the faculty (1960) and became dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma; was a frequent recipient of design awards from the Texas Society of Architects; died in Norman, Okla. Includes 1,000 architectural drawings and .33 linear feet of manuscript material (1940-1977), documenting York's work as a solo architect in Texas and his continuing career as an architect while teaching at the University of Oklahoma.
English.
Biographical Sketch of John Garth York
John Garth York, the foremost modernist architect to practice in the lower Rio Grande Valley, was born in Gainesville, Ala. York attended North Texas Agricultural College and the University of Texas, earning in a BS Arch degree in 1940. On graduating he worked for the Texas Parks Board and in the architectural department of the National Youth Administration. York served in the US Air Force between 1943 and 1946. He worked for Olin G. Boese in Fort Worth in 1940 and 1941, and for G. Meredith and James Roger Musick in Denver from 1946 to 1948. In 1948, York moved to Harlingen. There he was associated from 1949 to 1955 with the Harlingen architect Walter C. Bowman and the San Antonio architect Bartlett Cocke in the firm of Cocke, Bowman & York. From 1955 until 1960 he practiced under his own name in Harlingen and Corpus Christi.
York swiftly attracted national attention with the inventive modern buildings that he designed. These responded lyrically to the climatic conditions of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and zestfully displayed their light-weight construction and technologically produced building components. Cocke, Bowman & York's most publicized buildings included a series of elementary schools in Harlingen and Brownsville, the Lon C. Hill Memorial Library in Harlingen of 1951, the Little Creek Magnolia service station in Harlingen of 1953, and Klee Square in Corpus Christi, an office and retail center dating from 1954. York laid out the Harlingen subdivision of Laurel Park along the Arroyo Colorado, where he designed a number of dramatic modern houses, among them the McKelvey (1948), Ulhorn (1949), and Thise (1950) houses, as well as a celebrated house for his own family (1954). In 1951, the Ulhorn House became the first building in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley to win an AIA design award. Cocke, Bowman & York and its work were profiled in the June 1955 issue of Progressive Architecture.
After the dissolution of Cocke, Bowman & York, John York continued to design distinctive modern buildings, notably houses in the Brownsville subdivision of Rio Viejo for Antonio Cisneros and Bernard Whitman (1955), the Fairway Motor Hotel in McAllen (1957), and the Narro-Sanchez Clinic in McAllen (1958). He left Texas in 1960 upon being appointed to the faculty of the School of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, where he eventually became professor of architecture and dean. York was married three times; by his second wife, Tacia Catsinas, he had three children. York joined the American Institute of Architects in 1951 and served as president of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Chapter 1953. During the 1950s his firms were frequent recipients of design awards from the Texas Society of Architects. Unfortunately, many of his Texas buildings have suffered from abusive alteration or demolition.
John G. York died in Norman, Okla., on February 7, 1980. His widow, Shirley V. York, deposited his remaining architectural drawings at the Architectural Drawings Collection of the University of Texas at Austin in 1984.
-Stephen Fox
-From "Texas 50." Texas Architect (Nov./Dec. 1989): p. 81.
Scope and Content of the collection
Architectural drawings, numbering 1,000 make up the vast majority of this collection. Other types of material, including correspondence, specifications, maps, sketches and blueprints total only.33 linear feet.
The materials were produced between 1940 and 1977. They document York's work as a solo architect in Texas and his continuing career as an architect while he taught at the University of Oklahoma. They show the variety of building types that he designed, including homes, apartments, office buildings, restaurants, hotels and motels.
Among the buildings included in the drawings series are the Fairway Motel in McAllen, Texas.
Other Finding Aids
Unpublished inventory in Archive.
References to works by or about John G. York (1914-1980)
"Application for Registration to Practice Architecture." (December 12, 1945), copy on file with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, Austin, Texas.
"Application for National Council Certificate." NCARB No. 6265, (March 8, 1960), copy on file with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, Austin, Texas.
"The architect and his community—Cocke, Bowman and York, Harlingen, Texas." Progressive Architecture (June 1955): p. 102-115. Illus. and plans.
"Architecture in Denver, Colorado, 1950-1951." Progressive Architecture 32 (March 1951).
Birren, Faber. New Horizons in Color. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, 1955. Plate facing p. 8.
"Casey Clinic at San Benito." Texas Architect 4 (February 1954): p.5.
"Commercial Buildings: Clarke & Courts Building, Harlingen, Texas." Architectural Record (May 1953): p. 176-7.
"Fairway Motor Hotel." Texas Architect (November 1957): p. 4 and the cover.
