Klauder, Charles Z. (Charles Zeller), 1872-1938

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Charles Zeller Klauder was born in Philadelphia in 1872. In 1887 he began working for the Philadelphia architect T.P. Chandler, and by 1891 he had won the silver medal of the Philadelphia T-Square Club. He worked for various firms such as Wilson Brothers, Walter Cope, and Horace Trumbauer before settling as the chief draftsman for Frank Miles Day and Brother in 1900. The firm's name changed to Charles Z. Klauder in 1927 and remained so until Klauder died in 1938. Klauder, one of the leading architects of his time, co-authored College Architecture in America with Herbert C. Wise, in 1929. He was the collegiate gothic architect who transformed many American campuses from disparate collections of stylish buildings into memorable places with distinct identities. He is known for being the creator of background buildings, the warp of the tapestry of great American college campuses. Klauder believed that each campus should reflect its own unique combination of distinguishing factors, and that diversity was essential. Some campuses he worked on were Brown University, Princeton University, and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

From the description of Charles Klauder architectural drawings of Penn State buildings, 1919-1951. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 611596976

Charles Zeller Klauder was born in Philadelphia. He entered the firm of T.P. Chandler at age 15 while studying architecture at the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art. As a young man he also worked for Wilson Bros., Cope & Stewardson, Frank Miles Day & Bro., and Horace Trumbauer. In 1900 Klauder was appointed chief draftsman at Frank Miles Day & Bro. In 1911 the firm name became Day Bros. & Klauder, and in 1913, after the retirement of H. Kent Day it became Day & Klauder. After the death of Frank Miles Day in 1918, Klauder continued to practice under that name. From 1927 until his retirement Klauder practiced under his own name. Klauder was highly honored for his design skills and extraordinary sketching ability. His nationally recognized practice excelled in academic campus buildings. In addition, he designed residences, churches, banks, and office buildings.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson wrote to Frank Miles Day, whose work he knew when he was president of Princeton University. Day's brother and executor responded, informing the President of Day's death two years previous and suggesting that he consider Klauder. President Wilson engaged Klauder to design a residence in Washington where he intended to live after his departure from the White House. Klauder prepared several schemes for different sites the President was considering, including Conduit Road, Q Street, and Ridge Road. Klauder also advised the President on the merits of four existing houses with probable costs of alterations. Even after President Wilson purchased a house in Washington (2340 S Street NW, built in 1915, designed by Waddy Wood), he had Klauder continue to refine his designs for a house to be built on Conduit Road overlooking the Potomac River. He appears to have abandoned the project at some time after May 1921.

From the description of Charles Z. Klauder architectural records for the proposed Woodrow Wilson House, 1920-1921. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 63585922

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Day, Frank Miles, 1861-1918. Frank Miles Day architectural records and personal papers, 1882-1927. University of Pennsylvania, Architectural Archives
referencedIn Day and Klauder. Day and Klauder architectural records, 1895-1958 (bulk 1908-1938). University of Pennsylvania, Architectural Archives
creatorOf Cope & Stewardson. Cope & Stewardson architectural drawings, 1890-1958, bulk 1890-1929. University of Pennsylvania, Architectural Archives
creatorOf R. Guastavino Company. Stephen C. Foster Memorial, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. [graphic] : [detail drawings] / R. Guastavino Co. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf R. Guastavino Company. Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. [graphic] : [detail drawings] / R. Guastavino Co. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf McAllister, Hugh Nelson, 1809-1873. Old Main [model] : Pennsylvania State College, Almar, Point Marion, Pa. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Klauder, Charles Z. (Charles Zeller), 1872-1938. Charles Klauder architectural drawings of Penn State buildings, 1919-1951. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Laird, Warren Powers, 1861-1948. Correspondence : with Paul Philippe Cret, 1906-1938. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Bartlett, Albert A. George Norlin and the campus architecture, University of Colorado, Boulder bibliography, 1995. Boulder Public Library
creatorOf Klauder, Charles Z. (Charles Zeller), 1872-1938. Charles Z. Klauder architectural records for the proposed Woodrow Wilson House, 1920-1921. University of Pennsylvania, Architectural Archives
referencedIn Day and Klauder. Architectural drawings, 1919-1920. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn InFocusTech (Firm). Pittsburgh 1936 [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf R. Guastavino Company. War Memorial Group (Cornell University), Ithaca, New York [graphic] : [detail drawing of] quill & dagger room [in elevation, plan and sections of] South & West walls / R. Guastavino Co. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company/George Collins. Architectural records. Series II: Project Records. Subseries 19: Files, Massachusetts, 1889-1962 (bulk 1900-1930). Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf R. Guastavino Company. Heinz Memorial Chapel, University of Pittsburgh, Pa. [graphic] : [detail drawings of vaults] / R. Guastavino Co. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Klauder, Charles Z. (Charles Zeller), 1872-1938. Correspondence to Paul Philippe Cret, 1935-1938. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barney, W. Pope (William Pope), 1890-1970. person
associatedWith Bartlett, Albert A. person
associatedWith Cope & Stewardson. corporateBody
associatedWith Day and Klauder. corporateBody
associatedWith Day, Frank Miles, 1861-1918. person
associatedWith Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company/George Collins. corporateBody
associatedWith Laird, Warren Powers, 1861-1948. person
associatedWith Pennsylvania State College corporateBody
associatedWith R. Guastavino Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Pennsylvania
United States
Subject
Architecture, Domestic
Architects
Architectural design
Architectural drawings
Architecture
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1872-02-09

Death 1938

English

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