User:JPRiley/Temple

Seth J. Temple (August 15, 1867 – June 4, 1949) was an American architect in practice in Urbana, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa from 1897 to 1949.

Life and career
Seth Justin Temple was born August 15, 1867 in Winona, Minnesota to Holmes Temple, a carpenter, and Mary Eliza (Ford) Temple. He was educated in the Winona public schools and at Columbia University, graduating with a PhB in architecture in 1892. He was then appointed instructor of architecture of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Schools. In 1894 he was awarded a traveling fellowship from Columbia which enabled him to study architecture at what is now the American Academy in Rome. He was one of the new school's first three students, along with Harold Van Buren Magonigle and George Bispham Page. In 1896 he returned to the United States and in 1897 became assistant professor of architecture at the University of Illinois. Like other professors Temple maintained a small local architectural practice and was responsible for buildings for the university, including the Electrical Engineering Research Lab (1898, demolished) in association with fellow professor Cyrus D. McLane. He resigned from the university in 1904 to enter full-time practice.

Temple relocated to Davenport, Iowa where he formed the partnership of Temple, Burrough & McLane with Parke T. Burrows and his former university colleague, Cyrus D. McLane. McLane left in 1910 and Temple & Burrows continued until Burrows' retirement from practice in 1925, with Temple continuing alone. After fifteen years as a sole practitioner, in 1940 Temple formed the partnership of Seth J. Temple–Arthur Temple with his son, Arthur Temple. After the elder Temple's death in 1949 the younger continued Temple–Temple until his own death in late 1951. In 1952 the business was acquired by Louis C. Kingscott & Associates, now (2023) Kingscott Associates, of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Kingscott firm maintained a Davenport office until 1983.

At least as a young practitioner, Temple opposed the participation of women in the architectural profession. In 1907, when Ida Annah Ryan of Massachusetts applied for membership in the American Institute of Architects, Temple protested to AIA secretary Glenn Brown not because "I know the person, but because I am repelled by the name, against the presentation of a woman's name for membership in the Institute." Other, more prominent, architects also opposed her admission and she was not admitted until 1921. It is not known if Temple ever changed his stance or ever employed women architects or drafters in his own office. This may have had particular significance on a statewide scale as after his death Temple was noted as a great mentor to young men early in their careers, potentially at the exclusion of women.

Temple himself was admitted to the AIA in 1907, shortly before his protest of Ryan's membership. He served as president of the Iowa chapter in 1909 and 1910 and was elected a Fellow in 1913.

Personal life
Temple was married in 1896 to Alice Maud Gamble in New York City. They had five children: Holmes Temple, Gilbert Temple, Arthur Temple, Malcolm Temple and Alice Muriel (Temple) Glenn.

Temple and his family lived in a house of his own design in the McClellan Heights neighborhood of Davenport. Built in 1907, it is now a contributing resource to the McClellan Heights Historic District.

Temple died June 4, 1949 at the age of 81.

Temple, Burrows & McLane, 1905–1910

 * Davenport Commercial Club, Davenport, Iowa (1906)
 * Charles Grilk House, Davenport, Iowa (1906, NRHP 1984)
 * Webster L. Mason house, Davenport, Iowa (circa 1906)
 * The Davenport, Davenport, Iowa (1907, NRHP 1983, demolished 2023)
 * Seth J. Temple house, 25 McClellan Blvd, Davenport, Iowa (1908)
 * Union Arcade, Davenport, Iowa (1909 and 1924, NRHP 1983)

Temple & Burrows, 1910–1925

 * Parke T. Burrows house, Davenport, Iowa (circa 1910)
 * Hotel Burlington, Burlington, Iowa (1911, NRHP 1987)
 * Abner Davison House addition, 1234 River Dr, Davenport, Iowa (1912, NRHP 1984)
 * John J. Reimers house, 45 McClellan Blvd, Davenport, Iowa (1912)
 * Edward C. Mueller house, Davenport, Iowa (1913)
 * Harry Evans house, 2629 Wood Ln, Davenport, Iowa (1914)
 * Nathaniel French house, 20 Forest Rd, Davenport, Iowa (1914)
 * Edward C. Crossett house, Davenport, Iowa (circa 1915)
 * Hotel Blackhawk, Davenport, Iowa (1915 and 1920, NRHP 1983)
 * Newton Junior High School, 120 N 3rd Ave E, Newton, Iowa (1918, demolished 1983)
 * * St. Luke's Hospital, 1227 E Rusholme St, Davenport, Iowa (1919, demolished)
 * Smart Intermediate School, 1934 W 5th St, Davenport, Iowa (1919)
 * Sudlow Intermediate School, 1414 E Locust St, Davenport, Iowa (1919)
 * J. B. Young Intermediate School (former), 1702 N Main St, Davenport, Iowa (1919)
 * N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company showroom, 321 E 2nd St, Davenport, Iowa (1923)
 * Keokuk High School, 1407 Main St, Keokuk, Iowa (1924, demolished)

Seth J. Temple, 1925–1939

 * Public Mausoleum, Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport, Iowa (1931)
 * United States Courthouse, Davenport, Iowa (1933, NRHP 2005)
 * Hillcrest Residence Hall, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa (1939)
 * Upham Hall, Marycrest College (former), Davenport, Iowa (1939)

Seth J. Temple–Arthur Temple, 1940–1949

 * Jefferson Elementary School, 1027 N Marquette St, Davenport, Iowa (1940)
 * Washington Elementary School, 1608 E Locust St, Davenport, Iowa (1940)
 * Petersen Hall, Marycrest College (former), Davenport, Iowa (1948 and 1951)