Toma T. Socolescu

Toma T. Socolescu, (Ploieşti, 20 July 1883 - Bucharest, 16 October 1960) was a major Romanian architect. Romanian architecture pillar from the early twentieth century until World War II, he will be particularly active in his region: the county of Prahova, and especially the City of Ploieşti. He also significantly contributed to his country's cultural life.

Toma T. Socolescu
Toma T. Socolescu in his youth.
Born	20th July 1883 Ploieşti
Died	16th October 1960 Bucharest
Nationality	Romanian
Alma mater	Ion Mincu University
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Central hall and Cathedral of Ploieşti
Projects	City planning of Ploieşti
Design	Brâncovenesc style

Biography

Born into a major family of architects that has marked Romanian modern architecture until the Second World War, Toma T. Socolescu has left a consistent legacy, both in terms of outstanding constructions and in terms of literature related to Romanian architecture and its evolution. He is still considered a reference in the world of arts and architecture. Most of his works has been classified historical monument.

Sketch of a monumental entry. Extract from Toma T. Socolescu's sketches notebook.

Education and travels

Son and nephew of architects, he studied in 1901 in the the lyceum St Peter and St Paul of Ploieşti (ro) and then joined the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism where he will be the student of Ion Mincu, the very reference for Romanian architecture in the beginning of the XXth century. He will graduate (diploma number 42), specializing in civil architecture, religious and archaeological Romanian, with highest honors in June 1911. He will be back in this institution from 1929 to 1947 to teach the theory of architecture.

His travels to Vienna (Austria), Constantinople and Budapest in 1913 but above all to Italy (from December 15, 1923 to February 20, 1924 and later in January 1937) and eventually in France, will represent a milestone in his life. He will find during these, the elements of inspiration for his work in Romania.

He will participate actively to the First World War. Drafted in the 47th Infantry Regiment in 1916, he will be promptly moved to the Bucharest transport branch and then seconded to the 'Danube Defense Group' or Grupul Apărării Dunarii. There, with other architects and engineers, he will be responsible for bridges destructions during the Moldova retreat. He also built hospitals and sanitation, typhus having wreaked havoc in the Romanian army.

Architectural and urbanistic work

Toma T. Socolescu is one of the representatives, and ardent defender of the Romanian national architectural style. He will be particularly inspired by the Brâncovenesc style. He worked to improve Ploieşti's appearance and to develop public buildings for all the county of Prahova. Very interested in archeology, he will study and preserve many old houses and churches, but also publish studies and surveys in this area.

Facade sketch. Extract from the Toma T. Socolescu's sketch notebook.

He will also play a key role in the Romanian Society of Architects management, and will constantly participate to his hometown's cultural and social life. He will even become Mayor from December 1919 to March 1920. The architecture artistic component was for him a mainstay of his art.

He will remain very critical of the architecture unrelated to art, and especially unrelated to the traditional Romanian art. The sharp increase of the students number in architecture, without any artistic talent being necessary to embrace this career, was to him a mistake. In his memoirs, he castigated the modern architects of the 1920s to 40 who, according to him, neglected the artistic foundations of the architect profession. He also denounced the projects where only the land use is taken into account. He will note the lack of hygiene in homes built in the period 1930 to 1950 in Romania, while the buildings in France, Austria or Germany of the same time were much more advanced in this field. He wrote against the immediate search for profit and property speculation, leading to poor and soulless construction.

In 1937, on page 72 of his Historical Study on the Architecture of Ploieşti, Toma T. Socolescu wrote:

We live in confusing times, during which it seems that nobody knows what he wants. Thus follows the modern buildings chaos, as it is called, resulting in a time when science, engineering calculations and almost superficiality of architectural knowledge, have taken precedence over a beauty that was devoted and cultivated over the centuries that preceded us - standardizing and creating works of cold and clumsy civilization - on the ruins of those of culture, those which have given us the tradition and spirit of this people raised in the cult of beauty.

In Ploieşti

Mayor of Ploieşti immediately after the 1916-1918 conflict, while combining the function with that of city Chief Architect, he had to handle all major supply problems in the city. He will mainly be the creator of the city's radius expansion, including the refineries located in the periphery and thus allowing the city to benefit from the tax they should pay. The budget tripled and could reach a size allowing large infrastructure projects necessary for a large city. He will also plan major changes in the city, including the construction of the Central Market Hall of Ploieşti, and act as urban planner. All architectural projects that were not completed during his short mandate, will be achieved by the following mayors.

Throughout his life, he will improve the City of Ploieşti both in terms of town planning and hygiene. In 1936, in collaboration with architects Ion Davidescu and S. Vasilescu, he will develop a systematic plan of the city. This plan, aimed to give more weight to greenspace, traffic and railway and generally to organize an orderly growth of the city. The plan provides for urban development and the optimal populating density, the public and cultural institutions' allotment, schools, greenspaces. It also details the rules that will define what we call today the land-use plan. This project was enforced until the grip of the Communists on the city organization in 1945. The plan called systematic has nothing in common with the massive destructions implemented by the Communists and called systematization.

Town hall in 1939.

Town hall en 2009.

T T. Socolescu school.

- Works in Păuleşti -

In Păuleşti

He also put a lot of time and effort in the commune of Păuleşti as from its installation there in 1927. He will be its Mayor from 1937 to 1940. In only 3 years, he will build, almost all buildings, bridges and public monuments. He will also create different landscaped areas including the town's park, called "Parcul cu castani", and especially a beautiful chestnut trees avenue traversing the park and leading to the cemetery. He had hoped an amusement park and an ornamental pond can be built in this area, to provide to the Ploieşti residents (Păuleşti is located at only 7 km from Ploieşti) a large green space for rest. The project will start around 1930 without being completed before the Second World War. It will revive under the name "Parc Pădurea Păuleşti" from 1995. After many legal disputes between the city and the company that would build the facilities, the project was halted and then re-activated in July 2007. Work resumed in 2009. In 2007, in recognition of the benefits provided by the architect, the commune college was renamed "Arhitect T T. Socolescu".

