By Hayley Jackson, Evan Walker
Collection Overview
Title: The Papers of Charles Altfillisch, 1914-1995
ID: LCA/RG15/Altfillisch, C
Creator: Altfillisch, Charles (1891-1978)
Extent: 4.4 Linear Feet. More info below.
Arrangement:
Loose records in Box 1 were arranged into appropriate categories, then placed in box alphabetically. The arrangement is as follows:
Box 1: Records
Boxes 2-5 and 7: Architectural Project Books, Date Books, and Journals
Boxes 6 and 7: Photographs and Photographic Slides
Box 8: Oversized Material
Box 9: Realia
Languages: English [eng]
Abstract
The papers of Charles Altfillisch, Decorah architect and city engineer.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection contains academic records, architectural plans and project books, biographical information, awards and honors, correspondence, date books, photographs, photographic slides, and travel journals.
Biographical Note
Charles Altfillisch was born on March 27, 1891 in Bellvue, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1914 with a degree in general engineering and worked for a few years before enlisting in the army during World War I. Altfillisch spent 1918-1919 in France as a member of the 29 Engineer Battalion. Upon returning home, Altfillisch moved to Decorah, Iowa. In 1921, Altfillisch married Leila Ervin Marsh; their only child, Gretchen, was born a year later.
Altfillisch’s interest in architecture developed slowly. In 1921, he joined his friend and former University of Iowa classmate A.N. Hanson, then the City Engineer of Decorah, in creating the architectural firm Hanson and Altfillisch. It was not until the summer of 1925 when Altfillisch traveled to Pittsburgh and enrolled in design courses at the School of Architecture at Carnegie Tech. A year later, Altfillisch and Hanson completed the plans for the C.K. Preus Gymnasium at Luther College, the firm’s first major project.
Hanson and Altfillisch continued their work together until Hanson’s sudden death in 1932; Altfillisch was subsequently appointed City Engineer of Decorah. He served in this position until 1955, notably overseeing Decorah's flood-control project.
Altfillisch continued his architectural work, expanding his firm over time to include architects Donald Gray, Roger M. Olson, Jack D. Thompson, and Allan R. Lynnes. Over the course of his career, Altfillisch and his firm designed several buildings on the Luther College campus including Brandt Hall (1950); Main (1952); Olson Hall (1955); Valders Hall of Science (1960); Centennial Union (1961); the Field House (now Regent’s Center, 1963); Ylvisaker Hall (1964); and Miller and Dieseth Towers (1965). He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1952, and upon his retirement in 1964, the Luther College Board of Regents officially named Altfillisch the College Architectural Consultant. After his retirement, his firm went on to design Preus Library (1969) and the Center for Faith and Life (1977).
In addition to Luther’s campus, Altfillisch and his firm contributed several homes and commercial buildings in Decorah and across eastern Iowa, including Decorah City Hall, the Allamakee County Courthouse, and Postville City Hall. He was known for designing schools, building and renovating schools in Decorah, Waukon, Ridgeway, and Calmar among others. Altfillisch was active in the architectural profession, serving as president of the American Institute of Architects Iowa chapter in 1936, and was named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1951 in recognition of his contributions to the profession.
Altfillisch passed away on March 17, 1978.
Administrative Information
Alternate Extent Statement:
9 boxes
Acquisition Source:
Collection donated by Susan Tone Pierce, Michael Tone, and Jeffery Tone in 2018.
Preferred Citation:
Cite unpublished materials: Charles Altfillisch Papers RG15 Manuscripts, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa
Finding Aid Revision History:
11/14/19: EC updated the preferred citation.
Box and Folder Listing
- Box 1: Academic and Biographical Records, Correspondence, Honors, and Property Records, 1914-1978
- Folder 1: Army Assignments, 1918
- Folder 2: Awards and Honors, 1926-1972, n.d.
- Folder 3: Burial Report + Obituary, 1978
- Folder 4: Carnegie Institute of Technology Records, 1925
- Folder 5: Correspondence: Genealogy Letters, 1957-1975
- Folder 6: Correspondence: Personal, 1952, n.d.
- Folder 7: Correspondence: Professional, 1919-1976
- Folder 8: Correspondence: War (Letters to Leila), 1918-1919
- Folder 9: Electrical Plans for 801 Mound St., 1954
- Folder 10: Newspaper Clippings, 1955-1970
- Folder 11: Property Records, 1950-1952
- Folder 12: University of Iowa Yearbook Photocopy, 1914
- Box 2: Ledgers and Project Books, 1921-1962
- Folder 1: Project Book, n.d.
