George Caleb Wright

George Caleb Wright
Born	(1889-04-25)April 25, 1889 Libertyville, Illinois
Died	February 27, 1973(1973-02-27) (aged 83)
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Illinois (1912)
Occupation	Architect
Practice	Pierre & Wright Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager Wright, Porteous & Lowe
Buildings	Indiana State Library and Historical Building

George Caleb Wright, AIA, (April 25, 1889 – February 27, 1973) was an American architect from Indiana. He was a partner in the Indianapolis, Indiana, architectural firms of Pierre & Wright, Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager (formed 1946),[1] and Wright, Porteous & Lowe, and was later chief building inspector for the City of Indianapolis.

Early life and education

Wright was born April 25, 1889, in Libertyville, Illinois, where he attended his education until the high school level. He then attended the University of Illinois from 1908 to 1912, earning a degree in architecture and engineering.

Early career

He worked for the International Harvester Company from 1912 to 1915, George C. Nimmons & Co. from 1915 to 1923, and Herbert Foltz from 1923 to 1925 until he formed Pierre & Wright. In addition, he was a construction supervisor during World War I for the army.^[citation needed] He relocated to Indianapolis from Chicago in 1923.[2]

Pierre & Wright (1925–1944)

Pierre & Wright, formed 1925, was responsible for many landmarks in Indianapolis and greater Indiana, and a number have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pierre & Wright Architectural Records Collection is located at Ball State University Libraries' Drawings + Documents Archive, Muncie, Ind.

Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager

In 1946, Wright formed a new firm with Kurt Vonnegut, Sr., called Vonnegut & Wright. After Yeager joined the firm it became Vonnegut, Wright and Yeager, then Wright, Porteous & Lowe, and then Wright, Porteous & Lowe/Bonar.

Wright, Porteous & Lowe

Following Kurt Vonnegut Sr.'s death in 1957, he left Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager and was senior partner in the firm Wright, Porteous & Lowe. His son, William Caleb Wright, was also a partner in that firm. From 1963 to 1969, he was chief building inspector for the City of Indianapolis.

Professional organizations

He was a registered architect in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois and president of the Indiana Society of Architects and the Indiana Chapter of the AIA. In addition, he was a member of the board of the Indianapolis Construction League, Vice-Chairman of the Policy Committee, Indiana Construction Industry, member of the Mayor's Special Committee on Housing, etc.

Works by Pierre & Wright Architects

Indiana State Library

• Indiana State Library and Historical Building, Indianapolis, Indiana[1]
• Milo Stuart Memorial Building, Arsenal Technical High School (Indianapolis, Indiana)[1]

References

1. "Questionnaire for Architects' Roster and/or Register of Architects Qualified for Federal Public Works "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2010. June 13, 1946.
2. David J. Bodenhamer; Robert G. Barrows (22 November 1994). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indiana University Press. p. 1115. ISBN 0-253-11249-4.