R. F. Graf


Richard Franklin Graf was an American architect active primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee and the vicinity in the early 20th century. His works include Stratford Mansion, Sterchi Building, St. John's Lutheran Church, and the Journal Arcade. His home, the Prairie School-inspired Graf House, is considered Knoxville's first modern home. Several buildings designed by Graf have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Biography

Graf was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1863. His grandfather was one of several families to immigrate from Switzerland to Morgan County in the late 1840s. Graf had relocated to Knoxville by 1884, when he was working at the Burr & Terry Sash Factory in what is now the Old City.
In 1887, Graf cofounded a contracting firm, Vinson and Graf, which operated in Knoxville until 1891. In the early 1890s, Graf worked as a supervisor for the Knoxville Cabinet and Mantel Company. In 1894, he joined the firm of noted mail-order architect George Franklin Barber, and was elevated to associate in 1901. He and Barber were still working together as late as 1907, when they designed a new building for Mechanics' National Bank.
Graf eventually formed an architectural firm with his two sons, John R. Graf and Herbert Graf, as supervising architect. In 1910, the firm designed an elaborate Neoclassical mansion, Stratford, for James G. Sterchi, as well as two buildings- the Bandstand and the Liberal Arts Building- for the Appalachian Exposition at Chilhowee Park. Three years later, Graf designed the Gothic-style St. John's Lutheran Church, which still stands across from Old Gray Cemetery on Broadway.
In 1920, Sterchi again commissioned Graf to design his furniture company's 10-story warehouse, now known as Sterchi Lofts, which was completed the following year. The Graf House, the design of which was inspired by the Prairie School movement, was completed in 1923. During this same period, Graf designed two dormitories for Maryville College, Carnegie Hall and Thaw Hall.

Works

The following were designed by Graf or his firm, R.F. Graf and Sons.
NameLocationCompletedStatusOther informationImageReference
Miller's Building Knoxville, Tennessee1905Standing
Mechanics' National Bank Knoxville, Tennessee1907 StandingWith Barber & Kluttz
Park City High SchoolKnoxville, Tennessee1909DemolishedDesigned with George F. Barber & Co.
Chilhowee Park Bandstand Knoxville, Tennessee1910StandingBuilt for the 1910 Appalachian Exposition
Appalachian Exposition - Machinery and Liberal Arts Building Knoxville, Tennessee1910BurnedBuilt for the 1910 Appalachian Exposition; designed primarily by J.R. Graf
StratfordKnoxville, Tennessee1910StandingNRHP ; designed for furniture magnate James G. Sterchi
National Conservation Exposition - East Tennessee Building Knoxville, Tennessee1913Demolished
National Conservation Exposition - Women's Building Knoxville, Tennessee1913Demolished
St. John's Lutheran Church Knoxville, Tennessee1913StandingNRHP
2809 Kingston PikeKnoxville, Tennessee1915StandingNRHP contributing property
Carnegie Hall Maryville, Tennessee1917StandingNRHP contributing property
Sterchi Building Knoxville, Tennessee1921StandingNRHP contributing property
Evarts High SchoolEvarts, Kentucky1923StandingSchool closed in 2009
Graf House Knoxville, Tennessee1923Standing
Thaw Hall Maryville, Tennessee1923StandingNRHP contributing property
Journal Arcade Knoxville, Tennessee1924StandingNRHP contributing property