Percy Dwight Bentley (1885-1968) was an architect from the Midwest who practiced in Lane County, Oregon from 1939-1961. His early work shows the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. The collection documents his work from 1951-1962 and includes churches, residences, and commercial structures.
Repository:
University of Oregon Libraries Special Collections & University Archives
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical Note
Percy Dwight Bentley was born January 30, 1885 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He attended school in La Crosse before entering Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was a non-graduating member of the class of 1907. Later, he enrolled on two different occasions at the Armour Institute (now Illinois Institute of Technology) but never completed a year there. Bentley maintained an architectural office in La Crosse from 1910 until 1921, when he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1936 he moved from the Midwest to Hood River, Oregon. Bentley settled finally in Eugene in 1939 where he practiced until 1961.
The strong influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan is evident in Bentley's early, primarily residential, work. Of his later work he was most proud of the Village Green Motor Hotel in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Bentley died February 2, 1968.
Content Description
The Percy Dwight Bentley Papers document only the last ten years of his career. Projects include several churches, office buildings and other minor works. Also included are design proposals used as working drawings. Additional materials, shelved as PH272, consist of photographs of projects, specifications, and articles and advertisements about Bentley and his work.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use :
Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Special Collections & University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation :
[Identification of item], Percy Dwight Bentley Papers, Coll. 145, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information :
Gift of Mrs. J.A. Baxter in 1968.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Papers
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
1
1
Biographical article, "Percy Dwight Bentley at La Crosse," from the Prairie School Review, v. ix no. 3
1972
1
2
Specifications: Babb, Mrs. R.A., store building, Eugene, Oregon
1956
1
3
Specifications, electrical: Woodard Hotels, Inc., Cottage Grove, Oregon
1959
1
3
Specifications, general: Woodard Hotels, Inc., Cottage Grove, Oregon
1959
1
3
Specifications, plumbing and heating: Woodard Hotels, Inc., Cottage Grove, Oregon
1959
1
4
Newspaper ads and clippings about the Village Green Motor Hotel (Woodard Hotels, Inc.), Cottage Grove, Oregon
PH272-01: [Interior view of flying staircase, carpet and wall treatment at Village Green resort.] By: Chris' Studio of Roseburg, Oregon. Loc: Oregon--Cottage Grove, Lane County
1959
1
PH272-02: [Exterior view of Ford dealership building.] By: Kennell-Ellis of Eugene, Oregon. Loc: Oregon--Eugene, Lane County
1950s-1961
1
PH272-03: [Exterior view of J.C. Penney building before addition.] By: Fehly of Oregon. Loc: Oregon--Eugene, Lane County
1956
1
PH272-04: [Exterior view of J.C. Penney building during construction of two-story addition.] By: Fehly of Oregon. Loc: Oregon--Eugene, Lane County
1956
1
PH272-05: [Exterior view of church.] By: Unknown. Loc: Oregon--Eugene, Lane County
1950s-1961
1
PH27206: [Exterior view of Davidson's bakery, including facade.] By: Unknown. Loc: Oregon--Eugene, Lane County
1950s-1961
1
PH272-07: [Exterior view of Davidson's bakery, rear portion.] By: Unknown. Loc: Oregon--Eugene, Lane County
1950s-1961
1
PH272-08: [Exterior view of C.P. Tillman Co., wholesaler of heating, plumbing and electrical supplies. Trolley tracks in foreground.] By: Unknown. Loc: Oregon--Eugene, Lane County
1950s-1961
1
PH272-09: [Exterior view of Booth Kelly Lumber Co. general office.] By: Northwest Photographic Illustrators of Eugene, Oregon. Loc: Oregon--Springfield, Lane County
1952-1953
1
PH272-09: [Exterior view of Wyatt's US Royal tire shop.] By: Northwest Photographic Illustrators of Eugene, Oregon. Loc: Oregon--Eugene, Lane County
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