Cultural and artistic work

In 1919, as County Architect in Chief, he took the initiative to found the Regional Ethnographic and Religious Art Museum of the county of Prahova, in an old building dating from the XVIIIth century: the coppersmith dealer house of Hagi Prodan.

Balcony illustration. Extract from Toma T. Socolescu's sketchbook.

After launching a public appeal, and a successful subscription, he will collect in all the department, with the help of priests and teachers, many outstanding pieces of art. The museum will be well equipped with furniture, clothing and icons forgotten in the region's attics. Nicolae Iorga, then Commission on Historical Monuments president, will add to the staffing many other pieces of historical value. Gathered in the Prefecture's cellar of Ploieşti during the period 1940-1944, the museum's objects and furniture were eventually lost or stolen during the communist period. They will be replaced by other objects collected by Professor Nicolae Simache, which the architect will assist. The Museum is known today under the name of Muzeul Casa de Târgoveţ din Secolul al XVIII-lea al XIX-lea

He also founded in 1921, partly through public subscription, the Biblioteca Populare Nicolae Iorga, originally installed on the municipal baths's right wing. Heading the Management Committee, he will continue to expand the library contents. In the same place, on the ground floor, he will also develop an art gallery by collecting Western Europe artists's reproductions as well as original Romanian oils and watercolors. Inaugurated on March 20, 1921, it had originally 1250 volumes. In 1937, more than 11,000 books and more than 3500 publications will be available and used by the 8000 registered readers.

Within a group of Ploieşti intellectuals, including the lawyer, art collector and politician Ion Ionescu-Quintus, the historian Dumitru Munteanu-Râmnic, and within the framework of the cultural foundation "Nicolae Iorga", he will contribute to the creation of the Art Museum of Ploieşti in November 1931.

He painted many watercolors that met some success. Among his close friends, appears the Romanian painter Toma Gh. Tomescu from Vălenii de Munte in county of Prahova, for which he built the house in that village in 1926-1927. Toma T. Socolescu will buy many of his works that he will later give to the City Museum of Ploieşti.

The communist period

Member of a prominent family in Romania, leading politician of the county of Prahova, and refusing to integrate into the communist organization of architects, considered as an Enemy of the people, he will be threatened, blackmailed and persecuted by the communist authorities. His real and personal property will be confiscated or stolen in the 1950s by the Securitate (the Romanian political police), and the local communist authorities. His family, like most families of good Romanian society, will particularly suffer from this situation. Prohibited from practicing his profession as an architect, he will be evicted from his house Păuleşti on 21 February 1952 and will move with his son Toma G. Barbu Socolescu in Bucharest. The Socolescu family will be harassed and bullied by the Securitate almost until his death in 1960. Without income, and being denied a decent pension by the communist authorities, he will have to work until the age of 74 years at the ISPROR (Institute of Urban Planning and Construction). He will be detached to the Department of Historical Monuments from 1953 to February 12, 1957, when he will have to retire with a reduced pension.

Legacy

Toma T. Socolescu is still studied in the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism and is still considered as an architectural reference in Romania. Toma T. Socolescu is one of the remarkable figures that have given to Romania, and mainly Prahova County, his modern urban structure, and a beauty particularly noticed until the end of the inter-war years by travelers.

There is yet no visible reference to Toma T. Socolescu in the streets of Ploieşti or in those of the capital. A commemoration project (including a bust) for the 50 years of the architect death is going on in Ploieşti in 2010. A Technical High School in Ploieşti, named after his father (Liceul Toma N. Socolescu), an architecture and public works technical college in Bucharest named after his uncle (Colegiul Ion N. Socolescu) and also a street named after his father, can be found in Ploieşti.

His friend Ion Ionescu-Quintus at the Păuleşti's manor, around 1930.

Many of his works were destroyed partly by the American bombardments of 1943-44, especially harsh in Ploieşti, but also by the Communists and Ceaucescu who carried out the removal of all traces of the soul and the Romanian architecture via the systematization. The objective was that everyone lives in the same type of housing (called 'bloc' in Romania). As with most goods stolen by the Romanian state during the communist totalitarian era, some of its properties have been returned in an advanced state of degradation.

His house of Păuleşti has been classified on the regional list of Historic Monuments, after 45 years of abandonment and neglect from the state. Built by another architect and having no link with the Socolescu style, It was returned in a very damaged state to its descendants. Stripped of its land, and of its then planted ornamental garden (organized by the architect).

A friend and family gathering in the manor of Păuleşti in 1937.

His Ploieşti's building, after having suffered badly the Anglo-American bombings of 1944, will be nationalized in 1950 and disfigured by a rehabilitation disconcerted to the original style of the construction. It will be returned to the family in 2006.

Most of the finest works, houses and buildings of Ploieşti, including several built by Toma T. Socolescu, his father Toma N. Socolescu or his uncle Ion N. Socolescu, were destroyed by the Communists, under pretext of weakness due to earthquake of 1940, 1944 and 1977. Disfigured by a policy of tabula rasa, the city has kept only a very small portion of its historic architecture.

Since 1949, Toma T. Socolescu will devote part of his time writing his memoirs. He will annotate the project until the final year of his life in 1960. After more than fifty years of neglect of various Romanian institutions, including the University of Architecture of Bucharest, his family will publish in Romania in 2004 the first part of his memoirs (the sole part he ever finished), covering the period from his birth up to 1924. The Fresco of architects who have worked in Romania in the modern era from 1800 to 1925, a far more important work will be completed in 1955 and also published in 2004. The two books are available at the National Library of Romania, also at the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism. In France, they can be found at the National and University Library of Strasbourg. The Central University Library of Bucharest and the British Library also have a copy of the Fresco.

