George Sellon
George Clinton Sellon | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 3, 1881 |
| Died | October 13, 1954 (aged 73) |
| Alma mater | Chicago Art Institute |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Sellon & Hemmings (1908-1909) |
George Clinton Sellon (February 2, 1881—October 13, 1954) was an architect who designed a number of important works in California, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Life
Sellon was born in San Francisco[1] on February 2, 1881.[2] At some point he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he finished high school[3] and then studied at the Chicago Art Institute.[4] Sellon also married Margaret Hughes (born c. 1882) in Chicago in 1904, and the two had two children together, Walter (born in Illinois c. 1905) and Virginia (born in Virginia c. 1907).[2]
Sellon returned with his family to San Francisco following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.[4] He died on October 13, 1954.[2]
Career
Sellon was the first state architect of California,[1][4] a position he held in partnership with E. Charles Hemmings from 1907 to 1909.[5] The two also held a private partnership, Sellon & Hemmings, from 1908 to 1909.[6]
Sellon resigned from his State Architect position on May 1, 1909 in response to a newly-passed state resolution that prevented those in the position from working on private commissions or their own designs.[7] He then formed his own private practice, where he remained until he retired in 1954. The firm continued after his retirement, at some point changing names to Lionakis Beaumont and later to just Lionakis.[4]
Architectural style
Sellon is considered a master of the Prairie School and Arts and Crafts styles.[4] He also designed in numerous other styles, including Art Deco, Chicago Vertical, Classical Revival (including Gothic, Mediterranean, Renaissance, and Spanish Renaissance), Moderne, Spanish Colonial Revival, and more.[3]
List of works
California
National Register of Historic Places
- Agnews Insane Asylum (1906), Santa Clara[8]
- Sonoma Developmental Center (1908), Sonoma[3][8]
- American Cash Apartments-American Cash Store (1909), Sacramento[8]
- Cranston-Geary House (1909), Sacramento[8]
- Lassen County Court House (1917), Susanville[9]
- Colusa High School and Grounds (1925-1926), Colusa[2][8]
- Auburn City Hall and Fire House (1935-1937), Auburn[10]
- Nevada County Courthouse (1936-1937), Nevada City[11]
- Nevada City City Hall (1937), Nevada City[11]
- Truckee Veterans Memorial Building (1939), Truckee[3][8]
- Normal School Teacher Training Building at San Diego State University, San Diego[8]
- one or more works in the Jackson Downtown Historic District, Jackson[8]
Other
- Hotel Sacramento (1907-1909), Sacramento[6]
- California State Insectary (1908), Sacramento[1][4]
- Cottage #1, Cottage #2, and Cottage #3 at California Polytechnic State University (1908), San Luis Obispo[2]
- granite walls surrounding Folsom State Prison (pre-1910), Represa[2]
- Tower Hall at San Jose State University (1910), San Jose[12]
- Plumas County Courthouse (1920), Quincy[3]
- Tehama County Courthouse (1922), Red Bluff[3]
- California-Western States Life Insurance Company Building (1924-1925), Sacramento[2]
- Ramona Building (1930), Sacramento[3]
- Grass Valley Veterans Memorial Building (1932), Grass Valley
- Colfax Elementary School (1937), Colfax[13]
- Amador County Courthouse (1939), Jackson[3]
- Placer County Jail (1940s), Auburn[13]
- Sacramento Hospital's north and south wings (1949), Sacramento[4]
- Nevada City Veterans Memorial Building (1953), Nevada City
- Sierra County Courthouse (1954), Downieville[3]
- Tahoe Forest Hospital (mid 1950s), Truckee
- San Quentin Penitentiary, San Quentin[3]
Elsewhere
- California Building at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, (1908-1909), Seattle, WA[2]
References
- ^ a b c "The History of Capitol Park". California State Capitol Museum. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Michelson, Alan. "George Clinton Sellon". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. University of Washington. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Pape, Karl (June 2014). "Architect of the Truckee Memorial Veterans Building" (PDF). Truckee Historical Society. p. 4-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hooper, Lyn (Winter 2018). "California State Insectary – Historic American Buildings Survey" (PDF). Savannah College of Art and Design.
- ^ Michelson, Alan. "State of California, Department of Engineering, Department of Architecture, Sellon, George, State Architecture (State Architect)". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. University of Washington. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Image / Hotel Sacramento Architectural Drawing". Calisphere. University of California. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form".
- ^ a b c d e f g h "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
- ^ Mikesell, Stephen D.; Byrd, David S. (February 8, 1997). "Lassen County Court House". National Park Service. Retrieved April 19, 2019. With accompanying 26 photos
- ^ NRHP (November 2011). National Register Historic Places. File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: California, 1/1/1964 - 12/31/2013. Retrieved October 26, 2020 – via National Archives Catalog.
- ^ a b "Nevada City Downtown Historic District". National Park Service. September 23, 1985. and accompanying photos
- ^ "Tower Hall". SJSU Digital Collections.
- ^ a b Thomson, Gus (November 21, 2019). "Lost Landmark: When a gym won out over art deco style". Gold Country Media.