William Ralph Emerson (1833-11/21/1917) Boston MA (A.I.A.)

A cousin of famous author, Ralph Waldo Emerson, he was active professionally for a number of years, a charter member of the Boston Society of Architects in 1870, and one of the nine men who attended the first meeting. Mr. Emerson established an architectural office in Pemberton Square in 1885, and in his work devoted much time to designing private homes. He was one of the first Boston architects to recognize the adaptability of the Colonial style to New England buildings, and frequently lectured on that subject at meetings of the Society.