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Exhibits

Alfred Eichler Collection

Item set

Title
Alfred Eichler Collection
Description
The digitized architectural drawings and paintings presented are drawn from the Alfred Eichler Collection, within the Architecture Division of the Department of Public Works records housed at the California State Archives. Featured are public project designs created by Eichler from 1925 to 1962, such as San Quentin and Folsom Prisons, Sacramento’s Tower Bridge, state fairgrounds, Stockton and Napa state hospitals, School for the Deaf in Berkeley, state universities, Benicia State Capitol restoration, the Yountville Veterans Home, and others. Eichler utilized a variety of styles and art media to create these pieces. Each one is an example of the Golden State’s efforts to address the needs of a diverse and growing population through public projects.
Alfred William Eichler was born on August 7, 1895, in Shadyside, Missouri. The following year, his parents, Dr. Alfred Eichler Sr. and Laura Eichler, moved the family to San Francisco, where Alfred and his siblings grew up. When Alfred was around thirteen, he contracted spinal meningitis, leaving him deaf but not sidelined in his ambitions. Eichler attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco before studying at Columbia University and the Beaux Arts Institute of Design in New York. After a stint as a civilian architect for the U.S. Navy during World War I, he worked for private architectural firms in Washington D.C., New York, and San Francisco. In 1925, Eichler married Virginia Parks, the same year he was hired as a Senior Architectural Designer for the Division of Architecture of California’s Department of Public Works. Promoted to Supervisory Architect in 1949, Eichler oversaw the Design Section of the Division until his retirement on November 8, 1963. Upon retiring, Eichler had expressed his desire to travel abroad with his wife, but these plans were never realized, as, tragically, Virginia died the very next day. Eichler devoted much of his remaining years to his art, specifically sketching and painting scenes of historic California structures. He died in Sacramento on November 27, 1977.
Date
1925-1962
Identifier
Collection ID# F3274
Contributor
Department of Public Works, Architecture Division, Design Section
Creator
Alfred Eichler, Supervisory Architect
Publisher
California State Archives, a division of the California Secretary of State's Office
Rights
There are no known copyright restrictions associated with these digital images. We encourage the use of these images for personal, research, and educational purposes. For the use of any of these materials, please credit “The California State Archives, Alfred Eichler Collection, Identification # F3274 (+sub number).” Commercial use or distribution of the images or content is not permitted without prior written permission from the California State Archives. The California State Archives cannot be responsible for any use of these images, or any liability resulting from their use. For more information related to this collection or to request permission to use the images or content, please contact the California State Archives at Archivesweb@sos.ca.gov, or (916) 653-2246.
Format
400 dpi JPEG
Language
English
Subject
Eichler, Alfred W., 1895-1977
Architects -- California
Architecture -- California

