The Raiford L. Stripling Collection
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In the fall of 1927, Raiford L. Stripling (1910-1990) enrolled as a freshman in the department of architecture at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Under the guidance of Samuel Charles Phelps Vosper and Ernest Langford, two distinguished faculty members in the department of architecture, Stripling was schooled in the Beaux Arts tradition, which emphasizes classical design, rigorous attention to fine detailing, and sound construction methods. Immediately after graduation, he worked with College Architect Frederick E. Giesecke and staff architect Samuel Charles Phelps Vosper. Stripling later worked for the National Park Service (NPS) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with NPS staff member Charles E. Peterson, an opportunity that introduced him to the analytical examination of vernacular and religious historic architecture. In 1947 Stripling opened his own practice in his hometown of San Augustine, Texas. Over the course of his career he worked on some of Texas’ most significant restoration projects, as well as many single family residences, banks, churches, and schools. In 1990 Raiford L. Stripling passed away, leaving behind a body of work that will contribute significantly to the fields of architecture and architectural history for many years to come.
The Raiford L. Stripling Collection is made up of over 250 projects contained in 24 boxes, as well as drawings and construction documents housed in flat files in one map case. In addition to architectural drawings and blueprints, the collection contains contract documents, correspondence, brochures, pamphlets, newspaper articles, magazine articles, photographs, sketches, drawings, and miscellaneous notes.