M-459 Philip Cotton Architectural Records

DATE: ca.1960s-1990s

CREATOR: Cotton, Philip (1932-2009)

SCOPE: Records and papers, plans, blueprints, notebooks, publications, photographs and correspondence collected as a personal archive by Philip Cotton (1932-2009), a St. Louis architect and historic preservationist, working from 1960 to the time of his death for nearly a half century on architectural projects which were significant to the history of St. Louis and the nearby region. Born in Columbia, Missouri, and subsequently graduating from Princeton University (AB) in 1954, Cotton received his graduate architectural training at Harvard University Graduate School of Design (March) in 1960.

EXTENT: 28 boxes, blueprints

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTE: Cotton spearheaded the preservation of the Adler and Sullivan St. Louis landmark and one of the country’s earliest skyscrapers, the Wainwright Building, where he maintained his office at the outset of his St. Louis career. His many projects included fifteen structures restored since 1975 at Tower Grove Park:

  • 1872 Music Stand
  • 1872 Sons of Rest Pavilion
  • Humboldt North and South Pavilions
  • 1871 Turkish Pavilion
  • Carriage, Playground and Pool Pavilions
  • 1871 Cypress Shelters
  • Grand Avenue Gate
  • the 1868 Director’s Residence
  • 1885 Plant House
  • 1931 Old Comfort Station
  • 1888 South Gate Lodge

Four structures at the neighboring Missouri Botanical Garden:

  • Henry Shaw’s home
  • Tower Grove House
  • Piper Observatory
  • Museum ceiling and murals

And other projects around Missouri, including:

  • Mark Twain Boyhood Home in Hannibal, Mo.
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder Home in Mansfield, Mo.
  • Cole County Historical Society in Jefferson City

He evaluated historic museum structures, churches, and public and private residences over his career, including the Getty funded project to study the Holy Family Church, in Cahokia, Illinois, one of the oldest surviving structures in mid-America, as well as planned the restoration of the Jarrot Mansion, the oldest brick structure in Illinois.

Cotton was involved with preservation of the Old Post Office in downtown St. Louis, and campaigned in the late 1960’s to establish the Lafayette Square neighborhood as a National Historic District which prevented highway construction through the neighborhood. He promoted the designation of Principia College as a National Historic Landmark due to the campus' Bernard Maybeck buildings. He was involved with the restoration of numerous structures in Florissant, Missouri and Jefferson Landing in Jefferson City, Mo., as well as designing gates for Waterman Place in St. Louis, among many other projects.

Cotton was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and received many honors and awards for his lifetime of service to historic preservation of St. Louis and the American heartland. As a leader of the preservation movement he planned numerous preservation conferences and prepared travelling exhibitions on Missouri Architecture. He taught Renaissance Architecture at Washington University School of Architecture as an Assistant Professor.

He worked to reprint key sources on Missouri Architecture and authored:

  • 100 Buildings of St. Louis County (1970)
  • Literary St. Louis (1974)
  • “Property- Tax System Promotes Slums” (1990).

ACCESS: This is collection M-459. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.

RESTRICTIONS: None

Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.”

 

INVENTORY

SERIES ONE:  Correspondence and business files and photographs; planning documents

  • Box 1: Wainwright Building; Wainwright Tomb—history, plans for restoration, publications, correspondence

  • Box 2: Tower Grove Park –including planning documents for Band Stand; Grand Avenue Gates; Pool Pavilion; Bridges; lighting; gate walks; Bronze Bas Relief of Humboldt Amazon River Scene—correspondence; designs, budgets

  • Box 3: Tower Grove Park—various projects including:  Pavilions; Roof structures; Master Plan

  • Box 4: Tower Grove Park—including:  Composers’ Busts restoration; Lily Pond; Shelters and Pavilions

  • Box 5: Tower Grove Park—including information on: Comfort Stations; Pavilions; Paving issues; the Director’s Residence (plans, agreements, bids, correspondence)

  • Box 6: Tower Grove Park—including:  Composers busts; Fountains; Piper Plant House

  • Box 7: Missouri Botanical Garden Projects—including:  Observatory; Tea House; Arboretum; Museum Restoration

  • Box 8: Missouri Botanical Garden—information including:  Administration Building; Museum Building

  • Box 9: Cole County Historical Society Project, Jefferson City

  • Box 10: Jefferson Landing Restoration Designs and Planning documents

  • Box 11: Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, Hannibal, Mo.

  • Box 12: Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Restoration Plans

  • Box 13: Collins Historic House Project, Collinsville, Illinois

  • Box 14: Residential Projects

  • Box 15: Various Plans and Subjects:  Archambault House, Florissant;  Archway Communities; Bellefontaine Cemetery; Bolduc House; Boonville; Church of the Holy Communion, University City; Deutscheim; First State Capitol;  Henry George –land taxation history; Grace Hill Survey;

  • Box 16: Various Plans and Subjects:  Historic Florissant;  Housing; Laclede’s Landing; Lafayette Square projects; Louisiana, Mo. Historic Preservation Association; Manchester Historic District; Owensville Clark Hotel; Parr Puppet Stage; Pommer-Gentner House, Hermann, Mo.; Prairie Du Rocher;  Rapid Transit; St. Joseph, Mo.  Preservation Projects and Planning.

  • Box 17: Various Plans and Subjects:  St. Louis Medical Society Library Plans; St. Louis Women’s Club; St. Mary’s Church, Adair County, Mo.;  St. Mary’s Hospital, Quincy, Ill.; St. Patrick’s Rock Church; Saline County Courthouse; Schuyler County Historical Society; Sedalian State Fair; Shell Building; Shell Building; Misc. St. Louis Plans; Show Me Central Habitat for Humanity; Solar Heat Pumping; Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Library  (Lovejoy Library); Steedman Room, St. Louis Public Library; Stream Teach; University of Missouri-Tucker; Urban Design Project; Valle House Project; Waterman Place Gates.

  • Box 18: Photographs for Various Projects:  Tower Grove Park; Missouri Botanical Garden; other projects

  • Box 19: photographs for various projects; completion celebrations; etc.

  • Box 20: Photographs—Tower Grove Park etc.

  • Box 21: Photographs and Slides for various projects

  • Box 22: Historic Preservation Organizations; files, resolutions, involvement 1960-1980’s

  • Box 23: Early Notebooks and Class and Teaching notes and lectures, Architectural History

  • Box 24: Awards, Citations, Certificates

  • Box 25: Professional Business Records; Book Collecting Records; Selected personal correspondence

  • Box 26: Various interests:  public speaking; sports and sailing; music—Bach, Organ

  • Box 27: Architectural Resources—late 20th century commercial and marketing publications

  • Box 28: Architectural Resources—late 20th century commercial and marketing publications

 

SERIES TWO: Large Plans and Blueprints for selected projects by Philip Cotton

 

Related Collections:

M-412: W. Philip Cotton St. Louis Architect Papers