Larson and Larson Architects Collection
In 1946, lead architect Jens Fredrick Larson, joined by his son Nils, was hired to develop architectural plans for the new Wake Forest College (WFC) campus under the patronage of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. This collection documents a small amount of the work that Jens F. Larson and his son Nils did on the Wake Forest University campus and in the Winston Salem area, as well as a WFU memoradum and biographical information.
Biographical and Historical Note
In 1946, lead architect Jens Fredrick Larson was hired to develop architectural plans for the new Wake Forest College (WFC) campus under the patronage of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. Larson worked on significant projects at Dartmouth College, Colby College, Bucknell University, University of Paris, and University of Louisville campuses before working on Wake Forest's Reynolda Campus as the culmination of his career. He was a flying ace pilot in World War I before pursuing architecture through residence at Dartmouth College in 1919. Larson also competed in architecture art competitions held as part of the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, California.
Larson and his team had two primary goals when designing Wake Forest's campus: retaining designs that reflected Wake Forest College's original campus and creating a pedestrian-friendly campus in which students can easily travel from one building to the next. This plan has been updated since then to address specific needs of the campus.
Larson was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 10, 1891, to Swedish immigrant parents. He married Elisabeth Goodale Frost on October 12, 1920, and together they had a son, Nils, who followed in his father's footsteps, and a daughter, Sara Larson Harper. Larson died on May 6, 1981, in Winston Salem. Both Elisabeth and Jens have markers in the Saint Paul's Episcopal Church memorial garden.
Nils Fredrick Larson was born on June 10, 1922, in New Hampshire, and lived for many years in the Winston Salem area. He was married, first to Charlotte Grace Cruickshank and then Catherine, and had two children, Lorna and William. Nils Larson designed homes in the area as well as working on projects on Wake Forest's campus. Like his father, his death on April 7, 1986, is marked in the Saint Paul's Episcopal Church memorial garden.
Collection Overview
This collection documents a small amount of the work that Jens F. Larson and his son Nils did on the Wake Forest University campus and in the Winston Salem area. A memorandum by former University archivist John Woodard regarding Larson files is also included. A small amount of biographical information about Jens and Nils has been collected and included as well.
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Processed by Stephanie Bennett and Towne Moores, 2024
- Access Restrictions
- This collection is open to researchers.
- Copyright Notice
- The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
- Preferred Citation
- Larson and Larson Architects Collection (MS475), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.