Edward J. Schulte

Edward J. Schulte (April 27, 1890 – June 7, 1975) was an architect who designed a number of mid-twentieth-century churches notable for their blending of a modern idiom with traditional function. Inspired by an encounter with Ralph Adams Cram, he devoted himself to building church buildings, designing over 88. He served as president of the Cincinnati chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Schulte had a sole practice after 1912, then practiced with Robert E. Crowe from 1921–1923, and practiced alone after that to 1967.

Early life and education

Edward Schulte displayed a talent for drawing early on and was encouraged to pursue it by the nuns in the parochial school he attended as a child. His father, a building contractor, wanted him to take up architecture instead, suggesting him to the firm of Werner and Adkins, who had designed a Carnegie library for Norwood. (Schulte’s father was one of three trustees to build it.) Schulte began working for Werner and Adkins during the day while attending classes at the Art Academy at night, eventually becoming a valued member of the firm with a special skill for watercolor renderings of proposed projects for client presentations. Before long, however, Werner and Adkins began to suffer from financial problems, temporarily loaning Schulte out to another firm before bringing him back upon securing a new partner – H.E. Kennedy – and several new commissions, among them an office building for New Orleans.

Early career

Kennedy was awarded the commission to design the Sheridan Square Theatre, an elegant new addition to the prominent Harris family of theaters in downtown Pittsburgh, and the project was eventually delegated to Schulte. This commission would require him to spend long nights in the library researching precedents for the relatively new building typology. His inherent proficiency in this genre of building evidently foreshadowed what would become a staple of his approach to church architecture: that it must visually and acoustically magnify the theatrical nature of divine liturgy. Among the draftsmen for the project was Robert E. Crowe, who would later become Schulte's partner and most important collaborator. Upon the success of the Harris Theatre project, Kennedy moved his office to Pittsburgh, bringing Schulte along with him. It was during this time that Schulte attended a candlelit lecture by Ralph Adams Cram at the Hall of Architecture in the Carnegie Museum, inspiring him to focus on churches over the remainder of his career.

Schulte is the only architect in history to design five cathedrals. Those completed include:

• Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman (La Crosse)
• Cathedral of Christ the King (Lexington)
• Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Salina)
• Cathedral of St. Monica (Cincinnati)

Schulte was also commissioned to design a permanent cathedral for Diocese of Lincoln. Though his design work was finished and had been accepted by the Diocese, the project apparently stalled prior to groundbreaking and was later abandoned. The current cathedral is the product of the more cost-conscious campaign that followed soon after.

The inclusion of his complete overhaul of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati (which effectively preserved only its corinthian portico and titanic spire) would elevate his cathedral count to six. Additionally, he also directed a significant renovation of the nearby Cathedral-Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, though this project did not warrant the scale of demolition and reconstruction required in the aforementioned renovation of St. Peter's across the river.

List of buildings designed or overseen

This list of Schulte's work was compiled by Donald A. Tenoever:

