Lorch, Emil, 1870-1963

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Dean of the College of Architecture and Design at University of Michigan.

From the description of Emil Lorch papers, 1891-1963. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34422357

Emil Lorch was born in Detroit of German-American parentage on July 21, 1870. He attended schools in Detroit, including the Detroit Museum of Art School, then went to work for the city's architectural offices. He next studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1890-1892, then returned to Detroit where he worked and was active in art and museum circles, especially the Detroit School of Art where he taught from 1895 to 1898. He studied in Paris, 1898-1899, and then went to Chicago as general assistant to the director of the Chicago Art Institute, 1899-1901. He was also secretary of the Chicago School of Architecture.

Lorch next attended Harvard University, 1901-1903, where he obtained his M.A. degree in architecture. From 1903 to 1906 he was assistant professor of architecture at Drexel Institute in Philadelphia. In the fall of 1906 he came to the University of Michigan to establish a department of architecture in the College of Engineering. Under his leadership, the department in 1931 was re-established as a separate College of Architecture within the university with Lorch appointed as its first dean.

Lorch was both a teacher and a practicing architect. He designed the Architecture Building at the University of Michigan, the Belle Isle Bridge in Detroit, and the residence of Alex Dow in Barton Hills. He was also professionally involved. Lorch served on the Committee on Education of the American Institute of Architects and was active in the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the Michigan Society of Architects. During his career, Lorch corresponded with all the leading figures in academic architectural education, including Roy Jones, Warren P. Laird., and J. B. Robinson. He also was a leading figure in the movement for licensing architects in Michigan, 1915-1917, and served nationally in this movement through the 1930s via the A.I.A.'s Committee on Registration.

After his retirement from the university in July 1940, Lorch devoted himself almost entirely to preserving Michigan's historic buildings. This interest had been fired originally by the Historic American Buildings Survey of the 1930s on whose advisory committee he served and whose records (Midwest District) form a part of this collection. He was active in the restoration projects of Mackinac Island and other early Michigan forts; and he cataloged and collected information and pictures about hundreds of historic and contemporary Michigan structures.

Lorch died June 20, 1963.

