Cameron, Ralph, 1892-1970

Ralph Cameron (1892-1970) practiced both commercial and residential architecture in San Antonio and was instrumental in establishing the Texas Society of Architects.

Born in San Antonio in 1892, Ralph Cameron worked in the office of Alfred Giles at age 13 and later, at age 14, worked for Adams and Adams. In 1914 he established his own office in San Antonio but his career was interrupted by the advent of World War I where Cameron served in the U.S. Army. While recuperating from a war injury in France, Cameron attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts at Fontainbleau. He returned to San Antonio in 1919.

Cameron worked in the popular revival styles of the early 20th century. Among his buildings were designs for the Medical Arts Building in San Antonio (1925-26), the competition winning Grace Lutheran Church (1928) and the United States Post Office and Courthouse in San Antonio (1934-37) for which he served as associate architect with Paul Philippe Cret. Cameron also worked extensively in South Texas designing such buildings as the McAllen High School (1928), the A.Y. Baker House in Edinburg (1930) and the Hidalgo State Bank in Mercedes (1929).

Cameron is best known for his residential design in San Antonio and, in 1920, he was appointed to the board of directors of the San Antonio Development Co. which developed the historic Monte Vista neighborhood. Cameron's work spanned the entire range of revival styles popular in the early decades of the 20th century, including the Italianate home of Dr. Oscar H. Judkin (1920), the Georgian Revival Hornaday House (1929), and the Colonial Revivial Spencer-Noble House (1929).

Cameron was again called to serve his country in World War II, serving with the Army Corps of Engineers in North Africa, Italy, France, Germany and Austria. He continued to serve in the Army Reserve Corps until his retirement in 1952.

Cameron was involved in professional affairs and served as the first president for the Texas Society of Architects, as well as the West Texas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He was elected to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects in 1937.

-Lila Knight