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

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eichler_f3274_051
Caption: "U. S. Post Office, California State Prison - San Quentin. Dept. of Public Works, Division of Architecture, Sacramento. George B. McDougall, State Architect." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler, c. 1935. Built. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_049
Caption: "East Elevation." Rendered elevation of Scheme No. 1, addition of 4th floor to hospital building, San Quentin State Prison. Sketch in colored pencil by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_048
Caption: "Scheme No. 3. Addition to Hospital. San Quentin." Drawing of addition of 4th floor to hospital building, San Quentin State Prison, c. 1934. As built. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_047
Caption: "Scheme No. 2. Addition to Hospital Bldg. San Quentin." Alternate design of addition of 4th floor to hospital building, San Quentin State Prison, c. 1934. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_046
Caption: "Scheme No. 1. Addition to Hospital Bldg. San Quentin." Preliminary design of addition of 4th floor to hospital building, San Quentin State Prison, c. 1934. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_044
Caption: "Chapel - San Quentin. Sectional View Looking Northeast." Preliminary design by Alfred Eichler, with view encompassing lower and upper yards, March 19, 1935. The chapel was ultimately built in 1960, but not as depicted here. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_042
Caption: "Sketch of Soda Fountain. Elevation" Color rendering by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Veterans Affairs.
eichler_f3274_040
Caption: "Guards Bldg. San Quentin." Design and color rendering by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_039
Caption: "Women's Prison San Quentin." Color drawing by Alfred Eichler of Women's Building, San Quentin State Prison. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_037
Caption: "Women's Prison San Quentin." Color drawing by Alfred Eichler of Women's Building, San Quentin State Prison, c. 1926. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_035
Caption: "New Cell Block - Folsom State Prison. Division of Architecture, Sacramento." Color drawing of Cell Block #3, Folsom State Prison; design by Alfred Eichler, April 5, 1934. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_034
Caption: "New Cell Block - Folsom State Prison. Division of Architecture, Sacramento." Preliminary drawing of Cell Block #3, Folsom State Prison; design by Alfred Eichler, April 5, 1934. Contains annotations. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_033
Caption: "Cell Block Folsom State Prison." Drawing of Cell Block #3, Folsom State Prison; design by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_030
Caption: "Folsom." Drawing of Cell Block #3, Folsom State Prison, by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1934. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_029
Captions: "Northeast Elevation" and "Northwest Elev." Watercolor sketches by Alfred Eichler depicting elevations for preliminary design of dormitory, Folsom State Prison, c. 1933. From stamp on drawing: "Sketch, dormitory, Chinese & Negroe, Folsom State Prison." Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_028
Caption: "East Elevation." Sketch of garage in colored pencil by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_027
Caption: "California Medical Facility, Vacaville." Painting on board; drawing created in two hours by Alfred Eichler for a newspaper.
eichler_f3274_023
Caption: "California Institution for Women. State Department of Public Works, Division of Architecture, Sacramento." Preliminary drawing of new women's prison in Tehachapi. Design and drawing in pen and ink by Alfred Eichler. Project for Department of Corrections.
eichler_f3274_017
Caption: "Detail of Tower." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1930. This was one of the first border stations and was situated in desert country; its purpose was to provide a stopping place for inspection of motor traffic coming into California in order to enforce quarantine against insect infestation of California agricultural products. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_014
Caption: "Department of Agriculture - Plant Quarantine Inspection Station - Ft. Yuma. State Department of Public Works, Division of Architecture." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1930. This was one of the first border stations and was situated in desert country; its purpose was to provide a stopping place for inspection of motor traffic coming into California in order to enforce quarantine against insect infestation of California agricultural products. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_013
Caption: "Front and Side Elevations." Design and drawing of Hornbrook border inspection station by Alfred Eichler, c. 1931. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_012
Caption: " Border Station - Hornbrook." Design and sketch of plant quarantine inspection station by Alfred Eichler, c. 1931. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_010
Caption: "Border Station - Hornbrook." Color drawing of plant quarantine inspection station. Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler, c. 1931. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_009
Caption: "State of California - Department of Agriculture Border Inspection Station - Dorris." Design by Earl W. Hampton; drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1936. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_008
Caption: "Crescent City Border Station. Dept. of Agriculture." Sketch of plant quarantine inspection station. Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1936. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_007
Caption: "Border Station near Crescent City - Smith River. As built 1931." Design and color drawing of plant quarantine inspection by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1936. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_006
Caption: "Border Station. Crescent City." Design and drawing of plant quarantine inspection station by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1936. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_005
Caption: "Crescent City." Design and drawing of plant quarantine inspection station by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1936. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_004
Caption: "Inspection Station Blythe." Design and elevation drawing of plant quarantine inspection station by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1939. Situated in desert country. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_003
Caption: "Quarantine Inspection Station, Blythe, California, State Department of Agriculture. Department of Public Works, Division of Architecture-Sacramento." Design and drawing by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1939. Situated in desert country. Project for Department of Agriculture.
eichler_f3274_002
Caption: "Blythe Inspection Station." Design and drawing of plant quarantine inspection station by Alfred Eichler. Built in 1939. Situated in desert country. Project for Department of Agriculture.