"Four San Antonio Houses Set New Design and Quality Standards for Merchant Builders: 2. Roof of Odd Shape and Big Size Protects a Small Rectangular Plan." Architectural Forum 93 (November 1950): p. 116-118.
"Freedom in House Design: Steel Posts, Wood Beams and Deck: McKelvey House, Harlingen, Texas." Architectural Record 114 (December 1953).
Kirk, Paul Hayden and Eugene D. Sternberg. Doctors' Offices and Clinics: Medical and Dental. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, 1955. (p. 204-5).
Kohl, George S., ed. American Architects Directory. New York: R.R. Bowker, 1955.
Kohl, George S., ed. American Architects Directory. New York: R.R. Bowker, 1962.
"Narro-Sanchez Clinic, McAllen, Texas." Texas Architect (November 1958): p. 27.
"National Honor Awards 1951, Residential Classification: Award of Merit to Cocke, Bowman & York for W.B. Ulhorn Residence, Harlingen, Texas." Journal of the AIA (December 1951): p. 259-60.
Peter, John and Edward A. Hamilton. Aluminum in Modern Architecture, vol. 1. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corp. (p. 128-9, 150-51).
"Religious Buildings: First Presbyterian Church, Edinburg." Architectural Record 116 (August 1954): p. 196-199. Illus. and plans.
"Representative Selection, Lower Rio Grande Valley Chapter, AIA." Texas Architect 6 (September 1956): p.4-5.
"Representative Selection, Lower Rio Grande Valley Chapter, AIA." Texas Architect 7 (September 1957): p.4.
"School Buildings—Elementary School: San Benito, Texas." Progressive Architecture 37 (March 1956): p. 123-25.
"South Texas: John G. York." House and Home (September 1957): p. 155.
"Service Station, Harlingen, Texas." Progressive Architecture 35 (September 1954): p. 106-7. Illus. and plans.
"Structural Wood and Steel: Elementary School, Harlingen, Texas." Progressive Architecture 35 (June 1954): p. 94-5.
"What is Quality in a small house? Economy minded building." House and Garden 98 (November 1950): p. 4-6.
Who's Who. Who's Who in the South and Southwest, 1965-1966. Chicago: Marquis—Who's Who, Inc., 1965.
"With steel components like these you can build a home." House and Home 8 (December 1955): p. 138-151. Illus. and plans.
"York residence wins awards." Texas Architect (November 1955): p. 12.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Texas Online Catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Persons:
York, John G., 1914-1980--Archives.
Subjects:
Norman (Okla.)--Buildings.
Architecture--Texas.
Architecture--Oklahoma.
Architecture, Domestic--Texas
Architecture, Domestic--Oklahoma.
Hotels, taverns, etc.--Texas--Buildings.
Office buildings--Oklahoma.
Apartment houses--Designs and plans.
Restaurants--Designs and plans.
Modernist buildings.
Document types:
Presentation drawings.
Working drawings.
Restrictions on Access
Access is by appointment only to any serious scholar. Rolled materials must be flattened before viewing. A three day advance notice is required to flatten rolled materials. Portions of this collection are not processed and may not be accessible.
Restrictions on Use
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Alexander Architectural Archive's Use Policy
Preferred Citation
John G. York Drawings and records, 1940-1977, South Texas and Oklahoma, the Alexander Architectural Archive, the General Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin
Processing information
Martha Jain, Spring 1986; Nancy Sparrow, October 1992
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A: Correspondence
Series Abstract
The Correspondence series contains only documents on Portland Oregon Waste Conversion Park.
1
1
Portland, Oregon Waste Conversion Park
Series B: Specifications
Series Abstract
This series, arranged by client's name, contains project specifications. Specifications are the written documentation on how a project is to be constructed. Specifications are used in conjunction with working drawings.
1
2
Rio Grande Gateway Office Building (1959)
1
3
John Roberts Manufacturing Company, alterations and additions
1
4
American First Title and Trust Company, Norman, Oklahoma
1
5
Oklahoma City Independent School District Portable Classroom Buildings
1
6
Village West Motel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1
7
Fairway Motor Hotel, McAllen, Texas. Addition, number 2 (1958)
1
8
Belco Electric Company, Moore, Oklahoma
Series C: Materials Description
Series Abstract
The Materials Description series contains forms titled "Description of Materials" that describe materials used in York's projects.
1
9
Majic Builders, Moore, Oklahoma
1
10
York Residence, Norman, Oklahoma
1
11
United States Border Station, Brownsville, Texas, Plants
1
12
I. B. Magee Exhibition House
Series D: Maps
Series Abstract
The Maps series contains documents on the Norman and Clinton Oklahoma areas.
