Nathan Clifford Ricker, D.Arch (June 24, 1843 – March 19, 1924) was a professor and architect known for his work at the University of Illinois. He was born on a farm near Acton, Maine June 24, 1843. In 1875, he was married to Mary Carter Steele of Galesburg, Illinois. Mary Steele graduated with honors from the University of Illinois in 1875. His only child, Ethel, was born in 1883. He died March 19, 1924.

Educator

He served the University of Illinois for 45 years, from 1872 - 1917. He chaired the Department of Architecture from 1873 - 1910, creating the department and its curriculum. In 1890, he established the first curriculum in architectural engineering. From 1878 - 1905, he served as dean of the

College of Engineering Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education (bachelor's and/or master's degree), and any advanced education and specializations that ...

. He also served as University architect, designing four major buildings at UIUC. The publication of his book, ''Elementary Graphical Statics and Construction of Trussed Roofs'' in 1885 was the first book published by a University of Illinois faculty member.

Architect

March 12, 1873, he received his graduation certificate, making him the first person to receive a Degree in Architecture in the United States. In 1914, Alpha Rho Chi honored him with the title of "Master Architect." He is associated with the design of several sites listed on the

National Historical Register The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

and located in Champaign County, Illinois. *

Altgeld Hall Altgeld Hall, located at 1409 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, campus, was built in 1896–97 and was designed by Nathan Ricker and ...

(originally Library Hall) *

Harker Hall Harker Hall, also known as the Chemical Laboratory, is a historic building on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in Urbana, Illinois. Built in 1877, the building originally served as the university's chemical labor ...

(originally Chemical Laboratory) *Metal Shop, now known as Aeronautical Lab "B" *

Kenney Gym The Kenney Gym and the Kenney Gym Annex are two buildings located at 1402-06 Springfield Avenue in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Although the two buildings have been physically connected since ...

, listed as Military Drill Hall and Men's Gymnasium *

Natural History Building The Natural History Building is a historic building on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in Urbana, Illinois. Built in 1892, the building originally housed the university's departments of botany, zoology, and geology. ...

*612 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois. The home he designed and occupied from 1892 until his death in 1924.The Ricker House
at www.ci.urbana.il.us

Books written by Ricker

*''The elements of construction in architecture'' (1881) *''Elementary Graphical Statics and Construction of Trussed Roofs'' (1885) *''Technical review of the Chicago public library'' (1898) *''An extension of the Dewey decimal system of classification applied to architecture and building.'' (1906) *''A study of roof trusses'' (1907) *''A treatise on design and construction of roofs'' (1912) *''Simplified formulas and tables for floors, joists and beams; roofs, rafters and purlins'' (1913) *''A study of base and bearing plates for columns and beams'' (1919)

Notes

External links

*
Establishing Architecture at the University of IllinoisRicker Library of Architecture and Art
- Founded by Ricker in 1873 and named for him in 1917.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricker, Nathan Clifford 1843 births 1924 deaths University of Illinois School of Architecture alumni University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty Architects from Maine People from Acton, Maine