| Arthur Bohn | |
|---|---|
Student Building (right, listed on the National Register of Historical Places), University of Indiana Bloomington |
|
| Born | 1861 |
| Nationality | USA |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Known for | Partner in Vonnegut & Bohn |
Arthur Bohn, AIA, (August 9, 1861—January 13, 1948)[1] was a German-American architect active from the 1880s to 1940s in Indiana.[2] He was a co-founder of the locally renowned Indianapolis architectural firm of Vonnegut and Bohn. The firm had distinct German influences.
Working in Indianapolis in the 1880s, Bohn entered into a partnership in 1888 with Bernard Vonnegut Sr., WAA (from 1886), and Fellow (from 1889) to form Vonnegut & Bohn.[3] Vonnegut had been practicing with a client roster in Indianapolis since 1883 and had previous draftsman experience in the prominent New York firm of George B. Post. He also came from a wealthy and respected family that may have led to several commissions. However, Vonnegut was not the most sociable individual and was not active in the community, which is where several commissions often originate. In addition, Vonnegut and frequently traveled and lived abroad, so Bohn was likely to have played a significant role in attracting clients and executing much of the day to day work, despite being overshadowed by the Vonnegut name. [4]
The firm went on to create many landmarks in Indianapolis and greater Indiana, and a number have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places[3] Bernard Vonnegut died young in 1908 and Arthur continued the firm under the same name. Bernard's son, Kurt Vonnegut Sr. returned from Germany in 1910 and became a partner in the firm, which remained named Vonnegut & Bohn, despite Bohn's seniority.
While with the firm, he worked as a local supervising architect for Holabird & Roche's The Fletcher Trust Building (after the original designer Electus D. Litchfield was dismissed).[5]
At some point, the firm took on an additional partner named Mueller, and the firm was renamed Vonnegut, Bohn & Mueller during the 1940s. Mueller was likely related to Vonnegut.[6] Bohn retired in the 1940s. In 1946, a merger erased Bohn and Mueller's names from the successor firm of Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager[7][8]
Bohn died in 1948 and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.