The first page of a small booklet he wrote in French in 1941 sums up the credo of the architect :

La puissance créatrice de notre peuple est complètement prouvée par son bel art populaire plusieurs fois millénaire ainsi que par l'architecture plus récente de nos églises, habitations princières et voïvodales.         La Création étant le but suprême d'un peuple, c'est par notre apport personnel que nous justifierons notre existence de demain.         En Architecture, il ne faut pas à tout prix rechercher le nouveau et nous garder des formules sacro-saintes, comme par exemple: il faut être de son temps. L'architecte ne peut rester en arrière, il a au contraire pour mission d'entraîner ses contemporains dans sa marche vers le progrès.         L'architecture ne peut être internationale, elle doit être conservatrice et suivre évolutivement la chaine des traditions d'un peuple. La construction et la décoration, formant l'une le squelette, l'autre l'enveloppe, doivent se compléter et satisfaire aux deux exigences impérieuses: la logique et le sentiment.         Un grand penseur européen H. Keyserling, croit que notre peuple est appelé à ressusciter l'art byzantin, qui est à la base de notre Église et de notre architecture et que par une reprise de nos traditions d'art, de l'esprit duquel a jailli l'art de notre passé, nous devons diriger nos pas vers une renaissance moderne de nos arts plastiques.

Official duties, titles and public responsibilities

• Professor of Theory of Architecture at the Bucharest National Higher School of Architecture from 1927 to 1947
• Chief Architect of the Prahova County from 1919 to 1920.
• Mayor of Ploieşti from December 1919 to March 1920.
• Councilor of Ploieşti from March 10, 1926 to March 20, 1929, under Mayor Ion Georgescu Obrocea.
• Prahova County deputy under the government of Nicolae Iorga from April 19, 1931 to June 6, 1932, within the Partidul Naţionalist-Democrat (political party).
• Mayor of the commune of Păuleşti from 1937 to 1940.
• Member of the Order of the Crown of Romania to the rank of officer by order of King Ferdinand I of Romania in 1925.
• Ploieşti's Rotary Club member from 1936 to 1940.
• Chairman of the cultural foundation "Nicolae Iorga" in the 1930s.
• Selection Committee member of the Romanian architecture journal: Arhitectura.
• Member of the Society of Romanian Architects, then from 1953, member of the Union of Architects of the Popular Republic of Romania.

Genealogy

The Socol family of Berivoiul-Mare, formerly part of Făgăraş or Făgăraş land is a branch of the Socol family of Muntenia, which lived in the county of Dâmboviţa. A Socol, great boyar and son-in-law of Mihai Viteazul (1557–1601), had two religious foundations in the county of Dâmboviţa, still existing, those of Corneşti and Răzvadu de Sus. He did built their churches (and also another one in the suburb of Târgovişte). This boyar was married to Marula, daughter of Tudora din Popeşti, sister of Prince Antonie-Vodă. Marula has been recognized by Mihai Viteazul as his illegitimate daughter, following an extra-marital liaison with Tudora. Marula is buried in the cemetery of Răzvadul de-sus church, where, on a slab of richly carved stone, her name can be read.

Nicolae Iorga, The great Romanian historian and friend of Toma T. Socolescu, has found Socol ancestors among the founders of the town of Făgăraş. Around 1846, five Socol brothers came to Muntenia, from Berivoiul-Mare, in the Land of Făgăraş where the name of 'Socol' is widespread. It is told that an ancestor of 'Socol' would come to Muntenia, including the region of Târgovişte, home of the family 'Socol', being so far next to Târgovişte, the valley Socol [ro: Valea lui Socol], and their two religious endowments Răzvadul de-sus and Corneşti.

One of these five brothers is the architect Nicolae Gh. Socol (?? - died in 1872). He settled in Ploieşti and named himself 'Socolescu'. Married with Iona Săndulescu, he has had four boys, of which two architects: Toma N. Socolescu and Ion N. Socolescu. Toma T. Socolescu is one of the child of Toma N. Socolescu.

Family Tree

Nicolae Gh. Socol (18??-1872) architect

Ioana Săndulescu

Alexandrina Nicolau (1860-1900)

Toma N. Socolescu (1848-1897) chief architect of Ploieşti

Nicolae N. Socolescu

Gheorghe N. Socolescu died in infancy

Ion N. Socolescu (1856-1924) architect

Florica Tănescu (1887-19??)

Toma T. Socolescu (1883-1960) professor-architect

Florica T. Socolescu

Smaranda T. Socolescu

Ioan T. Socolescu

Coralia-Ioana-Margareta T. Socolescu

Mircea Socolescu (1907-1978) settled in France in 1945, married without children

Toma Gheorge - Barbu Socolescu (1909-1977) architect

Irena Gabriela Vasilescu (1910-1993) painter, teacher

Mihai Ştefan Marc Socolescu (1942-1994) teacher

Maria Lois (1942) teacher

Laura Socolescu (1967) settled in France - doctor of Science

Architectural contests

Practicing architecture as a profession, he will get many prizes in architectural design competition:

• First prize for two different subjects: model for a wooden church with one steeple and another model with several steeples, Pantocratorul, 1907.
• First prize in the contest for the unification of the Palace of the newspapers Adevărul and Dimineaţa facades. More than 30 architects participated in the contest in 1914. The project of Toma T. has been published in the newspaper Dimineaţa and also in the Arhitectura journal in 1916 and 1924. The construction will never be born because of the First World War. A facade, without any relation with the architect project, will be built in the 1920s.
• Second prize for the project of the Normal School of Buzau. The first prize was not awarded because only two architects participated in the contest.
• First category prize in the contest for the Palace of the Municipality of Bucharest. The project has been published in the Arhitectura journal in 1925.
• First prize in the contest for the building of the Creditul Prahovei of Ploieşti around 1923. The building has been built. Pictures and plans of the bank have been published in the Arhitectura journal in 1926.
• First prize in the contest for the Labour Palace of the City of Ploieşti. The work has not been built.
• First prize in the contest for the Palace of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (in Ploieşti). The work has been partially done. The Chamber was abolished by the Communists in 1949, after an existence of 84 years. It has since been destroyed.
• First prize in the contest of the Casino of the Astra Română Refinery in Ploieşti. It will be published in the July-October 1937 issue of the Arhitectura journal.
• First prize in the contest of the market place of the town of Predeal.
• First prize in the contest of the orthodox cathedral of the town of Târgu Mureş. The cathedral was constructed but designed by another architect that had failed in the competition.
• Two first prizes in the contest of country churches, for two different types.

