Clinton Day (1847 - 1916)

Born 17 Mar 1847 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York

Ancestors

Died 11 Jan 1916 at age 68 in Berkeley, Alameda, California

Biography

Clinton Day is Notable.

Clinton Day was a renowned architect in the San Francisco Bay Area during the latter half of the 19th century, designing buildings in Oakland, California.

Bay Area Architects: Clinton Day

Death of Clinton Day, F. A. I. A. Clinton Day, one of the best known architects on the Pacific Coast, died of heart trouble at his home in Berkeley, on January 11, 1916. A TRIBUTE THE most precious things in life are those which constitute happiness. They are frequently the products of the heart and mind and therefore manifestly beyond the limited realm of word description or other possible means of conveying sensations which we ourselves experience. It is therefore impossible to recount such admirable qualities which Clinton Day possessed and which made him so attractive and beloved. His affiliation with men of his profession abounded in good fellowship and happiness. The spirit which he imbued into the society of men and women generally radiated joyous kindliness, friendship and good humor. His constancy to the high principles established in the canons of his chosen profession is beyond cavil. Clinton Day will be especially remembered as a result of the happiness which he created in a world which is constitutionally in need of such greater happiness.

Clinton Day came of distinguished parentage. His grandfather, Jeremiah Day, was for thirty years president of Yale University. His father, Sherman Day, was an early day State Senator from San Francisco, United States Surveyor-General for California, and directed the construction of the first Government highway to the Pacific Coast. He was also one of the founders of the College of California, predecessor of the State University. Clinton Day was born in Brooklyn in 1847, and came to California when he was eight years of age. He graduated from the College of California, which was then located in Oakland, in 1868, with the degree of B. A. But one member of that graduating class survives, C. A. Wetmore, the vineyardist of Livermore. With the removal of the College of California to Berkeley and its mersion into the State University, Mr. Day did post-graduate work and in 1874 was given the degree of M. A.

In 1875 he was married to Miss Grace Wakefield of Cambridge, Mass., who, with a daughter, Miss Caroline Day, and a sister, Mrs. C. T. H. Palmer, are the surviving relatives.

Mr. Day was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He designed many well-known buildings in San Francisco. He also was the designer of the chemistry building on the State University campus, Berkeley. He was granted the honorary degree of LL. D. by the University in 1910.

Mr. Day designed a large number of very beautiful homes in Oakland, Berkeley and other trans-bay points. His last work was a sun dial for the Class of 1877, which was erected in May, 1915, on the University of California campus. Referring to Mr. Day's work, Davis' Commercial Encyclopedia, published in 1912, says: "Viewing the many imposing edifices which are a physical expression of the art of Clinton Day, it is difficult to realize the obstacles to be overcome in making artistic a structure whose sole purpose is commercial. Yet he executed the City of Paris building, the Union Trust building, the Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank building, the Spring Valley building, and the Mutual Life building. Perhaps the most noteworthy product of the genius of Mr. Day is the Stanford Chapel at Palo Alto. This building, known throughout the world as an architectural gem, is considered the crowning glory of the group which comprises the Leland Stanford Jr. University. Mr. Day had been active in architecture for thirty-seven years."

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Acknowledgements

• Created by Laura Scott, Friday, November 7, 2014.

Sources

• "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5QB-PRMR : 18 July 2020), Clinton Day in entry for Roger Sherman Day, 1898.

1. ↑ Architect and Engineer: 1915, Volumes 43-44 (Google eBook)