John Gaw Meem

Kate Wingert-PlaydonOCOs narrative of the restoration of San Esteban del Rey Mission and the process behind it is the only detailed account of this milestone example of historic preservation, in which New MexicoOCOs most famous architect, John Gaw Meem, played a major role.

Regarded as the leading southwest architect of his time, John Gaw Meem brought the Santa Fe style to its peak in the 1920s and 1930s. With original drawings, floor plans, and stunning color photographs, this book explores Meem's signature design elements and numerous examples of his unique Spanish- and Pueblo-influenced residences.

Churches for the Southwest is the first book to be devoted to his ecclesiastical architecture, which constitutes an important part of his work. During his long career he designed all or part of twenty-two churches-mission churches for Indian pueblos, including Acoma and Laguna; Catholic churches, especially Cristo Rey in Santa Fe and Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup; Episcopal churches, including Holy Faith in Santa Fe, St. John’s Cathedral in Albuquerque, and churches in Clovis, Roswell, Carlsbad, and Las Cruces, New Mexico; Presbyterian churches in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos; and the chapel for the Good Shepherd Mission to the Navajo in Fort Defiance, Arizona. These exhibit a surprising variety of styles. A number are in the pueblo mission style that is usually associated with Meem’s work, but there are also Episcopal churches in the English Gothic style, a Territorial-style Presbyterian church, a Romanesque Catholic cathedral, and the unique church at Fort Defiance. Churches for the Southwest is beautifully illustrated with new color photographs of all of Meem’s churches as well as drawings, plans, and early black-and-white photographs from the Meem Archives. Illustrated with early black-and-white photographs by Tyler Dingee, who worked with Meem and for the University of New Mexico; new color photographs by Derek Lehmberg; and drawings by Meem and members of his office.