Remarkable architectural achievements

In Ploieşti

• Palace of Business Schools, calea Oilor at the time, it became strada Gheorghe Doja. The palace is located at number 98. It houses the Caragiale High School since 1948. The building has been built between 1924 and 1932. It is classified historical monument.

The Palace of Business Schools became Caragiale High School in 1948.

• Primary teachers house of Ploieşti or Casa corpul Didactic. The building is located on strada Ştefan cel Mare, number 8. Built around 1925, it was preserved, but was affected by the earthquakes of the 1940s and 1977. It has no longer been housing the teachers house for a long time. Nationalized by the Communists in 1962, it was recovered by the Județ League Free Teaching Unions of Prahova in a deplorable general state, it has been sold and is still in the same state in 2010. The building is classified historical monument.

Former Primary teachers house of Ploieşti or Casa corpul Didactic.

• The peasant inn, now located within an hospital, at the Bucov barrier.
• The Courthouse, designed in collaboration with the French architect E. Doneaud. This building became the Palace of Culture. Weakened and damaged by the American bombardments of 1943-44, it has been strengthened in the 1980s. Its restoration has been resumed since 2006, it is not completed in 2009. The palace has been classified historical monument.

The Courthouse, transformed into the Palace of Culture.

• The Central Market Hall of Ploieşti, a masterpiece which will mark the city of his footprint. Its construction is based on the most modern principles of hygiene and logistics, and will echo across Europe. The architect will conduct a study tour in Europe before completing the project, and two others during the implementation of the market. He will in particular visit the halls of Geneva and Basel in Switzerland, those of Stuttgart, Frankfurt am Main, Leipzig, Munich and the halls of Breslau in Germany. It will complete its study by visiting the food floors of department stores in Berlin, the halls of Reims, Lyon and Dieppe in France, the fruit hall of Milan in Italy, and finally in the halls of Budapest in Hungary. In the article he wrote for the French magazine La Construction Moderne in September 1936, Toma T. Socolescu details his project, its objectives and the layout and operations of the facility. The Market Hall will even become the symbol of the City of Ploieşti. Partially affected by the American bombardments of 1943-44, it will be consolidated in the 1980s. Its original and modern architecture for the 1930s, but seeking beauty and harmony, will be admired all across Europe. The project was however be close to fail, due to a change of Mayor Obrocea who gave abusively in 1929 to another company the responsibility to make the plans and construction, while there was already a contract signed between the architect and the city since 1913 (Scarlat Orascu was then mayor). Toma T. Socolescu challenged successfully this new contract, thanks to the support of his friend the lawyer Grigore Ivanceanu. . The whole building is Classified Historical Monument.

- The Central Market Hall (1) -

- The Central Market Hall (2) -

• The former Creditul Prahovei at the intersection of bulevard Republicii with strada Take Ionescu. It later became the Banca Românească. Since the 1990s, the building houses the Banca Comercială Română or BCR. It has been built by the architect around 1923. Pictures and plans of the bank have been published in the Arhitectura journal in 1926. The building is Classified Historical Monument.

The former Banca Românească.

• Theatre Odéon, destroyed by the Communists, it has being replaced by an apartment building at the foot of which is the theater Toma Caragiu.
• Cinema theater Scala, still visible (strada Traian Moşoiu), it was decommissioned and abandoned in the 2000s. Brewery originally constructed on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce of Ploieşti. It has been under renovation since 2009.

- The movie theater Scala -

• Cathedral St John the Baptist (Catedrala Sfântul Ioan Botezătorul).

Cathedral St John the Baptist in Ploieşti.

The work was carried out between 1923 and 1937, the cathedral honors the dead of the First World War and is part of a national-religious momentum. The towers are Classified Historical Monument.

Only the towers (60 meters high) and the first part of the building were completed, the Second World War has stopped the work. The project for the rest of the building that would replace the existing church with a most monumental work will remain a project until recently. Work has resumed in 2008, inspired with Toma T. Socolescu's plans.

The facade is particularly unique to the time, and two monumental statues lines the entrance. The interior's furniture is remarkable. The pre-project, and the plans of the cathedral, will be published in the 1925 and 1926 issues of the Arhitectura journal.

Statues and sculptures of the monumental entrance.

• Toma T. Socolescu also participated to the renovation of religious buildings in Ploieşti:

- Sfantu Pantelimon church, located on strada Democraţiei, at number 71. The work was done over a period of 24 years between 1912 and 1936, due to lack of funding. The priest Ene Dumitrescu, who was the initiator of the project, had the idea to use Toma T. Socolescu to develop the project of rebuilding the church. The earthquake of 1940 caused the collapse of the great tower. The one of 1977 damaged the walls. Two phases of reconstruction and consolidation took place in 1946 and between 1977 and 1994, including the renovation of frescoes.

- Sfantu Haralambie church on strada Mărăşeşti, at number 65. Between 1931 and 1932, important renovations and restorations, as well as exterior embellishments, will be made by the architect. He will radically change the appearance of the church by rebuilding the small towers of the facade and adding a very elaborate porch of brâncovenesc style. It also will rebuild a ceiling of reinforced concrete. The church has experienced consolidations and changes after the earthquake of 1940 and 1977. In 1979, the priest in charge of the parish will build a great tower, which existed previously and had burned in 1925. However, this addition was made without the approval of civil authorities..

Sfantu Pantelimon church.

Sfantu Haralambie church.

The neo-brâncovenesc porch of Sfantu Haralambie.

Another view of the same porch.

- Religious works of Toma T. Socolescu -

- Reconstruction in 1937 of the Ploeştiorii church, on the outskirts of Ploieşti, about the barrier Valeni (bari Văleni), near the Vega refinery. The church has undergone several renovations and rebuilding since the work of the architect. It already had a concrete structure before 1977, which tower collapsed during the earthquake. According to the priest in charge of the parish in September 2009, A monograph on the church does exist.

