David O. Whilldin: Difference between revisions

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Whilldin was born to an ivory importer in Philadelphia, who died when he son was only two years old. He trained as a draftsman and earned a bachelor of science from the Drexel Polytechnic Institute in [[1901]]. He completed a special course in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania the next June.
Whilldin was born to an ivory importer in Philadelphia, who died when he son was only two years old. He trained as a draftsman and earned a bachelor of science from the Drexel Polytechnic Institute in [[1901]]. He completed a special course in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania the next June.


He was recruited to a [[Birmingham]] engineering firm in [[1902]] and left that company to form the architectural firm of [[Breeding & Whillden]] with [[Harry Breeding]] two years later. The small firm took jobs throughout the state and soon received their most important commission, the new [[Phillips High School|Birmingham High School]], which was completed in [[1906]]. By that time, Whilldin had married the former Cornelia Pierce English of Philadelphia. Their first child, Virginia Lucy, was born in 1906 and a son, David Jr, was born three years later.
He was recruited to a [[Birmingham]] engineering firm in [[1902]] and left that company to form the architectural firm of [[Breeding & Whilldin]] with [[Harry Breeding]] two years later. The small firm took jobs throughout the state and soon received their most important commission, the new [[Phillips High School|Birmingham High School]], which was completed in [[1906]]. By that time, Whilldin had married the former Cornelia Pierce English of Philadelphia. Their first child, Virginia Lucy, was born in 1906 and a son, David Jr, was born three years later.


Apparently recognized as the principal designer of the new high school, Whilldin opened his own practice in the [[Title Guaranty Building]] and took on numerous projects for Birmingham's rapidly-expanding [[Birmingham Schools|school system]] as well as several notable projects in Gadsden and [[Tuscaloosa]]. As an architect, Whilldin became known for his mastery of exotic styles and colorful, dramatic ornament. He was perhaps the only architect in the area to employ the Art Nouveau style successfully.
Apparently recognized as the principal designer of the new high school, Whilldin opened his own practice in the [[Title Guaranty Building]] and took on numerous projects for Birmingham's rapidly-expanding [[Birmingham Schools|school system]] as well as several notable projects in Gadsden and [[Tuscaloosa]]. As an architect, Whilldin became known for his mastery of exotic styles and colorful, dramatic ornament. He was perhaps the only architect in the area to employ the Art Nouveau style successfully.

Revision as of 22:06, 14 March 2009

David Oliver Whilldin (born April 8, 1881 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - died January 18, 1970 in Birmingham) was an architect active in Birmingham from 1904 until his retirement in 1961. He is best known for his numerous school commissions.

Whilldin was born to an ivory importer in Philadelphia, who died when he son was only two years old. He trained as a draftsman and earned a bachelor of science from the Drexel Polytechnic Institute in 1901. He completed a special course in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania the next June.

He was recruited to a Birmingham engineering firm in 1902 and left that company to form the architectural firm of Breeding & Whilldin with Harry Breeding two years later. The small firm took jobs throughout the state and soon received their most important commission, the new Birmingham High School, which was completed in 1906. By that time, Whilldin had married the former Cornelia Pierce English of Philadelphia. Their first child, Virginia Lucy, was born in 1906 and a son, David Jr, was born three years later.

Apparently recognized as the principal designer of the new high school, Whilldin opened his own practice in the Title Guaranty Building and took on numerous projects for Birmingham's rapidly-expanding school system as well as several notable projects in Gadsden and Tuscaloosa. As an architect, Whilldin became known for his mastery of exotic styles and colorful, dramatic ornament. He was perhaps the only architect in the area to employ the Art Nouveau style successfully.

By 1923 Whilldin had established a second office on Tuscaloosa's Broad Street. He later built a small office building for his Birmingham practice on 21st Street North. He continued to work until his retirement in 1962 and died in 1970 at the age of 89.

Many of Whilldin's working drawings were donated by his family to the Birmingham Public Library Archives after his death. An exhibit of reproductions from those works was mounted in the Birmingham Central Library's 4th floor gallery in late 2008.

Notable works

References

  • Shelby, Thomas Mark (2006) “From Beaux Arts to Modernism: The Alabama Architecture of D.O. Whilldin 1871-1970”. Master's thesis. University of Alabama - published in 2009 as D. O. Whilldin - Alabama Architect by the Birmingham Historical Society
  • Shelby, Thomas Mark (April 2007) "D. O. Whilldin". Heritage Week 2007. Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society
  • Roberts, Carolanne (November 2008) "Architecture as Art." Birmingham Historical Society Newsletter.
  • Nelson, James R. (November 23, 2008) "Birmingham architectural history defined in drawings by D.O. Whilldin." Birmingham News
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