ROBERT CROWE & EDWARD SCHULTE (1921–1934) St. Catherine Church, Cincinnati, Ohio (1921) St. Ann Convent Chapel, Melbourne, Kentucky (1921) Sisters of Notre Dame Convent, Covington, Kentucky (1922) St. Theresa Home for the Aged, Cincinnati, Ohio (1923) The Fontbonne, Cincinnati, Ohio (1924) Fenwick Club Gymnasium, Cincinnati, Ohio (1925) St. Meinrad Abbey, St. Meinrad, Indiana (1925) Friars Club, Cincinnati, Ohio (1926) St. Monica Church and Rectory, Cincinnati, Ohio (1926 Mt. St. Joseph College addition, Cincinnati, Ohio (1926) Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Fenwick Club, Cincinnati, Ohio (1927) Church of the Assumption remodeling, Cincinnati, Ohio (1927) Regina High School, Cincinnati, Ohio (1927) Purcell High School, Cincinnati, Ohio (1927) St. Cecilia Church, Cincinnati, Ohio (1928) St. Peter Church, Lexington, Kentucky (1928) Crusade Castle remodeling, Cincinnati, Ohio (1928) Loreto Guild, Dayton, Ohio (1928) Paramount Building, Cincinnati, Ohio (1928) Milford Noviate, Cincinnati, Ohio (1929) Church of the Holy Ghost, Knoxville, Tennessee (1929) Mercy Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee (1932) St. Agnes School and Auditorium, Cincinnati, Ohio (1933) EDWARD SCHULTE (1934–1967) William Schanzlé residence (1934) Chapel of St. Victor, New Baltimore, Ohio 1935–1936 St. Bernard Church, Taylor Creek, Ohio Immaculate Conception Convent, Ferdinand, Indiana Dr. E.J. Gaenge residence, Zion Reformed Church, Norwood, Ohio Francis H. Mitchell residence Dr. Johnson McGuire residence H.R. Drackett residence High School, Lawrenceburg, Indiana 1936–1937 St. Peter Chapel and School, Hamilton, Ohio Ruth Wolfgang residence Sisters of Mercy Convent, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Ann School addition, Hamilton, Ohio St. John School addition, Deer Park, Cincinnati, Ohio 1938–1939 St. Monica School, Dallas, Texas Julius Fleischman residence remodeling Immaculate Conception School, Dayton, Ohio Mother of God Chapel, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio George Goodrich residence St. Dymphna Chapel and Rectory, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Bridgid Church alterations, Xenia, Ohio J.M. Christi residence Holy Angels School and Auditorium, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Ursala School and Chapel, Cincinnati, Ohio 1939–1940 St. Teresa School addition and Auditorium, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Christina School and Rectory, Lockland, Ohio St. James School and Auditorium, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Albert the Great Church, Dayton, Ohio St. Dominic Rectory, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Meinrad Abbey boiler house, St. Meinrad, Indiana Holy Family Church redecoration, Dayton, Ohio Fannie J. Randolph residence St. Antonio de Padua Church, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Thomas Church, Fort Thomas, Kentucky Blessed Sacrament Church, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky St. James of the Valley Church Wyoming, Ohio Saints Peter and Paul Church, Norwood, Ohio Dorothea L. Hoffman residence George C. Euskirchen residence Elizabeth D. Harrison residence Carl Zimmerman residence Fred J. Runte residence 1941–1942 St. John School addition, Cincinnati, Ohio Chapel for Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Williams, Cincinnati, Ohio Our Lady of Lourdes School, Indianapolis, Indiana St. Paul Indian mission Church, Marty, South Dakota Physics and Biology Building, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Indianapolis, Indiana Chapel in Archbishop's residence, Indianapolis, Indiana Clara Koch residence Resurrection of Our Lord School addition, Dayton, Ohio St. Michael Church, Muskegon, Michigan St. Mary Church, Bethel, Ohio Mary J. Erhart residence Saints Peter and Paul Church, Haubstadt, Indiana St. Stephen Church and Rectory, Dayton, Ohio 1942–1943 Sacred Heart Convent Church, Benedictine Convent and Academy addition, Yankton, South Dakota St. Dominic School addition, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Clement Church remodeling, Reading, Ohio St. Anthony Church, Effingham, Illinois St. Anthony School addition, Cheviot, Ohio Guardian Angel School, Auditorium and Rectory, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Theresa Hall, St. Paul Indian Mission, Marty, South Dakota 1944–1945 St. Meinrad Abbey, seminary addition, St. Meinrad, Indiana Sacred Heart Nurses Home, Yankton, South Dakota Our Lady of Mercy Hospital addition, Mariemont, Ohio St. Jude Convent and Rectory, Fort Wayne, Indiana St. George Monastery, Cincinnati, Ohio 1945–1946 Our Lady of Mercy Hospital Sisters House, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Margaret Mary School alterations and additions, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Meinrad Parish School, St. Meinrad, Indiana Blessed Sacrament Church, La Crosse, Wisconsin St. Meinrad Science and Auditorium building, St. Meinrad, Indiana Saints Peter and Paul School, Haubstadt, Indiana St. Lawrence Church alterations and redecoration, Cincinnati, Ohio Christ the King School and Auditorium, Dallas, Texas St. Michael power house, St. Michael, North Dakota St. Ann School, New Castle, Indiana St. Mary Cathedral renovation, Covington, Kentucky St. Thomas More School, Paducah, Kentucky

