Davidson, Julius Ralph, 1889-

Art administrator.

From the description of Julius Davidson interview, 1964. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220193112

From the description of Julius Davidson interview, 1964 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 276394245

From the description of Oral history interview with Julius Davidson, 1964 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 312025529

Biographical Note

J. R. (Julius Ralph) Davidson was born in Berlin 7 February 1889. His early apprenticeship and work as a designer and architect took place in Berlin and London. He worked briefly in Paris before World War I. Returning to Berlin after the war, he set up his own practice there from 1919 to 1923. In 1923 he moved to Los Angeles and maintained his practice there, except for a few years in Chicago during the Depression, until he retired in the early 1970s.

Davidson worked in the office of architect Robert Farquhar during his first years in Los Angeles. He also worked as a set designer for films, under contract with Cecil B. De Mille. His commercial buildings of the 1920s, for which he often designed the interiors, fixtures and furniture, were widely published, including the popular Coconut Grove and High Hat restaurants. His house designs date primarily from the late 1930s. He was invited by John Entenza to participate in the Case Study House program sponsored by Arts and Architecture magazine, 1945-1966. His Case Study house 1 (designed 1945) was finally realized in 1948. He also designed Case Study house 11 (the first of the Case Study houses to be built) and Case Study house 15. Davidson died in Ojai, California 2 May 1977. Although many of Davidson's designs were published during his lifetime, Esther McCoy helped bring international attention to his work when she included him in her book, The Second Generation.

From the guide to the Davidson (Julius Ralph) Collection, Bulk, 1924-1977, 1904-1977, bulk 1924-1977, (Architecture & Design Collection)