Foster and Liebbe

Foster and Liebbe - Architects

William Foster (1842-1909) and Henry F. Liebbe (1851-1927) formed a partnership in 1883 in Des Moines, Iowa and continued to work together until 1898. They specialized in the design of public buildings, including ten county courthouses in Iowa, a number of college and university buildings for the State of Iowa, and the Hospital for the Insane in Clarinda, Iowa. They also designed a number of churches, schools, and large residences. Foster became interested in the design of opera houses, and began to build and manage these. When he left the architectural partnership in 1898, he devoted himself entirely to the operation of opera houses.

Among the buildings designed by Foster and Liebbe are:

•     Ames, English Office Building for Iowa State College
•     Chariton, Lucas County Courthouse
•     Clarinda, Hospital for the Insane
•     Clarinda, Page County Courthouse
•     Des Moines, Central Christian Church
•     Des Moines, First Methodist Church
•     Marengo, Iowa County Courthouse
•     Ottumwa, Wapello County Courthouse
•     Washington, Washington County Courthouse

For more information about William Foster, Henry F. Liebbe, and/or their partnership, see:
Shank, Wesley I., Iowa's Historic Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1999.