Frank Packard

Frank Lucius Packard was born June 11, 1866, in Delaware, Ohio, to Alvaro Harrison Packard and Miranda (Black) Packard. He attended the Delaware public schools and worked as a drafter for local architect and engineer F. A. Gartner.[3] He was further educated at the Ohio State University in Columbus and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, graduating from the latter in 1887. After two years working for Babb, Cook & Willard in New York City, he returned to Columbus c. 1889 and opened his own office. In 1892 he merged his office with that of Joseph W. Yost, forming the firm of Yost & Packard. At that time both architects were engaged on major Ohio State University projects, Packard as architect of Hayes Hall and Yost as architect of Orton Hall. In 1900 the partnership was dissolved when Yost relocated to New York City. Packard worked as a private practitioner for the remainder of his life.[4][5]

Packard was active in Republican politics and was well–connected to powerful Republican politicians, including Warren G. Harding. In 1903 Packard was responsible for the design of the large front porch of Harding's Marion residence, the Harding Home, from which he conducted his Front porch campaign in 1920.[6] In 1922 Harding, as President, appointed Packard architect of the United States pavilion at the Independence Centenary International Exposition in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. This building was designed to be reused as the United States Embassy to Brazil after the fair.[5] Located on what is now Avenida Presidente Wilson, this original building was replaced by a new embassy, now the consulate, in 1952.[7]

Packard joined the American Institute of Architects as a Fellow in 1895.[8] He was among the founders of the Columbus Society of Architects in 1908 and AIA Columbus in 1913. For many years Packard was a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. He was president of both organizations for the year 1919-20.[5] At the end of his life Packard was at work on plans for the Columbus Civic Center.[9] Following his death, Packard's associates at AIA Columbus organized the Allied Architects Association to complete the project.[10]

Packard was married in 1892 to Eva Lena Elliott of Columbus. They had no children. Packard died suddenly on October 26, 1923, at the age of 57.[5]

He is buried in Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

In his private practice, Packard was associated with several other professionals, including architect Ralph Snyder, engineer Edward F. Babbitt and superintendent Lorenzo D. Mathews. After Packard's seath these associates reorganized the firm as Snyder, Babbitt & Mathews. It became Snyder & Babbitt in 1925 and was dissolved in 1929. Ralph Snyder continued in private practice for at least a few years.[11] Major works by these firms include the Columbus Dispatch Building, built in 1925, and the Huntington National Bank Building, built in 1926.

Many buildings designed by Packard, independently and with Yost, have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Others contribute to listed historic districts.

The three partners of Richards, McCarty & Bulford, the most prominent architecture firm in Columbus after Packard's death, all worked for Yost & Packard.

• Architecture of Columbus, Ohio

• Foster, Don. Packard's Architecture Left Mark On Delaware.
• Powers, Barbara. Frank L. Packard: Architectural Realities of a Midwestern Architect, Ohio History Connection.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frank Packard (architect).

• Full list of Yost & Packard works