J. Gerald Phelan

J. Gerald Phelan
St. Mary Church, East Hartford, CT – J. Gerald Phelan, architect East Hardford's Cathedral
Born	1893 Bridgeport, CT
Died	1981 Bridgeport, CT
Nationality	American
Known for	Architect

J. Gerald Phelan (January 29, 1893 – March 23, 1981) was a U.S. architect and corporate executive who was very active throughout the Eastern part of the United States throughout the middle part of the 20th century.

Childhood and architectural training

Phelan was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and received his architectural training from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, (class of 1913) after which he worked for two years as a designer for A. C. Kelley and Co, Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Fletcher Thompson

He joined the Bridgeport, Connecticut engineering firm of Fletcher Thompson in 1916 as a draftsman and worked his way up to managing principal in 1931. He later become the firm's president and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1970.^[1]

Pratt Institute's J. Gerald Phelan Award for Architecture is named in his honor.^[2]

Honorary degree and honors

In 1969 Phelan was awarded a Doctor of Arts honorary degree from Fairfield University for whom he had designed 10 buildings over the years.^[3] He was also awarded the Alumnus of the Year award from the Pratt Institute.

Personal life

Phelan was a longtime member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and served as the president of the Connecticut Chapter between 1942 and 1943.^[4]

Works include

Connecticut

• Ascension Church, Hamden, CT (with Robert H. Mutrux, AIA)
• Blessed Sacrament Church, Bridgeport, CT
• Fairfield University. Fairfield, CT (at least 10 buildings)
• Holy Family Church, Fairfield, CT* St. Ann Church, Bridgeport, CT
• St. James Church, Rocky Hill, CT
• St. James Church, Stratford, CT
• St. Jerome Church, New Britain, CT
• St. Lawrence Church, Shelton, CT
• St. Mary Church, East Hartford, CT (with Robert H, Mutrux, AIA)^[5]
• St. Pius X Church, Fairfield, CT
• St. Rose of Lima Church, East Hartford, Connecticut
• St. Theresa Church, Trumbull, CT
• Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Fairfield, CT^[6]
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Washington Depot, Connecticut
• St. Francia of Assisi Church, South Windsor, Connecticut

Massachusetts

• St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Springfield, MA

New Jersey

• Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ (3 buildings)
• St. John Vianney Church Colonia, New Jersey^[7]
• St. Philomena Church, Livingston, NJ (with George N. Overath AIA and J. P. Boulanger)^[8]

Reading

• Phelan, J. Gerald. "American Architects Directory First edition, 1956 R.R. Bowker LLC" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
• Phelan, J. Gerald. "American Architects Directory First edition, 1970 R.R. Bowker LLC" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2011.

References

1. "Fletcher Thompson Celebrates 100th Anniversary" (PDF). Shelton Life Community & Business News. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
2. "Graduate Grants, Scholarships, Loans and Awards" (PDF). Pratt Institute. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
3. http://www.fairfield.edu/about/about_honorarydegrees.html Archived November 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Honorary degrees awarded at Fairfield University
4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2011. AIA Connecticut Former Presidents
5. Togetherness in a Church for 1100, Catholic Property Administration Magazine, February 1964 (pages 22–29)
6. http://assumption-fairfield.org/history.aspx Archived November 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Assumption church Fairfield Connecticut, history
7. https://archive.org/stream/stjohnvianney19600wood/stjohnvianney19600wood_djvu.txt St. John Vianney 1962 Souvenir Book
8. http://www.stphilomena.org/ParishHistory.htm Parish History, St. Philomena