1947–1948 Sacred Heart Home, Men's Building, Yankton, South Dakota St. Cecelia Church, Dallas, Texas Immaculate Conception School and Convent, Aurora, Indiana Elder High School Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Lawrence Rectory remodeling, Cincinnati, Ohio Glenmary Seminary, Glendale, Ohio Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Rectory, School, Indianapolis, Indiana St. Francis Hospital Chapel, Washington, Missouri Holy Cross Seminary, La Crosse, Wisconsin 1949–1950 Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel, Mount Marty College, Yankton, South Dakota Church of the Epiphany (Catholic), Chicago, Illinois St. Francis de Sales Church, Beckley, West Virginia St. Teresa Rectory, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Stephen Church, (now called Holy Spirit Church), Newport, Kentucky St. Andrew School, Indianapolis, Indiana St. Marty Hospital X-ray Department, Yankton, South Dakota St. Peter Church, Chillicothe, Ohio St. Dominic Church, Cincinnati, Ohio St. James Church and School, Eau Claire, Wisconsin St. Martin School, Cheviot, Ohio Christ the King School and Convent, Lexington, Kentucky St. Lawrence Church alterations and redecoration, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Bernard Abbey Library, St. Bernard, Alabama Guardian Angel School addition, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Mary School, Muncie, Indiana 1951–1952 St. Theresa School Auditorium and Convent, Southgate, Kentucky St. Mary Church and Rectory, Decatur, Indiana Bishop's Residence and Chancery, Crookston, Minnesota Sacred Heart Cathedral and Rectory, Salina, Kansas Christ the King School addition, Lexington, Kentucky St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cincinnati, Ohio Holy Trinity Church, West Union, Ohio Sacred Heart Church, Muenster, Texas Christ the King Chapel, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa St. Dominic Monastery, La Crosse, Wisconsin Church of the Nativity Convent, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Joseph Indian Mission Chapel and School, South Dakota St. Ursula Academy Auditorium and addition, Cincinnati, Ohio 1953–1955 Blessed Sacrament Church, Rectory and Convent Sioux City, Iowa Grace Episcopal Church and Sunday School, Grand Rapids, Michigan St. Anthony Church and Rectory, Dayton, Ohio St. Peter in Chains Cathedral restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio Holy Angels High School, Sidney, Ohio St. Mary of the Assumption Church Decatur, Indiana Christ the King Church, Dallas, Texas St. James Church, Eau Claire, Wisconsin St. Agnes Church, Cincinnati, Ohio All Saints School, Montgomery, Ohio Church of the Good Shepherd Rectory, Frankfort, Kentucky St. James School addition, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Clare Church, Cincinnati, Ohio Milford Novitiate Chapel, Milford, Ohio Our Lord Christ the King Church, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Meinrad Guest House, St. Meinrad, Indiana 1956–1958 Good Shepherd School addition, Frankfort, Kentucky St. Paul Church, Vicksburg, Mississippi Villa Madonna Academy, Covington, Kentucky St. Gregory Church and Rectory, Phoenix, Arizona Notre Dame Convent addition, Covington, Kentucky St. Bernard Abbey Church, St. Bernard, Alabama All Saints School addition, Montgomery, Ohio Fairview Heights Elementary School, Cincinnati, Ohio Provident Bank Building, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Cecilia School and Auditorium, Houston, Texas 1959–1961 Christ the King School addition, Lexington, Kentucky St. Raphael Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Immaculate Conception Church and Rectory, Albuquerque, New Mexico Zion Evangelical Church addition, Norwood, Ohio St. Gertrude School addition, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral, La Crosse, Wisconsin St. Gertrude Church, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Mary Church alterations, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Vincent Ferrer School, Cincinnati, Ohio St. Gertrude Priory, Cincinnati, Ohio All Saints Church addition, Montgomery, Ohio Saints Faith, Hope and Charity Church, Winnetka, Illinois St. Joseph Church, Plymouth, Ohio 1962–1964 St. Joseph Church and Rectory, Cold Springs, Kentucky Notre Dame Academy, Covington, Kentucky St. Anne Church, Rectory and Convent, Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd addition, Cincinnati, Ohio 1965–1967 St. Michael Church (with Charles Hightower), Houston, Texas St. Cecelia Rectory addition, Cincinnati, Ohio Corbett Music Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio Mother of Mercy Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio Quebec Heights Elementary School, Cincinnati, Ohio Christ the King Church (now cathedral) and Rectory, Lexington, Kentucky Church of the Nativity, Cincinnati, Ohio St. James Church, Cincinnati, Ohio Pedestrian Bridge, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

Publications

• The Cathedral (1956)
• The Lord Was My Client (1972)

Notes

1.The current Church of St. Monica (combined with the once nearby parish of St. George) superseded Old St. Peter's as the Catholic Cathedral in Cincinnati for a time terminating in 1957. This arrangement was originally not intended to be a temporary measure, hence it can neither be styled as a pro-cathedral nor a proto-cathedral (the cathedral status has been returned to the very church St. Monica inherited it from).

Other references

• Edward J. Schulte and American Church Architecture of the Twentieth Century, Donald A. Tenoever, master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 1974

• McNamera, Denis (lecturer) (October 6, 2012). God was his client, the Cathedral his church (Video). La Crosse, WI: Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman Parish. Event occurs at 18:34:40 EDT. Retrieved May 5, 2024.