AUSTIN, Texas – Drawings of noted architect Thomas M. Price have been donated to the Alexander Architectural Archive at The University of Texas at Austin.

The gift – provided by Price's family – includes approximately 2,700 architectural drawings that were formerly held at Rosenberg Library in Galveston.

Thomas M. Price (1916-1998) was Galveston’s foremost modern architect. Price was a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and earned his degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1941, where he studied under Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer.

He was a Professor of Architecture and Visiting Architecture Critic at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and was employed as a designer and draftsman for the prestigious firms of Gropius and Breuer, Hugh Stubbins and Oscar Stonarov.

During World War II, Price was commissioned Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and trained at the M.I.T. School of Naval Architecture.

In 1947, Price opened his architectural firm in Galveston, where his work included private residences, hotels, schools, a social club and commercial buildings. His major works include the Sealy & Smith professional building (1964), the Flagship Hotel (with Houston firm Neuhaus & Taylor), the Seahorse Motel (1956) and the Galveston Artillery Club (1959).

Price's other Texas work includes the Lasher House in Houston, as well as buildings in Alvin, Bay City, Freeport, Hitchcock and Webster. He also designed hotels in Asheville, Biloxi and San Francisco.

Price was also involved in early efforts to preserve Galveston’s 19th century architectural heritage. He was responsible for two pioneer preservation planning studies prepared for the city of Galveston.

His work has been published in "Architectural Record" and "Galveston: Architecture Guidebook."

Submitted by Beth Dodd 5/26/09