Items

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  • eichler_f3274_455_8
    Caption: "Commanding Officers Quarters, Fort Winfield Scott, S. F., Two-Car Garage - 4 Bedrooms, # 18,585." Design study by Alfred Eichler.
  • eichler_f3274_455_5
    Design study of unidentified building by Alfred Eichler.
  • eichler_f3274_454
    Pencil rendering of Rector Canyon Dam by Alfred Eichler. Built.
  • eichler_f3274_453_7
    Design and drawing of California State Building for Nevada Highways Exposition in Reno, Nevada, by Alfred Eichler, c. 1926; from packet of designs and plans by Eichler for the Transcontinental Highways Exposition of 1927. Built. Initial appropriation of $100,000 was reduced to $50,000, so only one half of the plan was built. The tower was eliminated.
  • eichler_f3274_453_6
    Design and drawing of California State Building for Nevada Highways Exposition in Reno, Nevada, by Alfred Eichler, c. 1926; from packet of designs and plans by Eichler for the Transcontinental Highways Exposition of 1927. Built. Initial appropriation of $100,000 was reduced to $50,000, so only one half of the plan was built. The tower was eliminated.
  • eichler_f3274_453_5
    Design and drawing of California State Building for Nevada Highways Exposition in Reno, Nevada, by Alfred Eichler, c. 1926; from packet of designs and plans by Eichler for the Transcontinental Highways Exposition of 1927. Built. Initial appropriation of $100,000 was reduced to $50,000, so only one half of the plan was built. The tower was eliminated.
  • eichler_f3274_453_4
    Design and drawing of California State Building for Nevada Highways Exposition in Reno, Nevada, by Alfred Eichler, c. 1926; from packet of designs and plans by Eichler for the Transcontinental Highways Exposition of 1927. Built. Initial appropriation of $100,000 was reduced to $50,000, so only one half of the plan was built. The tower was eliminated.
  • eichler_f3274_453_2
    Design and drawing of California State Building for Nevada Highways Exposition in Reno, Nevada, by Alfred Eichler, c. 1926; from packet of designs and plans by Eichler for the Transcontinental Highways Exposition of 1927. Built. Initial appropriation of $100,000 was reduced to $50,000, so only one half of the plan was built. The tower was eliminated.
  • eichler_f3274_452_2
    Caption: "Tablet for Gateway, Full Size Detail." Drawing of entrance gateway, Ventura School for Girls, by Alfred Eichler. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_452_1
    Drawing of plans for entrance and gateway, Ventura School for Girls, by Alfred Eichler. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_450_1
    Design and drawing of Assembly Hall and Chapel, Preston School of Industry, by Alfred Eichler. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_450
    Caption: "Assembly Hall and Chapel - Preston School of Industry - Ione." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_449_7d
    Caption: "Location Plan. Gymnasium, Whittier State School." Blueprint, Fred C. Nelles School for Boys; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_449_7c
    Caption: "Transverse Section. Gymnasium, Whittier State School." Blueprint, Fred C. Nelles School for Boys; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_449_7b
    Caption: "Side Elevation. Gymnasium, Whittier State School." Blueprint, Fred C. Nelles School for Boys; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_449_7a
    Caption: "Floor Plan. Gymnasium, Whittier State School." Blueprint, Fred C. Nelles School for Boys; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_449_6
    Caption: "Front Elevation. Gymnasium, Whittier State School." Blueprint. Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler for Fred C. Nelles School for Boys. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_449_5
    Caption: "Gymnasium, State School, Whittier." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler for Fred C. Nelles School for Boys. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_449_4
    Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler of Gymnasium, Fred C. Nelles School for Boys, Whittier. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_445
    Design and color drawing by Alfred Eichler of Gymnasium, Fred C. Nelles School for Boys, Whittier. Built. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_443_7
    Caption: "Vets Home." Design and drawing of Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs. Project for California Youth Authority - Institutions.
  • eichler_f3274_443_5
    Caption: "Bronze Plaque for Lincoln Barracks Yountville." Design and drawing for Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_443_4
    Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler of Veterans Home, Yountville. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_442
    Aerial view of Veterans Home, Yountville; pen and ink drawing by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_441_13
    Caption: "Entrance Porch, Main Dining Room, Mess Hall Veterans Home Yountville." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_441_12
    Caption: "West Elevation." Final drawing of west elevation, Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_441_10
    Caption: "East Elevation." Final drawing of east elevation, Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_441_6
    Caption: "West Window in Dining Room." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler for Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_441_5
    Caption: "North Elevation." Final drawing of north elevation, Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_441_3
    Caption: "South." Final drawing of south elevation, Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_441_1
    Caption: "Screened Vestibule, Entrances to Main Dining Room." Design and drawing of Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_440_4
    Negative of pencil drawing of Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler, c. 1946. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_440_3
    Negative of pencil drawing of Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler, c. 1946. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_440_2
    Negative of pencil drawing of Hostess House, Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_440_1
    Negative of pencil drawing of Industrial Vocational Training Center, Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler, c. 1946. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_439_5
    Caption: "Section - Veterans Home, P.W. 250-1, Patio Cols. Admin. Bldg." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_439_2
    Caption: "Veterans Home, Administration Bldg. P.W. 250, Full Size Detail, Patio Columns & Cap." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_438_14
    Caption: "Mess Hall - Veterans Home - Yountville." Reflected plan; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_435
    Caption: "Barracks No. 7 Veterans Home Yountville. State Dept. of Public Works Division of Architecture, Geo B. McDougall State Architect." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built. Barracks named "Theodore Roosevelt." Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_434
    Preliminary sketch of Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_433
    Preliminary sketch of Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_430
    Design and drawing for Library Building, Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler. Not built. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_429
    Design and color rendering of Post Exchange Addition, Veterans Home, Yountville, by Alfred Eichler. Built. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_425
    Caption: "Hostess House, Veterans' Home - Yountville." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Not built like this. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_424
    Preliminary design for Post Exchange, Veterans Home, Yountville; design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Not built like this; see later design. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_421
    Design study and rendering by Alfred Eichler for Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville, 1946-1947. Built. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_420
    Caption: "Mess Hall - Veterans Home. Dept. of Public Works Division of Architecture." Design study by Alfred Eichler for Mess Hall, Veterans Home, Yountville, c. 1940. Not built this way. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_417
    Caption: "Industrial Vocational Training Center, Veterans Home Yountville." Design and rendering by Alfred Eichler, c. 1948. Built in 1948; not built like this. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • eichler_f3274_415_10
    Overpass study of unidentified bridge by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Public Works - Highways - Bridge Department.
  • eichler_f3274_415_9
    Caption: "Arroyo Seco Parkway, Hough Street Bridge. VII - LA - 205 - So. Pasa." Overpass study by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Public Works - Highways - Bridge Department.