Northup & O'Brien Architectural Records 1907-1980

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Creator
Northup & O'Brien (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Size
184 linear feet (575 flat folders and 68 archival boxes)
Call number
MC 00240

The Northup & O'Brien Architectural Records document the work of Northup & O'Brien, an architectural firm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and its successors. The collection consists primarily of architectural drawings and job specifications, 1917-1980, as well as financial material, 1917-1956. The drawings represent the variety of projects undertaken by Northup & O'Brien in Winston-Salem as well other locations across the state, including residences, businesses, hospitals, schools, churches, and public and educational buildings. Most of the drawings are original, and characterize the different kinds of materials used for architectural drawing over the twentieth century.

The firm of Northup & O'Brien was established in Winston-Salem by Willard Close Northup and Leet Alexander O'Brien in 1916. The partnership and its successor firms designed and constructed buildings in Winston-Salem and throughout North Carolina, as well as outside the state. In addition to residences--particularly fine homes--the partnership also specialized in commercial structures, schools, hospitals, churches, and municipal, county, and state government buildings.

Biographical/historical note

Willard Close Northup (1882-1942) began practicing as an architect in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1906. Leet Alexander O'Brien (1891-1963) joined Northup's office as a draftsman the following year, and in 1916 the two established the partnership of Northup & O'Brien. O'Brien retired in 1952, a decade after Northup's death, and the following year the firm changed its name to Lashmit James Brown & Pollock. After a series of subsequent changes (see below), the firm became Calloway Johnson Moore & West in 1994.

The firm was known by the following names during the periods indicated:

  • Willard C. Northup, 1906-1916
  • Northup & O'Brien, 1916-1953
  • Lashmit James Brown & Pollock, 1953-1962
  • Lashmit Brown & Pollock, 1962-1971
  • Jennings Newman VanEtten Winfree, 1971-1972
  • Newman VanEtten Winfree Associates, 1972-1977
  • Newman Calloway Johnson VanEtten Winfree, 1977-1980
  • Newman Calloway Johnson Winfree, 1980-1984
  • Calloway Johnson Moore, 1984-1994
  • Calloway Johnson Moore & West, 1994-

Northup & O'Brien and its successor firms designed and constructed buildings in Winston-Salem and throughout North Carolina, as well as outside the state. In addition to residences--particularly fine homes--the partnership also specialized in commercial structures, schools, hospitals, churches, and municipal, county, and state government buildings.

Scope/content

The Northup & O'Brien Architectural Records document the work of Northup & O'Brien, an architectural firm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and its successors. The collection consists primarily of architectural drawings and job specifications, 1917-1980, as well as financial material, 1917-1956. The drawings and specifications are for residences, hospitals, churches, and educational, commercial, and public buildings. These projects were undertaken chiefly in Winston-Salem, but also in other locations across the state. Most of the drawings are original, and characterize the different kinds of materials used for architectural drawing over the twentieth century.

Arrangement

This collection is divided into three series: Drawings, Specifications, and Financial Material.

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Northup & O'Brien Architectural Records, MC 00240, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Source of acquisition

Transferred from the Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1997 July 10 (Accession no. 1997-0012); gifts of Louis William Pope of Kernersville, North Carolina, 1981; Newman Calloway Johnson Winfree of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 1981; and Charlotte Vestal Brown of Raleigh, North Carolina, 1982.

Processing information

Processed by Edith Woodcock, 1998 May;

Encoded by Will Andersen, 2007 April;

Revisions: Finding aid updated in 2008 April by Dani Nation because of additional processing.

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

The collection is organized into three principal series:

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to digital files may require additional advanced notice.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Northup & O'Brien Architectural Records, MC 00240, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.