Fehr and Granger collection, 1936-1966


Collection Summary
	Creator:	Fehr, Arthur (1904-1969) and Granger, Charles (1913-1966)
	Title:	Fehr and Granger collection
	Dates:	1936-1966
	Abstract:	The Fehr and Granger collection is comprised of drawings and photographic material (1949, n.d.). The records have been arranged in two series: Personal papers and Project records.
	Identification:	FG Accession numbers: 2006036, 2007003, 2007016
	Quantity:	175 rolls of architectural drawings, 84 photographic prints, 357 35mm slides, and 2 pages textual material
	Repository:	Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.

Biographical Sketch of Arthur Fehr (1904-1969)

Arthur Fehr graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture in 1925. He continued his education, studying in graduate programs at Columbia University, New York University, and the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design in New York City. Before returning to Austin, Fehr worked with Kenneth Murchison in New York and Harvey Smith in San Antonio. In the 1930’s, he worked for the National Park Service on the Bastrop State Park Project in Bastrop, Texas, where he met Charles T. Granger, another Austin native and University of Texas graduate.

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Biographical Sketch of Charles Granger (1913-1966)

Charles Granger was born in Austin in 1913. During college, he met Fehr while working as a draftsman for the National Park Service at Bastrop State Park, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas (Austin) in 1936 and moved to Los Angeles to work with Richard Neutra after graduation. In 1938, he returned to Austin to join Arthur Fehr's architectural firm. During World War II, when commissions decreased, Granger attended Cranbrook Academy of Art, in Bloomfield, Michigan and received his master's degree in 1946. While in Michigan he was introduced to the International Style as exhibited in the work of Eliel Saarinen who was teaching at Cranbrook. He worked with the firm Saarinen and Swanson before returning to Austin to reopen Fehr and Granger in 1946.

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History of the Architectural Firm Fehr and Granger (1938-1972)

Fehr and Granger flourished after the war, winning local and national recognition for projects such as the Sneed residence (1953) in Austin, O. Henry Junior High School (1954) in Austin, Saint Stephen's Chapel (1955) in Austin, and Clifton Hall at Texas Lutheran College (1956) in Seguin, Texas. Fehr and Granger were published in Progressive Architecture in 1958 and they were honored with two awards from the journal in 1959. Their Robert Mueller Airport in Austin, Texas received a Design Award in 1959 and another award in 1961. In 1959, the Hillview Unit for Brown Schools, Inc. in San Marcos, Texas received an Educational Award Citation.

Charles Granger was killed in an automobile accident in 1966 shortly after becoming a fellow to the American Institute of Architects. Arthur Fehr continued to practice under the firm name Fehr and Granger until his death in 1969.

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Scope and Content of the collection

The Fehr and Granger collection is comprised of drawings and photographic material (1949, n.d.). The records have been arranged in two series: Personal papers and Project records.

Personal papers include the most of the photographic materials in the collection. The bulk of the photographic material records the travels of Charles Granger and includes slides of the work of fellow architects, particularly Richard Neutra. Many of these slides record a trip to California in 1949. Other slides reveal trips across the country during which Granger photographed built works by Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, O’Neil Ford, among others. The slides evidence the impact of contemporary modern architects on the work of Fehr and Granger in the years to come.

The Project records series consists of the remaining photographic material, architectural drawings and some textual material. Forty-two slides record the construction process and the finished project for the Breard residence, a Fehr and Granger work in Dallas, Texas. Additional photographic material includes approximately 64 prints and 9 negatives that record the firm's projects. Approximately 175 rolls of drawings record the design process for the firm’s Texas projects, excluding existing Austin buildings. Materials documenting the extant works by Fehr and Granger within Austin and Travis County are located at the Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.

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Arrangement
	The Fehr and Granger collection is comprised of drawings and photographic material. The records have been arranged in two series, Personal papers and Project records.

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Restrictions

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.

