Joseph R. Koberling Jr.

Joseph R. Koberling Jr. (27 May 1900 – 8 June 1990) was a Hungarian-American architect. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he emigrated to the United States, first to San Francisco, then, in 1917, to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was a student of noted art teacher, Adah Robinson.[1] He was in the first graduation class of Tulsa Central High School.[2] He was then educated at the Armour Institute (later part of Illinois Institute of Technology) in Chicago, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 1925. He returned to Tulsa, where he began practicing. He received his Oklahoma license in architecture in 1929, which he maintained until his death.[3]

Joseph R. Koberling
Born(1900-05-27)May 27, 1900
Budapest, Hungary
DiedJune 8, 1990(1990-06-08) (aged 90)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
NationalityHungarian, American
OccupationArchitect

Although much of his work was done solo, he was a principal in three partnerships in Tulsa:[3]

  • Redlich & Koberling, 1929-1931 (F. W. Redlich)
  • Fleming & Koberling 1933-1937 (Noble B, Fleming)
  • Koberling & Brandborg, 1946-1956 (Lennart Brandborg)

Even while he was working outside a partnership, Koberling collaborated with several other architects on notable projects. These included Frank W. Atkinson, Bruce Goff and Leon Senter.

Notable projects

The table below lists some of the projects in which Koberling participated. He created several houses, especially in Tulsa, which are still in use as private residences. In 1924, before he received his license as an architect, he worked with Bruce Goff on the design of a residence and studio for their high school teacher, Adah Robinson. He is probably best known in architectural circles for his work designing Will Rogers High School in 1936. He is credited with designing what he called, "...101 features that we hoped would make an attractive as well as a functional building." This school, still in use, has been called "... one of the best examples of Art Deco high school architecture...in the United States." Koberling collaborated on the project with Frank Atkinson and Leon Senter. Koberling also designed the 1949 addition to the school.[4]

Koberling played an active role in civic life, as a member of the Kiwanis Club, Tulsa Executive Association, and the Tulsa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, serving as president of the Tulsa chapter. He was a member of the Tulsa Boys Home.[2]

Notable buildings associated with Joseph R. Koberling Jr.
Name Address City Year Built Architectural
style		 Architects Status Notes
Eastside church of Christ (now called crosstown church of Christ); Medical Arts Building 6th & Boulder Tulsa 1927 Art Deco M. Atkinson, architect; J. Koberling, designer Demolished 1966 [3]
Genet Building (American Airlines Building) Between 9th & 10th on Boston Tulsa 1930 NA N. Fleming, Architect; J. R. Koberling Jr., Designer Demolished [3]
Public Service Company Building (Transok Pipeline Company Building) southwest comer 6th & Main Tulsa 1929 Art Deco A. M. Atkinson, Architect; J. R. Koberling, Designer Existing[lower-alpha 1] [3][6]
Palace Theater Main between 1st & 2nd Tulsa 1935 Remodel J. R. Koberling Jr. Demolished [3]
Will Rogers High School 3909 East 5th Place Tulsa 1938 Art Deco J. R. Koberling Jr. and L. B. Senter, Associated Architects; A. M. Atkinson, Supervising Architect Existing; listed on NRHP [3][4]
John B. McGay Residence 1551 South Yorktown Place Tulsa Gillette Historic District 1936 NA J. R. Koberling Jr. Existing [3][7]
City Veterinary Hospital 3550 South Peoria Avenue Tulsa 1942 Art Deco (Streamline Moderne) J. R. Koberling Jr. Existing (as of 2023);[8] listed on NRHP [3][9]
Chamber of Commerce Building southwest corner 6th & Boston Tulsa 1951 Art Deco Koberling & Brandborg Existing [3][10]
Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital 9th & Jackson Tulsa 1953 NA J.R. Koberling Jr. Demolished [3]
KVOO/KVOO-TV Brookside Broadcast Center facility 37th Street and Peoria Avenue Tulsa 1951 Art Deco (Streamline Moderne) Koberling & Brandborg Existing
Tulsa City-County Library 4th & Denver Tulsa 1965 Mid-Century Modern J.R. Koberling and Charles W. Ward, Associated Architects Existing [3][11]
J. S. Childs Residence 1600 South Madison Tulsa NA NA J. R. Koberling Jr. Existing [3]
Tribune House of Progress 2131 East 21st Street Tulsa 1923 NA J. R. Koberling Jr. Existing [3]
Blue Jacket High School(Remodel) NA Blue Jacket, Oklahoma 1935 NA Fleming & Koberling Existing [3]
Joseph S. Koberling Jr. House 1543 South Swan Drive Tulsa Swan Lake 1944 French Eclectic Joseph S. Koberling Jr. Existing [12]
William D. Whenthoff Residence 1142 South College Avenue Tulsa 1935 Art Deco (Streamline Moderne) Joseph S. Koberling Jr. Existing [13]

Death and burial

Koberling died June 8, 1990. His funeral was held at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Tulsa. Survivors included a daughter and a grandson.[2] He was buried June 11, 1990, in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Tulsa.

Notes
  1. Building remodeled, and repurposed for residential use in 2016 and renamed as Art Deco Lofts and Apartments.[5]

References
  1. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, "City Veterinary Hospital." 2007. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  2. "Retired Architect Koberling Dies at 90." Tulsa World. June 10, 1990. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  3. "Joseph Koberling, Jr.(1900-1991" Archived 2014-10-20 at the Wayback Machine Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  4. NRHP Registration Form - Will Rogers High School. September 9, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  5. Coffey, Roger. "Early PSO, ONG Buildings Share Art Deco History." GTR Newspapers. Updated September 13, 2018. Accessed January 24, 2019.
  6. "Public Service of Oklahoma Building." Archived 2014-11-24 at the Wayback Machine Tulsa Preservation Commission. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  7. "Swan Lake Historic District." Archived 2015-03-30 at the Wayback Machine Tulsa Preservation District. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  8. Google Streetview imagery dated February 2023, accessed April 24, 2023
  9. "City Veterinary Hospital." Archived 2014-11-24 at the Wayback Machine Tulsa Preservation Commission. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  10. "Chamber of Commerce Building." Emporis. Retrieved November 20, 2014
  11. "Tulsa Civic Center Historic District." Archived 2015-02-21 at the Wayback Machine Tulsa Preservation Commission. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  12. ""Swan Lake Historic District." Living Places. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  13. "Whenthoff Residence." Archived 2014-11-24 at the Wayback Machine Tulsa Preservation District. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
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