From the guide to the Emil Lorch Papers, 1891-1963, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn University of Michigan. A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning. A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (University of Michigan) photograph series. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. College of Architecture and Urban Planning. College of Architecture and Urban Planning (University of Michigan) papers, 1924-1980, bulk 1930-1980. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Wells Ira Bennett Papers, 1916-1965 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Fitzgerald, Frank D. (Frank Dwight), 1885-1939. Frank Dwight Fitzgerald papers, 1928-1944. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Murfin, James O. (James Orin), 1875-1940. James Orin Murfin papers, 1896-1940. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Margaret Bayne Price Papers, 1918-1969, 1947-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn William L. Clements papers, 1920-1933 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Ann Arbor Chamber Music Society (Mich.). Ann Arbor Chamber Music Society records, 1920-1956. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Frank Dwight Fitzgerald papers, 1928-1944, 1930-1939 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Chase S. Osborn Papers, ca. 1870-1949, 1889-1949 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Koch, Theodore Wesley, 1871-1941. Theodore Wesley Koch papers, 1894-1941. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Louis H. Sullivan architectural drawings, 1875-1922 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Clarence Cook Little papers, 1924-1929 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn George W. Pray Papers, 1844-1890 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Charles Moore papers, 1901-1940 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Lorch, Emil, 1870-1963. [Maps collected by Emil Lorch]. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Clements, William L. (William Lawrence), 1861-1934. William Lawrence Clements papers, 1920-1933. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Chamber Music Society of Ann Arbor. Chamber Music Society of Ann Arbor records, 1920-1956. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn College of Architecture and Urban Planning (University of Michigan) student publications, 1824-1980 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bennett, Wells Ira, 1888-. Wells I. Bennett papers, 1916-1965. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Theodore Wesley Koch Papers, 1894-1941 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
referencedIn James Orin Murfin papers, 1896-1940 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Lorch, Emil, 1870-1963. Emil Lorch papers, 1891-1963. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Alexander G. Ruthven Papers, 1901-1961, 1906-1951 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning (University of Michigan), records, 1878-2010 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. College of Architecture and Urban Planning. College of Architecture and Urban Planning (University of Michigan) student papers, 1924-1980 (bulk 1930-1980). Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cranbrook Foundation records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Burton, Marion Le Roy, 1874-1925. Marion LeRoy Burton papers, 1895-1925. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cooley, Mortimer E. (Mortimer Elwyn), 1855-1944. Mortimer E. Cooley papers, 1873-1944. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Marion L. Burton Papers, 1895-1925, 1921-1925 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Moore, Charles, 1855-1942. Charles Moore papers, 1889-1940. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Emil Lorch Papers, 1891-1963 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf University of Michigan. Letters, 1928-1969, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Shirley Wheeler Smith Papers, 1881-1959 Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albion College corporateBody
associatedWith American Institute of Architects. corporateBody
associatedWith Angell, James Burrill, 1829-1916. person
associatedWith Ann Arbor Chamber Music Society (Mich.) corporateBody
associatedWith Architectural League of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Association of Collegiate Schools of Architects. corporateBody
associatedWith Baldwin, Frank Conger, 1869-1945 person
associatedWith Barbour, Levi L. (Levi Lewis), 1840-1925. person
associatedWith Bennett, Wells Ira, 1888- person
associatedWith Booth, Henry Scripps, 1897- person
associatedWith Burnham, Daniel Hudson, 1846-1912. person
associatedWith Burton, Marion Le Roy, 1874-1925. person
associatedWith Chamber Music Society of Ann Arbor. corporateBody
associatedWith Chandler, F. W. (Francis Ward), 1844-1926. person
associatedWith Clements, William L. (William Lawrence), 1861-1934. person
associatedWith Cooley, Mortimer E. (Mortimer Elwyn), 1855-1944. person
associatedWith Copeland, Royal S. (Royal Samuel), 1868-1938. person
associatedWith Cranbrook Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Cret, Paul Philippe, 1876-1945. person
associatedWith Crouse, John Robert, 1874-1946. person
associatedWith Detroit Edison Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Detroit Museum of Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Elmslie, George Grant, 1871-1952. person
associatedWith Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987 person
associatedWith Ferris, Woodbridge N., 1853-1928 person
associatedWith Fitzgerald, Frank D. (Frank Dwight), 1885-1939. person
associatedWith Fitzgerald, Frank Dwight, 1885-1939 person
associatedWith French, William M. R. (William Merchant Richardson), 1843-1914 person
associatedWith Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934 person
associatedWith Gomberg, Moses, 1866-1947 person
associatedWith Goodhue, Bertram Grosvenor, 1869-1924. person
