W. Ellis (William Ellis) Groben

Born in 1883, W. Ellis Groben was an American architect and writer whose career connected city planning, federal service, and practical building advice. Sources describe him as William Ellis Groben, and he is especially associated with architecture in Philadelphia and with later work for the U.S. Forest Service.

Groben served as the Washington Office architect of the U.S. Forest Service from 1933 to 1953, where he helped guide the design direction of Forest Service buildings nationwide. He is remembered for encouraging architecture that suited local settings and materials rather than copying urban styles in remote landscapes.

He also wrote or co-wrote books and manuals, including work on log construction and architectural planning. That mix of public service and hands-on instruction makes him an interesting figure for listeners drawn to architecture, conservation history, and practical design.