Laird, Warren Powers, 1861-1948

Great-great-nephew of Abigail Powers Fillmore.

Although Warren P. Laird did comparatively little in the way of conventional architectural design, his career as an "advisor" on architectural competitions and projects greatly influenced many important commissions in the United States before the Depression. Laird also played a crucial role in shaping the School of Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania as its first dean in the period when its architectural program became one of the best in the nation.

Laird was born in Winona, MN, the son of Lydia Powers and Matthew James Laird, and was educated in public schools before entering the special course in architecture at Cornell University in 1885. After completing the course in 1887 he was an instructor there during the academic year 1887-1888. Early biographical sources indicate that Laird also apprenticed and/or worked for six years in architectural offices (three in Minnesota and three in Boston and New York), presumably before studying at Cornell. During 1890-1891, Laird traveled in Europe, perhaps studying at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 1891, he came to Philadelphia to become the director of the architecture program in the Towne School at the University of Pennsylvania. Laird's professional standards and superb administrative abilities led to widespread demand for his opinions as a consultant, planner, advisor, and arbitrator for private and government clients. When the School of Fine Arts was established at Penn in 1920, Laird was named its first dean. He retired from this position in 1931, and was succeeded by George S. Koyl.