associatedWith Hamlin, Talbot, 1889-1956. person
associatedWith Historic American Buildings Survey. corporateBody
correspondedWith Hocking, William Ernest, 1873-1966 person
associatedWith Huron Mountain Club. corporateBody
associatedWith Hutchins, Harry B. (Harry Burns), 1847-1930 person
associatedWith Ives, Percy. person
associatedWith James, Edmund J. (Edmund Janes), 1855-1925 person
associatedWith Jones, Roy D. person
associatedWith Kahn, Albert, 1869-1942 person
associatedWith Kimball, Fiske, 1888-1955 person
associatedWith Koch, Theodore Wesley, 1871-1941. person
associatedWith Laird, Warren Powers, 1861-1948 person
associatedWith Lawrence, William Henry, b. 1868 person
associatedWith Little, Clarence C. (Clarence Cook), b. 1888 person
associatedWith Maroti, Geza. person
associatedWith Marquand, Allan, 1853-1924 person
associatedWith Mason, George DeWitt, b. 1856 person
associatedWith McKim, Charles Follen, 1847-1909 person
associatedWith McKim, Mead & White. corporateBody
associatedWith Michigan. State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Surveyors. corporateBody
associatedWith Michigan. State Board of Registration for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Land Surveyors. corporateBody
associatedWith Moon, Charles H. person
associatedWith Moore, Charles, 1855-1942. person
associatedWith Mumford, Lewis, 1895- person
associatedWith Murfin, James O. (James Orin), 1875-1940. person
associatedWith Murphy, Frank, 1890-1949 person
associatedWith National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. corporateBody
associatedWith Newberry State Hospital corporateBody
associatedWith Osborn, Chase S. (Chase Salmon), b. 1860 person
associatedWith Pond, Irving Kane, 1857-1939 person
associatedWith Pray, George Washington, 1825-1890 person
associatedWith Price, Margaret Bayne, 1912-1968 person
associatedWith Pritchett, Henry Smith, 1857-1939 person
associatedWith Rindge, Warren. person
associatedWith Robinson, John Beverley, 1853- person
associatedWith Ross, Denman Waldo, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Ruthven, Alexander Grant, 1882- person
associatedWith Saarinen, Eliel, 1873-1950. person
associatedWith Sleeper, Albert E., 1862-1934 person
associatedWith Smith, Shirley Wheeler, 1875-1959 person
associatedWith Sullivan, Louis H., 1856-1924 person
associatedWith Tau Sigma Delta. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. College of Architecture and Design. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. College of Arcitecture and Urban Planning. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. College of Engineering. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Dormitories. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith Upjohn Company corporateBody
associatedWith Waldenwoods (Hartland, Mich.) corporateBody
associatedWith Waldenwoods (Hartland, Mich.) corporateBody
associatedWith Wallenberg, Raoul. person
associatedWith Wallenberg, Raoul. person
associatedWith Warren, Herbert Langford, 1857-1917 person
associatedWith Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924 person
associatedWith Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
South Lyon (Mich.)
Bay City (Mich.)
Dearborn (Mich.)
Monroe (Mich.)
Detroit Civic Center (Detroit, Mich.)
White Pigeon (Mich.)
Berrien Springs (Mich.)
Grindstone City (Mich.)
Farmington (Mich.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Concord (Mich.)
Fort Detroit (Detroit, Mich.)
Fenton (Mich.)
Dexter (Mich.)
Hartland (Mich.)
Port Huron (Mich.)
Irish Hills (Mich.)
Climax (Mich.)
Manchester (Mich.)
Charlevoix (Mich.)
Springville (Mich.)
Hillsdale (Mich.)
Albion (Calhoun County, Mich.)
Drayton Plains (Mich.)
Mackinaw City (Mich.)
Fayette (Mich.)
Mackinac Island (Mich. : Island)
Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinaw City, Mich.)
Holland (Mich.)
Petoskey (Mich.)
Kalamazoo (Mich.)
Niles (Mich.)
Utica (Mich.)
Cambridge Junction (Mich.)
Flint (Mich.)
Detroit (Mich.)
Munising (Mich.)
Grosse Ile (Mich.)
Mackinac Island (Mich.)
Coloma (Mich.)
Grosse Pointe (Mich.)
Allegan (Mich.)
Benton Harbor (Mich.)
Mackinac Island (Mich.)
Mendon (Mich.)
Tecumseh (Mich.)
Michigan
Belle Isle (Detroit, Mich.)
Bloomfield Hills (Mich.)
Grass Lake (Mich.)
Presque Isle (Mich.)
Goodrich (Mich.)
Tipton (Mich.)
East Lansing (Mich.)
Maple Rapids (Mich.)
Rushton (Mich.)
Saint Clair (Mich.)
Sault Sainte Marie (Mich.)
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Chelsea (Mich.)
Clinton (Mich.)
Constantine (Mich.)
East Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Eastmanville (Mich.)
Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Dixboro (Mich.)
Fort Mackinac (Mackinac Island, Mich.)
Grand Island (Alger County, Mich.)
Buchanan (Mich.)
Salem (Mich.)
Fort Wayne (Detroit, Mich.)
Fort Wilkins (Mich.)
Northville (Mich.)
Algonac (Mich.)
Ithaca (Mich.)
Plainwell (Mich.)
Lapeer (Mich.)
Paris (Mich.)
Ypsilanti (Mich.)
Washtenaw County (Mich.)
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Dexter (Mich.)
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Harbor Springs (Mich.)
Washington (Mich.)
Royal Oak (Mich.)
Blissfield (Mich.)
Highland Park (Mich.)
Kalamazoo County (Mich.)
Saginaw (Mich.)
Saugatuck (Mich.)
Macon (Mich.)
Otsego (Mich.)
Marquette (Mich.)
Sharon (Mich.)
Lamont (Mich.)
Mackinac Island (Mich.)
Mount Clemens (Mich.)
Port Hope (Mich.)
Pontiac (Mich.)
Saint Joseph (Mich.)
Jonesville (Mich.)
Cassopolis (Mich.)
Saline (Mich.)
Marshall (Mich.)
Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Spring Arbor (Mich.)
Subject
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Architecture
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Dutch Americans
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Historic buildings
Historic buildings
Hotels and taverns
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World War, 1914-1918
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Birth 1870

Death 1963

Male

Americans

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