Keene & Simpson

Keene & Simpson was an American architectural firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, and in practice from 1909 until 1980. The named partners were architects Arthur Samuel Keene FAIA (1875–1966) and Leslie Butler Simpson AIA (1885–1961). In 1955 it became Keene & Simpson & Murphy with the addition of John Thomas Murphy FAIA (1913–1999), who managed the firm until his retirement in 1980.

Keene & Simpson
Practice information
PartnersArthur S. Keene; Leslie B. Simpson, John T. Murphy
FoundersArthur S. Keene; Leslie B. Simpson
Founded1909
Dissolved1980
LocationKansas City, Missouri
The Land Bank Building in Kansas City, designed by Keene & simpson and completed in 1924.
The Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, completed in 1933.
The Hall of Waters in Excelsior Springs, completed in 1937.
Commerce Tower in Kansas City, completed in 1965.

Biography and history

Arthur Samuel Keene was born September 21, 1875, in Brighton, Boston to Samuel Keene and Marianna (Fuller) Keene.[1] His uncle, George Franklin Fuller, was a Boston-based architect of churches and other buildings. His initial interest in architecture came from the study of the books and drawings in his uncle's library.[2] His formal education was in the Boston public schools and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he graduated in 1898.[1] He then joined the office of Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge as a drafter, moving to that of Guy Lowell in 1903.[3] In 1907 Keene moved to Kansas City, where he joined the office of Howe & Hoit.[2] In Hoit's office he worked alongside Leslie Butler Simpson. Leslie B. Simpson was born May 30, 1885, in Clayton, Missouri, to Luther Rice Simpson and Nannie (Pigg) Simpson. He attended the public schools and received his early architectural education through correspondence courses of the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1901 he moved to Kansas City, where he joined Van Brunt & Howe, predecessors to Howe & Hoit. He remained with Hoit until 1909, when he and Arthur S. Keene left to form their partnership, Keene & Simpson.[4][5]

Keene & Simpson had a successful regional practice, completing buildings in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. In 1955 they expanded the partnership to include John T. Murphy, an MIT graduate who had worked for them since 1945. The firm was then renamed Keene & Simpson & Murphy.[6] Simpson died December 15, 1961, in Kansas City.[5] Keene retired in 1962 and died May 14, 1966, in Topeka, Kansas. Murphy ran the firm under the same name until 1980. Murphy died February 6, 1999, in Kansas City.[7]

Several of their major works were designed as joint ventures with other architects. The Philtower Building in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was designed in association with Edward Buehler Delk of Kansas City, and the Jackson County Courthouse was designed in association with Frederick C. Gunn and Wight & Wight of Kansas City and consulting architect Edward F. Neild of Shreveport, Louisiana.[2] They were also consultants on the Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa, completed in 1929 and designed by Bruce Goff and Adah Robinson.[8]

All three members of the partnership were involved in the American Institute of Architects, Keene joining in 1916, Simpson in 1921[9] and Murphy in 1945. In 1938 Keene was elevated to Fellow,[10] followed by Murphy in 1964.[11]

Legacy

At least twelve buildings designed by Keene & Simpson, in whole or in part, have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. Others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works

Notes
  1. Later known as the Farmer's and Banker's Life Insurance Company Building and now the centerpiece of the Farmer's and Banker's Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2007.
  2. Originally completed in 1907 from designs by Louis S. Curtiss. Keene & Simpson added six stories to the original four story building.
  3. The 1927 office block was demolished in 1983, but the 1930 tower addition remains as part of the present ConocoPhillips complex.
  4. Designed in association with Edward Buehler Delk of Kansas City. A contributing property to the Oil Capital Historic District, NRHP-listed in 2010.
  5. Built at the direction of Harry S. Truman, then Presiding Judge of Jackson County.
  6. The architect in charge was David Frederick Wallace, Truman's brother-in-law and a Keene & Simpson employee.
  7. Designed by Frederick C. Gunn, Keene & Simpson and Wight & Wight, associated architects, with consulting architect Edward F. Neild.
  8. Designed in association with Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum of St. Louis. Now an apartment building known as the Flashcube.

References
  1. "Keene, Arthur Samuel" in Who's Who in Kansas City, ed Sara Mullin Baldwin (Hebron: Robert M. Baldwin Corporation, 1930): 106.
  2. Giles Carroll Mitchell, There is No Limit: Architecture and Sculpture in Kansas City (Kansas City: Brown-White Company, 1934): 106.
  3. "Keene, Arthur Samuel" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 291.
  4. "Simpson, Leslie Butler" in Who's Who in Kansas City, ed Sara Mullin Baldwin (Hebron: Robert M. Baldwin Corporation, 1930): 178.
  5. "Simpson, Leslie Butler" in National Cyclopaedia of American Biography 50 (New York: James T. White & Company, 1968): 365-366.
  6. "Murphy, John Thomas" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 396-397.
  7. Gravestone, Union City, Kansas City, Missouri
  8. "Keene". Tulsaarchitecture.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  9. AIA Records for Leslie Butler Simpson
  10. AIA Records for Arthur S. Keene
  11. AIA Records for John Thomas Murphy
  12. Farmer's and Banker's Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2007)
  13. Lyndon Carnegie Library NRHP Registration Form (1987)
  14. Levi McIntire House NRHP Registration Form (1983)
  15. Major Hotel NRHP Registration Form (1992)
  16. Thos. Corrigan Building NRHP Registration Form (1982)
  17. Gate City National Bank NRHP Registration Form (1982)
  18. Kelley-Reppert Motor Company Building NRHP Registration Form (2004)
  19. Land Bank Building NRHP Registration Form (1985)
  20. Argyle Building NRHP Registration Form (2005)
  21. Building Bartlesville: 1945-2000, ed Scott W. Perkins (Charleston: Arcadia, 2008)
  22. Philtower Building NRHP Registration Form (1979)
  23. Armour Theatre Building NRHP Registration Form (2008)
  24. Linwood Presbyterian Church and Home for Convalescent Employed Women NRHP Registration Form (2012)
  25. Jackson County Courthouse NRHP Registration Form (1972)
  26. Hall of Waters NRHP Registration Form (1983)
  27. "Murphy, John Thomas" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 503.
  28. "Murphy, John Thomas" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 651.
  29. This is Not Your Traditional Historic Building, Rosin Preservation, November 26, 2019. Accessed August 26, 2022.
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