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Van Dorn Hooker Papers

 Collection
Identifier: UNMA-162

Scope and Content Note

The collection spans Mr. Hooker's career as University Architect, University of New Mexico, 1963-1987. It consists of materials related mostly to his professional societies and personal research. The collection contains materials relating to Hooker's work on the New Mexico State Capitol, and his publications, Only in New Mexico, Centuries of hands : an architectural history of St. Francis of Assisi Church and its missions, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico : and the historic American buildings surveys of St. Francis of Assisi Church and the Chapel of Our Lady of Talpa . The collection also includes numerous personal awards of Mr. Hooker's, as well as an oral history conducted with him.

Dates

  • 1947-2000

Creator

Language of Materials

English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Biography

Van Dorn Hooker, architect, was born in Carthage, Texas, in 1921. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force, 1943-1945, then returned to college. Receiving a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas, Austin he practiced in Texas until relocating to New Mexico in 1951. He worked for various firms, including Meem, Zehner and Holien, until he and partner John McHugh formed their own practice in 1956.

Mr. Hooker was a key player in many of the defining moments of UNM architecture. He helped usher in a new phase of Spanish-Pueblo Style architecture, which began with the completion of the College of Education (1963). During his tenure, there were 75 major construction, addition and remodel projects on the campus. In addition, the University received more than 30 design awards for buildings and landscapes during his 24-year career. Following his retirement, Mr. Hooker worked on several major remodel and preservation projects including Ranchos de Taos and the State Capitol.

Extent

12 Cubic Feet (11 boxes, 1 oversize box, 1 slide cabinet)

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically and by date. It includes professional groups and boards that he was a member of, manuscripts of his books, Ranchos de Taos and Century of Hands.

Related Material

University of New Mexico Dept. of Facility Planning Records Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico. Oral History Interviews of the Architectural Heritage of New Mexico Oral History Project, Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico. Van Dorn and Marjorie Mead Hooker Architectural Drawings and Plans, Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico.
Title
Finding Aid of the Van Dorn Hooker Papers, 1947-2000
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by CSWR staff
Date
©2000
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451