Background
Markham was born in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Markham was born in Spanish Fork, Utah.
He graduated from Brigham Young High School in 1919 and from Brigham Young University in 1923.
His family moved to Provo in 1911 and in that year he began to study at the Brigham Young University Training School. He majored in math with a minor in chemistry. Markham then went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a degree in architecture.
Markham designed many school buildings of a variety of functions including many buildings on the campus of Brigham Young University.
These include the LaVell Edwards Stadium, Carillon Bell Tower, Smith Fieldhouse, Eyring Science Center, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Knight Magnum Building, Herald R. Clark Building, David O. McKay Building, Wilkinson Student Center, Thomas L. Martin Building, John A. Widtsoe Building, James East. Talmadge Mathematics and Computer Engineering Building and many other buildings. Many of these buildings are built with beige brick which has become a trademark of the many buildings built while Markham was active as an architect.
Several of these were in collaboration with other architects. Markham also designed the Student Union Buildings at Snow College, Utah State University and the University of Utah.
He also designed Provo High School.
Many theaters were designed by Markham including the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem, Utah, the Architecture Theatre in Spanish Fork, Utah and the Huish Theatres in Riverton, Utah and Payson, Utah. Two works by Markham are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
Provo Third Ward Chapel and Amusement Hall, Provo, Utah, NRHP-listed
Beers House-Hotel, 1930 renovations designed by Markham, in Pleasonton, Utah, NRHP-listed
Markham also served as the first president of the Utah Heritage Foundation. In the 1960s and 1970s Markham served for thirteen years as president of the Utah Stake, later called the Provo Utah Central Stake.