1
13
Norman, Oklahoma Geological Survey and Clinton, Oklahoma Preliminary Plat Sights Acres Addition
Series E: Sketches
Series Abstract
The Sketches series contains projects sketches. See also the Blueprints and Drawings series for other projects.
1
14
Majic Housing Development, Rose Terrace Moore, Oklahoma (1977)
Series F: Blueprints
Series Abstract
The Blueprints series contains blueprinted drawings. See also the Sketches and Drawings series for other projects.
1
15
Fairway Motor Hotel Addition, Harlingen, Texas
Series G: Drawings
Series Abstract
Entries in the Drawings series are indexed in alphabetical order by Client's name. If the client is not identifiable, the field will remain blank. Entries without client names are sorted by Project Name and listed before those that provide client's names. Furthermore, similar projects are sorted in chronological order by date. Project names are supplied by the cataloger, as title blocks on the drawings prove to be inconsistent and many drawings are not labeled. Dates are offered if they can be derived from the drawings or gathered from other authoritative sources. The term "drawing" includes both original works (such as pencil on trace paper, or ink on tracing clothe) as well as copies (such as sepia prints, blue line prints, etc.). See also the Sketches and Blueprints series for additional drawings. Entries showing the architect's name with a question mark have not been confirmed against the actual drawings.
1776 Restaurant.
John York?
unknown
Catalina Motel.
John York?
Del Rio
Val Verde
Tex.
U.S.
Chevrolet Agency.
Johnson Kindblade
Purcell
Okla.
U.S.
Chickasaw Nation Housing Project.
John York?
unknown
U.S.
Choctaw and Frontier History Museum.
1968
John York?
unknown
Circle Apartment Hotel.
John York?
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Country Club Apartments.
Freels and Associates (George Shaw, Jr.)
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Cypress, The.
John York?
Sutton Woods (subdivision)
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Denver Apartments.
John York?
Park North
unknown
U.S.
Eufaula Hospital. Proposed.
John York?
Eufaula
Okla.
U.S.
Fairfield Greens.
John York?
Block 1 and 2
Midwest City
Okla.
U.S.
Fairway Motel. Addition.
John York?
McAllen
Hidalgo
Tex.
U.S.
Field's Restuarant.
John York?
Paul's Valley
Okla.
U.S.
First National Bank.
John York?
La Feria
Cameron
Tex.
U.S.
First National Bank.
John York?
Mercedes
Hidalgo
Tex.
U.S.
Harter Apartments.
John York?
unknown
Highland Village Apartment Complex.
John York
Thomas W. Spooner Assoc.
Federal Heights
Colo.
U.S.
Idabel Apartment Complex.
John York?
Okla.
U.S.
Klee Square Apartments. Proposal.
John York?
Corpus Christi
Nueces
Tex.
U.S.
Laredo Hotel.
John York?
unknown
Laurel Park Shopping Center.
John York?
Parklane subdivision
Corpus Christi
Nueces
Tex.
U.S.
Masonic Home for the Aged.
John York
Steele-Williams and Associates
Guthrie
Okla.
U.S.
McPherson Machine Shop.
S.A. York
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Medford Restaurant.
John York?
Medford
Okla.
U.S.
Medical Complex.
John York?
Augusta
Kan.
U.S.
Noble Square Apartments.
McCool and McDonald
Bellevue
Wash.
U.S.
Nursing Home.
John York?
Temple
Okla.
U.S.
Oxford House, The.
Home Design, associated architects
Providence
R.I.
U.S.
Park East Apartments.
John York?
Muskogee
Okla.
U.S.
Parkwest Apartments.
John York?
West Fargo
N.D.
U.S.
Petroleum Tower.
Joe Williams (club arch. -York)
811 North Carahcahua Street
Corpus Christi
Nueces
Tex.
U.S.
Port Apartments.
John York?
Corpus Christi
Nueces
Tex.
U.S.
Portland Oregon Waste Conversion Park.
Harry H. Gesner
unknown
Regency Park. Addition.
Robert Fillmoore
Moore
Okla.
U.S.
Royal Orlean Apartments.
John York?
Joplin
Mo.
U.S.
Sandy's Restaurant.
John York?
unknown
Sandy's Restaurant. Development.
John York?
next to Sandy's Restaurant
unknown
Sights Acres Addition. Unidentified residence.
John York?
Lot 9 Block 5 Sights Acres Addition
Clinton
Okla.
U.S.
Town Oaks Apartments.
John York?
Kingfisher
Okla.
U.S.
Unidentified apartment.
Pfanstiel Arch., Inc.
4102 Bowser Avenue
Dallas
Dallas
Tex.
U.S.
Unidentified apartment and duplex units.
John York?
Chickasha
Okla.
