Newton J. Tharp

Newton James Tharp (July 28, 1867 – May 12, 1909) was an American architect and painter. He was the city architect for San Francisco. He was the namesake of the Newton J. Tharp Commercial School (1908–1952) on Grove Street in San Francisco. He was a part of the firm Tharp and Holmes.

Early life, family and education Newton James Tharp was born on July 28, 1867, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. His family moved in 1874 to Petaluma, California, where his childhood friend was botanist Luther Burbank.

For four years he attended the San Francisco School of Design (later known as San Francisco Art Institute); together they had two children.

Career After finishing his education, he worked in Chicago, and New York City. This was followed by work with architect Albert L. Farr prior to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He was survived by his wife and one son. The sales of the artwork went to the Tharp family, to help pay for his sons education. Dewey Monument (built 1901), Union Square, San Francisco, California; as Tharp and Holmes, with sculptor Robert Ingersoll Aitken Grant Building (1904), 1095 Market Street, San Francisco Engine House No. 31 (built 1908), 1088 Green Street, San Francisco, California; NRHP-listed San Francisco General Hospital (built 1909), corner of 23rd and Potrero Street, San Francisco, California; Tharp designed the six earliest buildings with brick pattern work, in the 1930s the entrance was designed by Martin Rist Commercial High School (1910), Fell Street at Franklin Street, San Francisco, California; completed after his death, and named in his honor as Newton Tharp Commercial High School Hall of Justice (2nd version, built 1912), southeast corner of Kearny and Washington Streets, San Francisco, California; actively used from 1912–1961