Joseph Finger was an Austrian American architect. After immigrating to the United States in 1905, Finger settled in Houston, Texas in 1908, where he would remain for the duration of his life. Finger is best remembered for his role in bringing modern architecture to Texas.
Biography
Joseph Finger was born 7 March 1887 in Bielitz, Austria-Hungary to Henri Finger and Hani Seifter. After finishing high school and technical training, he moved to the United States in 1905. Finger settled first in New Orleans then moved to Houston, Texas in 1908. On 18 June 1913 he married Gertrude Levy, a Houston native. The couple had one son, Joseph Seifter Finger, who became a chemical engineer and golf course architect. In Houston, Finger was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Houston Chamber of Commerce, Houston Turn-Verein, B'nai B'rith, and the Westwood Country Club. Finger began his Houston career working for C. D. Hill & Company, and in 1912 he became a partner in the firm Lewis Sterling Green. In 1914 he formed his own practice, starting a partnership with James Ruskin Bailey, and from 1920 to 1923 was in a partnership with Lamar Q. Cato. From 1923 until 1944 he worked independently. From 1944 until his death in 1953, Finger worked in a partnership with George W. Rustay. Finger designed the 1939 Houston City Hall, designed in a stripped classical style. In response to criticism from Houston mayor R. H. Fonville, who wanted a style with more classical reference, Finger said, "Here in America we are rapidly developing our own type of architecture which is far above that of foreign countries. We are building for the masses, not the classes." Above the lobby entrance of the City Hall is a stone relief of two men taming a wild horse, symbolizing a community coming together to form a government to tame the world around them. This sculpture, and the twenty-seven other friezes around the building, were carved by Beaumont artist Herring Coe and co-designer Raoul Josset. On 6 February 1953, a month short of his 66th birthday, Finger died at his home at 120 Portland Street. He is buried in Beth Israel Mausoleum in Beth Israel Cemetery.
