Background
William A. Otis was born in 1855 in Almond (Allegheny County) New York, United States.
William A. Otis was born in 1855 in Almond (Allegheny County) New York, United States.
Mr. Otis was educated in Architecture at the University of Michigan where he studied three years (1874-77) and in France at the Paris Ecole des Beaux Arts between 1877 and 1881.
In 1882 the young man went to Chicago, and after being employed as draftsman for a few years in the office of the late William Jenny, in 1886 became a partner in the firm of Jenny & Otis. Three years later that association was terminated and Mr. Otis practiced independently until 1914, when he joined Edwin H. Clark in partnership (Otis & Clark) which was maintained for about a decade, then during his latter years was associated with Revilot Fuller under the name of Otis & Fuller.
During his many years of practice Mr. Otis was identified with the design of many and various types of buildings in Chicago and other cities. Probably his best known works were St. Peter’s Protestant Episcopal Church in Chicago; City Library at Aurora, 111., Christ Church at Winnetka, and the Orrington Lunt Library at Northwestern University. In addition he prepared plans for many small-town Public Libraries, schools and residences in various locations.
One of the early members of the old Western Association of Architects, later affiliated with the Chicago Chapter, A. I. A.