Frank P. Gates Architectural Records

Records of Mississippi architect Frank P. Gates (1895-1975). The records comprise 2603 drawings for 348 projects in 60 towns and small communities in Mississippi. The bulk of the projects are for Clarksdale (54 projects) and Jackson (150 projects). There are a few in Louisiana towns and one residence in Earle, Arkansas. Included are 154 residential projects, including conventional residences, plantation homes and apartment buildings. Among the 55 school and campus projects are Alcorn State, Jackson State and University of Mississippi buildings. The 86 commercial projects include banks, hotels, warehouses, hospitals, stores and other commercial buildings. The 51 public projects include courthouses (Tunica, Yazoo), city halls and jails, club and parks buildings, a fire station, power house, hospital and health center and the Mississippi State Office Building. The 28 religious buildings include churches and chapels, educational buildings and a camp.

Rare finds among the drawings are two projects by other architects. Duling School (1927) in the Fondren area of Jackson, Mississippi was designed by architect Claude H. Lindsley. The Alcazar Hotel (1915) Clarksdale, Mississippi, was designed by Charles O. Pfeil of Memphis and was voted one of Mississippi’s Ten Most Endangered Buildings in 2009. Other records included in the collection are certificates, some letters, publications and clippings documenting the career of Frank P. Gates and the buildings designed by him.