King, Moses. Philadelphia and Notable Philadelphians. New York: Blanchard Press, Isaac H. Blanchard Co., 1901, p. 87. Photo Courtesy of www.philadelphiabuildings.org
Biography of David Kinckerbacker Boyd
History of Wynnewood, Pa.
Pierce Archer Residence, Wynnewood, Pa.
Arthur P. Baugh Residence, Wynnewood, Pa.
David Knickerbacker Boyd (1872-1944) was the son of David Boyd Jr. and Alida Visscher Knickerbacker, both descendents of afluent Philadelphia families. He attended Friend's Central School, the Rugby Academy for Boys, St. Austin's School, followed by the Pennsylvania Academy of Arts (1887-89) and the Spring Garden Institute (1889). The 1892 Philadelphia City Directory lists Boyd as a draftsman, two years later he formed an architectural partnership with his younger brother, Laurence Visscher Boyd. The Brother's first commissions were for houses built by the developers Wendell and Smith in suburbs located north and west of Philadelphia. The Boyd brothers continued to provide designs for houses built in suburbs like Wayne, Radnor, St. David's, Overbrook Farms, Narberth, Wynnewood and Pelham. Boyd himself was a suburbanite, living at 217 Aberdeen Ave. in St. David's with his wife Katherine and daugher Barbara (1914 Philadelphia Social Directory). By 1898 the Boyd brothers were working independently and in 1920 David formed a partnership with architects Victor D. Abel and Francis Gugert, under the name of Boyd, Abel, & Gugert. The firm operated under various names until 1935. By the end of David Knickerbacker Boyd's career, his resume was extensive, having designed, supervised and directed over 3,000 buildings, ranging from industrial establishments, office buildings, libraries, churches, schools, private residences and housing developments.

David Boyd contributed more to Philadelphia's architectural legacy than just his designs. Throughout his life he remained an active member in a variety of professional organizations including the T-Square Club, as Treasurer from 1893-95 and President from 1896-1897. Boyd became a member of AIA in 1897 and was awarded fellowship status in 1908. He also served as Secretary for the National AIA in 1914 and Vice-President in 1915. Also in 1915, Boyd was hired by the Narbreth Civic Association to serve as their general consulting architect. All houses constructed were subject to his individual approval. Boyd was active as part of the Philadelphia Fire Commission and the Housing Corporation of the U.S. department of Labor. In 1920 Boyd was asked to consult in the commission preparing the building code for the State of Pennsylvania Housing Association. Boyd remained an active contributor to many clubs and organizations over the course of his life and career. Although his early career was limited to residential work, Boyd ultimately had a great impact on architectural practice in Philadelphia and especially in its surrounding areas. David Knickerbacker Boyd never retired. He collapsed in his Philadelphia studio in February of 1944 at the age of 72.

(Bibliography information from Sandra L. Tatman for the Philadelphia Athenaeum www.philadelphiabuildings.org and Jean Bath Toll and Michael J. Schwager's Book "Montgomery County, the Second Hundred Years" Published by Montgomery Federation of Historical Societies, 1983.)

David Knickerbacker Boyd
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