- Rediscovery and succinct repair of a small and archaic ruined church in Ploeştiorii in the commune of Blejoi, dating from the first half of the XVIIIth century. In 1929, he will take there Nicolae Iorga who will uncover ancient murals hidden beneath the coating. A related article will be written by the historian in the Buletin of the Commission on Historical Monuments. The Sfantu Visarion church is Classified Historical Monument. In September 2009, the ruins were completely abandoned and endangered. The land where they are located has been sold to a private owner in the 1990s by the mayor of the town.

• Renovation, around 1919, of the house of the boilermaker trader Hagi Prodan, built in 1785. It is regarded as the typical residence of a Ploieşti merchant in the XVIIIth and XIXth century. Classified Historical Monument, the casa Hagi Prodan will be the first history museum in the City of Ploieşti, a museum founded by Toma T. Socolescu. After being renamed and affected to other uses, the museum is now called Muzeul Casa de Târgoveţ din Secolul al XVIII-lea - al XIX-lea.

In the Prahova county

• Boys High School of Câmpina. Located at calea Doftanei, at number 4, it was built in 1928-1929. The building is nowadays called the Nicolae Grigorescu National College

- The Nicolae Grigorescu National College -

Other achievements (non-exhaustive list)

In Ploieşti

• Villa of pharmacist N. Hogaş, brother of the writer Calistrat Hogaş. During its construction, the architect reserved the ceiling of the lounge for the painter Toma Gh. Tomescu in order that the latter can paint a fresco. Built around 1907, the house was destroyed during the Anglo-American bombings of 1943-44. It was the first work performed by Toma T. Socolescu.
• Pasapeanu House, a small house built for a civil servant of the Romanian Post service, located on strada I. Romanescu, built around 1908. The street is now called Barbu Dela Vrancea. This is the smallest work of the architect.
• House of teacher Aldescu located on strada Vlad Tepes, at number 20, made around 1908.
• House of priest Zotu, on the Bucureşti avenue (calea Bucureşti), near the South Railway Station (Gara de Sud), built around 1908. It was expropriated, and then be destroyed by the Communists to make room for the Plants of May 1.
• Rental property of the Alessiu brothers on strada Lipscani. Razed by the Communists in 1968-69 or in 1977, strada Lipscani was an old street that was slightly bent from the heart of the city to the courthouse. This main thoroughfare has disappeared in two stages: the first half near the Palace of Culture was demolished between 1968–1969, to make way for the current city administration building. The other half was demolished in 1977.
• Rental property of Gheorghe Bogdan, probably built in 1922 as shown by an inscription in the lobby, it is Located on strada Kogălniceanu (formerly strada Franceză), at number 36. Nationalized, the building was only partially recovered by the Bogdan's heirs. The house is one of the few remnants of an ancient and typical town center of Ploieşti, completely razed and rebuilt in Soviet style around 1980. A picture of the building will be published in the Arhitectura journal in 1924.

The Bogdan building.

• Rental property of Toma T. Socolescu, number 2 of strada Ştefan cel Mare, formerly strada Regina Maria. Built from 1914, the building will be occupied from 1915 and probably totally achieved after World War I. The architect will borrow heavily from banks to build it. He installed his office and worked there until the Anglo-American bombings that destroyed it partially in 1944. The building has been profoundly transformed by the Russians in the 1950s, after its confiscation by the state. The remarkable original facade no longer exists and has been replaced by a much more sober style. Originally the building had 7 shops on the ground floor and 5 apartments available, including that of the architect and his family.

The house of Toma T. Socolescu in Ploieşti. His own work.

• Europa Hotel, renovated in collaboration with his uncle Ion N. Socolescu (finally demolished by the Communists in 1960).
• House of G. Gogălniceanu, Hora taraneasca, Piata Unirii. Victim of Anglo-American bombings of 1943-44, then demolished.
• Rental property of D. Parvulescu in the old market ('Obor'), strada Émile Zola, at number 1. The block of houses where it is located, has escaped from the communist destructions.
• Villa of M. Obrien, on strada Eminescu. Built in the 1920s and destroyed by the Anglo-American bombings of 1943-44.

The D. Parvulescu building.

• Villa of Dr. L. Fridman, formerly at the intersection of strada Iennescu and strada Aurel Vlaicu, his address is now strada Maramureş, at number 8. Nationalized by the Communists, it hosts the National Department of Highways.
• Orăscu residential house, bulevard Independenţei, at number 18. Scarlat Orăscu was a significant mayor of Ploieşti between 1911 and 1914 and twice senator. Built around 1920 in the Art Deco French style of the time. Its interior was luxurious. The house will be confiscated by the Communists, then turned into popular canteen. It is now a clinic for children. The house is Classified Historical Monument
• House of Grigore Ivanceanu, a former lawyer and friend of the architect, located on Rahovei road, at number 6. Built around 1920, it will be damaged by Anglo-American bombings of 1943-44, but was rebuilt almost identic by the Ivanceanu family after the bombing. Sold in 2008 by Mrs. Alice Ivanceanu, heiress and daughter of the lawyer, the house was completely renovated in 2009 and has preserved much of its original style.

- The Scarlat Orăscu house -

• House of Ştefan Z. Ghiculescu, a former trader. Built at number 4 of strada Italiană in 1927 and perfectly preserved by the Bădulescu-Ghiculescu family, despite confiscation and internal damage during the communist period. The house is being classified on the list of Historical Monuments.

- The Ghiculescu house -

• Villa of Z. Leon on strada Drosescu. This street has now disappeared. The house was built by Toma T. Socolescu. The construction date is unknown: between 1920 and 1930.

Villa of Z. Leon on strada Drosescu.

• House of B. Nasopol, on strada Ştefan cel Mare, destroyed by the American bombardments of 1943-44.
• Toboc building on strada Democraţiei, at number 1. According to the family of the former owner and other corroborating sources, the building has been designed and made by Toma T. Socolescu. The style is highly reminiscent of the brâncovenesc stylistic guidelines of the architect. On the other hand, the building resembles the rental building that he had built shortly before on strada Ştefan cel Mare, at number 2. Built between 1920 and 1924 for the printer Dumitru Buta, nicknamed Toboc (Squat in Romanian), the building was nationalized in 1950. Destined for social housing, it is currently fully occupied by tenants since the earthquake of 1977. Also according to the family, the building has been claimed by the heiress who chose financial compensation rather than restitution in kind because it required to keep all tenants. The City is therefore still the owner of this remarkable but degraded building. The site is curiously not classified as historical monument. The building is part of the list which includes all maximum seismic risk buildings of the town. It may well collapse when the next earthquake occurs, if any consolidation work is not undertaken by the local authorities.

