Train & Williams was an architecture partnership in Los Angeles, California. A major contributor to the Arts and Crafts movement, several of the firm's works are listed as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments and/or in the National Register of Historic Places.
Partners
Robert Farquhar Train
Robert Farquhar Train | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1869-12-04)December 4, 1869 |
| Died | January 10, 1951(1951-01-10) (aged 81) |
| Education | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Howard & Train (1894-1901) Howard, Train & Williams (1901-1903) Train & Williams (1903-1926+) |
Robert Farquhar Train was born in 1869 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England to John Farquhar Train, a commercial traveler, and Elizabeth (Hood) Train. John died in 1872 and Elizabeth in 1883. Robert had one older brother, and also grew up living with two aunts and one servant.12
Train immigrated to the United States in 1884, first living in Illinois and Nebraska, then in Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he worked as a draughtsman. He studied architectural engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he helped design the World's Columbian Exposition.2
Train moved to Los Angeles in 1894, where he started a partnership with G. A. Howard Jr.2 Train became a naturalized citizen in 1895 and in 1897, he married Vera May Creeth.1
According to Los Angeles voter rolls, Train was six feet tall, had blue eyes and light-colored hair, and was a lifelong Republican.1
Robert Edmund Williams
Robert Edmund Williams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1874-01-16)January 16, 1874 |
| Died | 1960(1960-00-00) (aged 85–86) |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Howard, Train & Williams (1901-1903) Train & Williams (1903-1926+) |
Robert Edmund Williams was born in 1874 in Hespeler, Ontario, Canada to William Williams, a clergyman, and Mary Burman Williams. Robert moved to Los Angeles, California in 1895, one year after his brother and four years before his parents.2
Robert married Annie Pierce, year unknown, and by 1930 he was married to Jean K. Williams. Robert and Jean had one daughter, born in 1925.2 Robert died in Tustin, Orange County, California in 1960.3
Partnership
In 1894, Train partnered with G. A. Howard Jr.2 Williams joined in 1901 and Howard left two years later, resulting in the partnership Train & Williams. Train & Williams was located in the Rindge Building on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. In 1910, Train & Williams opened a branch office in Taft, California.4 The partnership is considered one of the major contributors to the Arts and Crafts movement.5
Selected works
Train and Williams's most notable works were done during their partnership. These works include:
Los Angeles
Historic-Cultural Monuments
- Robert Edmund Williams House (1905),2 LAHCM #4116
- Angels Flight redesign (1910), NRHP #00001168,7 LAHCM #46
- Holmes-Shannon House (1911), NRHP #08000202,8 LAHCM #8856
- Judson Studios (1911), NRHP #99000370,9 LAHCM #626
- Lucy E. Wheeler/Martin E. Weil House (1917 additions),10 LAHCM #9916
Other
- Conservative Life Insurance Company Office Building (with Howard) (1901-1902)11
- First Congregational Church (1902),2 demolished early 1930s12
- Allen House (1902)13
- Los Angeles Furniture Company Building (1904)2
- Carlton Building (1907)2
- Pythian Castle Hall (1908)2
- University of Southern California's Administration Building and first general campus plan (1910)214
- Hyman Theatre (1910 or 1911), demolished by 19271516
- Woodley Theatre (1913),2 demolished 192517
- Victor Clothing Company Building (1914), contributing property in the NRHP-listed Broadway Theater and Commercial District18
- Arroyo Seco Branch Library (1914)2
- Diamond Laundry Company Building (1917)19
- Plaza Methodist Church (1925-1926)20
- Los Angeles Stock Exchange21
Elsewhere in California
- First National Bank of Long Beach (1906), NRHP #9000143222
- Kern County Hall of Records, Bakersfield (1908-1909)4
- J.W. Jamieson Hotel, Taft (1910)4
- Frank A. Forster House, San Juan Capistrano (1910), NRHP #8600240523
- Strand Theatre, Pasadena (1914)4
- Cawston Ostrich Farm Administration Building, Pasadena (1920)2
Train also designed Bell High School in Bell, California, in 1925.1
References
References
- Michelson, Alan. "Robert Farquhar Train (Architect)". University of Washington Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the Shannon Holmes House" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. June 12, 2007.
- Michelson, Alan. "Robert Edmund Williams (Architect)". University of Washington Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- Michelson, Alan. "Train and Williams, Architects (Partnership)". University of Washington Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "Los Angeles Citywide Historic Context Statement - Architecture and Engineering - Arts and Crafts Movement" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. June 2016.
- "Historical Cultural Monuments List" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- "California SP Angels Flight Railway". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. August 30, 2000.
- "Holmes-Shannon House". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. February 13, 2008.
- "Judson Studios". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. February 25, 1999.
- "Lucy E. Wheeler Residence". Los Angeles Conservancy. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- Michelson, Alan. "Howard, Train and Williams, Architects (Partnership)". University of Washington Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "Image / First Congregational Church". University of California - Calisphere. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "Allen House". Pica+Sullivan Architects Ltd. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "Landscape Information". University of Southern California. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "Early Los Angeles Historical Buildings (1900 - 1925)". Water and Power Associates. p. 3. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- "Exterior, Garrick Theatre". Los Angeles Public Library digital collections. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
- Vogel, Joe. "Mission Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "Broadway Theater & Commercial District (Boundary Increase)". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. April 12, 2002.
- "Historic Resource - Diamond Laundry Company 747 E 8th St". City of Los Angeles. August 22, 2016.
- "Plaza Methodist Church". City of Los Angeles. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- Theer, Ulrik (May 2008). "West Adams Matters - The Preservation Month Issue" (PDF). West Adams Heritage Association.
- "First National Bank of Long Beach". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. August 13, 1990.
- "Forster, Frank A., House". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. August 15, 1986.