Paul Gapp papers

Paul Gapp (PG) was the Pulitzer Prizewinning architecture critic for The Chicago Tribune.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 26, 1928. He attended Garfield Heights High School and graduated from Ohio University in 1950 with a degree in journalism. After graduation, PG took a position at the copy desk of the Columbus Dispatch (Ohio). He was soon promoted to the reporting staff of the Dispatch, and in 1955 became the editor of the Dispatch's Sunday Magazine.

In 1956, PG moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he would live for the remainder of his life. In Chicago, PG held a number of positions with newspapers and public relations firms. From 1956 to 1966, he worked for the now defunct Chicago Daily News in the capacities of reporter, editorial writer, and feature editor. In 1966, PG took a position as Executive Director of the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (American Institute of Architects), and then joined the public relations firm Dale O'Brien & Company in early 1967, with primary responsibility for publicity for the John Hancock Center building project in Chicago. In 1969, PG left Dale O'Brien to become Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Vice-President of Public Affairs at the University of Chicago, where he directed the Urban Journalism Fellowship Program until 1972.

In 1972 PG went to work for the Chicago Tribune, first as the Assistant City Editor for Urban Affairs, and later as the Tribune's first architecture critic. It was in the latter capacity that PG received the greatest acclaim. He was known not only for the accuracy of his critical eye, but also for his ability to translate his criticism into a language that the layperson could understand and appreciate.

He won several awards for his work including a Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1979. PG continued to write for the Tribune until his death from lung cancer complicated by emphysema on July 30, 1992.

PG held a number of institutional affiliations, reflecting his honored position among architects and journalists as well as other interests outside of journalism. He was the Executive Director of the Chicago Chapter and Illinois Council of the American Institute of Architects from 1966-1967, and was made an honorary member of that same institution in 1989. He was an honorary member of the Architect's Club of Chicago. PG served on the board of directors for the National Building Museum from 1980-1983, and was a member of the Metropolitan Housing and Planning Council (Chicago) from 1968-70.

One of PG's little known interests was stamps. This interest is reflected in his memberships in the American Philatelic Society and the South African Philatelic Fraternity (honorary). In addition, PG was the founder and first president (1963-1976) of the S. Allan Taylor Society, "an international society devoted to the collection of fantasies, locals, bogus issues, seals, fiscals, and other esoterica commonly known as 'Cinderella' material" as stated in the society's newsletter. The S. Allan Taylor Society is still in existence, according to The Encyclopedia of Associations (1993).

In addition to his Pulitzer in 1979, PG was the recipient of a number of other awards. Among them were: the Associated Press Award for best news reporting in 1965 and 1977, the American Institute of Architects (American Institute of Architects) Orchid Award in 1980, the Distinguished Alumnus Medal from Ohio University in 1980, the United Press International Award for feature writing in 1981, the Art World Award for distinguished criticism in 1983, and the Chicago Architecture Award from the Chicago Architecture Foundation in 1987.