Willis Jefferson Polk (1867-9/10/1924) San Francisco, California (A.I.A.)

Prominently known in the San Francisco Bay area during two decades of practice (1904-1924), and head of the firm of Willis Polk & Company at the time of his death. He was born near Frankfort Kentucky, son of an architect, Willis Web Polk (died 1908). The family moved to St. Louis in 1873, and the father practiced in the city, also served as president of the Merchants Exchange, while Willis was tutored at home. At the age of fourteen the youth was apprenticed to a local architect, Jerome B. Legg, under whom he received an adequate training for that time. Then in 1881 Polk Sr. decided to migrate to San Francisco, and following the family's arrival, Willis assisted his father in architectural work for two years, afterward sought employment as draftsman in other architectural offices. In 1900, after his marriage, he and his bride spent two years abroad during which Polk pursued his studies in Paris under French instructors.

Returning to the U.S. he entered the Chicago office of Daniel H. Burnham, and as a member of the drafting staff designed several large structures including the First National Bank of Chicago; the Railroad Terminal in Indianapolis, and the Merchants Exchange in San Francisco. During that period Mr. Burnham's fame as "City Planner" was nation-wide, with many municipalities bidding for his services. One of the cities was San Francisco, and in 1903 he was commissioned to prepare a new and comprehensive plan for the Bay area. Pol, b that time an enthusiastic advocate of civic development, designed a bungalow to be erected on Twin Peaks, a vantage point from which Mr. Burnham could view the city below. He also assisted in preparing plans for the "adornment" of San Francisco.

During 1904, Polk established his own office in the city. He soon won recognition for his work in architecture, designing a number of the pre-fire (1906) buildings, such as the First National Bank (formerly the Crocker Building), and completed the Ferry Building on which A. Page Brown was the original architect. Following the earthquake on April 6th 1906, and the destructive fire which swept the city, Polk was active in the task of re-building and restoration. He was given charge of work on the Merchant's Exchange and the Mills Building, the latter completed only a year previous. After organizing the firm of Willis Polk & Company he was awarded many important commissions, among them the re-modeling of the James Flood mansion on Nob Hill for occupancy by the Pacific Union Club; an enlargement of the Mills Building; Annex to the Chronicle Building; Cuyler-Lee Building; Hollandie Building; St. Mary's Hospital; Hobart Office Building; restoration of the Mission Dolores; Station D of the Gas & Electric Company, embellished withSpanish motifs' Sweden-borgian Church, and the Frederick Building, all in San Francisco.

In addition, he designed many of the finest residences in San Francisco and throughout the Peninsula, and during the preparatory planning for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1914 and 1915, served as Chairman of the Architectural Commission in charge of the project. Elsewhere in California he designed the Mills Banking Building in Sacramento and St. Matthew's Church in San Mateo.

An able draftsman and a skilled designer, Polk enjoyed an excellent reputation as a professional architect. He died at his home in San Mateo at fifty eight, survived by his wife and step-son.