This home was not included in the final SOHS Inventory of Frank Clark homes because it was a partnership between Keeney and Paul R. Williams of Los Angeles and Robert Keeney. The best source of information is Oral History 121 with Robert Keeney, pages 136-137. Information below is from correspondence between the SOHS Archivist and Deborah Brackstone, archivist, The Paul Revere Williams Project
From Pat Harper, SOHS to Deborah Brackstone:
I have been hearing interesting facts about Paul Revere Williams designing homes (or buildings?) in Medford, Oregon.
What I have been told is:
· Paul R. Williams designed the Holmes house on Modoc Avenue. (we have information that attributes the home to Keeney/ Frank Clark architects and we believe there may be a relationship between Williams and Clark)
· Williams designed Glenn Jackson's home. Our information shows that Glenn Jackson bought a home designed by Frank Clark. In fact, it was Clark's own home until about 1936. Jackson lived at 2004 Hillcrest prior to buying Clark's home on Main Street. Do you know the address of the home attributed to Williams?
· Williams designed a home (or building?) for Leverette. Leverette had various buildings and a home in Medford. Do you have an address?
If you have additional information on Williams work in Medford, or suggestions for research, we are very interested. We currently have nothing in the Archives.
Thank you. I have included Dawna Curler, a local historian who is giving a talk next year on local architects, on this email.
Medford was originally added to our sheet from a primitive list of projects Karen Hudson included in her first book about her grandfather. Unfortunately time has shown she has made a number errors and unsubstantiated claims. I will have to recheck both the spreadsheet and Hudson book on Monday to see exactly where we stand on Oregon...including why we included Medford in the first place as Medford isn't a place we would have pulled out of thin air.
Will get back to you with more next week. Have a good weekend.
Deborah Brackstone, archivist
The Paul Revere Williams Project
I was able to check our list this morning and our information is unverified from Karen Hudson's original list---provided without documentation.
1. Holmes residence at 217 S. Modic Ave Williams association alterations and additions 1940
2. E A Littrell residence Williams association dated 1948 with no detail
3. Glenn Jackson residence Williams association dated 1953 with no detail
Hope this is of some help.
Have a good weekend.
Deborah
Deborah Brackstone, archivist
The Paul Revere Williams Project
Art Museum
From Harper to Brakstone:
Thank you for getting back to me. I had incorrect information. It was the Littrell building that might have been designed by Williams, not the Leverette. Our inventory credits Clark with the Littrell building, but their evidence was only an interview with Clark's later partner.
Clark did work in Los Angeles before coming to Medford, so we're wondering if there was some collaboration.
I missed your later note until I had hit SEND. Thank you for the additional information. If we can find any information on Williams with those leads we'll let you know.
Dear Ms. Harper-
I was able to check our list this morning and our information is unverified from Karen Hudson's original list---provided without documentation.
1. Holmes residence at 217 S. Modic Ave Williams association alterations and additions 1940
2. E A Littrell residence Williams association dated 1948 with no detail
3. Glenn Jackson residence Williams association dated 1953 with no detail
Hope this is of some help.
Have a good weekend.
Deborah
Deborah Brackstone, archivist
Dear Ms Harper,
Thanks for this information from the oral history.
We have posted essays illustrated with period photos in our GALLERY re the Holmes, Correll (Amos and Andy) and Jay Payley residences. (Don't know if you have had an opportunity to look at them.) Though Williams would not "resell" a design you will note how similar these three homes are...totally Hollywood Georgian Revival though the Holmes" residence is considerably smaller in scale. Except for his catalog work and large-scale tract housing projects, Williams' designs were custom in that they were customized to closely reflect a client's personality and lifestyle. As stated in the essay about the Holmes' residence, Eleanor was an example of an ideal Williams' client. Though Keeney and Clark might have been "on the ground" in Oregon to supervise construction, Williams would have been "hands on" in determining the how the home looked, flowed and complimented Eleanor's sophisticated taste. She must have been an amazing woman!
Thanks again,
Deborah