Dielmann, Leo M. J. (Leo Maria Joseph), 1881-1969

A native San Antonian, Leo Maria Joseph Dielmann was a product of the flourishing German-American community of south-central Texas. His father, John Charles Dielmann (1849-1923), was born in Hellenhahn, Germany, and immigrated to Texas in 1872. A stonemason, he became a partner in the San Antonio construction and building supplies business Pauly and Dielmann. He later formed his own company, J. C. Dielmann Co., and was involved in numerous building projects in San Antonio and across Texas. He was active in city affairs and in the German community. He was the first president of the Katholischer Staats-verband von Texas (the Catholic State League of Texas) and a participant in many other church and civic groups.

Leo M. J. Dielmann was born on 1881 August 14, the second of nine children of John C. Dielmann and Maria Gros Dielmann. Following his graduation from St. Mary's College in San Antonio in 1898, Leo M. J. Dielmann studied architecture and engineering in Germany. Returning to San Antonio, he worked as an architect and an officer in his father's business. In 1909 he was appointed City Building Inspector by Mayor Bryan Callaghan, serving for three years. From 1913-1914, he was an Alderman-at-large for the City of San Antonio.

Dielmann left the J. C. Dielmann Co. and set up an independent architectural business. As an architect, Dielmann designed businesses, churches, institutional buildings, residences, and numerous other types of public and private structures throughout Texas. His churches and other church-related buildings are particularly noted and include San Antonio’s Fort Sam Houston Post Chapel, the Conventual Chapel at Our Lady of the Lake University, and churches in Brenham, High Hill, Boerne, Seguin, Weimar, and many other communities. He was also involved in such familiar San Antonio structures as the Joske Brothers Building and several area schools.

Dielmann was active in several civic and fraternal organizations, serving for many years on the San Antonio Public Library Board of Trustees. He was a prominent member of the Order of the Sons of Hermann as the president of the Harmonia Lodge and a committee member for the Home for the Aged in Comfort, Texas. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Order of the Alhambra, and St. Joseph's Society. His interest in music was demonstrated by membership in the San Antonio Liederkranz singing society.

Dielmann married Ella Marie Wagner in 1911. The couple had three children, and their son, Leo M. J. Dielmann, Jr., followed his father into the architectural profession. Leo M. J. Dielmann died in San Antonio on 1969 December 21.

References

Davis, Ellis A., and Edwin H. Grobe, comps. and eds. The New Encyclopedia of Texas . Dallas: Texas Development Bureau, 1930[?].

Leo M. J. Dielmann biographical file, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library.

Dielmann's Review: Featuring the Architectural Attainments and Views of Perspective Architectural Drawings of Leo M.J. Dielmann, Architect . San Antonio, undated.

Jonas, Jason K. "John Charles Dielmann: Pioneer Businessman of San Antonio." Texas Historian XLV (September 1984): 1-7.

Newlan, Ralph Edward. Leo M. J. Dielmann: Ecclesiology and the Continuation of a German Gothic Architectural Tradition in Twentieth Century Texas . M.A. thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 1988.

Robinson, Willard B. "To the Glory of God: Texas Churches Designed by Leo M.J. Dielmann." Journal of Texas Catholic History 2 (March 1991): 26-53.

Southwest Texans . San Antonio: Southwest Publications, 1952[?].

Strong, Bernice. "Leo Maria Joseph Dielmann." Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fdi25 .

A native San Antonian, Leo Maria Joseph Dielmann was a product of the flourishing German-American community of south-central Texas. His father, John Charles Dielmann (1849-1923), was born in Hellenhahn, Germany, and immigrated to Texas in 1872. A stonemason, he became a partner in the San Antonio construction and building supplies business, Pauly and Dielmann. He later formed his own company, J. C. Dielmann Co., and was involved in numerous building projects in San Antonio and across Texas. He was active in city affairs and the German community. He was the first president of the Katholischer Staats-verband von Texas (the Catholic State League of Texas) and was a participant in many other church and civic groups.

