Harold H. Crawford

Harold Hamilton Crawford (April 6, 1888 – May 8, 1981) was an American architect known for his contributions to early 20th-century architecture in the Midwest, particularly in Rochester, Minnesota, with a long career spanning from 1916-1965.

Early life and education Crawford was born on April 6, 1888, in Beaver Creek, Minnesota, to parents Isaac Franklin "Frank" Crawford (1861–1922) and Carrie Salome Seymour (1860–1936, born in Orion Township near Eyota, MN). He spent some of his early teenage years in Lead, South Dakota, living with his aunt and uncle. He was enrolled as a freshman at the high school in Lead and eventually transferred back to Minnesota to complete high school at Rochester High School. In 1908, Crawford was accepted into the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois, where he was exposed to the architectural styles of Louis Sullivan, Dankmar Adler, Daniel Burnham, and Frank Lloyd Wright in nearby Oak Park. At Illinois, Crawford worked directly under Chicago architects James M. White, James B. Dibelka, and Leon M. Stanhope. He received his Bachelor of Art and Architecture degree in 1913, and worked briefly at the Chicago Building Inspection Department under Mr. Stanhope. From 1914 to 1916, Crawford pursued and was awarded a master's degree in art and architecture from Harvard University. While in Boston, he became friends and colleagues with prominent architect Frank Chouteau Brown, helping spark his enthusiasm for residential design. While at Harvard, he studied drawing under Hermann Dudley Murphy and watercolor painting under Herbert Langford Warren. In 1916, he returned home to Rochester, Minnesota, to be near and care for his mother and start his architectural practice.

Career and architectural style Photograph of Harold H. Crawford at the drafting table, 1920 After returning to Rochester, Crawford’s first commission was for Dr. Christopher Graham, a founding member of the Mayo Clinic. One of his first commissions after the War was for Parish Hall at Cavalry Episcopal Church.

Crawford's architectural style was diverse, producing works adhering to principles found in many different schools including Tudor Revival, Dutch Colonial, Craftsman, Georgian, Mediterranean Revival, and Art Deco, or sometimes borrowing ideas from multiple schools as in the Eclectic School. His use of eclectic details was generally restrained in his works.

Personal life Crawford met his future wife, May Fisher (1886–1945), while on an architectural assignment at the home of Dr. Georgine M. Luden at 618 3rd St SW, where May was residing at the time. They were married on September 10th, 1919 in Dr. Luden's home. Crawford designed his own home (1926) at 514 8th Ave SW, an Arts & Crafts style cottage where the Crawford family lived, along with his mother Carrie, and rented out the lower level; their first tenant in 1927 was Philip Showalter Hench. Furlow Apartments, 512 4th St SW, Rochester (1926)