Difference between revisions of "Fred (Fritz) Craig (1887-1960), Architect"

Latest revision as of 10:28, 21 October 2023

Fritz Craig, 1940

DBA: Fritz Craig, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[b]

Fred "Fritz" Craig was born May 9, 1887 in Battle Creek, Nebraska to William and Cynthia Craig. His father was a carpenter and the family resided in Battle Creek, Madison County, Nebraska in 1900.[18] Craig was a self-made architect with little formal education, instead training under various architects in their practices.[4][9] Craig practiced awhile in Wyoming before serving in WWI.[4][5][6] In 1919, he moved to Lincoln, where he lived out the rest of his life.[5][6] He partnered with J. B. Miller for more than a decade (1924-1935), designing numerous homes and "Greek" chapter houses associated with the University of Nebraska. Craig designed more than 70 churches, located in Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, and Iowa.[7][9] He also designed schools, hospitals, and National Guard Armories.[9] In his last decade he shared an office and projects with Jack Beers, a WWII Marine Corps veteran who studied architecture at University of Nebraska after the war.

In addition to having an extensive career in architecture, Craig was a well-known amateur watercolorist.[5][6] He was a member of the American Legion, Forty and Eight, the Scottish Rite, Shriners, and the American Institute of Architects. [5][6][8] Craig served as president of the Nebraska Architects Association and of the Nebraska Art Association, reflecting his interests in design and watercolor.[5][6][8]

Craig married Isabel Wheeler in 1914 in Casper, Wyoming.[34] They had four children--twins Wesley and Marion, Helen and Fritz. Craig died July 2, 1960. He was survived by his wife Isabelle, his children Wesley and Marion, his three grandchildren, and his sister.[5][6][8][17]

This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 1951-1952 (D. Murphy)

Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1920-1960

Educational & Professional Associations

1905: graduate, public school, Battle Creek, Nebraska.[4]

1905-1906: apprentice, A.H. Dyer, Architect, Fremont, Nebraska.[4]

1906-1907: draftsman, City Engineer’s office, Cheyenne, Wyoming.[4]

1907-1911: draftsman, V. R. Dubois, Architect, Cheyenne, Wyoming.[4]

1911: study travel in England and Europe.[4]

1912-1914: architect, Casper, Wyoming.[4]

1914-1917: partner with A. H. Dyer, Architect, Fremont, Nebraska.[4]

1919-1923: draftsman, Fiske & Meginnis, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4]

1924-1934: architect and partner, Miller & Craig, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4]

1924-1925: District Reconditioning Supervisor, _OTC, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4]

1934: project manager, Historic American Buildings Survey in Nebraska.[10]

1935: lecturer, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

1936: chaired committee for Lincoln Parks Dept. to recommend location for Ellis Burman "Four Wars" memorial statue.[45]

1936-1951: Fritz Craig, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[4]

1937: Registered Professional Architect, Nebraska, A-3, November 23, 1937.[4]

1950: employed Jack Beers as draftsman.

1951-1960: Craig practiced in association with Jack Beers at 724 First National Bank Building, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Buildings & Projects

1914, Casper, Wyoming

Store Building for I.O.O.F. Lodge (1914), Casper, Wyoming.[32][]

1924

Men's Comfort Station (1924), NE corner 9th & O, Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]

Fullagar-Guenzel House (1924), 2245 Harrison Ave, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D05-532)

1924-1935

In 1924, Craig began a very productive partnership with J. B. Miller as Miller & Craig, Architects, designing numerous residences and fraternity and sorority houses, as well as churches and commercial buildings. For the projects of that partnership, see Miller & Craig, Architects.

