J. Gerald Phelan (January 29, 1893 – March 23, 1981) was a U.S. architect and corporate executive who was very active throughout the Eastern part of the United States throughout the middle part of the 20th century.

Childhood and architectural training

Phelan was born in

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...

and received his architectural training from the

Pratt Institute Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York. It has a satellite campus in Manhattan and an extension campus in Utica, New York at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. The school was ...

in Brooklyn, New York, (class of 1913) after which he worked for two years as a designer for A. C. Kelley and Co, Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Fletcher Thompson

He joined the

engineering firm of Fletcher Thompson in 1916 as a draftsman and worked his way up to managing principal in 1931. He later become the firm's president and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1970. Pratt Institute's J. Gerald Phelan Award for Architecture is named in his honor.

Honorary degree and honors

In 1969 Phelan was awarded a Doctor of Arts honorary degree from

Fairfield University Fairfield University is a private Jesuit university in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1942. In 2017, the university had about 4,100 full-time undergraduate students and 1,100 graduate students, including full-time ...

for whom he had designed 10 buildings over the years. He was also awarded the Alumnus of the Year award from the Pratt Institute.

Personal life

Phelan was a longtime member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and served as the president of the Connecticut Chapter between 1942 and 1943.

Works include

Connecticut

* Ascension Church,

Hamden, CT Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant". The population was 61,169 at the 2020 census. History The peaceful tribe of Quinnipiacs were the first residents of the ...

(with Robert H. Mutrux, AIA) * Blessed Sacrament Church, Bridgeport, CT *

Fairfield, CT Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders the city of Bridgeport and towns of Trumbull, Easton, Weston, and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. Located within the New York metropolitan area ...

(at least 10 buildings) * Holy Family Church, Fairfield, CT* St. Ann Church, Bridgeport, CT * St. James Church,

Rocky Hill, CT Rocky Hill is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,845 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It was originally land of the Wangunks (a tribe of Native Americans). Euro ...

* St. James Church,

Stratford, CT Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is situated on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. Stratford is in the Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was settled by ...

* St. Jerome Church, New Britain, CT * St. Lawrence Church, Shelton, CT * St. Mary Church,

East Hartford, CT East Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,045 at the 2020 census. The town is located on the east bank of the Connecticut River, directly across from Hartford, Connecticut. It is home to aerospac ...

(with Robert H, Mutrux, AIA) * St. Pius X Church,

* St. Rose of Lima Church, East Hartford, Connecticut * St. Theresa Church,

Trumbull, CT Trumbull is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders on the cities of Bridgeport and Shelton and the towns of Stratford, Fairfield, Easton and Monroe. The population was 36,827 during the 2020 census. Trumbul ...

* Our Lady of the Assumption Church,

* Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church,

Washington Depot, Connecticut Washington is a rural town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. The population was 3,646 at the 2020 census. Washington is known for its picturesque countryside, historic architecture, and active civi ...

* St. Francia of Assisi Church, South Windsor, Connecticut

Massachusetts

* St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Springfield, MA

New Jersey

* Seton Hall University

South Orange, NJ South Orange, officially the Township of South Orange Village, is a suburban township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village's population was 16,198, reflecting a decline of 766 (4.5%) fro ...

(3 buildings) * St. John Vianney Church Colonia, New Jersey * St. Philomena Church, Livingston, NJ (with George N. Overath AIA and J. P. Boulanger)http://www.stphilomena.org/ParishHistory.htm Parish History, St. Philomena

Reading

* *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phelan, J. Gerald 1893 births 1981 deaths 20th-century American architects Pratt Institute alumni Architects from Bridgeport, Connecticut Architects of Roman Catholic churches