Litchfield, Electus D. (Electus Darwin), 1872-1952

Well known in the field of architecture, Litchfield began his career at the firm of Carrere and Hastings, where he worked until 1908. Over the following 42 years he worked at a number of firms as well as founding his own, Litchfield and Rogers, but spent most of his career in private practice. A versatile designer, Litchfield was responsible for numerous public buildings, monuments, and private residences. Throughout his career he advocated historic preservation and urged the construction of parks and playgrounds. In addition to his design work, Litchfield served on several of New York's city planning commissions.

Litchfield was born in New York, graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute in 1889 and attended the M.E. Stevens Institute of Technology in 1892. He worked for two years for Carrere & Hastings, and then became a member of Lord & Hewlett, architects, from 1901-1908. Litchfield became a partner in Tracy, Swartwout & Litchfield (1908-1913) before starting an independent office. In 1919, he entered the partnership that became Electus D. Litchfield & Rogers, but started an independent practice again in 1926.

Litchfield designed many prominent buildings throughout the United States, including the Denver Post Office and Courthouse, the St. Paul Public Library and the James J. Hill Reference Library (St. Paul), the Albany (N.Y.) Post Office, Brooklyn Masonic Temble, New York City Club (800 Park Ave.),and Great Northern Railroad monuments in Oregon, Washington State, and other places. Kirk Hall on Macalester College campus was designed (1926) by Litchfield in collaboration with William Ingemann of St. Paul.

Architect.

Litchfield was active in New York City. He worked independently, and in partnership with Pliny Rogers (1882-1930) as Electus D. Litchfield & Rogers, and with Tracy, Swartout & Litchfield from 1908-1912.

Electus Darwin Litchfield was born in New York on April 25, 1872. He graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute in 1889 and attended the M.E. Stevens Institute of Technology in 1892. He worked for two years in the firm of Carrere & Hastings, then became a member of the firm of Lord & Hewlett, architects (1901-1908). He was a partner in the practice of Tracy, Swartwout & Litchfield (1908-1913), before setting up his own office. In 1919, he created the firm of Electus D. Litchfield & Rogers, and in 1926, he again went into private practice. Litchfield died in New York on November 27, 1952.

Litchfield designed a number of prominent buildings throughout the United States, including the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Denver; the St. Paul Public Library and James J. Hill Reference Library, St. Paul; the Astoria Column, Astoria, Oregon; and the U.S. Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House, Albany, New York. He also designed several structures in New York, including the Brooklyn Masonic Temple; the City Club, 800 Park Avenue; numerous apartment buildings; and was town planner of Yorkship Village, a permanent industrial town of 1,700 built during World War I for the Emergency Fleet Corporation, New York Shipbuilding Company. In addition, he designed several monuments in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota for the Great Northern Railroad. Litchfield associated with William Ingemann of St. Paul in the design of Kirk Hall (1926) on the campus of Macalester College, St. Paul.