JAMES MANLY SPAIN
Architect for James Q. Allen Gymnasium
Clinton, Mississippi

Prominent Mississippi architect James Manly Spain, designed the James Q. Allen Gymnasium in Clinton.

A native of Ecru (in Pontotoc County), Mr. Spain was a 1910 graduate of Mississippi College. He earned a masters degree there in 1916 and later taught at his alma mater. Mr. Spain attended Columbia University in New York in the summers of 1918 and 1919.

He came to Jackson, Mississippi in 1921 and began his architectural career as a draftsman. He had his own architectural firm from 1923—48 and formed Spain & Biggers with his son-in-law Boyce H. Biggers in 1948.

According to his daughter-in-law Mrs. James M. (Doris) Spain, Jr., Mr. Spain particularly enjoyed designing churches. He designed the sanctuary at First Baptist Church Clinton and numerous churches throughout the state, including Calvary Baptist Church and Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Jackson. A leader in church work statewide, he was a lifetime deacon of First Baptist Church in Jackson.

Mr. Spain was a member and past president of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He was the architect for a number of industrial, commercial, public and institutional structures.

His principal works also included the Administrative Building (Cain Auditorium—on the National Register of Historic Places) at Hinds Community College in Raymond; a dormitory at Mississippi College (1926); the National Defense Vocational Buildings at Hinds Junior College, Holmes Junior College, Pear River Junior College and Southwestern Junior College (circa 1941); an addition to Baptist Hospital (and an medical office building adjacent to it) in Jackson.

Scanned pages from the 1910 L'Allegro

American Architects Directory, published in 1956 by R. R. Bowker

American Architects Directory, published in 1956 by R. R. Bowker

Doris Spain Letter

Additional Footnotes

Spain & Biggers (?-1958)
Architecture Firm, Jackson, MS
Firm composed of JAMES MANLY SPAIN and BOYCE BIGGERS. See also SPAIN, CAMPBELL, & BIGGERS/see also GILMORE & BIGGERS/see also MATTINGLY & BIGGERS. WESLEY CONNETT worked as designer in this firm, 1943-1950. EARL T. GILMORE spent twenty years with the firm, 1934-1954. Spain's death in 1958 dissolved the firm.Date Inventory # Name of property Role Description of Work Location
D 1946 035-HAT-4044-X McMillan Hall, University of Southern Mississippi Architect Original building Hattiesburg, Forrest Co.
D 1948 049-CLN-0139.3 James G. Allen Gymnasium, (old) Clinton High School complex Architect Original building Clinton, Hinds Co.
D 1948-49 049-JAC-0206 (old) Clarion-Ledger Building Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1949 151-HLN-0021.2-X Gymnasium, Hollandale Consolidated School (White) Architect Original building Hollandale, Washington Co.
D 1949 151-HLN-0022.2 HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, Simmons High School Complex Architect Original building Hollandale, Washington Co.
D 1950 049-JAC-4610 Fondren Presbyterian Church Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1950 021-PGB-0331 Claiborne County Hospital Architect-- Original building Port Gibson, Claiborne Co.
D 1950 049-UTI-0005.3 Gymnasium, Utica School Complex Architect Original building Utica, Hinds Co.
D 1950-52 151-GRV-0034-ML Washington County Courthouse, 900 Washington Avenue Primary Architect Addition--rear elevation Greenville, Washington Co.
D 1951 049-JAC-4003.4 Cafeteria, Forest Hill School complex Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1951 049-JAC-3058 Sallie Reynolds Elementary School (I)/Jim Hill High School Architect Jim Hill H.S. addition Jackson, Hinds Co.
(Negro) (Blackburn Middle School)
D 1951 021-PGB-0208-NRD- Claiborne County Courthouse, 410 Market Street Architects Remodeling Port Gibson, Claiborne Co.
D 1952 017-HUS-0020 Natchez Trace Electric Power Co. Architect Original building Houston, Chickasaw Co.
D 1952 049-JAC-0485 First Baptist Church (III) Architect--Joint Addition to S elevation (4- Jackson, Hinds Co.
story ed building, chapel)
1953 101-UNI-0007 UNION SCHOOL (NEGRO), [UNION JR. HIGH SCHOOL] Original building Union, Newton Co.
A 1953 049-UTI-0005.4 VOCATIONAL AND HOME ECONOMICS BUILDING, Utica Original building Utica, Hinds Co.
School Complex
D 1954 049-CLN-0139.2 (Old) Clinton Elementary Building, (old) Clinton High School Architect--Joint Classroom additions Clinton, Hinds Co.
D 1954 049-JAC-4523-ML Lanier High School Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1955-56 no file Medical Arts Building Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1957 049-JAC-4523-ML Lanier High School Primary Architect Additions and alterations Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1958 029-CRS-0201 W.H. HOLTZCLAW SCHOOL (NEGRO) Architect/Builder Original building Crystal Springs, Copiah Co.
D 1958 077-MON-0007 Lawrence County Hospital Architect Original building Monticello, Lawrence Co.
Total #: 22
Note: "D" indicates that the information concerning this property is documented. "A" indicates that the work is only attributed, based on oral tradition or similarity to other buildings by this particular
person. A question mark indicates that the work is only conjectured from other information, such as in cases when an architect was known to be working in a town at a given time. A gray background
color denotes a non-extant property.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Page 1 of 4

