A Guide to the Architectural Specifications of
Graham Erskine
Collection No. 83-08
(See also NAA10 for list of drawings)

Graham Erskine, 1911-1991

Graham Erskine, a native of New York, received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in architecture from Columbia University. In 1938 he was awarded his doctor of architecture degree from the University of Rome, Italy.

Mr. Erskine came to Reno in 1946 where he went to work on a temporary basis with Lehman “Monk” Ferris. His first assignment was to produce preliminary designs for Reno High School; those designs were selected by the Reno School Board and Erskine was asked by Ferris to remain permanently in Reno. In 1957 Erskine became Ferris’ partner, founding the firm Ferris and Erskine (which was also known as Ferris, Erskine, and Calef in the early 1960s).From 1970-1983 Erskine was partner with Esley D. Harden in the firm Erskine and Harden Architects; from 1984 until his death he worked as sole owner of Graham Erskine Architect.

Graham Erskine was the author of Nevada’s licensing act for architects which was enacted in 1947 and strengthened every year until it became in Erskine’s mind, “one of the best registration laws among the fifty states.”*He also founded the northern architectural design at the University of Nevada, Reno, from 1954-1956.

Erskine’s practice consisted primarily of commercial and institutional buildings, rather than residence. As examples of his diversity, he designed Reno and Huh High Schools; Harold's Club; the Nevada Legislative Building; additions to St. Mary's Hospital; the College of Education building at the University of Nevada, Reno; the Nevada Employment Security Division administration building in Carson City; the administration building in Carson City; the administration building for Bell Telephone Company of Nevada in Reno; many First Interstate and First National Banks in Reno; and the Senior Citizens’ Center in Reno.

A memorial endowed scholarship fund has been established in honor of Graham Erskine by the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the scholarship fund will support undergraduate students in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Architecture Department.

* Richard D. Adkins, “Oral History Interview with Graham Erskine.” Nevada Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, 1990, p.4.Manuscript available in the Special Collections Debarment.

Graham Erskine Collection Specifications 83-08

Box # Name of Client

  1.  
    • St. Mary's Hospital, New West Wing and alterations to existing building. June 30, 1950.
    • Jot Travis Student Building, UNR. May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9, 1956.
    • Addition to Lovelock Elementary School for Consolidated School District # 1. May 7, 1954.
    • Stead Air Force Housing, 645 Unit Armed Services Housing Project for Stead Air Force Base, Nevada. June 23, 1956.
    • Elko General Hospital, Existing Building Contract A, New Building Contract B. Aug. 15, 1957.
    • Reno Toll & Tandem Building, Bell Telephone Co. of Nevada. March 10, 1958.
    • Ely and Winnemucca Armories. Oct. 13, 1958.
       
    • Bell Telephone Co. of Nevada, Crystal Bay. April 16, 1962.
    • Additions & Alterations St. Mary's Hospital, Reno, NV. April 20, 1960.
    • Municipal Swimming Pool, Moana Recreation Center, Reno, NV. Nov. 16, 1959.
    • Lovelock School Additions & Alterations and Imlay School Unit. Nov. 10, 1959.
    • UNR Housing for Married Students & Faculty, Reno, NV. March 30, 1959.
    • Microwave Building for Bell Telephone Co. of Nevada. Oct. 15, 1958.
    • Microwave Building # 1 for Bell Telephone Co. of Nevada. Oct. 15, 1958.
       
    • Mt. Grant General Hospital, Hawthorne, NV. June 17, 1963.
    • State of Nevada Department of Highways Administration Building & Laboratory, Carson City, NV. April 22, 1963.
    • Operations Center, Sierra Pacific Power Co. Dec. 15, 1962.
    • State of Nevada Department of Highways Motor Pool, Maintenance Station, Carson City, NV. Nov. 13, 1962.
    • Federated Church, Reno, NV. June 1, 1962.
    • Addition to Student Union Building & Student Health Facility, UNR, Reno, NV. May 29, 1962.
    • Bell of Nevada Administration Building, Reno, NV. May 1, 1963.
       
