Austin, John C. W. (John Corneby Wilson), 1870-1963

John Corneby Wilson Austin (1870-1963) was born in Bodicote near Oxfordshire, England on February 13, 1870. He arrived in the United States in 1890 and settled in San Francisco. In 1895, Austin moved to Los Angeles where he became a renowned architect and member of the Los Angeles civic community. Austin served as a senior member of the architectural and engineering firm of Austin, Field & Fry. The collection contains photographs, ephemera, and documents relating to his work as an architect and his participation in Los Angeles civic organizations. Austin's civic and professional duties included the following: Board of Directors, First Methodist Church; President Roosevelt's Labor Mediation Board; State Legislative Advisory Committee on Defense and Employment; Trustee of County Art Institute President of Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles; Organizer of Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce construction industries department; Jonathan Club member; joined in 1903; President of club (1916-17); President and member of the Scribes; President and member of the Historical Society of Southern California; Member of the Lincoln Club and Town Hall; 32nd Degree Mason; Member of Al Malaikah Shrine (Shrine Auditorium). At the time of his death on September 3, 1963, Austin was survived by his wife, Dorothy, and seven children: sons William G. Austin of San Diego, and Harold M. Austin of Canoga Park; and daughters Mrs. Marjorie A. Fry of Pasadena, Gwendolen Austin of Los Angeles, Mrs. Violet H. Stauffer of New York City, Mrs. Angela M. Olcott of Villanova, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Phyllis J. Keithley of Bishop. In addition, Austin had fourteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren at the time of his death.

Biography

At the time of his death on September 3, 1963, Austin was survived by his wife, Dorothy, and seven children: sons William G. Austin of San Diego, and Harold M. Austin of Canoga Park; and daughters Mrs. Marjorie A. Fry of Pasadena, Gwendolen Austin of Los Angeles, Mrs. Violet H. Stauffer of New York City, Mrs. Angela M. Olcott of Villanova, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Phyllis J. Keithley of Bishop. In addition, Austin had fourteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren at the time of his death.