Julia Morgan’s Wartime Contribution: The Untold Story of the Hostess Houses

North Star House volunteers recently uncovered a remarkable, untold chapter of Julia Morgan’s career during World War I. Hidden within 1,500 pages of digitized microfiche minutes and reports from three YWCA committees, this discovery sheds light on Morgan’s pivotal role in a massive wartime effort—one that has gone largely unrecognized.

When the United States entered the war in 1917, the rapid mobilization of over four million men overwhelmed the War Department. As 32 training camps were hastily constructed across the country for segregated divisions of 17,000 men each, they were soon followed by waves of sweethearts, wives, and mothers seeking one last chance to say goodbye. The military, unprepared for this influx, turned to the YWCA for a solution.

The YWCA proposed the creation of Hostess Houses—safe, welcoming spaces on military bases where soldiers and their families could gather in comfort. To bring this vision to life, they enlisted three female architects, including Julia Morgan. In a short span, Morgan took charge of the design standards, overseeing the architecture, construction, and all necessary modifications required by the War Department—including urgent sanitary updates due to the simultaneous influenza pandemic.

Over the course of the war, 127 Hostess Houses were built across the United States and Puerto Rico, with four additional houses established in France. These were not minor projects—some of the largest Hostess Houses saw over 1,700 visitors per day, and in just two weeks, one house recorded 25,503 guests.

Morgan’s challenge was immense: to design structures that could be built quickly and affordably while still offering warmth and privacy on bustling military bases. The standard layout—a living room, dining room, kitchen, and upstairs bedrooms or a separate wing—was deceptively simple. However, the real complexity lay in creating multi-functional spaces that could handle high volumes of traffic while also providing intimate areas for private conversations.

Although Morgan’s original notes on the Hostess Houses have not been found, architectural scholars can trace her distinct design principles across these structures. The very challenges she faced in designing Hostess Houses—balancing large communal needs with private spaces—mirror those she addressed in her design for North Star House, her first independent commission. The multi-functional concept was a hallmark of her work, demonstrating a rare architectural skill typically seen only in the most experienced designers.

Visitors to North Star House today will recognize many of Morgan’s signature elements also present in the Hostess Houses: the covered porch, encased trusses and beams, decorative fireplaces, wood paneling, large windows, and a warm, inviting interior. Some Hostess Houses provided only a handful of sleeping cots and a nursery, while others accommodated 150 overnight guests.

Beyond her architectural achievements, Morgan’s quiet but steadfast commitment to progressivism also emerged in the Hostess Houses. During the war, 17 black commanding officers requested Hostess Houses for their segregated troops—a bold request given the racial policies of the time. Morgan ensured that these houses were built identical to those for white servicemen and their families, a radical statement in 1918.

The Hostess Houses remained in use well into 1919, serving not only visiting families but also influenza patients, the relatives of wounded and fallen soldiers, and eventually returning servicemen. When the military camps were dismantled, most of the Hostess Houses were lost—but their legacy, and Julia Morgan’s extraordinary role in their creation, endures.

This rediscovered chapter of her career deepens our understanding of her architectural vision and her quiet yet profound impact on history. When you walk through North Star House, you are stepping into one of the earliest examples of her genius—a space designed not just for beauty, but for purpose.