Clarke & Howe

Clarke & Howe was an American architectural firm from Providence, Rhode Island that was active from 1893 to 1928.

The firm was established in 1893 as Clarke & Spaulding, with Prescott O. Clarke and Arthur R. Spaulding. Wallis E. Howe was added as a partner in 1901, with the firm becoming Clarke, Spaulding & Howe. This association was short-lived, as Spaulding retired from architecture later that year. From 1907 to 1913 the firm was known as Clarke, Howe & Homer, with Eleazer B. Homer, a former MIT professor of architecture. Clarke & Howe was dissolved upon Clarke's retirement in 1928, with Howe continuing the practice as Howe & Church.

Prescott Orloff Clarke was born in Providence in 1858. He attended private schools, and graduated from Brown University, class of 1880. He then worked for Brown & Sharpe, and was later with Clarke, Black & Co., if which his father, George L. Clarke, was the senior partner. George Clarke died in 1890, and Prescott decided to pursue architecture. He moved to Boston, where he attended MIT. Soon after his return in 1893 he partnered with Spaulding. They continued in partnership together until 1901, Spaulding's retirement. Clarke himself retired in 1928, and died in 1935.

The life of Arthur R. Spaulding is unknown.

Wallis Eastburn Howe was born in 1868 in Bristol, as the youngest of 18 children. Howe attended Lehigh University and MIT. He returned to Rhode Island by 1894, and may have established his own office. In 1895 he begn working for Martin & Hall, noted Providence architects. There he attained a high rank, and was permitted to accept his own commissions. He remained with Martin & Hall until 1901, when he was accepted into the partnership of Clarke, Spaulding & Howe. He remained with Clarke until his 1928 retirement. After 1928, he embarked on a series of successful partnerships, beginning with Howe & Church and ending with Howe & Prout. He died in 1960.

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