Hentz, Reid & Adler Architectural Drawings Collection
Collection
Identifier: DV007
Abstract
The Hentz, Reid & Adler Architectural Drawings Collection contains architectural drawings from the firms of Norrman, Hentz & Reid; Hentz & Reid; Hentz, Reid & Adler; and Hentz, Adler & Shutze.
Dates
- 1909-1948 and undated
Creator
- Reid, J. Neel (Joseph Neel) (Person)
General Physical Description note
(20 flat file drawers and 4 oversized folders, approximately 2120 items)
Restrictions: Access
None.
Restrictions: Use
Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Head of Archives and Special Collections.
Extent
68 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The Hentz, Reid & Adler Architectural Drawings Collection contains architectural drawings from the firms of Norrman, Hentz & Reid; Hentz & Reid; Hentz, Reid & Adler; and Hentz, Adler & Shutze. Most of the projects are located in Georgia, Florida, and other southern states, with a number of projects in Atlanta, Macon, and Albany. Projects include private residences, commerical buildings, and civic buildings. Drawing types range from preliminary sketches and designs to final plans and full-scale details.
Biography/Administrative History of Hentz, Reid & Adler
The Atlanta architecture firm Hentz, Reid & Adler are known in the Southeast for their Beaux-Arts style and as the founding fathers of the Georgia school of classicism. The firm began in 1909 as Norrman, Hentz & Reid. However, shortly after its foundation, partner Gottfried L. Norrman died and the firm became known simply as Hentz & Reid. Rudolph S. Adler became a partner in 1913, creating Hentz, Reid & Adler. In 1927, after Reid’s death the year before, Philip T. Shutze became a partner in the firm, then known as Hentz, Adler & Shutze. Hentz retired in 1944 and William Armistead became a partner, shifting the firm’s name to Shutze, Armistead & Adler for one year until the death of Adler. The firm of Shutze & Armistead continued until 1950 when Armistead retired. Shutze retired in 1958.
Joseph Neel Reid (1885-1926), known as Neel Reid, was born in 1885 in Alabama. He was raised in Macon, Georgia and in 1901 he graduated from Gresham High School in Macon. From approximately 1903-1905, Reid apprenticed with architects Curran Ellis in Macon and Willis F. Denny in Atlanta. Between 1905 and 1907, Reid studied architecture at Columbia University in a short-term, non-degree program. Columbia’s architecture department was based on the French Beaux-Arts system and during Reid’s time there, Charles McKim (of McKim, Mead & White, an architectural firm famous for its classical Beaux-Arts designs) headed an atelier at Columbia. Reid returned to Macon in 1908 and received his first commission, from W. Emmett Smalls, that same year.
Hal Fitzgerald Hentz (1883-1972) was born in Florida in 1883. Hentz and Reid became acquainted in Atlanta in 1905. Hentz had graduated from Emory University in 1904 and in 1905 both he and Reid went to Columbia University to study architecture, although Hentz did not receive his degree in architecture from Columbia until 1912. In 1907, to further their architectural education, Hentz and Reid traveled to Europe. During this time Hentz studied at L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and it is believed that Reid also studied there for a brief period of time.
In 1909 Hentz and Reid, along with Swedish-born architect Gottfried L. Norrman (1856-1909) formed the Atlanta firm of Norrman, Hentz & Reid. This firm was short-lived as Norrman committed suicide shortly after its formation. Although Hentz & Reid were based in Atlanta, at the Candler Building, they also maintained a branch office in Macon from 1909-1915. Harry E. Lindley managed the Macon office. During the 1920s, the firm also had a Florida office.
The firm changed its name to Hentz, Reid & Adler in 1913 with the addition of Rudolph S. Adler (1889-1945) as partner. Alder was an Atlantan who had also studied architecture at Columbia. He joined the firm in 1911 and became partner two years later.
Neel Reid was the principal designer for Hentz, Reid & Adler and as such was responsible for most of the design output of the firm. After Reid’s death in 1926 from a brain tumor, Philip Shutze became the main designer for the firm. Philip T. Shutze (1890-1982) was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1890. He received a degree in architecture from Georgia Tech in 1912 and from Columbia University in 1913. After Columbia, Shutze joined Hentz, Reid & Adler and became a faculty member at Georgia Tech. Shutze received the Prix de Rome in 1915 and spent time studying and traveling in Italy before returning to the United States permanently in 1920. After working with other architectural firms in Atlanta and New York, he rejoined Hentz, Reid & Adler and became a partner in 1927.
In addition to their architectural work, Hentz, Reid & Adler played an important part in nurturing the Georgia Tech architecture department. They often served as design critics and teachers for the program in addition to providing part-time jobs for its students. Several of these student employees went on to become well-known in their own right, including architects Philip T. Shutze, Lewis E. “Buck” Crook, and Ernest Daniel "Ed" Ivey, and sculptor Julian H. Harris.
