Architect Biographies - G-H

Alonzo Hensley Gentry (1886(7)-1967) — Architect of the 1929 Brownhardt apartment building at 801 E. Armour Blvd

Born in Independence, Missouri, Alonzo Gentry earned an engineering degree from Virginia Military Institute in 1908 then received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Columbia University, NYC in 1916. After completing his education, Gentry worked a few years in New York then moved to Kansas City, where he formed several partnerships. He designed the Municipal Auditorium (built in 1935 and “called by the Architectural Record one of the 10 best buildings of that year”), the Harry S. Truman library in Independence, and the new Research Hospital and Medical Center. Gentry’s papers were donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri - 1901-67 (K00827)  

 Roger Gilman (1874-1964) — Architect of #88 Janssen Place (1913)

 An 1895 graduate of Harvard College, Gilman later studied in Paris at the Ecole Des Beaux Arts. Before World War I he practiced in New York, Kansas City, Mo., and Chicago. He was Dean of the Rhode Island School of Design from 1919 to 1929, and publicity director of the Fogg Art Museum from 1930 to 1941.

 Harry I. Goddard —Architect of 904 E. 43rd Street (1912), 3609 Locust St, and 608 E. Armour Blvd. (Geha Apartments) (1917).  Goddard had a brief partnerships with Selby H. Kurfiss in 1910.

 R. Graves — Architect of 3624 Holmes St (1909)

 Frank R. Graves — Architect of 4310 Harrison St. — Graves reportedly build 4310 Harrison St. for his mother.

George Fuller Green (1887-1970) — Architect of 620 E. Armour Blvd. (1922) with Earnest Bromstrom

Raised in Kansas City, George Green received an architecture degree from the University of Michigan. In 1912 he went to work as a draftsman for city architect, Henry Hoit. In 1913 he obtained the position of assistant superintendent of buildings. After retiring as a practicing architect, Green pursued documenting local history.

George Fuller Green by Susan Jezak Ford.

Frederick C. Gunn (ca 1863-1959) — Architect of 3530 Harrison Blvd.

A native of Atchison, Kansas, Frederick Gunn came to Kansas City about 1878. He went to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., and graduated in 1873. He worked in New York for over two years, and then returned to Kansas City, and took up his practice of architecture. He organized the firm of Gunn & Curtiss. The partnership existed for ten years, after which time Mr. Gunn practiced alone. He has designed several of the finer buildings in this city and a countless number of public buildings throughout the West, notably the court houses at Lawrence, Emporia, and Salina, KS. Frederick Gunn planned and helped design several Kansas City buildings such as the City Market (1938), the Jackson County Court House (1934), the Mercantile Building at 12th and Grand, the headquarters of the

Church of the Nazarene at 2923 Troost, among others. He was in partnership with architect Louis Curtiss in the 1890’s, with whom he designed buildings such as the Missouri State Building for the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition in Chicago and the Progress Club House. They, together with F. E. Hill, planned Oak Hall for William Rockhill Nelson.

 Gunn papers, 1840s-1986 (K0305) were donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri.

 Frederick Hill — (ca. 1860-1929) — Architect of 3316 Harrison (1897); 36th & Holmes St.

 Born in Minnesota, Hill started out in New York City before coming to Kansas City in 1885. He designed several local structures, including Convention Hall at 13th and Central streets, the New York Life Building at 9th Street and Baltimore Avenue (Kansas City's tallest building in 1888),

 James Oliver Hogg (ca. 1858-1941) — Architect of 4012-14 Troost Ave. (1914) — colonnaded apartment

Hogg was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of a Scottish immigrant and builder. He arrived in Kansas City around 1886 after studying architecture at the University of Illinois. Hogg primarily designed commercial buildings. His work extended beyond Kansas City to include a building at Park College in Parkville, Missouri, a bank in Tulsa and a courthouse in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He teamed up with his father to design and build a police station and courthouse in Hannibal, Missouri.

 Horton — Architect of 4241 and 4243 Campbell St.

 Howe, Hoit & Cutler — Architect of #2 Janssen Place

Frank M. Howe (1849-1909) was born in Arlington, Massachusetts. He took a course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 1868 entered the office of Ware & Van Brunt of Boston. In 1878 he went abroad for study. A few years after his return, he became associated with Henry Van Brunt, and the firm of Van Brunt & Howe was formed, which lasted twenty-five years. In 1885 the firm opened an office in Kansas City, of which Mr. Howe was in charge.

 In 1904, the Kansas City firm of Howe, Hoit & Cutler was established when Howe partnered with employees Henry F. Hoit and William H. Cutler.  Van Brunt had retired and returned to Massachusetts. All three men were graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Howe was part of the first class of a special course in architecture at MIT.

Henry F. Hoit (1872-1951) was born in Chicago, Illinois. He went on to complete a special course in architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gradating in 1896. Hoit worked for various firms in Boston until 1901 when he received a letter from a fraternity brother, William H. Cutler. The letter stated:

 We are covered up with work here and now have the chance at another job that is too big to turn down, I speak of one of the main buildings to be put up for the World’s Fair in St. Louis. We need a man who can take full charge of the mean and design on this job. Would you consider the job?

William H. Cutler (1874-1907) was born in Cincinnati, but passed most of his life in Chicago and attended the Chicago Manual Training School. He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where after a full four years’ course in architecture, he graduated with honors and shortly after entered one of the larger Chicago offices. From this office he came to Kansas City in 1900, entering the office of Van Brunt & Howe. He was a brilliant draughtsman and colorist, thoroughly trained in construction and detail. Cutler died of typhoid fever.