Architect Biographies - P-R

Robert E. Peden —  Architect of 3829 Campbell St. (1922)

Robert Elmer Peden (Kansas City, Mo.) is listed in the General Alumni Catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania, 1922 under 1916 Towne Scientific School.  Architect graduates are listed under this school. In the American Architect, Volume 115, Issues 2257-2270, R.E. Peden, architect, had opened offices at 945 New York Life Building, Kansas City Missouri.

Nelle Nichols Peters (1884-1974) — Architect of 10 apartment buildings and one house — Neoclassical house at 1008 E. 44th St. (1912); 4341-43 & 4345-47 Harrison St. (1912); 4120-22 & 4124-26 Troost Ave. (1914); 4141-43 Campbell St. (1914); 4007-09 Harrison St. (1915); 3940-42 & 4007-09 Holmes St. (1923); 409 E. Armour Blvd (1922); and 809-811 E. Armour Blvd (1922).

Peters, credited with over 1000 Kansas City buildings, was born in North Dakota and graduated from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. She worked as a “draftslady” for the Sioux City, Iowa architectural firm of Eisentrout, Colby and Pottenger. The firm sent her to Kansas City in 1909 and she soon opened her own office. Peters began a close working relationship with builder/developer Charles Phillips in 1913. Phillips was responsible for more large apartment buildings than any other developer and Peters was his primary architect. This partnership led to Peters’ specialty in apartment building design, evident in the number of multi-family dwellings she designed. By the mid-1920s, she worked for several developers, including C.O. Jones, for whom she designed apartment buildings in the 3900 and 4000 block of Holmes in 1923. Other Kansas City projects include the 1924 Ambassador Hotel at 3560 Broadway and the 1928 Luzier Building at 3216 Gillham Road.

The Great Depression took its toll on Kansas City architects and Peters was no exception. Available work in the early 1930s was not for apartment houses or hotels, Peters’ specialties. As a solo female architect, she did not receive the government patronage that helped many architectural firms through the Depression. She became seriously ill during the 1930s and was often confined to a wheelchair. Her career all but ended at this time, although she continued to work until she retired in 1967. When she died in 1974, she was unrecognized for her work.

Root & Siemens — Architects of 642 E. 36th St, 417 E. 37th St. and 3530 Cherry St.

     Walter  C. Root —Architect of 416 E. 36th St.

Walter C. Root (1859-1925) and George M. Siemens (ca. 1864-1951). Siemens, a native of Jefferson City, Missouri, came to Kansas City as an architect of local residences (residing himself at 3729 Baltimore Avenue). Walter Clarke Root, or Walter Root (1859-1925) was a native of Atlanta, raised in New York City. Walter went to Chicago to work for his brother, John Wellborn Root, at Burnham & Root. He was sent to Kansas City in 1886 to oversee the construction of several buildings designed by the firm.

By 1888, he had decided to remain here, and he formed a partnership with George Siemens that lasted for the rest of his life. Buildings designed by the firm include the City Hospital built in 1908 on Hospital Hill, and the conversion of the Swope Residence into the Evanston Golf Club. They also designed the Scarritt Building at 9th and Grand, as well as the Reid Residence in Hyde Park, which become the chancery offices of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese.

Interesting side note:  Case Law – Ex parte Siemens V. Shreeve citation 296 S.W. 415,317 Mo. 736, decision date 27 June 1927. William A. Shreeve was Chief of Police  and James O’rourke, Superintendent of Municipal Farm, of Kansas City. Siemens was convicted in municipal court of violation of an ordinance imposing a license or occupation tax on architects. Refusing to pay a fine imposed by the court, he was committed as by said ordinance provided, whereupon he filed petition for writ of habeas corpus.  The respondents admitted the detention of petitioner. The court ruled that the petitioner should be discharged.