Clyde Grimes Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection documents both the personal life and the architectural career of Clyde Grimes. Organized into four series: personal papers, professional papers, office records, and project records; this collection spans 8 linear feet and dates from 1939 through 2010. Personal papers in the form of biographical information and student work from Grimes' high school education and college career studying Architecture at UC Berkeley compose the first series dating from 1939 to 2006. The second series, professional papers dating 1961-2007, is composed of correspondence and writings on architecture; committees and associations; employment history; documentation regarding terms served as Deputy State Architect and City Architect of Oakland; and awards and honors spanning his entire career. Office records, the third series, spanning 1956-circa 1985, is composed of correspondence, portfolios, job number lists, and official firm documents such as letterhead and statement of design. The architectural projects series documents 69 projects Grimes had a hand in over his architectural career, including drawings, photographs, 35mm slides, correspondence, and notes.
Dates
- 1939-2010
- Majority of material found within 1960-1990
Access Statement
Collection is open for research. Many of the Environmental Design Archives collections are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the Curator.
Biographical Note
Clyde Henry Grimes was born in 1924 in Los Angeles, California. During WWII, Grimes enlisted and served as a member of the US Army Air Force intelligence team of the 477th Bomber Group until 1946. Grimes attended UC Berkeley and received a B.A. in Architecture in 1950. After graduating, his architectural career began under Paul R. Williams in Los Angeles. In 1956, Grimes started his own architectural firm in Los Angeles and later in Oakland. Under Governor Jerry Brown’s first administration, Clyde became the first Black man to hold the position of Deputy State Architect in California. He later became the City of Oakland’s Architect and advised the Oakland Unified School District. Grimes passed away in 2015.
Extent
8 Linear Feet: (4 cartons, 1 doc box, 2 flat boxes, and 12 flat file folders)
Language of Materials
English
Funding
Arrangement and description of this collection were funded by a grant from the Joan Draper Endowment, Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Design, U.C. Berkeley.
- Title
- Clyde Grimes Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Chris Marino
- Date
- May 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives Repository