Charles Parker Papers 1924-1929

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
Parker, Charles N. (Charles Newton), 1885-1961
Size
1 linear foot (6 flat folders.)
Call number
MC 00383

The Charles Parker Papers consist of architectural drawings, notes, and correspondence. All of the architectural drawings (except for a select few) are Parker’s designs, 1924-1929, of the Grove Arcade. The few that are not of the Grove Arcade are Parker’s designs of area homes in the 1920s. The Grove Arcade architectural drawings fall into several different types of architectural drawings. These are: sketches, design development drawings, working drawings, and presentation drawings. The subjects of these drawings are the completed building, the exterior façade, floor plans, exterior detail elements (such as engravings), and structural engineering. In terms of material composition, the Grove Arcade architectural drawings are either graphite on tracing paper, brown prints, or watercolor on heavier paper. Besides architectural drawings, there are handwritten notes by Parker and architectural supply lists. There are also several letters written by one of Parker’s clients, and a newspaper clipping advertising a Grove subdivision.

From 1924 to 1929 Charles Parker (1885-1961) worked as an architect in the construction of the Grove Arcade, a shopping center in Asheville, North Carolina. The Grove Arcade was commissioned by local multi-millionaire E. W. Grove in the beginning of Asheville’s Golden Age. It spans a city block, is five stories high, and is decorated with engravings and other detail work. Parker was a well-known architect in Asheville for his work on residential homes. The Grove Arcade thrived as a shopping center in the 1930s, but spent the rest of the 20th century as an office building. In 2002, the structure was restored to its original glory as a shopping center.

Biographical/historical note

From 1924 to 1929 Charles Parker (1885-1961) worked as an architect in the construction of the Grove Arcade, a shopping center in Asheville, North Carolina. The Grove Arcade was commissioned by local multi-millionaire E. W. (Edwin Wiley) Grove (1850-1927) in the beginning of Asheville’s Golden Age. It spans a city block, is five stories high, and is decorated with engravings and other detail work. Parker was a well-known architect in Asheville for his work on residential homes. The Grove Arcade thrived as a shopping center in the 1930s, but spent the rest of the 20th century as an office building. In 2002, the structure was restored to its original use as a shopping center.

E. W. Grove made his money in the pharmaceutical business, and moved to Asheville in 1898 on doctor’s orders. During his time in Asheville, Grove found an interest in civic planning and urban development. Asheville became the outlet for his new hobby, and Grove had with aspirations of improving its downtown life and transforming it into a thriving city. As his first urban development project Grove built subdivisions. These started in 1905 with Grove Park, a subdivision on the north side of town. The centerpiece of this development was the Grove Park Inn, completed in 1913. It was a high class resort, with celebrity guests such as F. Scott Fitzgerald. Other projects of Grove’s included: Grovestone (a quarry and gravel factory), Grovemont (a housing community in Swannanoa), and Battery Park (a hotel).

One of the architects working on the Grove Park developments was Charles Parker. Parker was born in Hillsboro, Ohio, but moved to Asheville, North Carolina after his older brother found a job in the area with E. W. Grove. Parker never went to formal architecture school, but found his calling working at various architecture firms. Parker is known for his work designing residential homes, mostly in the revival Tudor style. After working on the Grove Park subdivision, Parker was hired by E.W. Grove to construct the Grove Arcade in 1924. Originally the structure was designed to be a five-story shopping center with a 14-story tower spanning an entire city block. For Grove, this type of building was essential to the reviving of downtown Asheville by eliminating the seedy downtown areas, and moving all the boutiques into one location. Architecturally, Parker designed the building with gothic and Tudor elements. The building is covered in glazed terra cotta and decorated with detailed engravings, and façade embellishments.

In 1927 E.W. Grove died while the Grove Arcade was still in the midst of construction. Walter P. Taylor bought the construction project and finished it in 1929. Charles Parker stayed on the job as chief architect, but alterations had to be made to the original building plan. The 14-story tower was never built due to financial reasons. Throughout the 1930s the building thrived as a shopping center set in the midst of Asheville’s Golden Age. In 1942, while the United States fought in World War II, the federal government took over building and closed the shops, mandating that Grove Arcade be used for overflow governmental offices. After the war ended, the building continued to be used for office space, this time by the National Climate Center. In 1985, Asheville started plans to restore Grove Arcade to its original purpose as a shopping center. This project was completed in 2002.

Scope/content

The Charles Parker Papers consist of architectural drawings, notes, and correspondence. All of the architectural drawings (except for a select few) are Parker’s designs, 1924-1929, of the Grove Arcade. The few that are not of the Grove Arcade are Parker’s designs of area homes in the 1920s. The Grove Arcade architectural drawings fall into several different types of architectural drawings. These are: sketches, design development drawings, working drawings, and presentation drawings. The subjects of these drawings are the completed building, the exterior façade, floor plans, exterior detail elements (such as engravings), and structural engineering. In terms of material composition, the Grove Arcade architectural drawings are either graphite on tracing paper, brown prints, or watercolor on heavier paper. Besides architectural drawings, there are handwritten notes by Parker and architectural supply lists. There are also several letters written by one of Parker’s clients, and a newspaper clipping advertising a Grove subdivision.

Arrangement

Organized by subjects of drawings.

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], Charles Parker Papers, MC 00383, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Related material

Source of acquisition

Donated by Annette Sechen in 2008 (Accession no. 2008-0213)

Processing information

Processed by Claire Ruswick, 2008 September

Encoded by Claire Ruswick, 2008 September

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Mounted presentation drawing 1924- 1929
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], Charles Parker Papers, MC 00383, 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.