Lorentz Schmidt

{{Infobox architect

|name = Lorentz Schmidt

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|nationality = United States

|birth_date = {{birth date|1884|6|28}}

|birth_place = Clyde, Kansas

|death_date = {{death date and age|1952|2|5|1884|6|28}}

|death_place =

|practice = Lorentz Schmidt;
Lorentz Schmidt & Company;
Schmidt, Boucher & Overend;
Lorentz Schmidt, McVay & Peddie

|significant_buildings=

|significant_projects =

|significant_design =

|awards = Fellow, American Institute of Architects (1951)

}}

File:C. M. Jackman House.JPG

File:Brown Building.jpg

File:30 Ellis Singleton.jpg

File:KWU main building.jpg, designed by Schmidt, Boucher & Overend and completed in 1930.]]

Lorentz Schmidt {{post-nominals|list=FAIA}} (April 25, 1884 – February 5, 1952) was a prominent architect in Kansas. He practiced in Wichita, Kansas from 1915 until his death in 1952.

Life and career

Lorentz "Schmidty" Schmidt was born April 25, 1884, in Clyde, Kansas to Bernhardt Schmidt and Magdalene Schmidt, nee Gram. His parents were farmers who had immigrated to the United States from Denmark in 1878. At the age of 17 Schmidt suffered an injury which made physical labor impossible, but he was able to continue his education. He attended Kansas State Normal School and the University of Illinois, graduating from the latter in 1913 with a BS in architecture. At Illinois he was a member of the Arcus Society, which in 1914 was incorporated into Alpha Rho Chi. After two years working for Holabird & Roche and other architects in Chicago, Schmidt moved to Wichita in 1915, where he established an independent office.William E. Connelley, "Lorentz Schmidt" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZC8UAAAAYAAJ History of Kansas: State and People] 3 (Chicago and New York: American Historical Society, 1928): 1293-1294. In 1920 Schmidt formed the partnership of Lorentz Schmidt & Company with Cecil F. Boucher and Harrison G. Overend."Personals" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=nGIgAQAAMAAJ American Architect] 117, no. 2309 (March 24, 1920): 382. This was reorganized in 1925 as Schmidt, Boucher & Overend. Schmidt withdrew from the partnership in 1932 and spent the next four years in the insurance business. In 1936 Schmidt reestablished his architectural firm."National Underwriter Life Insurance Edition 40, no. 28 (July 10, 1936): 17. In 1946 Schmidt formed a new partnership, Lorentz Schmidt, McVay & Peddie with Wayne M. McVay and Thomas H. Peddie."The Record Reports" in Architectural Record 100, no. 2 (August, 1946): 150. This partnership continued until his death in 1952.

Shortly after he established his practice, he began the organized effort to get an architectural registration law passed in Kansas. This law was only passed in 1949, after over thirty years of lobbying and other efforts. In 1918 Schmidt was a founding member of the Kansas Society of Architects, the first successful attempt to organize architects in the state, and in 1921 was a charter member of the new Kansas chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), which largely succeeded the society. In 1948 he was elected Central States regional director of the AIA and in 1951 was elected a Fellow in recognition of his service to the profession. His election was supported by architects in all parts of the United States.Paul Weigel, "Lorentz Schmidt, FAIA" in Journal of the American Institute of Architects 18, no. 3 (September, 1952): 112-114.

Legacy

Schmidt's initial firm, from which he withdrew in 1932, continued as Overend & Boucher. That firm lasted until the death of Overend in 1957. In addition to his practice, Overend is noted for his collection of medals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n41a21.html|title=THE OVEREND WWI FRENCH MEDAL COLLECTION|website=www.coinbooks.org}} His second firm was initially continued after his death by his partners under the same name. It was changed to McVay, Peddie, Schmidt & Associates in 1957,"McVey, Wayne M(ertin)" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 454. to McVay, Peddie, Schmidt & Allen in 1963,"Schmidt, B. E." in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 810. to McVay, Schmidt, Allen in 1970"McVey, Wayne M." in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 584. and lastly to Schmidt, Allen & Pott. Works of the successor firm include the current Wichita City Hall, completed in 1975."Allen, George Dale," Wichita Eagle, January 18, 2015.

Many Wichita and Kansas architects, most notably Glen H. Thomas, were trained in Schmidt's office.

