Z. T. Gerganoff architectural firm records, 1928-1977

Summary

Creator:

Z. T. Gerganoff (Firm : Ypsilanti, Mich.)

Abstract:

Architectural drawings of the firm of Z.T. Gerganoff, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, (and predecessor firms of R.S. Gerganoff and S.T. Gerganoff). Drawings and specifications for various area churches, service stations and auto dealerships, the Washtenaw County Building, the Ypsi-Ann Building, and miscellaneous businesses and private residences.

Extent:

27 oversize folders (in 6 drawers)
1 linear foot

Language:

English

Call Number:

85812 Bb 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Leonard A. Coombs, November 1983

Background

Scope and Content:

The Z. T. Gerganoff records represent a small portion of the firms output. In 1983, the firm's offices at 206 N. Washington in Ypsilanti were sold, and its records offered to the Michigan Historical Collections. Many of the records had been scattered or destroyed over the years, due to the firm's need for space and its practice of returning records to clients after the completion of a job.

Of the records remaining in the office in July 1983, the Michigan Historical Collections accessioned architectural drawings and specifications relating to churches, service stations and auto dealerships, the Washtenaw County Building, Washtenaw Country Club clubhouse, and a few other buildings, along with miscellaneous renderings of residences, apartment buildings, and businesses. Left at the office to be destroyed were drawings of other county courthouses and schools. Drawings of many Ypsilanti buildings had been donated to the Ypsilanti Historical Museum, and drawings of Eastern Michigan University buildings had been turned over to the University.

This record group consists of architectural drawings for 56 of Gerganoff's projects and a smaller series of specifications for two projects. The architectural drawings series is composed of three subseries: churches; service stations and auto dealerships; and other buildings. Within each subseries, buildings are arranged by location and then chronologically (by job number), with undated and miscellaneous material at the end.

Biographical / Historical:

Ralph Stephens Gerganoff graduated from the University of Michigan in 1917 with a bachelor's degree in architecture. After practicing in Wisconsin and Detroit, he opened an office in Ypsilanti around 1925. Over the next 40 years, his firm was responsible for a great proportion of the architectural work in Ypsilanti, including most of the Ypsilanti public school buildings, at least 12 buildings at Eastern Michigan University, Beyer Memorial Hospital, and a number of residences, churches, apartment buildings, and businesses. In Ann Arbor, the firm designed the Washtenaw County Building (1955), the Ypsi-Ann Building (later known as the Wolverine Building), Kingsley Apartments, and other buildings. St. Clement Ohridski Macedono Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church in Dearborn is one of the firm's best known projects. Schools, churches, county courthouses, residences, and service stations were among the firm's specialties. An album of the firm's work before 1952 is found in the book Architectural Work and Designs by R.S. Gerganoff, in the printed collection.

After R.S. Gerganoff's death in 1966, Stoyan T. Gerganoff took over the firm. He in turn was succeeded in 1980 by Zdravko T. Gerganoff, R.S. Gerganoff's nephew, who had worked for R.S. Gerganoff during the 1950's and who during the 1960s had opened his own architectural firm.

Acquisition Information:

The record group was the gift of Z. T. Gerganoff (donor no. 6961 ) and came to the library in August 1983.

Accruals:

Periodic additions to the records are not expected.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

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Subjects:

Architects.
Architecture.
Automobile industry and trade -- Michigan.
Service stations.
Church architecture.

Formats:

Architectural drawings.

Names:

Bethany Assembly of God Church (Adrian, Mich.)
Jehovah's Witnesses East (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Link Garage and Sales Building (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Pentecostal Church of God (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Trinity Episcopal Church (Belleville, Mich.)
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Chelsea, Mich.)
St. Clement Ohridski Church (Dearborn, Mich.)
St. Clement Ohridski Church (Detroit, Mich.)
Presbyterian Church (Fenton, Mich.)
Methodist Church (Manchester, Mich.)
Free Methodist Church (Spring Arbor, Mich.)
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Waltz, Mich.)
Banks and Stowe Sandwich Shop (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Baptist Tabernacle (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Calvary Baptist Church (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Church Building for American Baptist Home Mission Society (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
First Christian Church (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
First Presbyterian Church (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
D.M. Silkworth Oil Co (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Willow Run Baptist Church (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Washtenaw Country Club.
Z.T. Gerganoff (Firm : Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Gerganoff, Ralph Stevens, -1966.
Gerganoff, Stoyan T.
Gerganoff, Zdravko T.

Places:

Ann Arbor (Mich.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
Washtenaw County Building (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Wolverine Building (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Ypsilanti (Mich.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.