- The 'Toboc' building -

• Portal of the Ploieşti fairs and the hippodrome. Both were destroyed by the American bombardments of 1943-44. The current portal is a pale copy of the original work and the re-built hippodrome under the communist regime is a rectangular building of concrete, without any style and any particular architectural interest.
• Family grave of the Gheorghiu family in the Viişoara cemetery.
• According to some sources the Memorial to the heroes of World War I in the Bolovani cemetery would have been done by architect Toma T Socolescu. Partially destroyed by the American bombardments of 1943-44, it will be rebuilt, but the bronze eagle which covered the top has never been rebuilt. A melting project exists within the Association of War Veterans from Prahova.

In the Prahova county

• Two houses for his family members: I. Diamandescu and Costică Duşescu, built between 1908 and 1916, Câmpina.
• Villa of D. Ştefănescu, Câmpina. The villa has hardly changed. It is still there on bulevard Carol I, at number 112. A 1916 issue of the Arhitectura journal exhibits plans and sketches of the villa.

D. Ştefănescu Villa around 1930.

• Voiculescu Pharmacy, Câmpina. It was demolished after the earthquake of 1977.
• Villa of Dr. Gheorghiu, Câmpina. The villa in unchanged, on bulevard Carol I, crossing with strada Toma Ionescu.

Villa of Dr Gheorgiu.

• Courthouse of Câmpina, located on strada 1 Decembrie 1918, at number 14.
• Courthouse of Vălenii de Munte.
• House of Nicolae Iorga in Vălenii de Munte, restoration.
• Villa of Nicolae Iorga in Sinaia, built around 1918, and Classified Historical Monument, the house, located on strada Gheorghe Doja, at number 1, is perfectly preserved by the historian family. It is located at the intersection of calea Codrului and strada Gheorghe Doja, in the Furnica district.

Villa of Nicolae Iorga.

• Villa of Grigore Ivănceanu in Sinaia, built in 1934.
• Villa of Florica Socolescu, in Sinaia. Located in Sinaia-Cumpătu, it was built by T. Toma Socolescu for his wife Florica. The house would have been sold at the end of the in the 1940s by the architect. It has hardly changed.

The villa in 1925.

The villa in 2009.

Its balcony in neo-brâncovenesc style.

The main door.

- Villa of Florica Socolescu -

• Villa of N. Scorţeanu in Sinaia, in the Cumpătu district. A photograph of the house has been published in the Arhitectura journal in 1925.
• Manor of Gerard Joseph Duqué in Paulesti, on the southern border of the town with the City of Ploieşti, built around 1920. The house was commissioned by the lawyer Obrocea Ion Georgescu, then transferred to Gerard Duqué for repayment of debts. The mansion has undergone many changes and simplifications since its construction. Only some typical parts still witness the creation of the architect.
• Town Hall of Sinaia, renovation.
• Town Hall, public baths and agricultural center of Urlaţi, built before 1916.

The Villa of D. Ionescu on the şoseaua Kiseleff, strada Colgălniceanu, Bucharest. The name of the street has since been changed.

• Town Hall, primary school, public baths, small maternity, stables and monument of the Trinity of the Păuleşti commune. The buildings were completed between 1937 and 1940. The stables have become a bakery. The memorial was moved to the village cemetery.
• Izvoarele church.
• Assumption's church (Adormirea Maicii Domnului) in the town of Scăeni, published in the journal Arhitectura. The commune of Scăeni has been merged with Boldeşti in 1968. The commune is now named Boldeşti-Scăeni.

In Bucharest

• Rental property on strada Brâncoveanu.
• Rental property on strada Şerban Vodă.
• Villa on strada Mitropolit Antim Ivireanul, published in the Arhitectura journal. Part of the street was razed to the needs of the construction of the Palace of the People of Nicolae Ceausescu.
• House of Engineer Al. Gheorghiade, located in the parcul Bonaparte. The park is located within a triangle bounded by the {lang|ro|strada Paris}}, the şoseaua Iancu de Hunedoara (formerly şoseaua Bonaparte) and the calea Dorobantilor. A photograph of the house has been published in the Arhitectura journal in 1926.
• Villa D. Ionescu, built in 1927 on strada Mihai Cogalniceanu (there is also the spelling Kogălniceanu), şoseaua Kiseleff. The street is now called Gheorghe Brătianu. The villa is located at number 26. Two pictures of the house have been published in the Arhitectura journal in 1930. It is Classified Historical Monument.

In other counties

• Boys High School of the railway station in Buftea (Ilfov County. It is located on bulevard Mihai Eminescu, at number 76. Its exact name (in 2009) is Barbu Stirbei Buftea economic High School.
• Sfantu Nicolae şi Alexandru church of Netezeşti, Cummune of Nuci (Ilfov county), on strada Principală near the City Hall. The construction and the interior (all furniture) were probably made between 1912 and 1916. It is Classified Historical Monument. Netezeşti church, religious foundation of the Al. Serghiescu family was erected at the expense of Mrs. Al Serghiescu in fairly good conditions and even a luxury, both for construction and for furniture, as well as paintings executed under the guidance of painter Pavlu with performers like many young artists of outstanding talent from which I quote Tonitza St. Dumitrescu, Schweitzer-Cumpana, Bălţatu, then only 16 years old, and others.

Attributed works (non-exhaustive list)

Toma T Socolescu was very apreciated and in high demand to imagine the homes of prominent families in Romania. His writings, where he systematically stood in the background, demonstrate an obvious modesty and it appears with certainty he deliberately failed to list a number of works he has authored. Moreover, concerns related to the communist political police regime he was victim of, have probably pushed not to mention in his memoirs some places, for fear of harming d other families. The Securitate was particularly fierce against the wealthy families of the interwar and did found any excuse to seize private property or to jail the people it disliked.