At least thirteen buildings designed by Schmidt and his partners have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

Personal life

Schmidt was married in 1919 to Gladys Evangeline Magill. They had two children, one son and one daughter. He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church and designed its building, completed in 1926. He died February 5, 1952, in Wichita at the age of 67."Lorentz Schmidt, Architect, Dies," Wichita Eagle, February 6, 1952, 1.

Architectural works

=Lorentz Schmidt, 1915–1920 and 1936–1946=

1917 – Sunnyside School,{{efn|name=NRHP|NRHP-listed.}} 3003 Kellogg Dr, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/11000410 Sunnyside School NRHP Registration Form] (2011)
1918 – Clyde School,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 620 Broadway St, Clyde, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/08001348 Clyde School NRHP Registration Form] (2009)
1919 – Hamilton Middle School, 1407 S Broadway St, Wichita, Kansas
1920 – Fresh Air Baby Camp,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 1229 W 11th St, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/07001229 Fresh Air Baby Camp NRHP Registration Form] (2007)
1938 – McKinley School,{{efn|name=McKinley|A contributing resource to the McKinley Residential Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2008.}} 308 E 1st St, Newton, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/08000670 McKinley Residential Historic District NRHP Registration Form] (2008)
1939 – Cooper Elementary School, 816 Oak St, Newton, Kansas{{Cite web|url=http://hchm.org/tag/cooper-grade-school/|title=Cooper Grade School Archives|website=Harvey County Historical Society|date=18 May 2018 }}
1939 – Jefferson Elementary School (former), 300 S Jefferson Ave, Iola, KansasDavid H. Sachs and George Ehrlich, Guide to Kansas Architecture (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1996): 133-134.
1939 – Lincoln Grade School (former), 700 N Jefferson Ave, Iola, KansasDavid H. Sachs and George Ehrlich, Guide to Kansas Architecture (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1996): 134.
1939 – Sandra Theatre,{{efn|name=Dem|Demolished.}} 121 E William St, Wichita, Kansas{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
1941 – Irving Elementary School, 1642 N Market St, Wichita, Kansas{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

=Lorentz Schmidt & Company, 1920–1925=

1922 – W.O. Van Arsdale House, 201 N Broadway, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/09000500 W.O. Van Arsdale House NRHP Registration Form] (2009)
1923 – McCormick-Armstrong Press Building,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 1501 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KansasMcCormick-Armstrong Press Building NRHP Registration Form (2020)
1923 – Wichita East High School, 2301 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, Kansas
1923 – Woolf Brothers Clothing Company building,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 135 E Douglas St, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/13000221 Woolf Brothers Clothing Company NRHP Registration Form] (2013)
1924 – C. M. Jackman House,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 158 N Roosevelt St, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/07001071 C. M. Jackman House NRHP Registration Form] (2007)
1925 – Chanute Memorial Building, 101 S Lincoln Ave, Chanute, KansasDavid H. Sachs and George Ehrlich, Guide to Kansas Architecture (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1996): 159.
1925 – Will Family Academic Center, Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas
1926 – Powell House,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 330 N Crestway St, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/09000676 Powell House NRHP Registration Form] (2009)
1926 – St. James Episcopal Church,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 3750 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KansasDavid H. Sachs and George Ehrlich, Guide to Kansas Architecture (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1996): 251.

=Schmidt, Boucher & Overend, 1925–1932=

1926 – Winfield City Hall, 200 E 9th Ave, Winfield, KansasDavid H. Sachs and George Ehrlich, Guide to Kansas Architecture (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1996): 216.
1927 – Brown Building,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 105 S Broadway St, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/07001069 Brown Building NRHP Registration Form] (2007)
1927 – Hillcrest Apartments, 115 S Rutan St, Wichita, KansasDavid H. Sachs and George Ehrlich, Guide to Kansas Architecture (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1996): 249-251.
1927 – Innes Department Store,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 220-230 E. William St, Wichita, KansasInnes Department Store NRHP Registration Form (2019)
1929 – Ellis-Singleton Building,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 221 S Broadway, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/06000389 Ellis-Singleton Building NRHP Registration Form] (2006)
1930 – J. Arch Butts Packard Building,{{efn|name=NRHP}} 1525 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, Kansas[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/11000410 J. Arch Butts Packard Building NRHP Registration Form] (2011)
1930 – Pioneer Hall,{{efn|name=NRHP}} Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, Kansas

=Lorentz Schmidt, McVay & Peddie, from 1946=

1948 – Central Christian Church (former), 445 N Market St, Wichita, Kansas"McVay, Wayne Mertin" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 359.
1952 – Catholic Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 124 N Roosevelt St, Wichita, Kansas