Miller & Martin, known after 1935 as Miller, Martin & Lewis, was an American architectural firm established in 1900 in Birmingham, Alabama. The founding partners were John A. Miller and Hugh Martin , who developed a successful regional practice. After their retirements and deaths the firm was continued by their successors, James A. Lewis , Edwin T. McCowan and William P. Knight until its eventual dissolution in 1998, at which time it was the oldest architectural firm in Alabama.
History The partnership of Miller & Martin was formed in Birmingham, Alabama in 1900 by architects John A. Miller and Hugh Martin, who had met in New York City in the 1890s while working for architect R. H. Robertson. The partners had a general practice and are best remembered for their churches, libraries and college buildings. Between the world wars they were the primary architects for the University of Alabama. Including fraternity and sorority houses in addition to academic buildings such as the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library (1939), Miller & Martin and Miller, Martin & Lewis completed over seventy works on and around the campus.Robert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 75-77.
Miller and Martin were both involved in the organization of the architectural profession in Alabama. In 1911 they were among the founders of the Birmingham Society of Architects"Birmingham Society of Architects" in Western Architect 17, no. 3 (March, 1911): v. and in 1916 were charter members of AIA Alabama, the state's American Institute of Architects (AIA) chapter.Journal of the American Institute of Architects 4, no. 12 (December, 1916): 482.
In 1926 the partnership was expanded to include James A. Lewis."Hugh Martin, Sr., dean of architects, succumbs," Birmingham News, March 6, 1959, 7. Miller died in 1932, and Martin and Lewis continued the firm under the Miller & Martin name until 1935, when they renamed it Miller, Martin & Lewis. Martin retired from the partnership in 1952. Lewis continued the firm in partnership with Edwin T. McGowan under its same name. Lewis died in 1958"Lewis, James Artemus" in The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography 43 (New York: James T. White & Company, 1961): 403-404. and Martin died in 1959, seven years after his retirement. At the time of his death Martin was regarded as the dean of Alabama architects. He was also recognized nationally, having been elected a Fellow of the AIA in 1942. McCowan continued the firm after their deaths as Miller, Martin & Lewis, Edwin T. McCowan. He dropped the name Miller, Martin & Lewis in 1966 and formed the partnership of McCowan & Knight with William P. Knight.
The notable works of the successor firm included continuing work at the University of Alabama, including ten Hoorn Hall (1963),Robert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 104. Coleman Coliseum (1968)Robert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 115. and the Rose Administration Building (1969).Robert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 103. McCowan withdrew from the firm in the 1970s"Edwin Tyson McCowan," Birmingham News, December 3, 1984, C10. and Knight incorporated the firm as Knight Associates Inc. in 1975. When Knight died in 1997, Knight Associates was acknowledged as the oldest architectural firm in Alabama."Knight, William Paul (Bill)," Birmingham Post-Herald, September 5, 1997, E4. It was dissolved in 1998.Alabama corporation filings
Partner biographies John A. Miller John Alexander Miller (September 12, 1862 – April 19, 1932) was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He was educated and trained there and in London. He worked in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein in South Africa before immigrating to the United States, where he settled in New York City, where he worked for Robertson and others, including Henry Atterbury Smith. In 1900 he moved to Birmingham to join Martin."John A. Miller Dies," Birmingham Post, April 19, 1932, 10.Henry F. Withey and Elsie Rathbun Withey, "Miller, John A." in Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) (Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956): 419-420.
Miller was married to Lucia Edwina Wood and had two children, both daughters. He died in Birmingham at the age of 69.
Hugh Martin Hugh Martin (May 11, 1874 – March 5, 1959) was born in Paducah, Kentucky. He was raised in Paris, Texas and was educated at Bingham's preparatory school in Mebane, North Carolina and at Cornell University. He graduated from Cornell in 1894 with a BS in architecture. In 1889, while at Bingham's, he joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and would be active with the fraternity for the rest of his life. After graduation he worked for Robertson in New York City before moving to Birmingham in 1899."Hugh Martin" in Alpha Tau Omega Palm 32, no. 1 (1912): 7-8.
Martin married twice. His first marriage was to a Miss Trueheart of Galveston, Texas, in 1899."Mr. Hugh Martin Marries in Texas," Birmingham Age-Herald, July 25, 1899, 6. She died in 1902."Death of Mrs. Martin," Birmingham News, November 10, 1902, 8. He married second to Ellie Gordon Robinson of Birmingham, with whom he had three children, including the composer Hugh Martin. He died in Birmingham at the age of 84.
