Edward J. Schulte

Edward J. Schulte (April 27, 1890 – June 7, 1975) was an architect who designed a number of mid-twentieth-century churches notable for their blending of a modern idiom with traditional function. Inspired by an encounter with Ralph Adams Cram, he devoted himself to building church buildings, designing over 88.[1] He served as president of the Cincinnati chapter of the American Institute of Architects.[2]

Schulte had a sole practice after 1912, then practiced with Robert E. Crowe from 1921–1923, and practiced alone after that to 1967.[3]

Early life and education

Edward Schulte displayed a talent for drawing early on and was encouraged to pursue it by the nuns in the parochial school he attended as a child. His father, a building contractor, wanted him to take up architecture instead, suggesting him to the firm of Werner and Adkins, who had designed a Carnegie library for Norwood. (Schulte’s father was one of three trustees to build it.) Schulte began working for Werner and Adkins during the day while attending classes at the Art Academy at night, eventually becoming a valued member of the firm with a special skill for watercolor renderings of proposed projects for client presentations. Before long, however, Werner and Adkins began to suffer from financial problems, temporarily loaning Schulte out to another firm before bringing him back upon securing a new partner – H.E. Kennedy – and several new commissions, among them an office building for New Orleans.

Early career

Kennedy was awarded the commission to design the Harris Theater in downtown Pittsburgh and had Schulte design it – a task that required him to spend long nights in the library researching precedents for the relatively new building typology. Among the draftsmen for the project was Robert E. Crowe, who would later become Schulte's partner and most important collaborator. Upon the success of the Harris Theatre project, Kennedy moved his office to Pittsburgh, bringing Schulte along with him. It was during this time that Schulte attended a candlelit lecture by Ralph Adams Cram at the Hall of Architecture in the Carnegie Museum, inspiring him to focus on churches over the remainder of his career.

Schulte is the only architect in history to design and build four cathedrals: the Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman (La Crosse), Cathedral of Christ the King (Lexington), the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Salina), the Proto-Cathedral of St. Monica (Cincinnati). His complete overhaul of the design of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati (which effectively preserved only its corinthian portico and titanic spire)[4] elevates this count to a staggering five. Additionally, he also executed a renovation of the nearby Cathedral-Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, though this project did not involve anywhere near the scale of demolition and construction required in the aforementioned renovation of St. Peter's across the river.

List of buildings designed or overseen

This list of Schulte's work was compiled by Donald A. Tenoever:[5]

  • Christ the King ChapelDavenport, Iowa
    Christ the King Chapel
    Davenport, Iowa
  • Sacred Heart CathedralSalina, Kansas
    Sacred Heart Cathedral
    Salina, Kansas
  • St. Mary's CathedralCovington, Kentucky
    St. Mary's Cathedral
    Covington, Kentucky
  • Villa Madonna AcademyCovington, Kentucky
    Villa Madonna Academy
    Covington, Kentucky
  • Cathedral of Christ the KingLexington, Kentucky
    Cathedral of Christ the King
    Lexington, Kentucky
  • Bishop's Residence and Chancery, Crookston, Minnesota
    Bishop's Residence and Chancery, Crookston, Minnesota
  • St. Paul ChurchVicksburg, Mississippi
    St. Paul Church
    Vicksburg, Mississippi
  • Immaculate Conception ChurchAlbuquerque, New Mexico
    Immaculate Conception Church
    Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Our Lord Christ the KingCincinnati, Ohio
    Our Lord Christ the King
    Cincinnati, Ohio
  • St. Monica ChurchCincinnati Ohio
    St. Monica Church
    Cincinnati Ohio
  • St. Peter in Chains CathedralCincinnati, Ohio
    St. Peter in Chains Cathedral
    Cincinnati, Ohio
  • St. Anthony of Padua ChurchDayton, Ohio
    St. Anthony of Padua Church
    Dayton, Ohio
  • Holy Trinity Church(Formerly Saints Peter and Paul)Norwood, Ohio
    Holy Trinity Church
    (Formerly Saints Peter and Paul)
    Norwood, Ohio
  • St. Michael ChurchHouston, Texas
    St. Michael Church
    Houston, Texas
  • Christ the King ChurchUniversity Park, Texas
    Christ the King Church
    University Park, Texas
  • Cathedral of Saint Joseph the WorkmanLa Crosse, Wisconsin
    Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman
    La Crosse, Wisconsin
  • Saint Thomas, Fort Thomas, KY
    Saint Thomas, Fort Thomas, KY

Publications
  • The Cathedral (1956)
  • The Lord Was My Client (1972)

References
  1. Heavenly City, p. 142, Denis R. McNamara, James Morris (Liturgy Training, 2005)
  2. The Spirit of Mediator Dei, Denis McNamara, Sacred Architecture, Vol. 4 (2000)
  3. "Biographical Dictionary of Cincinnati Architects". Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  4. "Symposium honors legacy of local church architect".
  5. Tenoever, Donald A. "Edward J. Schulte and American Church Architecture of the Twentieth Century" (PDF). Donald A. Tenoever, Master's Thesis, University of Cincinnati. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  6. "Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel". Council of Independent Colleges. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2015-02-07.

Other references
  • Edward J. Schulte and American Church Architecture of the Twentieth Century, Donald A. Tenoever, master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 1974
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.