Herman John Albrecht

Herman John Albrecht

(March 26, 1885 – January 9, 1961) was a prominent Ohio architect who executed over 700 architectural projects in his career, most of which were residences.

His son and daughter-in-law, Robert S. Albrecht (1911 - 2005) and Margaret V. Albrecht (1914 - 2012), created the Herman J. Albrecht Library of Historical Architecture to honor his life and accomplishments.

Family

Mr. Albrecht was born in Massillon, Ohio to Frederick Albrecht (1848-1888) and Mary Schneider Albrecht (1859 – 1935). Frederick had emigrated from Germany and Mary was born in Ohio.

They married in 1876 and had four sons, of whom Herman was the youngest. Frederick died when Herman was three years old, and Mary remained a widow in Massillon for the rest of her life.

Education, Marriage and Early Career

Mr. Albrecht graduated from Washington High School in Massillon in 1902, and then attended Ohio State University (1904-1908), graduating with a degree in civil engineering and architecture. He was already identified as being an architect in the Massillon city directory of 1907, still living with his mother and one of his brothers. He married Lucile M. Schrock (1886 - 1962) on February 23, 1910 in Massillon.

A few months later they appeared in the U.S. Census as living in Columbus, Ohio, and Herman’s occupation was listed as “Architect.” At that time he was working primarily as a draftsman for the firm of Howell and Thomas in Columbus, and in that capacity had responsibility for the execution of some residences in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Business Career

In 1919 Mr. Albrecht formed the firm of Albrecht, (Karl) Wilhelm and (John S.) Kelly, which from 1925 to 1947 was Albrecht and Wilhelm. A later iteration of the firm was Albrecht, Wilhelm, Nosek and Frazen. As the principal in those firms Mr. Albrecht was responsible for the design and construction of many residences and institutions, especially in Massillon, but also in the Cleveland area. He was elected to the American Institute of Architects in 1924. Mr. Albrecht retired from his profession in 1960.

Sources

Documentation of Herman J. Albrecht’s architectural work can be found in the Massillon (Ohio) Museum, in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department of the Thompson Library at Ohio State University, and in the Ohio State University Archives. Certain life details were found in U.S. Census records through Ancestry.com.

New Acquisition

Il Vignola Illustrato

BY: Vignola, Jacobo Barozzi da

PUBLISHED: 1770

Posthumous work, with illustrations, describing Vignola's use of the five columnal orders, including a biography.

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