Collection #

M 0110
OM 0116

 

 

Herbert William Foltz
Papers, ca. 1898–1933

 

Collection Information

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Contents

Cataloging Information

 

 

 

Processed by:
Charles Latham
December 1989
November 1992

Updated by:
Emily Scott
30 January 2007

Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269

www.indianahistory.org

 

COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF
COLLECTION:

Manuscript Materials: 1 box, 1 oversize folder
Visual Materials: 1 box of photographs, 1 oversize graphic

COLLECTION
DATES:

Ca. 1898–1933

PROVENANCE:

Howard Foltz, 1961

RESTRICTIONS:

None

COPYRIGHT:

 

REPRODUCTION
RIGHTS:

Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society.

ALTERNATE
FORMATS:

 

RELATED
HOLDINGS:

M 0625, Indiana Society of Architects Plans of Greensburg M. E. Church, in Hugh J. Baker Collection, Architectural Microfilm, Reel 15

ACCESSION
NUMBER:

1961.0005

NOTES:

Scrapbook of Josephine Robinson, with photographs of 1801 N. Pennsylvania St., transferred to OMB 0019

BIOGRAPHiCAL SKETCH

Herbert William Foltz (1867–1946) was born in Indianapolis and attended public schools there. After graduating from Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute (1886) and from Chicago Art Institute, he set up an architectural practice in Indianapolis in 1891. He worked in partnership with various other architects, including at different times Wilson B. Parker, Willard Osler, Macy G. Thompson, and Howard F. Foltz.

The Foltz firm designed a number of residences in Indianapolis and elsewhere, including those of Ovid B. Jameson and Josiah K. Lilly on North Pennsylvania Street, Meredith Nicholson at 1500 North Delaware, H. C. Atkins and of R. W. Furnas (3435 North Pennsylvania). However the firm more commonly did large projects. Among these were Tudor Hall School at 32nd and Meridian; office buildings for the Bobbs-Merrill and E. C. Atkins Companies; the Indianapolis Y. M. C. A.; the Reformatory at Pendleton; the Masonic Home at Franklin; and hospitals for the insane at Madison, Ind. and in Louisiana.

In his youth, Foltz was an ardent advocate of the new sport of cycling, and in 1899 was elected president of the League of American Wheelmen. In 1898, Foltz designed the Newby Oval on the north side of Indianapolis near 30th and Central. With the growing popularity of bicycle racing the Oval was designed to hold 20,000 fans. It was often filled to capacity with national events sponsored by the League of American Wheelmen. Major Taylor, Indianapolis’s hometown bicycle champion, raced there until 1900.

He was interested in dramatics also and helped organize the Little Theater Society. He was a longtime director of the Art Association of Indianapolis, and at one time served as president of the Indianapolis School Board. A member of the Portfolio, the Century Club, and the Indianapolis Literary Club, he frequently wrote papers, usually on architecture.

 

Sources:

Materials in collection

Indiana State Library. Indiana Biography Series, vol. 30 [microform].
Indiana State Library: 920B85b

Dunn, Jacob Piatt. Indiana and Indianans..., vol. 4. Chicago: American Historical Society, 1919. Reference Room Collection: F526.D85 I53 1919

The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1994. Reference Room Collection: F534.I55 E4 1994

 

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection, filling one manuscript box, 1 photograph box, one oversize folder, and one oversize graphic consists mainly of correspondence, literary papers, and photographs. It is arranged by category.

Folders 1 and 2 contain items concerning Foltz's architectural firm–a brochure and letters from satisfied customers. This material gives a considerable list of buildings designed by the firm.

Folders 3–8 contain papers read by Foltz on various occasions–club meetings, meetings of architects. They are mainly on the history and practice of architecture.

Folder 9 contains material about Foltz's work with groups aiming to designate historic landmarks.

Folder 10 contains a few items about the theater and the Little Theater Society.

OM 0116 contains renderings of Methodist churches in Irvington and Greensburg.

Photograph Folders 1–10, contain one photograph of the Bobbs Merrill Building in Indianapolis, designed by Foltz, and photos of several historic houses around the state.

Oversize Graphic, Folder 1 is a wash drawing entitled “Newby Oval,” a bicycle racetrack designed by Herbert William Foltz, and is located in flat file storage.

 

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Firm Brochure and Letterhead, ca. 1915

Box 1, Folder 1

Correspondence with Customers, 1905–1914

Box 1, Folder 2

Paper: “Selling the Architect,” 1918

Box 1, Folder 3

Paper: “Publicity” [for architects]

Box 1, Folder 4

Paper: “Architecture, the Telltale Art,” Indianapolis Literary Club, 1924

Box 1, Folder 5

Paper: “Fallen Arches,” Portfolio, Century Club, 1933

Box 1, Folder 6

Papers on History of Architecture

Box 1, Folder 7

Papers on Building Houses, 1918, 1951

Box 1, Folder 8

Historic Sites and Markers

Box 1, Folder 9

Theatrical: “The Portfolio Players,” 1916;
“The Bo’sn’s Bride,” 1914

Box 1, Folder 10

Renditions:
Irvington Methodist Episcopal Church, Greensburg Methodist Episcopal Church, Printed drawings of Corydon

OM 0116
Folder 1

“Newby Oval”
Designed by Herbert Foltz ca. 1898, was located near 30th and Central on the north side of Indianapolis.

Oversize Graphics:
Folder 1,
Flat File 1–O

Crawfordsville, Indiana:
Henry A. Lane House
Two B/W photographs and three postcards of the house.

Photographs
Box 1, Folder 1

Evansville, Indiana:
Mrs. Edward Viele Home, built 1855
Nesbit Home, built 1865
Presbyterian Church, built 1832, rebuilt 1860
Francis Joseph Reitz’s father’s home, built 1865

Photographs
Box 1, Folder 2

Fort Wayne, Indiana:
Mrs. William Hahn Home, built 1848
Mrs. C.M. Ewing Home
Alden Estate, built ca. 1830
Hanna Homestead
Dickison Home, built 1852
Wolcott House, built ca. 1840–1850

Photographs
Box 1, Folder 3

Indianapolis, Indiana:
Bobbs Merrill Building;
Architectural drawing of the School for the Blind

Photographs:
Box 1, Folder 4

Jeffersonville, Indiana:
Weems House

Photographs:
Box 1, Folder 5

Madison, Indiana:
Shrewsbury House

Photographs:
Box 1, Folder 6

New Albany, Indiana:
Peter St[o]y House, built 1835
T.L. Smith House, built ca. 1820
Scribner House, built 1814
State Bank Building
Market House

Photographs:
Box 1, Folder 7

South Bend area, Indiana:
Unitarian Church, built 1840
Octagonal House, built ca. 1840

Photographs:
Box 1, Folder 8

Centerville; New Harmony; Rising Sun; Switzerland County; Terre Haute, Indiana:
J.W. Wright House, Switzerland Co
Rising Sun Courthouse
Daniel Lantz House and Wagon Shop, Centerville, built 1836
Old Fort, New Harmony, built 1818
State Bank of Indiana, Terre Haute, built 1832
Haymaker House, Clark County

Photographs:
Box 1, Folder 9

Unidentified Buildings:
Two log cabins
Detail of fence or house trim
One house

Box 1, Folder 10

CATALOGING INFORMATION

For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:

1.      Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog:  http://opac.indianahistory.org/

2.      Click on the "Basic Search" icon.

3.      Select  "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.

4.      Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, M 110).

5.      When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.