E. A. Christy was an American
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
who designed more than 50 public schools, as well as fire stations and other works. He also designed numerous expansions of existing schools. Several of his works are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artist ...
.
He was born Edgar Angelo Christy.
[
He was the ]New Orleans Parish School Board
The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) governs the public school system that serves New Orleans, Louisiana. It includes the entirety of Orleans Parish, coterminous with New Orleans.
The OPSB directly administers 6 schools and has granted charter ...
's architect from 1911 to 1940. In 2005, 48 of his schools were still in use.[
New Orleans, during the ]Progressive Era
The Progressive Era (late 1890s – late 1910s) was a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States focused on defeating corruption, monopoly, waste and inefficiency. The main themes ended during Am ...
, under Mayor Martin Behrman
Martin Behrman (October 14, 1864 – January 12, 1926), an American Democratic politician, was the longest-serving mayor in New Orleans history.
Life and career
Behrman was born in New York City, the son of Frederica and Henry Behrman. His pare ...
addressed the great shortage of schools in the city, starting from a point where only 30 percent of children were enrolled in schools, and those in the few overcrowded schools in the city (63 white and 9 black).[
"As school board architect from 1911 to 1940, Christy designed over 50 primary, secondary and vocational schools as well as various remodelings of schools. His designs reflect the variety of styles popular over an almost 30 year span.
Christy is credited with designing the first modern school facilities in the city. Today 48 of his schools are
still in use. Collectively they make an important contribution to the city's architectural fabric."][ With ]
Christy's works include (all in New Orleans):
*Adolph Meyer School
The Adolph Meyer School, at 2013 General Meyer Ave. in New Orleans, Louisiana, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
It is an elementary school in the Algiers, New Orleans neighborhood. Quadrangular in plan, it is a two-s ...
(1917, 1924), 2013 General Meyer Ave., New Orleans. Christy designed the original elementary school and its 1924 expansion in Craftsman
Craftsman may refer to:
A profession
*Artisan, a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative
*Master craftsman, an artisan who has achieved such a standard that he may establish his own workshop and take o ...
style in an O-shaped design around a courtyard.[ With historic photos and plans, and 16 photos from 2015.] NRHP-listed in 2016.[
*]William Frantz School
William Frantz Elementary School is an American elementary school located at 3811 North Galvez Street,
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117. Along with McDonogh No. 19 Elementary School, it was involved in the New Orleans school desegregation crisis d ...
, 3811 N. Galvez St., New Orleans, NRHP-listed[
* McDonogh School No. 6, 4849 Chestnut St., New Orleans, NRHP-listed][Greater New Orleans Fire Photos: Orleans Parish, http://www.gnofirephotos.com/OP/E29_500_HQ.html]
References
Architects from New Orleans
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