His eclectic, progressive portfolio included neoclassical, Gothic Revival, Prairie School, and International Style designs.

[6] George Awsumb was born on July 20, 1880, in Skien, Norway to father Sigvard Johannessen of Vinger and mother Amborlina (reportedly Throndsen) of Porsgrunn.

The family was landless as Sigvard and his siblings had sold their stake in a small portion of the Aasum farmstead near Vinger prior to George's birth.

[11] On May 31, 1883, at the age of 3, he emigrated with his family to the United States aboard the Thingvalla steamship's Christinia-Christiansand-New York line.

[12][13] After porting in New York on June 16, they settled in Whitewater, Wisconsin, alongside extended family members from Norway.

[18] Between 1906 and 1913, when not travelling, he was a draftsman for the architectural offices of J.C. Llewellyn, Mundie and Jensen, Marchash and Fox, and Von Holst and Fyfe.

In 1919, at the request of Memphis-based architect Charles O. Pfeil, Awsumb co-entered a competition with him to design the Memphis Municipal Auditorium.

In addition to the auditorium, Awsumb and the firm designed the Derman Building, Humes and Southside high schools, and Idewild Presbyterian Church.

[1] Note: National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Norway-born George Awsumb became a naturalized United States citizen at the age of 25 at Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, on June 28, 1906.

[1] Wells is credited with designing the parish hall at Trinity Church (Mason, Tennessee), which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Carl Awsumb helped establish the first architectural training school in Cameroon as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the country from 1965 to 1966.

Its significance to Memphis is noted:This multi generational collection captures the artistic vision of the Awsumb architects and verifies their valuable contributions to the city’s progress and development.

Indeed, this Memphis architect, his two sons Wells and Richard, and grandson Carl reshaped the traditional Classic design for Memphians, providing residences, churches, schools, theaters, and an auditorium for the public to enjoy.