This title is justified because it presents a series of houses or buildings which style and signature recalls vividly to the 'know-how' and the style of the famous architect. Besides, Toma T. Socolescu signed his works on the rooftops by a stylized reversed lily often made of zinc or copper. Wherever the original roof has not been modified, this unique signature is visible.

Finally, not to report these probabilities would be risking full oblivion for these houses in a country where access to the archives is very difficult, and where since the 1990s, an uncontrolled real estate sector ravages centuries of architecture. Moreover, the disappearance of former owners, often physically eliminated by the Communists, was frequently accompanied by a very likely irretrievable loss of useful information and documentation to identify with certainty the origin of these buildings.

This title must be considered as an exploitable list of works very likely made by Toma T. Socolescu.

• House on strada Ulierului, at number 1, Ploieşti, built around 1910.
• House on strada Nicolae Bălcescu, at number 10 , Ploieşti.
• House on strada Cantacuzino, at number 120 (crossing with strada Traian), Ploieşti, built in 1924.
• House on strada Cantacuzino, at number 17, Ploieşti.

strada Ulierului, number 1.

strada Nicolae Bălcescu, number 10.

strada Cantacuzino , number 17.

strada Cantacuzino, number 120.

• House on strada Constanţei, at number 3, Ploieşti.
• House on strada Constanţei, at number 7, Ploieşti.
• Twin houses on strada Decebal, at number 34 and on strada Primaveri at number 33, Ploieşti. They were the property of Tănase Vasilescu, an oil magnate from Păuleşti.

strada Constanţei, number 3.

Entry of house on strada Constanţei, number 3.

strada Primaveri, number 33.

strada Constanţei, number 7.

Remarkable roof of house on strada Constanţei, number 7.

Unbuilt projects

Of the ten contests won by the architect, only two were achieved. The following projects have never been realized:

• Church project in Slănic done in 1916, published in the Arhitectura journal around 1920.
• Project for the Labour Palace in Ploieşti.
• Project for the Casino of the Astra Română refinery in Ploieşti (in 1936-1937).
• Project for South-East European Institute.
• Royal villa in Vǎlenii de Munte. A section plan is visible in the 1930 edition of the Arhitectura journal.
• Church Project for Predeal (in 1956) and the Păuleşti commune.
• Town hall Project for Făgăraş.

Publications

• In Mihail Sevastos monograph on the history, urban planning and economy of the City of Ploieşti Monografia oraşului Ploieşti, 1937: the entire chapter on the city's architecture and urbanism.
• In the Buletin of the Committee on Historical Monuments: numerous articles including 3 remarkable ones:

1. Sfantu Nicolae church of Bălteni, county of Ilfov, archaeological studies and topographic map. Published in 1908 in the first issue (Q1) under the title Architectural notes, pages 114 to 119.
2. Hagi Prodan House in Ploieşti, archaeological studies and topographic map. Published in 1916 in the latest issue before the war. Having suffered from the bombings of 1944, the house was restored and the museum re-inaugurated on May 1, 1953.
3. Dobrescu house in Ploieşti, a typical house of merchants and small manufacturers from thr beginning of the XIXth century. Archaeological studies and topographic map were done. The house became the Ion L. Caragiale Museum on 30 January 1962.

• In the Arhitectura journal from 1916 to 1944:

1. Many illustrated articles on Romanian architecture.
2. Portraits of missing architects.
3. Travel Notes in Italy, illustrated.A 7 pages illustrated article published in the issue of 1925.
4. Plans and photographs of finished works, drawings and watercolors of old Romanian constructions. The issue of 1938 contains an article dedicated to the old Romanian art in Bessarabia, illustrated on several pages with his own waterpaintings.
5. A profession of faith entitled Principles and improvements, Towards a Romanian modern architecture in the April-June 1941 issue. The author defends a notion of an art concerned with preserving the national cultural wealth, and the Romanian national genius, while seeking progress and modernity. The architect refutes any idea of international architecture. The same year, he will translate and publish this article in a French version.
6. An article defending the idea of creating an institute dedicated to the promotion and development of the Romanian architecture: "The need to create an institute of Romanian architecture", in an issue of 1943-1944.

Old house of Ploieşti as it was until the beginning of the XXth century.

• In the Simetria journal: one article on the Romanian architects who studied at the Beaux-Arts de Paris.
• In the România Viitoare journal:

1. Travel notes on Romania and Italy.

2. Literary articles on Anna de Noailles, the Countess of Noailles (Brâncoveanu), Auguste Rodin, Octavian Goga, etc.

3. Studies on some old buildings and historical monuments of Ploieşti, including in 1915:

- an article about the ruins of the Saint Nicolas the Old church or Sfantu Nicolae Vechi (strada Mihai Bravu, 105)

- an article about an old house, similar to the Hagi Prodan house's style, located on strada Ştefan cel Mare, in front of the Saints Voivods (Sfintii Voevozi) church. The church is at number 23.

• A personal publication personal Prin Ardeal, travel notes of an architect, illustrated.
• In the Biblioteca Urbanistică journal, two volumes of translations with introductory studies and illustrations:

1. "Urbanism la îndemâna tuturor / de Jean Raymond".

2. "Igiena urbană".

• About the specific topic of the Central Hall of Ploieşti, the masterpiece of T. Toma Socolescu, numerous articles appeared in various European journals:

1. Romania: Arhitectura in 1936, issue number 6; The article published in Arhitectura also appears in Monografia oraşului Ploieşti between pages 597 and 603; Ploieştii : on 21 April 1929, an article entitled "The building of the halls", about a legal dispute over the Central Market Hall construction contract - in 1936, another article about a laudatory publication in the French magazine Techniques des Travaux; and Revista Veterinară.
2. France: L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui, Paris, year 7, number 11, November 1936, pages 44–45; Techniques des Travaux; La Construction Moderne: an illutrated study on the Central Market Hall of Ploieşti, Paris, year 51, number 46, September 1936, pages 945 to 955 written by the architect himself.
3. United Kingdom: The Architect, London.
4. Germany: Der Bauingenieur, Berlin, 26 May 1933, number 14, Jahrgang, 1933, Heft 21-22.
5. Austria: A study by Professor Dr. Ing. R. Saliger and Dr. Ing. Fr Baravalle, Vienna

Newspaper articles

He published numerous articles in Ploieşti, Iaşi and Bucharest newspapers on issues such as architecture, town planning, local politics or culture. He will also be the subject of numerous articles. The following list is not exhaustive, and states when the architect is not the author.