Leo M. J. Dielmann was born on 1881 August 14, the second of nine children of John C. Dielmann and Maria Gros Dielmann. Following his graduation from St. Mary's College in San Antonio in 1898, Leo M. J. Dielmann studied architecture and engineering in Germany. Returning to San Antonio, he worked as an architect and an officer in his father's business. In 1909 he was appointed City Building Inspector by Mayor Bryan Callaghan, serving for three years. From 1913-1914, he was an Alderman-at-large for the City of San Antonio.

Dielmann left the J. C. Dielmann Co. and set up an independent architectural business. As an architect, Dielmann designed businesses, churches, institutional buildings, residences, and numerous other types of public and private structures throughout Texas. His churches and other church-related buildings are particularly noted and include San Antonio’s Fort Sam Houston Post Chapel, the Conventual Chapel at Our Lady of the Lake University, and churches in Brenham, High Hill, Boerne, Seguin, Weimar, and many other communities. He was also involved in such familiar San Antonio structures as the Joske Brothers Building and several area schools.

Dielmann was active in several civic and fraternal organizations, serving for many years on the San Antonio Public Library Board of Trustees. He was a prominent member of the Order of the Sons of Hermann as the president of the Harmonia Lodge and a committee member for the Home for the Aged in Comfort, Texas. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Order of the Alhambra, and St. Joseph's Society. His interest in music was demonstrated by membership in the San Antonio Liederkranz singing society.

Dielmann married Ella Marie Wagner in 1911. The couple had three children, and their son, Leo M. J. Dielmann, Jr., followed his father into the architectural profession. Leo M. J. Dielmann died in San Antonio on 1969 December 21.

References

Davis, Ellis A., and Edwin H. Grobe, comps. and eds. The New Encyclopedia of Texas . Dallas: Texas Development Bureau, 1930[?].

Leo M. J. Dielmann biographical file, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library.

Dielmann's Review: Featuring the Architectural Attainments and Views of Perspective Architectural Drawings of Leo M.J. Dielmann, Architect . San Antonio, undated.

Jonas, Jason K. "John Charles Dielmann: Pioneer Businessman of San Antonio." Texas Historian XLV (September 1984): 1-7.

Newlan, Ralph Edward. Leo M. J. Dielmann: Ecclesiology and the Continuation of a German Gothic Architectural Tradition in Twentieth Century Texas . M. A. thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 1988.

Robinson, Willard B. "To the Glory of God: Texas Churches Designed by Leo M.J. Dielmann." Journal of Texas Catholic History 2 (March 1991): 26-53.

Southwest Texans . San Antonio: Southwest Publications, 1952[?].

Strong, Bernice. "Leo Maria Joseph Dielmann." Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fdi25 .

Born to John Charles and Maria (Gros) Dielmann in San Antonio, Texas, Leo Maria Joseph Dielmann (1881-1969) graduated from St. Mary's College in 1898 before studying architecture and engineering in Germany. Appointed city building inspector of San Antonio in 1909, he also served as a city alderman for two years. Early in his career, Dielmann worked at his father's building materials firm. He then devoted himself to architectural design, particularly for churches, for the first half of the 20th century. Among his designs across Texas are the Fort Sam Houston Post Chapel; the Conventual Chapel, the Science Hall, and other buildings at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio; and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fredericksburg. Dielmann was also a trustee of the San Antonio Public Library, a member of the Texas Society of Architects, and president of Harmonia Lodge of the Sons of Hermann in Texas.

Source:

Strong, Bernice. " Dielmann, Leo Maria Joseph ." Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed May 17, 2011.

Born to John Charles and Maria (Gros) Dielmann in San Antonio, Texas, Leo Maria Joseph Dielmann (1881-1969) graduated from St. Mary's College in 1898 before studying architecture and engineering in Germany.

Appointed city building inspector of San Antonio in 1909, he also served as a city alderman for two years. Early in his career, Dielmann worked at his father's building materials firm. He then devoted himself to architectural design, particularly for churches, for the first half of the 20th century. Among his designs across Texas are the Fort Sam Houston Post Chapel; the Conventual Chapel, the Science Hall, and other buildings at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio; and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fredericksburg. Dielmann was also a trustee of the San Antonio Public Library, a member of the Texas Society of Architects, and president of Harmonia Lodge of the Sons of Hermann in Texas.