Perkins & McWayne was an architectural firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and active throughout the state of South Dakota. It was established in 1917 by architects Robert A. Perkins and Albert McWayne.

History The firm which became Perkins & McWayne was founded in 1914 as the sole proprietorship of architect Joseph D. Livermore.The Daily Angus-Leader, February 7, 1914, 5. In 1916 he formed the partnership of Livermore & McWayne with Albert McWayne.The Daily Angus-Leader, February 7, 1916, 3. In 1917 Livermore moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and his interest in the firm was purchased by Robert A. Perkins and it was reorganized as Perkins & McWayne.The Western Architect 26, no. 3 (September, 1917): 23.

Perkins retired from the firm in 1944 due to his declining health. McWayne continued the firm under the same name until 1954, when he formed the partnership of McWayne & McLaughlin with L. Earl McLaughlin, an employee since 1938."After 37 years, veteran architectural firm in Sioux Falls changes name," The Daily Argus-Leader, February 23, 1954, 2.

After McWayne's death in 1966, McLaughlin continued the firm as McWayne & McLaughlin until about 1969, and thereafter under his own name until his retirement in 1983."Earl McLaughlin, architect known statewide, dies at 93," Argus Leader, September 2, 1998, 3D.

Partner biographies Robert A. Perkins Robert Augustus Perkins (November 5, 1882 – December 6, 1961) was born in Montello, Wisconsin. The family moved to Sioux Falls when he was about 12 years old. He was educated in the Sioux Falls public schools and at the Armour Institute in Chicago. He taught at Washington High School from 1909 to 1916, when he returned to Armour for a year of graduate study."Rites for Robert Perkins Saturday in California," Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, December 7, 1961, 32.

Perkins was well known as a singer as a young man. He was married twice, first to Eva Zeller in 1911, who died in 1920, and second to Marion Tufts in 1921. They had four children, three sons and one daughter. In retirement he lived in Yucaipa, California, where he died at the age of 79."City briefs," The Daily Argus-Leader, September 28, 1911, 10.

Albert McWayne Albert McWayne (November 8, 1885 – November 20, 1966) was born in Crown Point, Indiana. He was educated at Purdue University, graduating in 1910. He worked for architects and engineers in Chicago before moving to Sioux Falls in 1916. When architects were first licensed in South Dakota, McWayne was honored with license no. 1."Citizen of the week," Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, March 20, 1966, 3.

McWayne was married twice, first to Nettie Bell Chenoweth in 1912, who died in 1947, and second to Mary Lamont in 1949. He died in Sioux Falls at the age of 81."Albert McWayne, architect and engineer, dies at 81," Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, November 21, 1966, 1.

L. Earl McLaughlin Laurence Earl McLaughlin (December 18, 1904 – August 31, 1998) was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He was educated in the public schools and at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 1934 with a BArch.

McLaughlin died in Sioux Falls at the age of 93.

Legacy A number of its works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

When McLaughlin retired, he donated the firm's records to the Siouxland Heritage Museums.

Architectural works Perkins & McWayne, 1917–1954 1918 – Shriver-Johnson Building, 230 S Phillips Ave, Sioux Falls, South DakotaShriver-Johnson Building NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1982) 1920 – Administration Building, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, South DakotaAugustana College Historic Buildings NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1977) 1923 – L.D. Miller Funeral Home, 507 S Main Ave, Sioux Falls, South DakotaL.D. Miller Funeral Home NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1983) 1923 – Rapid City High School, 601 Columbus St, Rapid City, South DakotaRapid City High School NRHP Registration Form (2010) 1925 – Deadwood High School (former), 716 Main St, Deadwood, South Dakota"Decide to ask for bond issue of $250,000.00," The Weekly Pioneer Times, January 25, 1923, 2. 1925 – Lyman County Courthouse, 300 Main St, Kennebec, South Dakota 1925 – Slagle Hall, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota"S.F. firm gets state 'U' job," The Argus-Leader, March 23, 1925, 2. 1926 – George Stevens House, 21 S Riverview Heights, Sioux Falls, South DakotaDr. Steven's House NRHP Registration Form (2002) 1927 – Douglas County Courthouse, 706 Braddock St, Armour, South DakotaDouglas County Courthouse and Auditor's Office NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1978) 1927 – Lincoln Hall, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 1928 – Coolidge Sylvan Theatre, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South DakotaCoolidge Sylvan Theatre NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1987) 1928 – Pierre Masonic Lodge, 201 W Capitol Ave. Pierre, South DakotaPierre Masonic Lodge NRHP Registration Form (2009) 1928 – Old Redfield City Hall, 517 N Main St, Redfield, South DakotaOld Redfield City Hall NRHP Registration Form (1997) 1929 – Codington County Courthouse, 14 1st Ave SE, Watertown, South DakotaCodington County Courthouse NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1978) 1929 – Coughlin Campanile, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South DakotaCoughlin Campanile NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1987) 1929 – Glidden-Martin Hall, University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South DakotaGlidden-Martin Hall NRHP Registration Form (2000) 1930 – Haakon County Courthouse, 140 Howard Ave, Philip, South Dakota 1930 – Jerauld County Courthouse, 205 S Wallace Ave, Wessington Springs, South DakotaJerauld County Courthouse NRHP documentation (1993) 1930 – South Dakota Union (former), University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 1932 – South Dakota State Capitol annex, 500 E Capitol Ave, Pierre, South Dakota 1937 – Sturgis High School (former), 1425 Cedar St, Sturgis, South Dakota"Dedicate Sturgis school on Friday," The Rapid City Daily Journal, March 31, 1937, 3. 1938 – Aberdeen Civic Arena, 203 S Washington St, Aberdeen, South DakotaBridgemen's Magazine (July, 1937): 411. 1940 – Pugsley Center, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 1940 – Watertown Stadium, 1600 W Kemp Ave, Watertown, South DakotaWatertown Stadium NRHP documentation (2000) 1947 – Sioux Falls Bus Station, 301 N Dakota Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1951 – First Presbyterian Church, 401 N Lafayette Ave, Fulda, Minnesota"Church bids received here," The Sioux City Sunday Journal, July 23, 1950, 9. 1953 – Berg Agricultural Hall, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota

McWayne & McLaughlin, from 1954 1957 – Patterson Hall, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota"USD to dedicate new building," Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, April 16, 1958, 23. 1958 – Brule County Courthouse, 300 S Courtland St, Chamberlain, South Dakota 1965 – Holy Name Catholic Church, 1108 S Carroll St, Rock Rapids, Iowa 1966 – Brule County Jail, 201 W Kellam Ave, Chamberlain, South Dakota"Brule County Jail to have open house," The Daily Republic, March 4, 1966, 14.

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