Turpin Bannister
Encyclopedia
Turpin Chambers Bannister (1904–1982) was one of the leading American architectural historians of his generation. A long-time professor at the University of Illinois
and the University of Florida
, he is best known for his work in architectural history, including his work with The Society of Architectural Historians
, and high involvement in The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians.
in 1904.
Bannister received his bachelor's degree from Denison University
in Granville, Ohio
, in 1925 and a master's degree from Columbia University
in 1928. By his early 20s, Bannister had become highly involved in the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
. He was so involved that by 1926 he had served on a national committee to revise the fraternity's Initiation Ritual. The committee was composed of Peter W. Dykema
(ΦΜΑ Supreme President), Charles E. Lutton (ΦΜΑ Supreme Secretary), Rollin Pease (ΦΜΑ Supreme Historian), and Bannister. Their revisions to the Ritual paid tribute to the founder, Ossian Everett Mills
who had died in 1920.
From 1932 to 1944 he taught at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
, first as a design instructor and later as an architectural historian. During this time period he was hired by the Federal Writers Project of the Works Project Administration (WPA) to assist in the preparation of the Federal Guide Series book on New York State. From December 1938 to August 1939, and in February 1940, he was employed as an editor and writer. the guide's introductory essay on architecture was written by Bannister.
Bannister was one of the original five or six young scholars who talked informally but earnestly during the 1938 Harvard Summer Session about the formation of a professional organization of architectural historians. The first organized meeting of The American Society of Architectural Historians finally occurred on July 31, 1940 when twenty five charter members elected Bannister the first President, and directed him to edit a Journal. The Society would abridge its name a decade later to The Society of Architectural Historians
. The Journal that Bannister published would go on to be known as The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. After his initial involvement, Bannister continued to widely contribute to the Journal throughout his career.
Bannister completed his studies at Harvard's School of Architecture where he received his Ph.D. in 1944. That year he left Rensselaer and became dean of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute's School of Architecture and Arts in Auburn. In 1948, he moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana
and was Professor of Architecture for ten years, seven of which he served as head of the Department of Architecture. In 1958 he came to the University of Florida
and served as dean until 1965 when he suffered a stroke. He died March 15, 1982 in Williston, Florida
.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, he is best known for his work in architectural history, including his work with The Society of Architectural Historians
Society of Architectural Historians
The Society of Architectural Historians is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and preservation of the built environment worldwide....
, and high involvement in The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians.
Biography
Turpin C. Bannister was born in Lima, OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1904.
Bannister received his bachelor's degree from Denison University
Denison University
Denison University is private, coeducational, and residential college of liberal arts and sciences founded in 1831. It is located in Granville, Ohio, United States, approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, the state capital...
in Granville, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, in 1925 and a master's degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1928. By his early 20s, Bannister had become highly involved in the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
. He was so involved that by 1926 he had served on a national committee to revise the fraternity's Initiation Ritual. The committee was composed of Peter W. Dykema
Peter W. Dykema
Peter W. Dykema was an important force in the growth of the Music Supervisors National Conference and the music education profession. Although he was not one of the founding members of the organization, he attended his first meeting in 1908 and was listed as a new member in 1913...
(ΦΜΑ Supreme President), Charles E. Lutton (ΦΜΑ Supreme Secretary), Rollin Pease (ΦΜΑ Supreme Historian), and Bannister. Their revisions to the Ritual paid tribute to the founder, Ossian Everett Mills
Ossian Everett Mills
Ossian Everett Mills was the founder of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts on October 6, 1898.-Life:...
who had died in 1920.
From 1932 to 1944 he taught at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
, first as a design instructor and later as an architectural historian. During this time period he was hired by the Federal Writers Project of the Works Project Administration (WPA) to assist in the preparation of the Federal Guide Series book on New York State. From December 1938 to August 1939, and in February 1940, he was employed as an editor and writer. the guide's introductory essay on architecture was written by Bannister.
Bannister was one of the original five or six young scholars who talked informally but earnestly during the 1938 Harvard Summer Session about the formation of a professional organization of architectural historians. The first organized meeting of The American Society of Architectural Historians finally occurred on July 31, 1940 when twenty five charter members elected Bannister the first President, and directed him to edit a Journal. The Society would abridge its name a decade later to The Society of Architectural Historians
Society of Architectural Historians
The Society of Architectural Historians is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and preservation of the built environment worldwide....
. The Journal that Bannister published would go on to be known as The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. After his initial involvement, Bannister continued to widely contribute to the Journal throughout his career.
Bannister completed his studies at Harvard's School of Architecture where he received his Ph.D. in 1944. That year he left Rensselaer and became dean of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute's School of Architecture and Arts in Auburn. In 1948, he moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and was Professor of Architecture for ten years, seven of which he served as head of the Department of Architecture. In 1958 he came to the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and served as dean until 1965 when he suffered a stroke. He died March 15, 1982 in Williston, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Associations
- Historic America Buildings Survey (past advisory board member)
- Medieval Academy
- National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(past advisory board member) - New York Historical Association
- Omicron Delta KappaOmicron Delta KappaOmicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Phi Mu Alpha SinfoniaPhi Mu Alpha SinfoniaPhi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
- Sigma ChiSigma ChiSigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
- Thornton Society
Books
- An introduction to architecture (1937)
- Iron and architecture: A study in building and invention from Ancient Times to 1700 (1944)
- One hundred books on architecture (1945)
- The architecture of the octagon in New York State (1945)
- Evolution and achievement (American Institute of Architects. Survey of education and registration, Commission for the. The architect at mid-century; report) (1954)
- Modern architecture: A syllabus of buildings illustrating the development of architecture since the mid-eighteenth century (1957)
- Medieval architecture: A syllabus of buildings illustrating the development of European architecture from the fourth through the fifteenth centuries (1959)
- Oglethorpe's sources for the Savannah plan (1961)
- A venture toward verity (The Florida Architect) (1963)
- The Constantinian basilica of Saint Peter at Rome (1968)