U.S.
Unidentified apartment complex.
John York?
Woodward
Okla.
U.S.
Unidentified commercial building.
John York?
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Unidentified development.
John York?
De Queen
Ark.
U.S.
Unidentified duplex.
John York?
Lot 19, Block 2 Pierson Estates
unknown
Unidentified duplex units.
John York?
Crystal Heights
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Unidentified hotel.
John York?
Fort Smith
Ark.
U.S.
Unidentified low cost multi-family housing.
John York?
unknown
Unidentified motor hotel.
John York?
Houston
Harris
Tex.
U.S.
Unidentified townhouse development.
John York?
Midwest City
Okla.
U.S.
United States Border Station.
John York?
Brownsville
Cameron
Tex.
U.S.
Village West Motel.
Howard Nicholas
Oklahoma City
Okla.
U.S.
American 1st Title and Trust building.
John York?
American 1st Title and Trust
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Augusta Medical Complex. Nursing home.
John York?
Augusta Medical Complex
Augusta
Kan.
U.S.
Behringer Belco offices. Proposed.
John York?
Behringer Belco
Moore
Okla.
U.S.
Bryan County Courthouse.
Robert Vahlberg
Bryan County
Durant
Bryan
Okla.
U.S.
Bryan County Courthouse. Addition.
John York
Bryan County
Durant
Bryan
Okla.
U.S.
B. and K. Clinard residence.
John York?
Clinard, B. and K.
unknown
Dr. James C. Cole Dental Clinic.
John York?
Cole, Dr. James C.
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Coleman residence.
John York?
Coleman
El Reno
Okla.
U.S.
Dorsett Electronics labs and offices.
John York?
Dorsett Electronics
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Frank Foreman office building.
John York?
Foreman, Frank
unknown
Franke residence.
John York?
Franke
Noble
Okla.
U.S.
Gateway Building Company office building.
John York?
Gateway Building Company
Brownsville
Cameron
Tex.
U.S.
Hartman Shopping Center. Addition.
Cocke, Bowman and York
Hartman Shopping Center
Corpus Christi
Nueces
Tex.
U.S.
John Roberts Manufacturing Company Building.
John York?
John Roberts Manufacturing Company
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
John Roberts Manufacturing Company Building.
John York?
John Roberts Manufacturing Company
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
John Roberts Manufacturing Company Building. Alterations and additions.
William Kaighn
John Roberts Manufacturing Company
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Lampietro residence.
John York?
Lampietro
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
W.L. Lockett hotel building.
Louis C. Williams
Lockett, W. L.
unknown
Louisiana Polytechnic Institute. Men's dormitory.
Wells and Parker
Louisiana Polytechnic Institute
Ruston
La.
U.S.
Louisiana Polytechnic Institute. Women's dorm.
Frink and Burk
Louisiana Polytechnic Institute
Ruston
La.
U.S.
Macy house.
John York?
Macy
unknown
I.B. Magee exhibition house.
John York?
Magee, I. B.
Corpus Christi
Nueces
Tex.
U.S.
Duplex units.
John York?
Magic Builders
unknown
Murphy residence.
York and W. Burgett
Murphy
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Naturizer Company Building.
1957
John York?
Naturizer Company
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Coronado Inn Motor Hotel remodeling. Proposed.
John York?
Oklahoma Education Association
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Oklahoma I.S.D. Number 89. Portable Classrooms.
John York?
Oklahoma I.S.D.
Oklahoma City
Okla.
U.S.
C. Olsen residence.
John York?
Olsen, C.
unknown
Porcelain Enamel Institute. Service station.
John York?
Porcelain Enamel Institute
unknown
U.S.
Sammy's Drive-In.
John York?
Reichert, Otto
Brownsville
Cameron
Tex.
U.S.
Rolling Hills Estates Addition. Shopping Center.
John York?
Rolling Hills Estates
unknown
Sigma Financial and General Corporation Building.
John York
Steele-Williams and Assoc., engineers
Sigma Financial and General Corporation
Guthrie
Okla.
U.S.
Earl Simpson residence.
John York?
Simpson, Earl
72nd Street
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Joy and Fred Staff residence.
John York?
Staff, Joy and Fred
Pawnee
Okla.
U.S.
University of Oklahoma. Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel.
John York?
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
Okla.
U.S.
J.T. and Bob Waughs apartment.
John York?
Waughs, J.T. and Bob
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
Mr. and Mrs. J.T. of Bob Waughs residence. House "A" or "B".
John York?
Waughs, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. of Bob
Norman
Okla.
U.S.
John York residence.
John York?
York, John
Rabbit Run
Goldsby
Okla.
U.S.