George Sellon


George Clinton Sellon was an architect who designed a number of important works in California, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Life

Sellon was born in San Francisco on February 2, 1881. At some point he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he finished high school and then studied at the Chicago Art Institute. Sellon also married Margaret Hughes in Chicago in 1904, and the two had two children together, Walter and Virginia.
Sellon returned with his family to San Francisco following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. He died on October 13, 1954.

Career

Sellon was the first state architect of California, a position he held in partnership with E. Charles Hemmings from 1907 to 1909. The two also held a private partnership, Sellon & Hemmings, from 1908 to 1909.
Sellon resigned from his State Architect position on May 1, 1909 in response to a newly-passed state resolution that prevented those in the position from working on private commissions or their own designs. He then formed his own private practice, where he remained until he retired in 1954. The firm continued after his retirement, at some point changing names to Lionakis Beaumont and later to just Lionakis.

Architectural style

Sellon is considered a master of the Prairie School and Arts and Crafts styles. He also designed in numerous other styles, including Art Deco, Chicago Vertical, Classical Revival, Moderne, Spanish Colonial Revival, and more.

List of works

California

National Register of Historic Places

Other

Elsewhere