The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest

Robert C. Spencer

Architrect, Robert Closson Spencer, Jr. was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1864.  Spencer earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1886 and went on to study at M.I.T. in Boston until 1889.  He worked for Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge in both Boston and Chicago and also traveled to Europe between 1891-93.  In 1895, Spencer formed his own practice in the Schiller Building in Chicago next door to Dwight Perkins and Frank Lloyd Wright.  In 1900, he wrote the first major article on Frank Lloyd Wright’s work in Architecture Review.  Between 1905-1909, he wrote over 20 articles for House Beautiful magazine promoting Prairie School designs and ideas. 

He formed a partnership with Horace E. Powers in 1905 and specialized in residential architecture.  His style of architecture was a modern version with a blend of simple masses, rectangular details, and English medieval half-timbering.  In 1906, Spencer invented a number of casement window devices and founded the Chicago Casement Hardware Co. to make and distribute them.  With his partnership to Powers ending in 1923, Spencer turned to teaching.  Spencer taught at Oklahoma A & M and the University of Florida until 1934.  After teaching, Spencer turned to painting.  He painted murals for the U.S. Government until he retired to Tucson, Arizona in 1938. 

Buildings:

River Forest	Oak Park

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