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Charles Wilson Killam
Charles Wilson Killam FAIA, ASCE (July 20, 1871 – May 12, 1961) was an American architect, engineer, and professor at Harvard University. He was widely recognized for his technical knowledge, architectural theory, educational views, and publications. He was also known for his consulting work for the Harvard Business School and Baker Library as well as his extensive restoration work at Mount Vernon. He was a key contributor to the development of Harvard's School of Architecture and to collegiate architectural education throughout the United States. Killam also took an active role in the planning and development of Cambridge, Massachusetts and served on numerous boards and committees. Additionally, he was an advocate for low-cost and public housing as well as an early advocate for architectural education for women.
Charles Wilson Killam was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts on July 20, 1871, and grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. He was the son of Horace Wilson Killam from Wilton, New Hampshire and Georgianna Gage from Watertown, Massachusetts. Killam had three sisters and two brothers. Killam attended Hyde Park Grammar Schools at the Henry Grew School, where he completed the school's course of study and graduated in 1885. After graduating from the Grew School, he attended Hyde Park High School. In 1887, during his second year at the high school and at the age of 16, he dropped out to work.
Killam's interest in architecture began at an early age and he pursued his studies at home and while traveling extensively through Europe. His father was a practical draftsman during this period and taught evening classes in elementary, mechanical, and architectural drawing at Hyde Park High School. After leaving high school, Killam furthered his architectural education by taking evening classes, but never graduated from high school.
After leaving high school in 1887, Killam went to work at the architectural firm of Peabody & Stearns in Boston where he became a draftsman. Robert Swain Peabody, the co-founder of the firm, was an encouraging mentor to Killam and his architectural career. During his 21 years with Peabody & Stearns, Killam advanced his architectural knowledge and furthered his technical expertise in the field. He eventually became the Chief Architectural Engineer for the firm.
To further develop his skills, Killam noted how he visited numerous job sites because that was then "the only way to find out, for instance, how to support a terracotta cornice or how to do flashing." Since he was not on the payroll of these jobs, he was able to spend as much or as little time on various aspects of the construction as he wanted. He valued this experience and spent countless hours examining plans in architectural and engineering offices, copying details and specification provisions. Killam stated that his interest covered the whole field of architecture:
From the cheapest to the most expensive buildings, from wooden houses in Alabama, Minnesota, and the Gaspé Peninsula, from the bottom of deep foundations in Detroit and New York, and to the top of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and the Empire State Building.
In 1900, Killam was awarded second prize in the Boston Society of Architects Rotch Travelling Scholarship, and traveled throughout Europe studying architecture. While at the firm, Killam also entered various design competitions such as for the new Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) building in Hyde Park.
In 1908, Killam left Peabody & Stearns to begin his academic career as an instructor in architectural construction and engineering at Harvard University. He was appointed to strengthen a recognized weakness in architectural engineering at Harvard and first taught a course in the resistance of materials and elementary structural design to address this weakness. Within a year, Killam was appointed assistant professor of architectural construction and taught at Harvard's new School of Architecture when it was founded by Herbert Langford Warren in 1912. Killam became associate professor in 1915, associate professor of architecture in 1921, and professor in 1924.
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Charles Wilson Killam
Charles Wilson Killam FAIA, ASCE (July 20, 1871 – May 12, 1961) was an American architect, engineer, and professor at Harvard University. He was widely recognized for his technical knowledge, architectural theory, educational views, and publications. He was also known for his consulting work for the Harvard Business School and Baker Library as well as his extensive restoration work at Mount Vernon. He was a key contributor to the development of Harvard's School of Architecture and to collegiate architectural education throughout the United States. Killam also took an active role in the planning and development of Cambridge, Massachusetts and served on numerous boards and committees. Additionally, he was an advocate for low-cost and public housing as well as an early advocate for architectural education for women.
Charles Wilson Killam was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts on July 20, 1871, and grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. He was the son of Horace Wilson Killam from Wilton, New Hampshire and Georgianna Gage from Watertown, Massachusetts. Killam had three sisters and two brothers. Killam attended Hyde Park Grammar Schools at the Henry Grew School, where he completed the school's course of study and graduated in 1885. After graduating from the Grew School, he attended Hyde Park High School. In 1887, during his second year at the high school and at the age of 16, he dropped out to work.
Killam's interest in architecture began at an early age and he pursued his studies at home and while traveling extensively through Europe. His father was a practical draftsman during this period and taught evening classes in elementary, mechanical, and architectural drawing at Hyde Park High School. After leaving high school, Killam furthered his architectural education by taking evening classes, but never graduated from high school.
After leaving high school in 1887, Killam went to work at the architectural firm of Peabody & Stearns in Boston where he became a draftsman. Robert Swain Peabody, the co-founder of the firm, was an encouraging mentor to Killam and his architectural career. During his 21 years with Peabody & Stearns, Killam advanced his architectural knowledge and furthered his technical expertise in the field. He eventually became the Chief Architectural Engineer for the firm.
To further develop his skills, Killam noted how he visited numerous job sites because that was then "the only way to find out, for instance, how to support a terracotta cornice or how to do flashing." Since he was not on the payroll of these jobs, he was able to spend as much or as little time on various aspects of the construction as he wanted. He valued this experience and spent countless hours examining plans in architectural and engineering offices, copying details and specification provisions. Killam stated that his interest covered the whole field of architecture:
From the cheapest to the most expensive buildings, from wooden houses in Alabama, Minnesota, and the Gaspé Peninsula, from the bottom of deep foundations in Detroit and New York, and to the top of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and the Empire State Building.
In 1900, Killam was awarded second prize in the Boston Society of Architects Rotch Travelling Scholarship, and traveled throughout Europe studying architecture. While at the firm, Killam also entered various design competitions such as for the new Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) building in Hyde Park.
In 1908, Killam left Peabody & Stearns to begin his academic career as an instructor in architectural construction and engineering at Harvard University. He was appointed to strengthen a recognized weakness in architectural engineering at Harvard and first taught a course in the resistance of materials and elementary structural design to address this weakness. Within a year, Killam was appointed assistant professor of architectural construction and taught at Harvard's new School of Architecture when it was founded by Herbert Langford Warren in 1912. Killam became associate professor in 1915, associate professor of architecture in 1921, and professor in 1924.