Ford, O'Neil, 1905-1982

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O'Neil Ford (1905-1982) was a prominent architect in the southwestern United States whose work, dedicated to native architectural forms and hand craftwork, historic preservation, and innovative design, also extended nationally and internationally.

Born in Pink Hill, Tex., Otha Neil Ford's early education and employment was informed by the arts-and-crafts movement. When Ford was twelve years old he began to help support his family after his father's death in a railroad accident. His mother, Belle, had a strong interest and facility with handcrafts, and passed on those traits to Ford as well as his two siblings, who both followed careers in the decorative arts and contributed work to Ford's architectural projects. Ford's school education stopped after two years of college in Denton, Tex., and was supplemented by correspondence courses which represented his only formal architectural training. From 1926 to 1932 he worked in David R. Williams' office in Dallas. Ford's first profitable partnership was begun with Arch Swank in 1936; together they designed the Little Chapel in the Woods at Texas Women's University. Ford relocated to San Antonio while involved with the La Villita restoration project and in 1940 married Wanda Graham, daughter of San Antonio building preservationist Elizabeth Graham. From 1946 to 1953 Ford practiced in partnership with Jerry Rogers, with whom he tested the Youtz-Slick lift slab process in the design of the new Trinity University in San Antonio. O'Neil Ford & Associates was formed in 1953, succeeded in 1967 by a partnership with Boone Powell and Chris Carson that would last for the rest of Ford's career. Important projects for those two firms included the Texas Instruments Semiconductor Building, Skidmore College in New York, UT San Antonio, and the Marshall Steves residence. Ford was appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 1968, to the American Council for the Arts in Education in 1975, and to the advisory panel for federal Foreign Buildings Operations in 1977. The O'Neil Ford Centennial Chair of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin was created in 1983. O'Neil Ford died after a heart attack on July 20, 1982, aged 76, survived by his wife and four children.

From the description of O'Neil Ford collection, 1864-1993. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 56897342

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Plazas -- O'Neil Ford Plaza. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Historic sites -- Boveda house. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn San Antonio Fair, Inc. (San Antonio, Tex.). Tower of the Americas Restaurant menu, 1968. University of Texas at San Antonio, John Peace Library (JPL)
referencedIn Maynard L. Parker negatives, photographs, and other material., 1930-1974, bulk 1940s-1960s The Huntington Library
referencedIn Samuel B. Zisman papers 2001019, 2006011., 1937-1970 Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.
referencedIn Swank, Arch B., 1913-1999. Arch B. Swank Jr. collection, 1951-1979. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Zisman, Samuel B., 1908-1970. Samuel B. Zisman papers, 1937-1970. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Historic sites -- La Villita. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
creatorOf Ford, O'Neil, 1905-1982. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Colley Associates drawings COLLE Accession number: 2008010., 1960s Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.
creatorOf George, Mary Carolyn Hollers. Mary Carolyn Hollers George papers, 1840-1996 (1978-1988) University of Texas at San Antonio, John Peace Library (JPL)
referencedIn Renfro, Robert T., 1931-. Robert T. Renfro collection, 1954-2005. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Mary Carolyn Hollers George Papers MS 51., 1970-2006 The University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries . Special Collections
referencedIn Hersh, Authella, 1907-. Oral history interview with Authella Hersh, 1986 July 15. University of North Texas Library, UNT
referencedIn Homsey Architects, Inc. Records, 1935-1992. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Crawford, Ann Fears. Papers, 1917-1991. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Robert T. Renfro collection Accesion numbers: 2005007, 2008007., 1954-2005 Alexander Architectural Archive, University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.
creatorOf Ford, O'Neil, 1905-1982. HemisFair '68, world's fair in San Antonio, Tower of the Americas, height 622 ft. [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Ford, O'Neil. 1905-1982. O'Neil Ford collection, 1864-1993. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Fairs and fiestas -- HemisFair -- Architects. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Biography -- Ford, O'Neil. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Haskell, Douglas Putnam, 1899-1979. Douglas Putnam Haskell papers, Series II: Personal correspondence, 1922-1979 (bulk 1940-1970). Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with Jesse Amado Archives of American Art
creatorOf Interviews conducted by Charles Hosmer relating to historic preservation Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Amado, Jesse, 1951- person
associatedWith Candela, Félix, 1910- person
associatedWith Colley, Richard, 1910-1983. person
associatedWith Colley, Richard S., 1910- person
associatedWith Crawford, Ann Fears. person
associatedWith Ford Powell & Carson, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Ford & Rogers. corporateBody
associatedWith Ford & Swank. corporateBody
associatedWith George, Mary Carolyn Hollers. person
associatedWith Haskell, Douglas Putnam, 1899-1979. person
associatedWith HemisFair (1968 : San Antonio, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Hersh, Authella, 1907- person
associatedWith Homsey Architects, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Hosmer, Charles Bridgham, 1932- person
associatedWith King, Stewart, d. 1970. person
associatedWith Marshall Steves Residence (San Antonio, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith O'Neil Ford and Associates. corporateBody
associatedWith Parker, Maynard L., 1900-1976 person
associatedWith P.E. Haggerty Residence (Dallas, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Presbyterian Pan-American School (Kingsville, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Renfro, Robert T., 1931- person
associatedWith San Antonio Fair, Inc. (San Antonio, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Skidmore College. corporateBody
associatedWith St. Mark's School of Texas (Dallas, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Swank, A. B., Jr. 1913-1999. person
associatedWith Swank, Arch B., 1913-1999. person
associatedWith Texas Instruments Semiconductor Building (Dallas, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith T. Frank Murchison Residence (Crystal Lake/Marble Falls, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Trinity University (San Antonio, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith University of Texas at San Antonio. corporateBody
associatedWith Zisman, Samuel B., 1908-1970 person
associatedWith Zisman, S. B. 1908-1970. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Saratoga Springs (N.Y.)
Denton (Tex.)
San Antonio (Tex.)
La Villita (San Antonio, Tex.)
United States
Dallas (Tex.)
Texas
Subject
Architects
Architecture, Industrial
Archives
Buildings
Buildings, Reinforced concrete
College buildings
Factories
Houses
Industrial buildings
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1905-12-03

Death 1982-07-20

Americans

Information

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