Wrenn, Lewis and Jencks Architectural Collection

Collection is partially processed. A prior-appointment is strongly encouraged so that the requested item[s] may be retrieved in advance.

Architectural plans, drawings, photographs, correspondence, and job specifications from the architectural firm of Wrenn, Lewis, and Jencks.

Format for "Series 2: Personal, Office, and Job Papers" - Location (if applicable); description; type of document (personal/office/job). Personal files are non-work related documents, office files are typically financial papers or reference information for the Wrenn, Lewis and Jencks office, and job files are drawings and correspondence concerning the building described in the box's description section. Sometimes dates are found in the description section; this is due to the existence of various files of significantly different dates, where a date range would be too broad a categorization.

NOTE: Tube Index found in Series 2 was created by the Wrenn, Lewis and Jencks Architectural Firm and the numbers contained within no longer correspond to tube contents due to reorganization.

NOTE: Carroll - Caton House renovation plans at B5/05/03/21.

NOTE: Series 5, donation from Baltimore Architecture Foundation via JHU Libraries includes drawings from Robert E. Lewis' time in school at the Pennsylvania School of Architecture.

Overview history of Wrenn, Lewis, and Jencks (1929-1979)

Despite the firm's founding at the onset of the Great Depression, just two days after the stock market crashed, the association possessed the financial backing to weather the harsh economic times of the 1930s. The wealthy Jencks pledged a portion of his personal fortune to guarantee a specified income level for all his co-partners. In the founding agreement Wrenn was charged with making preliminary designs, drawings and sketches. Yet, with the possible exception of Herbert J. Westenhaver, the designated field superintendent, all partners engaged in design work.

 By 1933, the combined experience of the members allowed it to claim prior involvement in the building of residences, public and private buildings. In that same year, Westenhaver severed his connection with the firm. During the thirties the bulk of the firm's design work consisted of private residences, mostly in the Guilford and Homeland sections in Baltimore, and several buildings on the Johns Hopkins University campus. The neo-classical Johns Hopkins Club (1936) and the Frederick Douglass Homes, a minimalist public housing project (1939), stand out as the major large-scale projects during this period. The firm maintained a close association with Johns Hopkins University for over forty years, eventually winning contracts to build laboratories, libraries, classrooms, dormitories, and even supervising the restoration of Homewood House.

Little is known about the partnership’s activities during World War II. Very few job specifications for this period have been discovered. It is not difficult to imagine that non-military or non-defense related construction slowed to a trickle. A government ban on the building of private residences, with the exception of those for servicemen, curtailed activity at many firms. Jencks took a leave of absence to serve as naval officer for the duration of the conflict. Wrenn departed the firm in 1946 and it is probable that most of the design work rested with Robert Lewis from that point forward. The post-war prosperity and the resultant building boom allowed the firm ample opportunity for project competition. From 1946 to 1979, Lewis and Jencks, sometimes working with other architects, such as Alexander Cochran (Flag House Courts, 1953) and Fisher, Nes and Campbell (Walters Art Gallery addition, 1958) designed a diverse range of buildings in mostly the central region of Maryland. These projects fell into several broad categories: private residences, public housing, public buildings, educational buildings, banks, and museums. In addition, the firm designed at least one radio station; restaurant; hospital, and a "Garden Home" development. In 1957 the partnership reported that it had completed eight projects that ranged from the wing of an art museum to private school faculty housing.

With Jencks retirement in 1977, Lewis remained the firm's sole practicing partner until its demise in 1979. Preliminary research indicates the firm won an AIA Certificate of Merit in 1956 from the Baltimore Chapter for its work with Alexander Cochran on the Flag House courts project.