Los Angeles
County
Biographies
CLARENCE H. RAWLINGS
For
more than thirty years Mr. Clarence H. Rawlings has been a successful
architect. He has achieved a place of
exceptional importance in the field of architecture for designing a number of
school buildings, one of which, the Judge William Northrup Elementary School,
is most outstanding in every detail.
Born
in Tustin, California, on April 6, 1900, Mr. Rawlings is the son of Thomas and
Margaret (Cummins) Rawlings. His father
was born in Maidston, England. He came to the United States and was
naturalized at a very young age. His
mother, who was born in Illinois, came to California when she was about twelve
years of age. At the age of 92 she is a
resident of Tustin, California.
Educated
in elementary schools in Tustin, Mr. Rawlings attended Santa Ana High School
and was graduated from Caldwell High School in Idaho in 1921. After receiving his degree in Architecture
from the University of California at Berkeley in 1927, he did post graduate
work at the University of Pennsylvania until 1929. The choice of the University of Pennsylvania
was to fulfill an ambition to study under Mr. Paul Cret, the foremost architect
of his time, but Mr. Cret had retired from regular teaching in 1928. Mr. Rawlings did fill an opening in the
office of Mr. Cret, for a few months in 1929, learning and gaining valuable
experience in architectural design.
Following
the termination of his employment with Mr. Cret, Mr. Rawlings set off for a
trip to Europe, with only four hundred dollars in his pocket. He had saved his money over a period of time
so that he was able to go abroad, where he stayed for five months. When he returned to the United States, he
worked in Santa Ana, California, for one year, but since these were the
‘depression years,’ jobs were hard to keep.
For several years Mr. Rawlings was employed in the offices of Fred
Kennedy, S. Charles Lee and others in Pasadena and Los Angeles, prior to taking
the State Board Examination, which he passed, thereby becoming a licensed
architect. At this time he opened his
own office in Los Angeles.
Four years later
in 1942 Mr. Rawlings entered the military service, receiving a commission in
the Coast Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Division, serving overseas on training
missions. Upon returning to civilian
life, he became associated in a partnership with Richard C. Farrell, a well
known architect in Alhambra. When Mr. Farrell
passed away in 1947, Mr. Rawlings continued on with his own office which is
located at 204 North Second Street in Alhambra.
On
August 23, 1942, Mr. Rawlings married the former Madeline Kendall in the First
Congregational Church of Los Angeles.
They have one son, Phillip Kendall Rawlings, who is a student at
Pasadena City College.
Mr. Rawlings is a member of the Alhambra
Chamber of Commerce; an active member of the Alhambra Rotary Club, in which he
has a twelve year perfect attendance record; and in line with his profession,
he is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Pasadena Chapter, and
the California Council of American Institute of Architects.
Mr.
Rawlings is a former member of the Presbyterian Church of Tustin,
California. Mrs. Rawlings has been a
member of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.
A
favorite avocation of Mr. Rawlings is watercolor painting and photography, for
which he has won several prizes at Church Art Exhibits.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 495-496, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES