William S. Kaufman


William S. Kaufman was an American architect known for designing a number of public buildings, primarily in Indiana and Ohio.

Life and work

Kaufman was born in Union County, Indiana to Elias and Mary Kaufman, who were Pennsylvania natives and early Indiana settlers. He attended school in Brownsville, Indiana and trained as a carpenter and stair-builder in Cambridge City, Indiana. He studied architectural drafting in Indianapolis and remained there until 1876, when he moved to New Castle and opened an office, later moving his practice to Richmond, Indiana. His son, Thomas, joined him in the architecture business for a time and then moved to Indianapolis and later to California with his wife, the noted Ragtime composer May Aufderheide Kaufman. A daughter, Maude Kaufman Eggemeyer became an accomplished artist of the Richmond Group of painters.

Notable works