Clinton Day (1846–1916) was a renowned architect in the San Francisco Bay Area during the latter half of the 19th century, designing buildings in Oakland, California.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Day with moved with his family to California in 1855 when he was eight years old. His father, Sherman Day, a former State Senator, was co-founder and one of the original trustees of the College of California (predecessor of the University of California at Berkeley). Sherman Day was also the surveyor of the first transcontinental highway from coast to coast.
Folsom Band, which appeared in the Odd Fellows’ procession yesterday, and of which Horace Lascelles is leader, although organized only in June, 1858, and short of one piece on the parade, elicited many commendatory remarks. It was noticed, particularly, that the base drum was beaten by a lad, aged about ten years, named Clinton Day, son of Sherman Day, formerly State Surveyor General, the drum being in size sufficient to contain at least a dozen youngsters of the size of the drummer; four boys were employed to trot it around town in procession. We understand that the band had employed several persons to beat the drum in question, but discarded all in favor of our youngster, who reads notes with uncommon facility, and, evidently, has a perfect appreciation of “time.”— Sacramento Daily Union, 27 April 1859
Clinton Day graduated from the College of California in 1868, one of five graduates from the college a year before it became the University of California, Berkeley. Day received his masters degree from the University in 1874.
Day and Grace Wakefield married in 1875.
Clinton Day’s projects include many homes and commercial buildings throughout Oakland, as well as the original Chemistry Building on the UC Berkeley campus, the Memorial Church at Stanford University, the Union Trust Building, Spring Valley Building, Mutual Life Building.
Day also designed the UC Berkeley sundial, and several other projects for the university, unfortunately, most have been destroyed.
Day was a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects, and received an honorary LL.D. from Berkeley in 1910.
In 1916 Clinton Day died of heart problems at the age of 68 in his home 2427 Bancroft Way, Berkeley after a 37 year career.
- Arlington Hotel, Nicoll Block (1876) located at 484 to 494 Ninth Street, designed by architect Clinton Day.
- LaSalle Hotel, A. J. Snyder Block #1 (1876) located at 491 to 497 Ninth Street, designed by architect Clinton Day.
- Ross House, A. J. Snyder Block #2 (1879) located at 477 to 587 Ninth Street, designed by architect Clinton Day.