1935-1950

Lincoln Water Department Treatment Plant (1934-1935), Ashland, Nebraska.[54]

Battle Creek High School (1935-1936), 4th Street and Market Street, Battle Creek, Nebraska.[44][46]

Dr. J. E. M. Thomson House (1936), 1234 Crestdale Road, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16]

Holmes Elementary School (1936-1937), 5230 Sumner, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][5][6][11] (LC13:F06-004)

Clubhouse, Pioneers Park Golf Course (1937), off West Van Dorn Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[47]

Salvation Army "citadel", later Knights of Pythias lodge (1937-1938), 300 North 11th/1100 Q Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[48] (LC13:C09-029)

New Coca Cola Bottling Plant (1937-1938), Holdrege, Nebraska.[49]

Ohiowa Auditorium (1938), Ohiowa, Nebraska.[50]

Parish Hall for St. Matthew's Episcopal Church (1939), 24th & Sewell, Lincoln, Nebraska.[51]

Zeta Beta Tau - Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity (1939), 1345 R St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[52] (LC13:C09-039) Demolished.

Remodel (1941-1942), Bonacum Building (to accommodate Lincoln Public Schools), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][a]

Fritz Craig House (ca. 1945), 2801 Eastgate, Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:E04-001)

Redeemer Lutheran Church (1946-1947), 510 S 33rd St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][9][15][25][d]

Southminster Evangelical United Brethren Church (1947), southwest corner of South 16th & Otoe Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][9][27][28]

All Saints Episcopal Church (1947), North Main Street and 26th Avenue, Torrington, Wyoming.[36]

Caldwell Memorial Church (1948), 2915 S. 16th St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[14]

Blessed Sacrament Church (1949), 1700 Lake St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][21] (LC13:D05-422)

St. John's Lutheran Church (1950), 6th & Washington, Beatrice, Nebraska.[55][g]

1951-1960

Craig hired Jack Beers, a young graduate architect from the University of Nebraska, as a draftsman in 1950. Beers was listed from 1951 to 1960 as an architect with Craig, or both were listed at the same office (Room 724) in the First National Bank Building, through 1960, the year of Craig's death. The projects that were credited to both of them are listed on a page for Fritz Craig & Jack Beers, Associated Architects. Projects of this period which appear from contemporary sources to be Craig's solo work are listed below.

St. Teresa Catholic Church (1951), 3535 Laura Avenue, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][9][22][28][f]

Trinity Lutheran Church (1951-1952), southeast corner 12th & H Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][9][37][38][f]

St. James Methodist Church (1951 basement, 1954-1956 superstructure), 2400 South 11th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][29][30][31][f]

University Lutheran Chapel (1952), 15th & Q Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[42][f]

Christ Methodist Church (1953), 4530 A Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][9][20][56][f]

Lincoln Orthopedic Clinic (1953), 1000 South 13th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[13]

Pius X High School (1954-1957), 6000 A Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[9][40][41]

Addition to Calvary Lutheran Church (1954-1955), 2788 Franklin Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][9][26]

Sunday School and Education Building for Redeemer Lutheran Church (1955), 510 South 33rd Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[23][24]

Addition to First United (now Heritage) Presbyterian Church (1956-1957), 880 South 35th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[57][58]

Associated architect, Pershing Municipal Auditorium (1956-1957), 15th & N Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[12][c] (LC13:C07-909)

Undated

Three Sisters Store remodel (n.d.), 1023-1027 O St., Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]

Second Presbyterian Church (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][9][f]

University Episcopal Chapel (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[7][9]

Henning Hotel (n.d.), Casper, Wyoming.[35]

Jefferson School (n.d.), Casper, Wyoming.[35]

Notes

a. In association with Nathan Bruce Hazen (1897-1991), Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska, as Hazen & Craig.[3] Original building, 1931, by Leo Anthony Daly (1890-1952), Architect.

b. According to listings in the Lincoln City Directories, Craig started going by the name “Fritz” in the 1930s.

c. The design and construction of Pershing Auditorium was a collaboration of four architectural firms, working under the title of Associated Architects; these were Davis & Wilson, Schaumberg & Freeman, Hazen & Robinson, and Fritz Craig. A fifth architect, Steve Cook, was superintendent of construction.[12]

d. See Fritz Craig & Jack Beers, Associated Architects for 1957 sanctuary addition to Redeemer Lutheran Church.