    • Nevada Bell Administration Building Addition, Plumb Lane, Reno, NV. June 29, 1970.
    • Carson - Tahoe Hospital, County of Ormsby, Carson City, NV. Jan. 15, 1967.
    • City of Sparks Municipal Services Center, Sparks, NV. June 6, 1966.
    • Addition to Toll & Tandem Building, Reno, NV, Bell Telephone Co. of Nevada. March 18, 1966.
    • Additions & Alternatives St. Mary's Hospital, Reno, NV. June 4, 1965.
    • Department of Motor Vehicles Building, Carson City, NV. Feb. 9, 1965.
    • Additions to Douglas County Court House, Minden, NV. Dec. 3, 1963.
       
    • Reno High School. Jan. 1, 1948.
    • Reno Haven or Hovel Lecture Series by Mr. Graham Erskine, UNR. April, 1965.
    • College of Education Building, UNR, Reno, NV. Feb. 1, 1971.
    • City of Sparks, NV. City Hall Complex on Prater Way & 4th St. June 1, 1967.
    • City of Sparks, NV. Training Center Fire Station
    • No. 2, 21st St. & Frazer Ave. March 15, 1967.
    • City of Sparks, NV. Police Department Building Fire Station # 1. March 15, 1967.
       
    • Legislative Alternatives & Acoustical Study. 1968 - 1978.
    • Remodeling of the Legislative Building Capitol Complex, Carson City, NV. May 1, 1980.
    • Legislative Building Capitol Complex, Carson City, NV. 1967, Dec. 5,1984, Nov. 1983, March 1984, Dec. 3, 1984, Jan. 1983, June 1981, Oct. 1980, Aug. 1982.
    • Lecture Series Reno Haven or Hovel by Mr. Graham Erskine, Reno, NV. 1969.
       
    • State Legislative Continued...
      • Correspondence # 2. May 10, 1968.
      • General Correspondence. May 10, 1967.
      • Correspondence. May 1979.
      • Mechanical & Electrical. July 19, 1967.
      • Landscaping Correspondence. Oct. 24, 1969.
      • Site Correspondence. July 20, 1972.
      • Correspondence. June 5, 1984.
      • Study for a Addition, State of Nevada Legislative Building.
      • Legislative Building Capitol Complex, Carson City, NV. July 24, 1984.
      • Assembly Speaker's Office Legislative Building Capitol Complex, Carson City, NV. Sept. 24, 1984.
      • Study for an Addition, State of Nevada Legislative Building. (Office File Copy & Regular) Aug 30, 1984.
    • Nevada Bell, Reno, NV. May 18, 1971.
       
    • Convent, Reno, NV. July - Aug 1979. Microfilm.
    • Public Works Maintenance Building, Reno, NV. July 18, 1978. microfilm.
    • City Hall & Center, Sparks, NV. microfilm. Sept. 19, 1968.
    • Nevada Bell Administrative Building, Reno, NV. July 28, 1970. microfilm.
    • Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Reno, NV. Dec. 14,1973. microfilm.
    • Nevada Bell Additional Office Building. Oct. 29,1973. microfilm.
    • Operations Center Additions, First Interstate Bank of Nevada, Reno, NV. Dec. 15, 1981.
    • Specifications for Olga's Beauty Supply, North Las Vegas, NV. Dec. 10, 1985.
    • Reno State Journal "The New High School". Sept. 8,1951.
    • Job Listings. 1964 - 1972.
    • File Categories, Office Regulations, Profect Listing, List of Spec., Warehouse Inventory, Office Inventory. 1964 - 1972.
    • Acoustical Analysis & Recommendations, Auditorium & Television Studios UNR, College of Education Building. March 11, 1970.
    • Main Office, Second Floor Alterations, First Interstate Bank of Nevada, Reno, NV. Dec. 7, 1983.
    • Garage Screen, First Interstate Bank of Nevada, Reno, NV. Jan. 6, 1984.
    • First National Bank of Nevada, Warehouse & Offices, Reno, NV. 1967.
    • Pershing County School Building Program, Lovelock, NV. Oct. 1958.
    • Application for position of Architect on New Ormsby County High School. Nov. 24, 1967.
    • Odds & Ends Papers - Project List, Christmas List, Correspondence, etc. 1976.
    • Architects & Engineers Professional Liability Insurance. Jan. 1, 1984.