James A. Lewis James Artemus Lewis (November 29, 1890 – August 5, 1958) was born in Columbus, Georgia. He was educated in the Columbus public schools and joined Miller & Martin in 1914.
Lewis was married in 1915 to Stella Brammer and had two children. He died in Birmingham at the age of 67.
Edwin T. McCowan Edwin Tyson McCowan (February 1, 1916 – November 30, 1984) was born in Mobile, Alabama. He was educated at Auburn University, graduating in 1940 with a BArch. He joined Miller, Martin & Lewis after serving in the army during World War II."McCowan, Edwin T(yson)" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 443.
After leaving McGowan & Knight, McGowan joined the Birmingham office of TRO, a Boston-based architectural firm, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was married to Ann Clements and had two children, both sons. He died in Mountain Brook at the age of 68.
William P. Knight William Paul Knight (January 18, 1933 – September 4, 1997) was born in Cullman, Alabama. He was educated at Auburn University. He graduated in 1956 and joined the firm.
Knight was married to Carolyn Miller and had two children. He died in Birmingham at the age of 64.
Legacy Several works of Miller & Martin and Miller, Martin & Lewis have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and many more contribute to listed historic districts.
Notable employees of the firm who went on to establish their own practices include Helen Sellers Davis, William Frank McCall Jr.,William Martin Mitchell Jr., The Architecture of Wm. Frank McCall, Jr., FAIA: A Complete Designer in the Classic Tradition (Savannah: Golden Coast Publishing company, 1985): 3-5. E. Chester Nelson"Haralson & Nelson" in Centennial History of Arkansas 2 (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1922): 179-180. and Hugh Stubbins.Contemporary Architects
Architectural works Miller & Martin, 1900–1935 1903 – Birmingham Athletic Club, 20th St and 5th Ave N, Birmingham, AlabamaEngineering News (January 2, 1902): 4. 1903 – Highland Park Golf Course clubhouse, 3300 Highland Ave, Birmingham, Alabama 1905 – Goodall–Brown Building, 2200 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AlabamaMorris Avenue–First Avenue North Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1986) 1909 – Phoenix Club (former), 2001 15th Ave S, Birmingham, AlabamaManufacturers' Record (April 1, 1909): 70. 1911 – First United Methodist Church, 66 Middle St, Montevallo, AlabamaManufacturers' Record (January 28, 1909): 58. 1911 – Yielding's, 2129 22nd St N, Birmingham, AlabamaDowntown Birmingham Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1982) 1913 – Prattville First Methodist Church, 100 E 4th St, Prattville, AlabamaManufacturers' Record (May 16, 1912): 73-74. 1921 – Gorgas Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 88. 1922 – Birmingham Trust and Savings Company Building, 112 20th St N, Birmingham, AlabamaDowntown Birmingham Retail and Theatre Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1989) 1922 – Honors Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 79. 1922 – Independent Presbyterian Church church school, 3100 Highland Ave, Birmingham, AlabamaJohn M. Schnorrenberg, Aspiration: Birmingham's historic houses of worship (Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society, 2000): 67. 1923 – Phillips Administration Building, Birmingham–Southern College, Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham–Southern College NRHP Registration Form (1999) 1925 – McLure Education Library, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 1925 – President's house, Birmingham–Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama 1927 – Birmingham Public Library Linn-Henley Research Library, 2100 Park Pl, Birmingham, Alabama 1927 – Farrah Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 81. 1928 – Bidgood Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 91. 1928 – Memorial Building, Oak Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, AlabamaOak Hill Cemetery NRHP Registration Form (1977) 1928 – Munger Building, 1931 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AlabamaFive Points South Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1983) 1928 – Munger Memorial Hall, Birmingham–Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama 1929 – Denny Chimes, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 83. 1929 – Doster Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 85. 1930 – Reese Phifer Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 86. 1931 – Avondale United Methodist Church, 500 40th St S, Birmingham, AlabamaJohn M. Schnorrenberg, Aspiration: Birmingham's historic houses of worship (Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society, 2000): 74. 1931 – Stockham Building, Birmingham–Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama 1935 – Joseph Loveman & Loeb Department Store, 214-224 19th St N, Birmingham, AlabamaJoseph Loveman & Loeb Department Store NRHP Registration Form (1983)
Miller, Martin & Lewis, from 1935 1936 – Hardaway Hall, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 94. 1936 – United States Courthouse and Post Office, 101 E Holmes Ave, Huntsville, Alabama 1939 – Foster Auditorium, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 82. 1939 – Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaRobert Oliver Mellown, The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1988): 92-93. 1940 – Mac Wates Fuel Company building, 2801 5th Ave S, Birmingham, AlabamaSouthside Historic District NRHP Registration Form (2005)