e. A notice in a Casper, Wyoming newspaper in 1915 stated "Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Craig left for Fremont, Neb., yesterday morning, where they will make their future home."[33]

f. When Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln was under construction in 1951, Fritz Craig was consistently mentioned as the building's architect, and Trinity Lutheran was among the handful of churches cited as Craig's designs at the time of his death in July 1960. However, as early as 1955 an advertisement in a Lincoln newspaper illustrated Trinity Lutheran and listed "Fritz Craig and Jack Beers, Architects.[43 A brief mention in September 1960 that "Jack Beers, Lincoln architect, was given an award of merit for the design of Trinity Lutheran Church...Lincoln's first new church of contemporary design..." prompted a letter to the editor from Craig's son. Wesley W. Craig stated "My father, the late Mr. Fritz Craig, was the architect for the Trinity Lutheran Church as verified by the names on the plans and contracts."[9][37][39] The Beers article also mentions that he "designed University Lutheran Chapel, St. Teresa's Catholic, United and Second Presbyterian, and St. James and Christ Methodist churches."

g. At the 1950 cornerstone laying for St. John's Lutheran Church in Beatrice, "Jack Beers, representing Fritz Craig, the architect, gave a few brief remarks."[55]

References

1. Ink on vellum perspective drawing, signed; Lincoln Planning Department. Note date?

2. AIA Historical Directory of American Architects: A Resource Guide to Finding Information About Past Architects, accessed April 20, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1009177.aspx

3. Tom Kaspar, comp. Inventory of architectural records in the archives of Davis Fenton Stange Darling, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1996. Nebraska State Historical Society, RG3748, Box 16.

4. Application for Registration to Practice Professional Engineering and Architecture, Nebraska State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Architects, October 10, 1937. Nebraska State Historical Society RG081 SG2.

5. “Architect Is Dead: Fritz Craig Dies at 73,” Lincoln Journal-Star (July 3, 1960).

6. “Craig,” Lincoln Journal-Star (July 3, 1960).

7. “Craig,” Lincoln Star (July 5, 1960).

8. “Funeral For Fritz Craig Slated Today,” Lincoln Star (July 5, 1960).

9. “Many Churches Designed By Late Fritz Craig," Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Journal (July 4, 1960), 7.

10. See e.g. Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS NE-35-6. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, accessed April 9, 2013, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/item/ne0028/

11. “Lay Cornerstone of Holmes Site School,” 1937 newspaper clipping in site file; "Craig Architect for New School," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (May 18, 1936), 4.

12. Del Snodgrass, "More Than 15 Firms Had Major Part in Building Structure," Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star (March 10, 1957): 2-E.

13. City of Lincoln Building Permit #60321, April 28, 1953; $40,000; Fritz Craig, Architect; M. W. Anderson Construction Company, Contractors.

14. City of Lincoln Building Permit #48018.

15. City of Lincoln Building Permit #43077.

16. City of Lincoln Building Permit #24255, issued March 17, 1936; estimated cost $12,500; architect: Fritz Craig.

17. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line], s.v. "Fred Craig." Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2002.

18. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line], s.v. "Fred Craig." Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

19. City of Lincoln Building Permit #69701, issued September 19, 1956; estimated cost $65,000; with Jack Beers.

20. City of Lincoln Building Permit #60390, issued May 8, 1953; estimated cost $125,000; Fritz Craig, architect.

21. City of Lincoln Building Permit #49683, issued May 11, 1949.

22. City of Lincoln Building Permit #55482, issued June 29, 1951.

23. City of Lincoln Building Permit #65025, issued January 14, 1955.

24. "Educational Unit Planned," Lincoln (Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (October 11, 1953), 5-D.

25. "Redeemer Lutheran Church to Dedicate Building Next Week," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (August 31, 1947), 25 (illustrated with interior photo).

26. City of Lincoln Building Permit #64275, issued October 5, 1954.

27. "Southminster Church Okays Building Date," Lincoln, Nebraska State Journal (October 14, 1947), 1.

28. "New St. Teresa's Church Construction Scheduled," Lincoln (Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (April 22,, 1951), 5-D (Illustrated with sketch rendering).

