This collection consists of the personal and professional
papers and drawings of Tucson architect, Tom Gist (1917-2000). His unique design and
building style made his homes an important part of Tucson's Historical Districts.
The bulk of the material relate to his work as an architect and include his
drawings, plans, contracts, and other important information pertaining to his work.
The rest of the collection stems from his personal life and contains various awards,
degrees, photos, scrapbooks, and journals including his work with the Tucson
National History club.
Collection Number:
MS 655
Language:
Materials are in English.
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
E-Mail: LBRY-askspcoll@email.arizona.edu
Biographical Note
Tom B. Gist (1917-2000), was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He went to various
military schools before he graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Mining
Engineering in 1939. During World War II he served as a bombardier and developed a
bomb error calculator that increased the accuracy of bombing for which he was
awarded the Legion of Merit award. After the war he relocated to Tucson, Arizona
where he became a prominent custom home designer and builder from the mid 1950's
through the late 1970's. Many of the over 170 homes he designed and built were
regulary featured in various magazines such as Better Homes and Gardens and the
Tucson Citizen. Due to his unique and detailed building style many of these homes
are a part of Historic Districts throughout Tucson, including his own home which is
now a part of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains the personal and professional files of architect Tom Gist as
well as his architectural drawings and photographic material. The majority of the
materials included pertain to his architectural work around Tucson including design
plans, drawings, contracts, correspondence, photos, and other important information
in regards to the building of the homes. Other material include personal artifacts
and photographic material spanning his entire life including his time in the Air
Force as a Bombardier and his participation within the Tucson Natural History club.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from theowner of
the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her
transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the University of Arizona, its
officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person
asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
This series contains Tom Gist's personal files spanning almost his entire
life. The majority of the materials come from his time in the Air Force as a
Bombardier which include his bombing navigation tools and calculators as
well as his military records and diploma. Other materials include his
association with the National Park Service and the Tucson National History
Club as well as correspondence, and other personal written material.
This series contains material pertaining to Tom Gist's architecture
business, Tom Gist Homes. The materials include correspondence, financial
records, contracts, inspection notes, building notes and ideas, drawings and
plans.
folder
Box 2
3
Stationary, Undated
Box 2
4
Original "Tom Gist" logo, Undated
Box 2
5
Home brochure, Undated
Box 2
6
Misc, 1967-1968
Box 2
7
Idea file, 1960
Box 2
8
Model home, 1956
Box 2
9
Notes, 1968-1970
Box 2
10
Estimate re-caps, 1976
Box 2
11
Misc records, 1957-1960
Box 2
12
Concepts, Circa 1980
Box 2
13
Contact lists, 1948-1981
Box 2
14
Estimate originals, Undated
Box 2
15
Expenses, 1979-1980
Box 2
16
Contractor license, 1977-1982
Box 2
17
Misc papers, Undated
Box 2
18
Original form, Undated
folder
Box 3
1
Contracts A-B, 1951-1969
Box 3
2
Contracts C, 1950-1970
Box 3
3
Contracts D-F, 1953-1972
Box 3
4
Contracts G-I, 1948-1964
Box 3
5
Contracts J-L, 1957-1976
folder
Box 4
1
Contracts M, 1957-1969
Box 4
2
Contracts N-R, 1955-1963
Box 4
3
Contracts S, 1948-1964
Box 4
4
Contracts T-V, 1942-1963
Box 4
5
Contracts W-Z, 1949-1966
Box 4
6
Work cost cards, Undated
Box 4
7
Rincon Plan, 1993-1995
Box 4
8
Leonora annex lot 17 and 18, 1987
Box 4
9
Shangri la home , Undated
Box 4
10
Original furniture design, table, Undated
Box 4
11
Original furniture, bed, Undated
folder
Box 5
1
Original furniture design, bench, Undated
Box 5
2
Custom flex, 1957
Box 5
3
Solar chart, Circa 1960
Box 5
4
Newspaper ads, 1963
Box 5
5
Miller papers, 1959-1962
Box 5
6
Duff Smith, 1986-1987
Box 5
7
Profit sharing plan - Salem Fund, 1981-1982
Box 5
8
22nd and Houghton, 1957-1963
Box 5
9
Rucker, 1980-1988
Box 5
10
Financial, 1951-1972
Box 5
11
Notes, 1957-1993
Box 5
12
Carrilo, 1980-1990
Box 5
13
Vasquez S., 1980-1981
Box 5
14
Tanque Verde house, 1983
Box 6
Custom Flex Design Inc., 1957-1960
Box 6
Leonora and Dev. Co., 1957
Box 6
Gist homes, color, Undated
folder
Box 7
1
Transamerica title insurance fund, 1958-1969
Box 7
2
Transamerica title insurance company, 1957-1959, 1972
This series contains various scrapbooks and photographs spanning from Tom
Gist's early childhood to his professional career. In addition to family
photos this series also includes photographs of his architecture
projects.