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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
	Creators (Persons):
		Fehr, Arthur, 1904-1969.
		Granger, Charles, 1913-1966.
	Creators (Organizations):
		Fehr and Granger.
	Places:
		Austin (Tex.)
		Dallas (Tex.)
	Subjects:
		Architecture-Texas.
		Architecture, Modern-Texas.
		Architecture-20th century-Texas.
	Document types:
		Drawings.
		Photographs.
		Slides (photographs).

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Related Material


	The Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, has a large collection of architectural drawings of Fehr and Granger's built work in Austin and Travis County.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Fehr an Granger collection, Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin

Processing Information

Photographic materials processed by: Kathryn Pierce

Drawings processed by: Russell Hale, Eleen Wu, and Donna Coates

Processing is not completed. Please see Archive's staff for more information.

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References to works by or about Arthur Fehr and Charles Granger


	-- compiled by Kathryn Pierce
		“Air conditioning calls for compactness.” Architectural Record 101 (Jan. 1947): 76-77.
		“Airport, Austin, Texas.” Architect and Building News 230, no. 20 (Nov. 1966): 857-864.
		“Annual Progressive Architecture awards.” Progressive Architecture 29 (June 1948): 47-73.
		“Booking memorial nurses home, Gulf Coast Medical Foundation, Wharton, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 35 (Jan. 1953): 103.
		“Children’s Medical Clinic, Austin, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 37 (Feb. 1956): 120-121.
		“Church: Austin, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 30 (July 1949): 39- 42.
		“Church boarding school, Austin, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 35 (Apr. 1954): 96-99.
		“Doctors’ clinics.” Progressive Architecture 29 (Dec. 1948): 61-72.
		“Education of children with hearing defects: Texas State School for the Deaf, Austin, Tex.” Architectural Record 129 (Apr. 1961): 178- 179.
		“Five approaches to a sloping site.” Architectural Record 117 (Feb. 1955): 163-174.
		“Four houses.” Progressive Architecture 31 (Aug. 1950):51-69.
		“40 houses: Architectural forum’s special house issue, no. 14.” Architectural Forum 88 (Apr. 1948): 95-144.
		“Grangers Killed.” Architectural Forum 124, no. 4 (May 1966): 91.
		“House: Dallas, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 34 (Apr. 1953): 100- 105.
		McAlester, Virginia and Lee McAlester. A Field Guide to American Houses. (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997).
		Merheb-Emanuelli, Ely. “Granger House & the Perch, Austin, Travis County, Texas.” National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service (2004).
		“Motorists’ Accommodations: St. Elmo-Tel, near Austin, Texas.” Architectural Record 90 (Oct. 1941): 63-66.
		“Municipal airport: Terminal Building, Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, Austin, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 42 (Nov. 1961): 154- 157.
		“P/A client critique: schools.” Progressive Architecture 34 (July 1953): 71-93, 96-99.
		“P/A sixth annual design awards.” Progressive Architecture 40 (Jan. 1959): 105-167.
		“’Poorboyed’” Baptist Church.” Architectural Record 100 (Oct. 1946): 107.
		“Research Does It.” Texas Architect 10 (Feb. 1989): 6-7, 14.
		“Small farmhouse: Texas version.” Architectural Record 105 (Nov. 1946): 90-91.
		“Specialized clinic, Austin, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 35 (July 1954): 92-93.
		Stillson, Lila. “Fehr & Granger.” Texas Architect 39, no. 6 (Nov.-Dec. 1989): 50.
		“Texas house with native frankness.” Architectural Record 101 (Jan. 1947): 78.
		“The architect and his community: Fehr & Granger-Austin, Texas.” Progressive Architecture 39 (Aug. 1958): 89-104.
		“Training facility for the mentally retarded: Austin State School, Austin, Texas.” Architectural Record 129 (Apr. 1961); 180-181.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Series A: Personal Papers