28. City of Lincoln Building Permit #48018, issued June 25, 1948.

29. City of Lincoln Building Permits #54325 (February 16, 1951) and #64503 (November 2, 1954).

30. "Building Boom Proves City Churches Growing...The Congregation of St. James Methodist Church is worshipping in the basement of a projected $50,000 edifice to be built in the near future," Lincoln (Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (September 13, 1953), 39.

31. "St. James Methodist Church Will Consecrate Sanctuary," Lincoln (Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (January 8, 1956), 5-D.

32. "Odd Fellows Will Erect Store Building," Natrona County Tribune (Casper, Wyoming) (November 19, 1914), 4.

33. "Local News," Natrona County Tribune (Casper, Wyoming) (May 6, 1915), 7.

34. Ancestry.com. Wyoming, U.S., Marriage Records, 1869-1971, s.v. "Isabelle B. Wheeler," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022.

35. "Fritz Craig Is Dead of Heart Attack," Casper (Wyoming) Star-Tribune (July 3, 1960), 2.

36. "Episcopal Church To Erect Building at Torrington," Casper (Wyoming) Star-Tribune (May 5, 1947), 4.

37. "New Lutheran Church Plans Are Approved," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal (February 13, 1951), 13.

38. City of Lincoln Building Permit #55769, issued July 26, 1951.

39. "Architect Wins Award of Merit," Lincoln (Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (September 25, 1960), 16; "Church Architect" (letter to editor by Fritz Craig's son Wesley Craig), Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (October 16, 1960), 8.

40. "Catholic High School Planned," Lincoln (Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (August 1, 1954), 33 (illustrated with rendering).

41. "Construction Begins in May on New Pius X High School," Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Journal (April 1, 1955), 11 (illustrated with rendering).

42. "Missouri Synod Lutheran Chapel Dedication Today," Lincoln (Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (November 9, 1952), 5-D (illustrated with photo of Chapel).

43. Advertisement "let an Architect design and plan your building" including photo captioned "Trinity Lutheran Church Fritz Craig & Jack Beers, Architects," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (December 18, 1955), 44.

44. "Advertisement for Bids," Battle Creek (Nebraska) Enterprise (November 7, 1935), 1.

45. "Can't Decide Where to Locate Statue--Memorial Group under Construction But No Agreement on Sites," Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Journal (February 21, 1936), 12.

46. "High School Dedication," Battle Creek (Nebraska) Enterprise (November 12, 1936), 1.

47. "Club House Project Approved by Council--WPA Structure for Pioneers Golf Course Will Cost Some $25,000," Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Journal (June 15, 1937), 8.

48. "Mere Mention...A building permit, issued from the office of the city engineer...for the new Salvation Army citadel..." Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Journal (August 20, 1937), 6.

49. "Fritz Craig, architect of the new Coca Cola Bottling plant...," Holdrege (Nebraska) Daily Citizen (January 21, 1938), 1.

50. "Village Board Proceedings...Auditorium Fund," The Ohiowa Advertiser/(Geneva) Nebraska Signal (July 7, 1938), 1.

51. "Start Parish Hall for St. Matthew's--Begin Excavation; Architecture in Keeping with That of Church," Lincoln (Nebraska) Evening Journal (July 19, 1939), 5.

52. "New Zeta Beta Tau House Ready for Occupancy," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (December 18, 1939), 10 (illustrated with photo of exterior).

53. "Exhibition Committee" photograph in "Nebraska Art Association" article, (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (February 4, 1940), 17.

54. "Propose Reject Water Request," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (January 29, 1934), 9.

55. "1,000 Attend Cornerstone Ceremonies at St. John's," Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Sun (July 24, 1950), 1.

56. "Cornerstone Ceremonies Tonight For New Christ Methodist Church," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (August 2, 1953), 31 (illustrated with rendering).

57. "First United Presbyterian Will Break Ground Today," (Lincoln, Nebraska) Sunday Journal and Star (August 12, 1956), (illustrated the "Artist's drawing of new addition").

58. "Church Dedication Today," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (September 22, 1957), (illustrated with photo).

Page Citation

D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer “Fred (Fritz) Craig (1887-1960), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, October 21, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 29, 2024.

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