C.R. Carr Architectural Drawings and Plans
Collection
Identifier: SWA-Carr-Drawings
Scope and Content
The C.R. Carr Architectural Drawings and Plans collection contains architectural drawings and plans for buildings in New Mexico, predominantly for Roswell, New Mexico. The drawings consist of floor plans, elevations and details of both public buildings and private residences, produced by Carr, and the firms, C.R.Carr & Co., and Carr & Gardner. Included are hospitals, schools, churches, hotels, a library, professional buildings, residences, and additions to an armory building. Carr’s designs employed regional styles such as the Spanish Colonial Revival style, as seen in the First Christian Church of Roswell (1914), the Hotel Lovington (1917), and the J.P. White, Jr. Residence (1931, 1932). The Roswell Woman’s Club (1929) reflects the Mission Revival style.
Specific items in the collection are: Julius Garst Bldg., Roswell, New Mexico (1906); Hotel Lovington, Lovington, New Mexico (1917); St. Mary’s Hospital, Roswell, New Mexico (1918); St. Francis Hospital, Carlsbad, New Mexico (1921); Fire Station/ City of Carrizozo, New Mexico (1929); Roswell Woman’s Club, Roswell, New Mexico (1929); First National Bank of Hagerman, Hagerman, New Mexico (1932); Major James R. Kelley Residence, Roswell, New Mexico (1936); Armory Building, Roswell, New Mexico (1938); Roswell City Hall Bldg., Roswell, New Mexico (1938); Elza White Residence, Roswell, New Mexico (no date).
Specific items in the collection are: Julius Garst Bldg., Roswell, New Mexico (1906); Hotel Lovington, Lovington, New Mexico (1917); St. Mary’s Hospital, Roswell, New Mexico (1918); St. Francis Hospital, Carlsbad, New Mexico (1921); Fire Station/ City of Carrizozo, New Mexico (1929); Roswell Woman’s Club, Roswell, New Mexico (1929); First National Bank of Hagerman, Hagerman, New Mexico (1932); Major James R. Kelley Residence, Roswell, New Mexico (1936); Armory Building, Roswell, New Mexico (1938); Roswell City Hall Bldg., Roswell, New Mexico (1938); Elza White Residence, Roswell, New Mexico (no date).
Dates
- 1906-1940
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.
Biographical Information
Columbus Redmond Carr was born on December 18, 1865 in White County, Tennessee. He attended private schools in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee, including Andrew Jackson College. Under Col. William C. Smith, he obtained special architectural training, and began his architectural career in Sparta and Livingston, Tennessee.
Carr traveled to Fort Worth, Texas where he designed and oversaw the construction of the original Fort Worth Packing Company. He continued west to work as a construction engineer on the Pecos Valley Railroad. The route stretched from Pecos, Texas to what is now called Carlsbad, New Mexico. When the railroad reached Roswell, New Mexico in 1894, Carr took up residence.
In 1896, the New Mexico Military Institute commissioned C.R. Carr to design Lea Hall, their first administration and classroom building. Completed in 1898, the three story brick structure was modeled after a classic turn of the century academic building. Deemed Roswell’s premier architect, Carr designed numerous public and private buildings. Funded by a Tennessee physician named Julius Garst, Carr invested thirty thousand dollars in an office building on Roswell’s Main Street. The Julius Garst Building (1906), comprised small stores on the street level and offices on the second floor. Carr leased rooms in the Julius Garst Building for living space in lieu of an architectural fee. Carr furthered his community service by helping to establish the Roswell Club, a social organization and early occupant of the Julius Garst Building. The club eventually developed into the Roswell Chamber of Commerce. Other prominent Roswell buildings designed by Carr include: Central High School Building (1902); the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant (1930); and Hondo Hall (1925). He also designed buildings in a number of other New Mexico communities, such as Hotel Lovington, Lovington, New Mexico (1917); and St. Francis Hospital in Carlsbad, New Mexico (1921).
Carr collaborated with several partners during his career. James Monroe Nelson practiced with Carr, from 1910-1919. During the late1920s and early 1930s, Carr partnered with architect Richard Gardner. Frank M. Standhardt practiced with Carr from 1936-1939. During this period, commissions were received for both the Roswell Museum and Art Center (1936), and Roswell’s City Hall (1937).
From the inception of the New Mexico Architects Examining Board in 1931, Carr served as a member until 1939. He was also a member of the National Association of Architects. Carr’s single-minded commitment towards the passage of the Architectural Registration Law for New Mexico was his greatest achievement. For his efforts, he received the first registered New Mexico license for architecture.
C. R. Carr developed diabetes and died of a heart ailment in Roswell, New Mexico, on December 12, 1940.
Carr traveled to Fort Worth, Texas where he designed and oversaw the construction of the original Fort Worth Packing Company. He continued west to work as a construction engineer on the Pecos Valley Railroad. The route stretched from Pecos, Texas to what is now called Carlsbad, New Mexico. When the railroad reached Roswell, New Mexico in 1894, Carr took up residence.
In 1896, the New Mexico Military Institute commissioned C.R. Carr to design Lea Hall, their first administration and classroom building. Completed in 1898, the three story brick structure was modeled after a classic turn of the century academic building. Deemed Roswell’s premier architect, Carr designed numerous public and private buildings. Funded by a Tennessee physician named Julius Garst, Carr invested thirty thousand dollars in an office building on Roswell’s Main Street. The Julius Garst Building (1906), comprised small stores on the street level and offices on the second floor. Carr leased rooms in the Julius Garst Building for living space in lieu of an architectural fee. Carr furthered his community service by helping to establish the Roswell Club, a social organization and early occupant of the Julius Garst Building. The club eventually developed into the Roswell Chamber of Commerce. Other prominent Roswell buildings designed by Carr include: Central High School Building (1902); the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant (1930); and Hondo Hall (1925). He also designed buildings in a number of other New Mexico communities, such as Hotel Lovington, Lovington, New Mexico (1917); and St. Francis Hospital in Carlsbad, New Mexico (1921).
Carr collaborated with several partners during his career. James Monroe Nelson practiced with Carr, from 1910-1919. During the late1920s and early 1930s, Carr partnered with architect Richard Gardner. Frank M. Standhardt practiced with Carr from 1936-1939. During this period, commissions were received for both the Roswell Museum and Art Center (1936), and Roswell’s City Hall (1937).
From the inception of the New Mexico Architects Examining Board in 1931, Carr served as a member until 1939. He was also a member of the National Association of Architects. Carr’s single-minded commitment towards the passage of the Architectural Registration Law for New Mexico was his greatest achievement. For his efforts, he received the first registered New Mexico license for architecture.
C. R. Carr developed diabetes and died of a heart ailment in Roswell, New Mexico, on December 12, 1940.
Extent
2 Drawers (0.36 linear ft.)
Abstract
The C.R. Carr Architectural Drawings and Plans collection contains 32 sets of architectural drawings and plans, designed by architect C.R. Carr and the firms, C.R. Carr & Co., and Carr & Gardner. The plans consist of public buildings and residences primarily from the Roswell, New Mexico area.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the C.R. Carr Architectural Drawings and Plans, 1906-1940
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Ellen Evans-Colburn
- Date
- © 2007
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
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
cswrref@unm.edu
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
cswrref@unm.edu