MC 00247 Guide to the John Erwin Ramsay Papers, 1946 - 1989

Creator

Ramsay, John Erwin, 1915-

Quantity

51.5 Linear feet

General Physical Description note

29 archival storage boxes, 5 flatboxes, 1 oversize flatbox, 168 flat files

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Special Collections Research Center Reference Staff .

Language

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The bulk of the collection was donated by John Erwin Ramsay, Jr. in 1997. He donated additional photographs and drawings in 2003.

Acquisitions Information

Gift of John Erwin Ramsay, Jr., 1997, 2003.

Processing

Processed by: David L. Warren, Michael Watts; machine-readable finding aid created by: Michael Watts

Scope and Content Note

The bulk of these papers and drawings document the professional architectural practice of John Erwin Ramsay, Sr., of Salisbury, N.C., between 1946 and 1989. Also included are student projects, and a few projects pre-dating Ramsay's practice in Salisbury. The collection is divided into two series: Projects series and Miscellaneous series.

Biographical Note

John Erwin Ramsay, Sr., was born on 23 September 1915 in Salisbury, N.C. After completing high school at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., he entered the School of Commerce at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., later transferring to the School of Fine Arts. Upon graduation in 1938, he entered Yale University's School of Architecture. At Yale, he won a scholarship for standing first in his class, and was awarded second place in the annual Warren Prize, a national competition sponsored by the Beaux Arts Institute of Design. Ramsay's entry, a design for "A Military Camp," was published in the Institute's Bulletin in March 1941.

Although his education at Yale was strongly steeped in the Beaux Art tradition, Ramsay was influenced by the modernist vision of visiting professors such as Wallace Harrison and Max Abramovitz, architects who worked on the design of New York's Rockefeller Center. Ramsay also admired the leading exponents of the International School, including Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Walter Gropius.

After graduating from Yale in 1941, Ramsay accepted a position with Carr and J.E. Greiner Co., a firm of architects and engineers who were retained for government contracts. One of his projects was the design of housing for married officers at the New River Marine Base in eastern North Carolina, later called Camp Lejeune. Ramsay was drafted into the Army in 1942, but later received an ensign's commission in the Navy. He worked on various war projects in Augusta, Ga., with J.B. McCrarey Engineering Corporation and Merry and Parsons, Architects.

While in the Navy, Ramsay met Jean Anne Ferrier of Washington, D.C., and they were married in October 1945. The Navy offered to extend his commission if he remained in service with a group of architects and city planners who were charged with replanning Guam. Ramsay, who had attained the rank of lieutenant, wanted to return to Salisbury and was mustered out of service in March 1946.

Returning to Salisbury, Ramsay opened the city's second architectural practice. Ramsay and Associates were responsible for the design of many modernist residences and buildings, including the Rowan County Health and Agricultural Building, Alderman Studios in High Point, N.C., and the American Square showroom for American Furniture in Thomasville, N.C. Three of his modern designs received Awards of Merit from the N.C. Chapter of AIA. Ramsay was also responsible for more traditional designs and for the restoration of numerous historic buildings in Rowan County, including the Rowan County Court House and the John Knox house. John Erwin Ramsay retired from active practice in 1989. Ramsay and Associates was succeeded by Ramsay, Burgin, Smith, Architects, Inc. of Salisbury and Raleigh.

Controlled Terms

1. Architects--North Carolina--Salisbury
2. Architectural drawing--North Carolina--20th century
3. Architectural drawings
4. Architectural firms--North Carolina--Salisbury
5. Architecture
6. Architecture, Domestic--North Carolina--Designs and plans
7. Certificates
8. North Carolina State University--Faculty--History.
9. Photographs
10. Ramsay, John Erwin, 1915-
11. Scrapbooks

Access to Collection

This collection is open for research; access requires at least 24 hours advance notice.

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

Mail

Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Telephone

(919) 515-2273

Fax

(919) 513-1787

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], John Erwin Ramsay Papers, MC 247, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Access to Collection

North Carolina State University does not own copyright to this collection. Individuals obtaining materials from the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections Research Center are responsible for using the works in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.