- Folder 2: Project Book, 1921
- Folder 3: Ledger/Project Book, 1923-1935
- Folder 4: Project Book, 1921-1933
- Also known as "Project Sheets"
- Folder 5: Project Book, 1930-1940
- Folder 6: Project Book, 1943-1951
- Folder 7: Ledger/Project Book, 1945-1953
- Folder 8: Project Book, 1952-1962
- Box 3: Datebooks, 1924-1963
- Item 1: Datebook, 1924
- Item 2: Datebook, 1928
- Item 3: Datebook, 1929
- Item 4: Datebook, 1930
- Item 5: Datebook, 1931
- Item 6: Datebook, 1932
- Item 7: Datebook, 1933
- Item 8: Datebook, 1935
- Item 9: Datebook, 1936
- Item 10: Datebook, 1937
- Item 11: Datebook, 1938
- Item 12: Datebook, 1939
- Item 13: Datebook, 1940
- Item 14: Datebook, 1941
- Item 15: Datebook, 1942
- Item 16: Datebook, 1943
- Item 17: Datebook, 1944
- Item 18: Datebook, 1946
- Item 19: Datebook, 1947
- Item 20: Datebook, 1948
- Item 21: Datebook, 1949
- Item 22: Datebook, 1950
- Item 23: Datebook, 1951
- Item 24: Datebook, 1952
- Item 25: Datebook, 1953
- Item 26: Datebook, 1954
- Item 27: Datebook, 1955
- Item 28: Datebook, 1956
- Item 29: Datebook, 1957
- Item 30: Datebook, 1958
- Item 31: Datebook, 1959
- Item 32: Datebook, 1960
- Item 33: Datebook, 1962
- Item 34: Datebook, 1962
- Item 35: Datebook, 1963
- Box 4: Datebooks, 1967-1977
- Item 1: Datebook, 1967
- Item 2: Datebook, 1969
- Item 3: Datebook, 1969
- Item 4: Datebook, 1970
- Item 5: Datebook, 1970
- Item 6: Datebook, 1971
- Item 7: Datebook, 1971
- Item 8: Datebook, 1972
- Item 9: Datebook, 1972
- Item 10: Datebook, 1973
- Item 11: Datebook, 1974
- Item 12: Datebook, 1975
- Item 13: Datebook, 1976
- Item 14: Datebook, 1977
- Box 5: Journals, 1959-1976
- Item 1: Travel Journal - Orient, 1959-1976
- Item 2: Datebook, 1964
- Item 3: Datebook, 1965
- Item 4: Datebook, 1966
- Item 5: Travel Journal, 1967
- Item 6: Datebook, 1968
- Box 6: Photographs and Photo Slides, 1912-2001
- Folder 1: Slides, n.d.
- Folder 2: Slides, n.d.
- Folder 3: Slides, n.d.
- Folder 4: Slides, n.d.
- Folder 5: Slides, n.d.
- Folder 6: Slides, n.d.
- Folder 7: Slides, n.d.
- Folder 8: Slides of L.C. Main, n.d.
- Folder 9: Slides of P. Church, n.d.
- Folder 10: Slides of Summer School, n.d.
- Folder 11: Slides of LC Girls Dorm, n.d.
- Folder 12: Slides of Coledrug, n.d.
- Folder 13: Photos, n.d.
- Folder 14: Slides, 1953
- Folder 15: Photos, 1912-2001
- Folder 16: Photos, 1923-1958
- Folder 17: Photos, 1940-1960
- Folder 18: Slides of Weisers, 1955
- Folder 19: Slides - Views from S. Windows Boone Cottage, 1956
- Folder 20: Slides of Summer House, 1957
- Folder 21: Slides of Tuscan Vacation, 1958
- Folder 22: Slides of Coon Club, 1958
- Folder 23: Slides, Ruff & Arizona, 1963
- Box 7: Photographs and Project Books, 1925-1995, n.d.
- Folder 1: Photographs and Negatives, 1933, 1937, n.d.
- Folder 2: Project Book, n.d.
- Folder 3: Project Book, 1935-1938
- Folder 4: Photocopies of Letters and Photographs, 1925-1995, n.d.
- Box 8: Oversized Materials, 1914-1969
- Folder 1: The American Institute of Architects Fellowship Certificate, 1951
- Folder 2: Winneshiek County Appointment, 1937
- Folder 3: Registered Architect Certificate, n.d.
- Folder 4: Tau Beta Pi Certification, 1914
- Folder 5: Member of the Legion of Meccasacius Certificate, 1914
- Folder 6: Diploma from the Society of the Sigma Xi, 1914
- Folder 7: Bellevue High School Diploma, 1909
- Folder 8: Registered Architect Certificate, n.d.
- Folder 9: Army Engineers Photograph, 1919
- Folder 10: Certificate of Authorization to Practice Professional Engineering, 1919
- Folder 11: House Scrapbook, 1969
- Folder 12: Grand Lodge Convention, 1957
- Box 9: Artifacts
- Item 1: Fellow Medal of the American Institute of Architects, 1951
- Item 2: Altfillisch Interiors Stamp
- Item 3: Charles Altfillisch & Associates Stamp
- Item 4: Box of Brooches
- Item 5: Altfillisch Stamp
- Item 6: Exposure Meter