Howard Van Doren Shaw
A Chicago Architect with a European Influence
Howard Van Doren Shaw was one of Chicago’s important architects of the early 20th century. Born in 1869, he studied at Yale and MIT before traveling extensively throughout Europe, where he sketched and studied historic architecture. After returning to Chicago, he worked in the office of William Le Baron Jenney before establishing his own practice.
Blending Old and New
At a time when many Chicago architects were experimenting with new materials and skyscraper construction, Shaw looked to the past for inspiration. His designs drew from Tudor, Georgian, Mediterranean, and Arts and Crafts styles. He became especially well known for elegant homes and country estates for wealthy families in Lake Forest and Chicago’s North Shore.
Shaw’s architecture was not simply an imitation of historic buildings. He adapted traditional ideas to modern lifestyles, paying close attention to craftsmanship, materials, gardens, and interior spaces. His work helped define the sophisticated residential architecture of the period.
Graceland Cemetery & Arboretum Connection
Shaw designed the Goodman mausoleum at Graceland Cemetery & Arboretum located in the Lakeside Section.
Death
Shaw died in 1926 and is buried in Section D, Lot/Pathway: 79etc., Space 5.