Synopses & Reviews
is the first book to be devoted to his ecclesiastical architecture, which constitutes an important part of his work. During his long career he designed all or part of twenty-two churches-mission churches for Indian pueblos, including Acoma and Laguna; Catholic churches, especially Cristo Rey in Santa Fe and Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup; Episcopal churches, including Holy Faith in Santa Fe, St. John's Cathedral in Albuquerque, and churches in Clovis, Roswell, Carlsbad, and Las Cruces, New Mexico; Presbyterian churches in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos; and the chapel for the Good Shepherd Mission to the Navajo in Fort Defiance, Arizona. These exhibit a surprising variety of styles. A number are in the pueblo mission style that is usually associated with Meem's work, but there are also Episcopal churches in the English Gothic style, a Territorial-style Presbyterian church, a Romanesque Catholic cathedral, and the unique church at Fort Defiance. is beautifully illustrated with new color photographs of all of Meem's churches as well as drawings, plans, and early black-and-white photographs from the Meem Archives. Illustrated with early black-and-white photographs by Tyler Dingee, who worked with Meem and for the University of New Mexico; new color photographs by Derek Lehmberg; and drawings by Meem and members of his office.
Review
"[D]ense with images... spectacular contemporary color photographs...an important contribution to the understanding of both architectural production in the early 20th-century Southwest and Colonial Revival church architecture in America.... Highly recommended." L. P. Nelson
Review
"[A] beautiful book telling an appealing story." Choice
Review
The drawings are particularly valuable in that they illustrate the evolution of several of the designs. --Steven Kells, AIA
Review
Comprehensive and enjoyable. . . . adds another layer.
Review
Lehmberg's prose is admirably straightforward, as unpretentious as the buildings he describes…. [T]he illustrations provide welcome proof of how well Meem's site-rooted designs have aged. --Eve M. Kahn
Review
[S]pellbinding…[T]he definitive historical read on the world-renowned Santa Fe style. --Elisabeth A. Doehring
Synopsis
John Gaw Meem, the principal architect of the Santa Fe style, is well known for his houses and public buildings.
About the Author
Stanford Lehmbergtaught at the Universities of Texas and Minnesota for forty years. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.John"Gaw Meem"designed all or part of twentytwo churches, including mission churches for Indian pueblos; Catholic, Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos; and a chapel in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Using archival and new color photographs this book surveys the varied styles in which he worked.