Herbert O. Alden was born on September 13, 1888 in San Francisco. In San Francisco he attended the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art (Nob Hill). Alden also studied at the University of California and the Ateliers-Beaux Art in San Francisco. In San Francisco he was employed by Bliss & Faville from 1912-1916, for commercial and institutional design. Alden continued in commercial and institutional design for George W. Kelham, where he was a associate member of the firm, and involved in designs for the University of California at Los Angeles. From 1922 to 1932 Alden had his own practice for residential work in the East Bay, and received his license to practice architecture in 1925. In 1932 Alden joined Shell Union Oil Corporation as a Supervising Architect for the North American region. Alden returned to private practice, first in Mexico City from 1937 to 1939, then in Beverly Hills from 1939 to 1945 (the last known date of his practice).

Herbert Alden died in December 1965 in Santa Monica, California.

Sources: American Institute of Architects (1945). Application for membership for Herbert O. Alden.

Social Security Death Index Online, http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/