Spain, Campbell & Biggers (1955-)
Architect, Jackson, MS
Firm composed of JAMES MANLY SPAIN, BOYCE BIGGERS, and WILLIAM E. CAMPBELL. Firm preceded by SPAIN & BIGGERS and continued by MATTINGLY & BIGGERS and GILMORE & BIGGERS
Date Inventory # Name of property Role Description of Work Locatio
D 1957 049-JAC-4521 Mary Johnson Elementary School Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
Total #: 1

Spain, James Manly (b.1884 - d.1958)
Architect, Jackson, MS
Born in Ecru, MS. Graduated from Mississippi College with a B.A. in 1910, and an M.A. in 1916. He served for four years as Superintendent of Education of Pontotoc County and for five years as Superintendent of Education in Shelby, Bolivar Co. After taking extension classes in architectural engineering from Mississippi State, he continued his architectural education at Columbia University in NYC in 1918 and 1919. He began architectural practice in Jackson in 1921, working as a draftsman in the office of N.W. OVERSTREET, 1921-1923. He is listed in the 1922 Jackson City Directory as an architectural draftsman, residing at 1294 N. Congress with 3 children. He launched his own independent practice in 1923, and his office was listed in 1927/28 Directory at the Millsaps Building. POWELL S. HALL worked in his office off and on from 1926-1935, as Designer, Chief Draftsman, and Structural Engineer. During WWII, he taught Eng. Drawing and Design Geometry for a Naval V-12 Unit at Mississippi College, 1943-1945. From 1948 to his death in 1958, he was a a member of SPAIN & BIGGERS, partnering with BOYCE BIGGERS, his son-in-law, and later SPAIN, CAMPBELL, & BIGGERS. He was registered in Mississippi and Alabama, and was a deacon at First Baptist Church in Jackson (as was N.W.
Overstreet). In 1956, he resided at 1001 Belhaven St., and had an office at 1511-14 Deposit Guaranty Bank Building (now AmSouth Bldg.)

Date Inventory # Name of property Role Description of Work Location
049-JAC-5765 house, 1320 Olive Street Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
c.1924 089-CAN-0250-NRD NICHOLS HOUSE, 455 Peace Street, East Original building Canton, Madison Co.
D 1926 077-MON-0004-NR- (old) MONTICELLO CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL Architect Original building Monticello, Lawrence Co.
D 1926 049-RAY-0902-DL- Cain Hall, Hinds Community College Architect Original building Raymond, Hinds Co.
D 1927 017-HUS-0003-X (Old) HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL Architect Original building Houston, Chickasaw Co.
D 1927 049-JAC-5797 JUDGE TAYLOR/R. I. BROWN HOUSE, 1529 Peachtree Street Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1927-29 049-JAC-3623-NRD St. Mark's Episcopal Church Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1928 139-BLM-0001-NRD Lawrence T. Lowrey Administration Building, Blue Mountain Architect Original building Blue Mountain, Tippah Co.
D 1928 151-HLN-0021.1-X Administration Building, Hollandale Consolidated School (White) Architect Original building Hollandale, Washington Co.
D 1928 049-JAC-3009.1 PARKWAY Baptist Church Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co. 1928 049-JAC-5898 house, 841 Pinehurst Street Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
Note: "D" indicates that the information concerning this property is documented. "A" indicates that the work is only attributed, based on oral tradition or similarity to other buildings by this particular
person. A question mark indicates that the work is only conjectured from other information, such as in cases when an architect was known to be working in a town at a given time. A gray background color denotes a non-extant property.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Page 2 of 4