Series Abstract

Personal papers is made up of photographs taken by Charles Granger while traveling. Granger documented architecture in California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Texas. These slides evidence the impact of contemporary modern architects on the work of Charles Granger. Included are works of Welton Beckett, Clark & Frey, Alden Dow, Charles & Ray Eames, Eames & Saarinen, O’Neil Ford, Henry Hill, Keck & Keck, William Lescaze, Alvin Lustig, Wayne McAllister, Mies van der Rohe, Richard Neutra, William Periera, Periera & Luckman, John Rex, Eero Saarinen, Eberle Smith, Raphael Soriano, S. Spaulding, Hugh Stubbins, Rodney Walker, Paul Williams, and Frank Lloyd Wright. The bulk of the slides are images of Neutra’s built work in California.

Subseries A1: Travel
315 slides (35mm)

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Series B: Project records

Series Abstract

Project records consists of 175 rolls architectural drawings [unprocessed], 64 prints, 9 negatives and 42 slides. The bulk of the drawings document Fehr and Granger projects within Texas, but exclude extant works within the city of Austin and Travis County. Prints, slides and negatives illustrate the firm’s projects throughout Texas.

Project name: American Legion Hall
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Street address: King Street at Center Street

City: Seguin

County: Guadalupe

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 1 b/w photostat

Project name: Austin National Bank, Bergstrom Air Force Base Facility
Date: 1971
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

City: Austin

County: Travis

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 3 b/w prints, 8 proofs

Negatives: 2 negatives

Project files: 1 envelope

Project name: Banks, various
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

City: Taylor, Lampasas, Burnet, Garland

County: Williamson, Lampasas, Burnet, Dallas

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 2 color prints, 5 b/w prints

Project name: Becker Elementary School
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Street address: 906 West Milton

City: Austin

County: Travis

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 3 b/w prints

Project name: Breard residence
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Client: Breard

City: Dallas

County: Dallas

State: Tex

Country: United States

Slides: 43 35mm slides

Project name: Brookings Memorial Nurses' Home
Date: 1954
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Client: Gulf Coast Medical Foundation

Street address: University Avenue at Fulton

City: Wharton

County: Wharton

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 1 b/w print

Project files: 1 clipping

Project name: Central Baptist Church
Date: 1946
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

City: Luling

County: Caldwell

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 7 b/w prints

Project name: Church of the Good Shepherd
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

City: Brownwood

County: Brown

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 2 b/w prints

Project name: Fehr residence
Date: 1946
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Client: Fehr, Arthur

City: Austin

County: Travis

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 9 b/w prints

Project name: Guadalupe Blanco River Authority
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

City: Seguin

County: Guadalupe

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 24 b/w prints

Contact sheets: 1 contact sheet

Negatives: 2 negatives

Project name: Brown Schools. Hillview Unit.
Date: 1959
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Client: Brown Schools

City: San Marcos

County: Hays

State: Tex .

Country: United States

Negatives: 1 rolled negative

Project name: Wharton Junior College. Hutchins Memorial Student Union.
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Street address: Pioneer Avenue

City: Wharton

County: Wharton

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Drawings: 2 drawings

Project name: San Marcos Telephone Co. office & plant building.
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Client: San Marcos Telephone Co.

City: San Marcos

County: Hays

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 1 b/w print

Project name: State Bank of San Marcos
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Street address: Guadalupe and Hutchinson

City: San Marcos

County: Hays

State: Tex .

Country: United States

Prints: 1 color print, 1 b/w printed floor plan

Contact sheets: 1 b/w contact sheet

Negatives: 2 negatives

Project name: Texas Lutheran College
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

Client: Texas Lutheran College

City: Seguin

County: Guadalupe

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 2 b/w prints

Project files: 1 banquet brochure

Project name: Unidentified bank (Seguin, Tex.)
Primary arch/firm: Fehr and Granger

City: Seguin

County: Guadalupe

State: Tex.

Country: United States

Prints: 10 b/w prints

Negatives: 3 negative strips (12 frames)

Project files: 1 envelope

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