William Edward Parsons (June 19, 1872 - December 17, 1939) was an architect and city planner known for his works in the Philippines during the early period of American colonization in the country. As the consulting architect to the Philippine government from 1905 to 1914, he designed various structures throughout the country, most notably the Gabaldon school building plans.
During the early years of the American colonial era in the Philippines, former Governor-General of the Philippines (and future U.S. president), Howard Taft favored a comprehensive building construction and city planning in the country.[1]William Cameron Forbes, having recently appointed as commissioner to the Philippines, eventually sought out Daniel Burnham to create plans for developing the cities of Baguio and Manila.[2] Burnham and fellow architect Pierce Anderson drew up general preliminary plans based from site surveys in 1904 and 1905, free of charge on Burnham's end. The plans were followed by a recommendation of a well-trained architect for the Government's plan, as Burnham ended his involvement on the plans in the Philippines.[3][4]
Burnham's preliminary plan for Manila, which was partially applied in the city.
Parsons was recommended by Burnham for the position, who at that time was practicing architecture in New York City, having recently graduated from École des Beaux-Arts, Paris. Parsons arrived at Manila in November 1905, tasked to "interpret" the preliminary plans prepared by Burnham and Anderson for Manila and Baguio, and modify these as needed. He would also supervise plans for building projects for the Bureau of Public Works.[5] Several public buildings and parks designed by Parsons are a hybrid of colonial architecture and that of the Philippines, which is a tropical country. Such designs also adopted the use of local material, such as hardwoods and capiz shells for window sash in place of glass to reduce sunlight glare.[6]
Parsons also prepared the standardized plans of the Gabaldon school buildings, which were designed akin to templates with the intent of promoting efficiency in the planning process.[7] These are school buildings constructed in the Philippines between 1907 and 1946 and named after the late assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon of Nueva Ecija, who authored the Gabaldon Act which appropriated P1 million for the construction of modern public schools nationwide.[8]
Parsons resigned in 1914, and he was succeeded by George Corner Fenhagen as the Consulting Architect of the Philippine government. He died on December 17, 1939 at his home in New Haven, Connecticut, survived by his wife and two children.[9][10]
^His tombstone uses June 19, 1872; likely the baptismal date. June 17, 1872 comes from the transcription of Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962. The discrepancy may been a transcription error.
^Casa Gobiyerno was built in 1920 and demolished in 1935.
Stanton, Schilling, and Parsons family papers at The Newberry
References
^Bronson, Rea (1906). "Details and description of the Burnham plans for the reconstruction of Manila". The Far Eastern Review. 3 and 4: 322 – via Google Books.
^"Notes: Mr. Burnham in Manila". Architectural Record. 17: 77. 1905. hdl:2027/mdp.39015033430086 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
^Robinson, Charles Mulford (1905). "New Dreams for Cities". Architectural Record. 17: 421. hdl:2027/mdp.39015033430086 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
^Hines, Thomas S. (1972-02-01). "The Imperial Façade: Daniel H. Burnham and American Architectural Planning in the Philippines". Pacific Historical Review. 41 (1): 33–53. doi:10.2307/3638224. ISSN 0030-8684. JSTOR 3638224.
^Governor general, Philippine Islands (1908). "Report of the governor general of the Philippine Islands". Retrieved 2020-12-02.
^Rebori, A.N. "Architectural record v.41 1917 Jan-Jun". Architectural Record. 41: 305–324. hdl:2027/mdp.39015033430185 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
^Philippine Commission (1906), Seventh annual report of the Philippine Commission, part 2, pp. 198, 365–370, retrieved 2020-11-26
^"Collection: William E. and Myra L. Parsons papers". archives.yale.edu. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
^"Mansion House (Presidential Museum and Library)". Retrieved 2020-11-27.
^Alcazaren, Paulo (November 9, 2002). "Hidden Capitol".
January 10, 2023
william, parsons, william, edward, parsons, june, 1872, december, 1939, architect, city, planner, known, works, philippines, during, early, period, american, colonization, country, consulting, architect, philippine, government, from, 1905, 1914, designed, vari. William Edward Parsons June 19 1872 December 17 1939 was an architect and city planner known for his works in the Philippines during the early period of American colonization in the country As the consulting architect to the Philippine government from 1905 to 1914 he designed various structures throughout the country most notably the Gabaldon school building plans William Edward ParsonsBorn 1872 06 17 June 17 1872Akron OhioDiedDecember 17 1939 1939 12 17 aged 67 New Haven ConnecticutNationalityAmericanEducationYale University and Ecole des Beaux ArtsOccupation s Architect and city planner Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 See also 4 Notes 5 External links 6 ReferencesBiography EditParsons was born on June 1872 in Akron Ohio note 1 He was educated at Yale University and Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris Paco Market During the early years of the American colonial era in the Philippines former Governor General of the Philippines and future U S president Howard Taft favored a comprehensive building construction and city planning in the country 1 William Cameron Forbes having recently appointed as commissioner to the Philippines eventually sought out Daniel Burnham to create plans for developing the cities of Baguio and Manila 2 Burnham and fellow architect Pierce Anderson drew up general preliminary plans based from site surveys in 1904 and 1905 free of charge on Burnham s end The plans were followed by a recommendation of a well trained architect for the Government s plan as Burnham ended his involvement on the plans in the Philippines 3 4 Burnham s preliminary plan for Manila which was partially applied in the city Parsons was recommended by Burnham for the position who at that time was practicing architecture in New York City having recently graduated from Ecole des Beaux Arts Paris Parsons arrived at Manila in November 1905 tasked to interpret the preliminary plans prepared by Burnham and Anderson for Manila and Baguio and modify these as needed He would also supervise plans for building projects for the Bureau of Public Works 5 Several public buildings and parks designed by Parsons are a hybrid of colonial architecture and that of the Philippines which is a tropical country Such designs also adopted the use of local material such as hardwoods and capiz shells for window sash in place of glass to reduce sunlight glare 6 Parsons also prepared the standardized plans of the Gabaldon school buildings which were designed akin to templates with the intent of promoting efficiency in the planning process 7 These are school buildings constructed in the Philippines between 1907 and 1946 and named after the late assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon of Nueva Ecija who authored the Gabaldon Act which appropriated P1 million for the construction of modern public schools nationwide 8 Parsons resigned in 1914 and he was succeeded by George Corner Fenhagen as the Consulting Architect of the Philippine government He died on December 17 1939 at his home in New Haven Connecticut survived by his wife and two children 9 10 Works EditGabaldon School Buildings Customs Office Cebu City Manila Army and Navy Club Building Manila Manila Elks Club Manila Manila Hotel Manila Paco railway station Manila Philippine General Hospital H A Bordner Building Manila Science High School Philippine Normal School Provincial Capitol Old of Laguna Province in Santa Cruz Laguna Provincial Capitol Old of Nueva Ecija in Cabanatuan City University Hall of the University of the Philippines Manila The Mansion House Baguio 11 Provincial Capitol Old of Capiz Province in Roxas City Capiz Casa Gobiyerno in Dumaguete note 2 Rizal Old Capitol Pasig 12 See also EditArchitecture of the PhilippinesNotes Edit His tombstone uses June 19 1872 likely the baptismal date June 17 1872 comes from the transcription of Ohio Births and Christenings 1821 1962 The discrepancy may been a transcription error Casa Gobiyerno was built in 1920 and demolished in 1935 External links EditWilliam Edward Parsons papers at The Newberry Stanton Schilling and Parsons family papers at The NewberryReferences Edit Bronson Rea 1906 Details and description of the Burnham plans for the reconstruction of Manila The Far Eastern Review 3 and 4 322 via Google Books Notes Mr Burnham in Manila Architectural Record 17 77 1905 hdl 2027 mdp 39015033430086 via HathiTrust Digital Library Robinson Charles Mulford 1905 New Dreams for Cities Architectural Record 17 421 hdl 2027 mdp 39015033430086 via HathiTrust Digital Library Hines Thomas S 1972 02 01 The Imperial Facade Daniel H Burnham and American Architectural Planning in the Philippines Pacific Historical Review 41 1 33 53 doi 10 2307 3638224 ISSN 0030 8684 JSTOR 3638224 Governor general Philippine Islands 1908 Report of the governor general of the Philippine Islands Retrieved 2020 12 02 Rebori A N Architectural record v 41 1917 Jan Jun Architectural Record 41 305 324 hdl 2027 mdp 39015033430185 via HathiTrust Digital Library Philippine Commission 1906 Seventh annual report of the Philippine Commission part 2 pp 198 365 370 retrieved 2020 11 26 Engalla Jay lleen August 3 2015 Restoring Gabaldon Schoolhouses Architect and Educator William E Parsons Dies Detroit Free Press Associated Press December 18 1939 Retrieved 2018 05 21 Collection William E and Myra L Parsons papers archives yale edu Retrieved 2020 11 26 Mansion House Presidential Museum and Library Retrieved 2020 11 27 Alcazaren Paulo November 9 2002 Hidden Capitol Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William E Parsons amp oldid 1125024374, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
