AIA's History in Oklahoma

Foundation Research Benefits AIA

The American Institute of Architects, a national organization founded in 1857, was first Chartered in Oklahoma in 1927. A delegation from the AIA Executive Board, including famed Philadelphia architect, national AIA President Milton B. Medary, Jr., AIA came to Tulsa in November of 1927 to sign the Charter.

Previously, Architects in Oklahoma created an organization called the Oklahoma State Association of Architects. Tulsa architects formed the Tulsa Architects Association.

Organizational records from that era were lost. We are just beginning to gather our lost history. The following is a chronological history of the Tulsa organization. Please check back often as we continue to fill in the gaps.

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1924 – Individual architects form a group to create a building code for Tulsa.

1924 – The Oklahoma State Association of Architects crafts language for a state architects act. We have letters, dated March 31, 1925, crediting Jewel Hicks for his lobbying efforts and to Leonard H. Bailey for “bringing about passage of the bill”. These letters also allude to “years of work for all concerned” toward passage of the bill.

March 11, 1924 Tulsa Architects Association (TAA) Organized

Tulsa World - April 27, 1924 TAA and Tulsa World announce Flag Design contest. This idea, conceived by TAA, was to offer a $50 prize to the best design for a flag that was “symbolic of Tulsa and its various activities”. This competition was judged by the TAA, the Tulsa World in collaboration with Mayor Herman F. Newblock and Chamber President J. Burr. March 1925 – Tulsa Architects Association begins to distribute “Building Progress”, a monthly publication “for those interested in building economically and well”. (TFA Archives)

Tulsa Tribune - March 22, 1925 Architects surveys Convention hall site for possible expansion. Architects who volunteered their time were H.H. Mahler, F.M. Olston, Fred Knoblock, and W. Alva Fry.

Tulsa World - April 1927 – Architects Association pledges support for Mohawk Park work. It was noted that the city would seek assistance from Tulsa architects in the matter of grouping of buildings in Mohawk and other city parks so that “all the groups will have proper architectural relation to each other.” “When the Mohawk proposition is finished the effect should be pleasing and harmonious,” the architects held. The (architects) group also offered to present a complete design and plan for the main entrance gateway as soon as the city if ready for it.

The Tulsa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects was chartered in 1961. Prior to 1961, architects in Tulsa maintained various local organizations separate from the state organization in order to take on local civic projects. One of these was the “Civic Center Project” authored by the Architectural League of Tulsa, Inc. Tulsa recognized that it needed to develop a Civic Center plan as early as 1925 when it was noted in the Bartholomew plan. After extensive effort, the League published its plan in 1955. This 154 page illustrated document is available from the AIA library in Washington D.C. and is also housed in the TFA archives.