Walter T. Rolfe:

An Inventory of his Records, Drawings, and Paintings, 1920-1967

Biographical sketch of Walter Thomas Rolfe

Walter Thomas Rolfe was born on August 22, 1900 in Wetmore, Kansas. He grew up there and graduated from Wetmore High School in 1918. He received a bachelor of science degree in architecture from Kansas State College in 1922 and his masters in architectural design from MIT in 1923.

He started his teaching career as associate professor of architecture at Auburn University in 1923 where he met his future partner, Albert S. Golemon, who was one of his best students. Rolfe moved to North Dakota State College where he taught for four years before going to the University of Texas in 1924. He spent the next eighteen years at the University of Texas School of Architecture and was chair of the department from 1936 to 1946.

"In February of 1946, he and Albert Golemon... formed the nucleus of one of the largest and most experienced architectural firms in the Southwest [at that time].... A number of the Southwest's most modern hospitals, churches and schools were designed by them. They reflect individuality and functional efficiency. Golemon & Rolfe was one of the first architectural firms to research and recommended the compact type, year-round air conditioned school building for more efficient teacher and pupil performance; Walter Rolfe was greatly responsible for the concept. The idea was accepted and acclaimed nationally."*

Rolfe was representative from the AIA to the US Commission to UNESCO from 1953 to 1955 and was active in other committee work in the AIA. He had a heart attack in 1957 which reduced his participation in the activities of the firm to the role of consultant. "He was acclaimed as one of the best public speakers in the architectural profession. On may occasions he spoke at conventions of the various segments of the AIA, at the local, state and national level. He made numerous talks for the engineering profession and for service organizations."*

In 1965, Rolfe was awarded the Order of the Sun of Peru, for "outstanding contribution to the furtherance of architectural education and practice in Peru,"* through his having been the professional teacher of Peru's President Fernando Belaúnde Terry.

Rolfe was in Houston when he died of a heart attack in June 1967.

Sources

• *Memorial booklet printed by Golemon & Rolfe, Architects, 1967.
• [Obituary] Texas Architect (August 1967): p. 4.

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Scope and Content of the collection

Personal papers, correspondence, manuscripts, printed material, photographs, books, awards and medals, 7 paintings and 26 drawings make up this record group documenting portions of Walter T. Rolfe's life from 1920 to 1967. The papers, correspondence, manuscripts and printed material measure 1.25 linear feet.

The personal papers include biographical information, certificates, awards and quotes he collected to use in speeches. A memorial brochure, printed by his firm, Golemon & Rolfe gives one of the few overviews of his life.

Correspondence focuses on two major themes: the Order of the Sun of Peru and the memorial brochure printed by the firm. Letters and telegrams arrived at Rolfe's door when he won the award including congratulations from Peru's president, Fernando Belaúnde Terry, who was one of Rolfe's former students. The comments about the memorial brochure were sent to Rolfe's partner, Albert Golemon, or Rolfe's wife, Bessie Mae.

Manuscripts show that Rolfe was a prolific writer. The varied types of manuscripts included in this series were presented as speeches, articles, short fiction and poetry. Rolfe wrote a book in 1935 called Texas which he described as "a 32-page booklet illustrated in black and white, front page in color, treating the cultural background, history and opportunity of Texas." Several copies of the book are in with his papers.

Printed material is comprised of an assortment of articles about architecture.

The photographs are portraits of Rolfe and his wife. The paintings are watercolors by Rolfe and the drawings represent Rolfe's residence.

The series called awards and medals contains Rolfe's medals and awards. Highlights in this series are the Order of the Sun of Peru Plate (silver) and medal (gold) and his FAIA medal.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access is by appointment only to any serious scholar. Boxes stored off site or rolled drawings that will need to be humidified and flattened for viewing will require a minimum of three working days advance notice.

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.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Walter T. Rolfe (1900-1967) Archival records. Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

Processing Information

Drawings processed by Lila Knight, Summer 1986; other material processed by Nancy Sparrow.

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Other Finding Aids

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References to works by or about Walter T. Rolfe (1900-1967)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

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