Polk, Willis Jefferson

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Polk, Willis Jefferson (1867–1924). American architect. He worked for several architects (including van Brunt) before establishing himself in San Francisco in 1890. He produced a rich array of architecture, the best of which was influenced by the work of McKim, Mead, & White. He assisted Burnham in preparing the plan for San Francisco (1904–5), and in the years up to the 1914–18 war his buildings were modelled on Burnham's polished Classical manner. However, Hallidie Building, San Francisco (1917–18), was different, having a fully glazed curtain-wall hung from the main framed structure, reckoned to be among the very first examples of its kind, although ornamented in the manner of Sullivan with vaguely Art Nouveau details.

Bibliography

Are, xxxiv (1913), 566–83;
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians xxx/1 (Mar. 1971), 323–9;
Longstreth (1979, 1983);
Placzek (ed.) (1982)
Jane Turner (1996)
S. Woodbridge (ed.) (1976)