Joseph Neel Reid (1885-1926), known as Neel Reid, was born in 1885 in Alabama. He was raised in Macon, Georgia and in 1901 he graduated from Gresham High School in Macon. From approximately 1903-1905, Reid apprenticed with architects Curran Ellis in Macon and Willis F. Denny in Atlanta. Between 1905 and 1907, Reid studied architecture at Columbia University in a short-term, non-degree program. Columbia’s architecture department was based on the French Beaux-Arts system and during Reid’s time there, Charles McKim (of McKim, Mead & White, an architectural firm famous for its classical Beaux-Arts designs) headed an atelier at Columbia. Reid returned to Macon in 1908 and received his first commission, from W. Emmett Smalls, that same year.
Hal Fitzgerald Hentz (1883-1972) was born in Florida in 1883. Hentz and Reid became acquainted in Atlanta in 1905. Hentz had graduated from Emory University in 1904 and in 1905 both he and Reid went to Columbia University to study architecture, although Hentz did not receive his degree in architecture from Columbia until 1912. In 1907, to further their architectural education, Hentz and Reid traveled to Europe. During this time Hentz studied at L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and it is believed that Reid also studied there for a brief period of time.
In 1909 Hentz and Reid, along with Swedish-born architect Gottfried L. Norrman (1856-1909) formed the Atlanta firm of Norrman, Hentz & Reid. This firm was short-lived as Norrman committed suicide shortly after its formation. Although Hentz & Reid were based in Atlanta, at the Candler Building, they also maintained a branch office in Macon from 1909-1915. Harry E. Lindley managed the Macon office. During the 1920s, the firm also had a Florida office.
The firm changed its name to Hentz, Reid & Adler in 1913 with the addition of Rudolph S. Adler (1889-1945) as partner. Alder was an Atlantan who had also studied architecture at Columbia. He joined the firm in 1911 and became partner two years later.
Neel Reid was the principal designer for Hentz, Reid & Adler and as such was responsible for most of the design output of the firm. After Reid’s death in 1926 from a brain tumor, Philip Shutze became the main designer for the firm. Philip T. Shutze (1890-1982) was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1890. He received a degree in architecture from Georgia Tech in 1912 and from Columbia University in 1913. After Columbia, Shutze joined Hentz, Reid & Adler and became a faculty member at Georgia Tech. Shutze received the Prix de Rome in 1915 and spent time studying and traveling in Italy before returning to the United States permanently in 1920. After working with other architectural firms in Atlanta and New York, he rejoined Hentz, Reid & Adler and became a partner in 1927.
In addition to their architectural work, Hentz, Reid & Adler played an important part in nurturing the Georgia Tech architecture department. They often served as design critics and teachers for the program in addition to providing part-time jobs for its students. Several of these student employees went on to become well-known in their own right, including architects Philip T. Shutze, Lewis E. “Buck” Crook, and Ernest Daniel "Ed" Ivey, and sculptor Julian H. Harris.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically by project name. If known, the project number is included in brackets at the end of the title.
Other Finding Aids
A print copy of this finding aid is available in the Georgia Tech Archives reading room.
Custodial History
The Georgia Tech College of Architecture had this collection on deposit at the Atlanta History Center from 2005-2010.
Provenance
Accession #2011.002.
Other Formats Available
Microfilm copies of these drawings are available at the Atlanta History Center.
Bibliography
Mitchell, William R. J. Neel Reid : architect of Hentz, Reid & Adler and the Georgia school of classicists. Savannah, Georgia: Golden Coast Publishing Co., 1997.
"Neel Reid (1885-1926)," New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 June 2011: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org.
"Neel Reid (1885-1926)," New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 June 2011: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org.
General Physical Description note
(20 flat file drawers and 4 oversized folders, approximately 2120 items)
Processing Information
Mandi D. Johnson processed these architectural drawings in June 2011 from a previously created inventory.
- Architectural design -- United States.
- Architectural drawings (visual works).
- Architectural firms -- Georgia -- Atlanta.
- Architecture -- Designs and plans -- Working drawings.
- Architecture -- Designs and plans.
- Architecture, Modern -- 20th century.
- Hentz and Reid (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Hentz, Adler, and Shutze (Altanta, Ga.)
- Hentz, Hal
- Norrman, Gottfried Leonard
- Norrman, Hentz, and Reid (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Shutze, Philip Trammell
Creator
- Reid, J. Neel (Joseph Neel) (Person)
- Hentz, Reid, and Adler (Atlanta, Ga.) (Organization)
- Title
- Inventory of the Hentz, Reid & Adler Architectural Drawings Collection, 1909-1948
- Subtitle
- DV007
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Mandi D. Johnson
- Date
- Copyright June 2011.
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Archives and Special Collections, Library, Georgia Institute of Technology Repository
Contact:
Library
Georgia Institute of Technology
266 4th Street, NW
Atlanta 30332-0900 USA
404-894-4586
library.gatech.edu/contact-archives
Library
Georgia Institute of Technology
266 4th Street, NW
Atlanta 30332-0900 USA
404-894-4586
library.gatech.edu/contact-archives