George Franklin Barber

Biography

Early life and career

Barber was born in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1854, the son of Lyman and Cornelia Spring Barber. In 1884, Barber patented a nail-holding attachment for hammers. The earliest buildings constructed from Barber's designs include the Charles E. Bradt House (1887) and the Congregational Church (1888), both in DeKalb.

Catalog business The Charles and Anna Drain House (Drain Castle), built in Drain, Oregon between 1893 and 1895. In late 1888, Barber relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, in hopes that the city's mountainous climate would be better for his declining health. He designed over a dozen houses for this suburb, including his own house, which still stands at 1635 Washington Avenue, and the W.O. Haworth and F.E. McArthur houses, which still stand on Washington and Jefferson Avenues and appeared in some of Barber's catalogs.

In 1890, Barber published The Cottage Souvenir No. 2, which contained 59 house plans, as well as plans for 2 barns, a chapel, a church, 2 storefronts, and several pavilions. the Donnelly House in Mount Dora, Florida, all of which still stand and are listed on the National Register. He also remained active on a local level in Knoxville, with the Romanesque-inspired Isaac Ziegler House on 4th Avenue, and a house built for his printer, S.B. Newman, which still stands in Old North Knoxville.

In the early 1900s, Barber began to phase out his mail-order business and with the help of his brother, Manly, focused on Knoxville-area building projects. The publication of American Homes was moved to New York in 1902, though Barber remained a regular contributor for several years afterward.

Works

The Queen Anne-style I.W.P. Buchanan House in Lebanon, Tennessee The bulk of Barber's business followed the "catalog architecture" model popularized by earlier architects such as Palliser, Palliser & Company. Barber's great innovation was his willingness to personalize his designs for individual clients at moderate cost.

In discussing his architectural philosophy, Barber argued that nature has "faithfully and accurately adhered to the Divine law of harmony," and that no place should adhere more closely to the fundamental principles of nature than one's house.

Many extant Barber houses are still used as residences, while others house museums, bed and breakfasts, and office space. Barber houses have provided inspiration for Christmas cards, wall hangings, and at least one dollhouse model. and Bartlett Hall at Maryville College.