D 1928 051-LEX-0174.1- LEXINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ((Old) LEXINGTON Architect Original building Lexington, Holmes Co.
HIGH SCHOOL)
D 1928 051-LEX-0253-NRD First Baptist Church Primary Architect remodelling/addition Lexington, Holmes Co.
D 1929 163-BTA-0004.1 Administration Building, Bentonia (Anding) Consolidated School Architect Original building Bentonia, Yazoo Co.
D 1929 089-CAN-0257-NRD BUTTROSS HOUSE, 519 Peace Street, East Architect Original building Canton, Madison Co.
D 1929 133-DRW-0001 Drew School [Rosenwald] Architect Original building Drew, Sunflower Co.
c.1929 049-JAC-5087 house, 1001 Belhaven Street Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1929 163-SAT-0003.1-X Administration Building, Satartia Consolidated School Architect Original building Satartia, Yazoo Co.
A 1929-37 049-JAC-0690-X (Old) Mississippi Baptist Hospital Primary Architect Annex Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1930 151-GRV-0034-ML Washington County Courthouse, 900 Washington Avenue Architect Remodelling/"Rebuilt" Greenville, Washington Co.
D 1930 089-MAD-0017 Montgomery Memorial Methodist Church (now Montgomery Architect Original building Madison, Madison Co.
Chapel, Madison United Methodist Church)
D 1931 049-CLN-0139.1-X (Old) Clinton High School Architect Original building Clinton, Hinds Co.
D 1934 049-JAC-4508-ML Liberty Grove School (Watkins Elementary School) Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1936 049-JAC-3591-DNC (former) Enochs Junior High School Primary Architect Gymnasium addition (rear) Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1938 079-CRT-0008-ML CARTHAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Architect Original building Carthage, Leake Co.
D 1938 051-GDM-0102 McDaniel Hall ((Old) Administration Building), Holmes architect addition Goodman, Holmes Co.
community College
D 1938 151-HLN-0022.1-X ELEMENTARY BUILDING [ROSENWALD], Simmons High Primary Architect Addition--rear elevation Hollandale, Washington Co.
School Complex
D 1938 151-HLN-0021.1-X Administration Building, Hollandale Consolidated School (White) Primary Architect Additions Hollandale, Washington Co.
D 1938 151-LKW-7025.2 auditorium, Glen Allen Consolidated School Architect Original building Lake Washington vic., Washington Co.
D 1939 151-ARC-0005.2-X AUDITORIUM, Arcola Consolidated School complex Architect Original building Arcola, Washington Co.
D 1940 115-PON-0094.4 Gymnasium, Pontotoc School (White) Complex Architect Original building Pontotoc, Pontotoc Co.
D c.1941 049-EDW-0004.2-X Gymnasium, Edwards Consolidated School complex Architect Original building Edwards, Hinds Co.
D 1941 051-GDM-0105 Agricultural Building, Holmes County AHS (Holmes community Architect Original building Goodman, Holmes Co.
College)
D 1941 049-JAC-0403-ML JEFFERSON DAVIS SCHOOL Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1942 049-CLN-0139.2 (Old) Clinton Elementary Building, (old) Clinton High School Architect Original building Clinton, Hinds Co.
D 1947 035-HAT-4018-X Weathersby Hall, University of Southern Mississippi Architect Original building Hattiesburg, Forrest Co.
D 1947 049-JAC-0690-X (Old) Mississippi Baptist Hospital Architect Hederman Addition Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1948 049-BOL-0001.2-X Gymnasium, Bolton School (White) complex Architect Original building Bolton, Hinds Co.
D 1948 029-HAZ-0330.1 HAZLEHURST GRAMMAR SCHOOL (Hazlehurst High School) Primary Architect 6 classrooms & cafeteria Hazlehurst, Copiah Co.
D 1948 151-HLN-0021.1-X Administration Building, Hollandale Consolidated School (White) Primary Architect Additions Hollandale, Washington Co.
Note: "D" indicates that the information concerning this property is documented. "A" indicates that the work is only attributed, based on oral tradition or similarity to other buildings by this particular
person. A question mark indicates that the work is only conjectured from other information, such as in cases when an architect was known to be working in a town at a given time. A gray background
color denotes a non-extant property.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Page 3 of 4

D 1949 029-HAZ-0332.1-X HAZLEHURST COLORED SCHOOL [ROSENWALD] Primary Architect "reconditioned"-- Hazlehurst, Copiah Co.
additions/renovation
D 1949 049-JAC-4003.3 Forest Hill Elementary School, Forest Hill School complex Primary Architect Original building Jackson, Hinds Co.
D 1949 051-PIC-0006 Pickens Baptist Church Architect Original building Pickens, Holmes Co.