Archives of American Art

Willis Polk scrapbooks

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.polkwill
Creators:
Polk, Willis, 1867-1924
Dates:
1908-1924
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
5 Volumes
(on partial microfilm reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Five scrapbooks of clippings documenting Polk's career and many important Bay Area events during his time in San Francisco. Subjects of the clippings include the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the San Francisco civic center, and his partnership with D.H. Burnham and the subsequent establishment of his own firm in San Francisco.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Architect; San Francisco, Calif. Played an important part in shaping the city of San Francisco in the early part of the 19th century. Joined the firm of D.H. Burnham & Co. in Chicago. Following the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, Burnham set up an office in San Francisco, placing Polk in charge and with a partnership interest. It was one of the primary firms involved in the reconstruction of San Francisco. In 1911, Polk took over the San Francisco office and the name was changed to Willis Polk & Co. Some of his projects include the civic center, the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915, the Chronicle Building, the Pacific Club, Women's City Club Building, major business buildings and homes of prominent citizens. Polk ran for mayor in 1915.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 983 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals returned to the California Historical Society after microfilming.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lent for microfilming 1975 by the California Historical Society.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Architecture -- California -- San Francisco Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architects -- California -- San Francisco Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architectural firms -- California -- San Francisco Function Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
D.H. Burnham & Co. Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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