• Dimineaţa, Bucharest, "Around the municipal elections" of Ploieşti, May 15, 1929; "Celebrating the architect Toma T. Socolescu", published on July 12, 1925, about the celebration in Ploieşti of the first prize won by Toma T. Socolescu for a major architecture contest : the Palace of the capital Town hall. The article includes an interview with the architect.
• Prahova, Ploieşti, "The archpriest Nae Vasilescu", 1 March 1935, obituary,"The Nicolae Iorga Popular Library", in July 1935.
• Gazeta carţilor (literary magazine), Bucharest, "Architecture in Ploieşti, Historical study by Toma T. Socolescu", an article in the January / February 1938 issue, written by D. M. Rîmnic about the release of the book; "Memories of Octavian Goga", an obituary on the writer, poet, journalist, playwright and politician Octavian Goga published in June 1928; "The need to create an institute of Romanian architecture", written in January 1944. The later will also be published in the Arhitectura journal in the 1943-1944 issue.
• Neamul românesc, publication in November 1938 of a letter sent by the architect to Nicolae Iorga, entitled "Architecture is learned in the workshops, not at the chair"; "Aedileship ...", 27 May 1937, by Nicolae Iorga criticizing the inertia of the municipality of Ploieşti facing the development of shacks and garbage behind the Central Market Hall. The article contrasts the devotion and work of Toma T. Socolescu for the city.
• Excelsior, Iaşi, "The main roads" an article written on January 7, 1939 on the poor quality of main roads in Romania; "The traffic and accidents," an article dated the 12 August, 1939; " The development of fruits" on the development of fruit production in August 1939.
• România, Bucharest, "The main roads", another article written on January 7, 1939 focused on the inadequacy of main roads in Romania.
• Prahova Noastră, Ploieşti,"The festivities of Paulesti", May 21, 1939; "A friend has left us: Victor Rădulescu", mayor of Câmpina (1926-1928), obituary of July 2, 1939; "Costică Marinescu (stair joiner)", obituary in tribute to the master, issued in February 1942; "The forecasts of V. Blasco Ibanez", on the Spanish author : Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, May 10, 1942; "The street names of Ploieşti", an open letter to the mayor on the relevance of street names, May 20, 1943.
• Propăşirea (literary magazine), Iaşi, "From the past of Ploieşti, on the occasion of the 50 years Jubilee of the Moţoiu firm" published on March 4, 1929.
• Virtutea, "About the need of a civic council," political article written on March 28, 1929.
• Presa, Ploieşti, "Backing M. I. A. Bassabarescu", an open letter to support the reconstruction of the house of the teacher-writer, destroyed by bombing, "Reconstruction of High School Saint Peter and Paul", February 21, 1945.
• Opinia liberă (journal), Ploieşti, "Restoration of Ploieşti", a lengthy discussion challenging projects of reconstruction of Dr. Botez, that was published in numbers 72 and 73 of the newspaper Presa, published in the issuer number 15, 1946; "A final word on the issue of the Central Market", article in defense of his work and the Central Market, disparaged and criticized by the so-called Dr. Botez in the newspaper Presa.

Architecture exhibitions

• Organization in the spring of 1916 of an exhibition of architectural projects, watercolor and furniture in the Romanian Athenaeum of Bucharest. The painter T. Gh. Tomescu, friend of the architect, will be exhibiting his oils and watercolors. Almost all the paintings of the architect and Tomescu will be purchased. The architect Spiridon Cegăneanu, one of the founder with Ion Mincu of the neo-Romanian style, wrote an article in the Cronica journal, including the projects of the architect. This was the first and only exhibition of T. Gh. Tomescu, who remained unknown to the public during his entire life.

Watercolor painted by Toma T. Socolescu then transferred to the Museum of the City of Ploieşti in the years 1920-1930. Subject: House of Ion Petre said Boiangiul, located in Ploieşti, strada Ulierului.

• Toma T Socolescu exhibited twice at the Architecture exhibition in 1933, each time winning the first prize.

Sources

• Socolescu family's archives (Paris, Bucharest) including a photographic collection.
• Template:Ro Manuscripts of the memoirs of Toma T. Socolescu, written between 1949 and 1952.
• Template:Ro Historical Study of Toma T. Socolescu on the City of Ploieşti: [Arhitectura în Ploieşti, studiu istoric] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), printer: Cartea Ramânească, Bucureşti, 1937, reference: 16725, 111 pages.
• Template:Ro Mihail Sevastos, Monografia oraşului Ploieşti, Editura: Cartea Ramânească, Bucureşti, 1937, 1 volume, 905 pages.
• Template:Ro Book about the life of Gérard Joseph Duqué: pages 134-135, Vincent G. Duqué et Paul D. Popescu, Gérard Joseph Duqué, traversandu-şi epoca (1966-1956), Editura Ploieşti MILENIUM III, Ploieşti, 2006, 1 volume, 189 pages, ISBN 973-87924-5-2 et ISBN 978-973-87924-5-6.
• Template:Ro Bicericile din Ploieşti, I Bisericile orthodoxe, Constantin Trestioreanu, Gheorghe Marinica, Editura Ploieşti MILENIUM III, Ploieşti, 2003, 203 pages, ISBN 973-85670-4-1.
• Template:Ro Official documents and acts of the Romanian institutions.
• Template:Ro Library of the Ion Mincu Architecture and Urbanism University.
• Template:Ro Central University Library Carol I of Bucharest - Numerous issues of the Romanian architecture journal Arhitectura.
• Template:Ro Constantin Ilie, civil construction Engineeri in Ploieşti, former technical expert for buildings from the courts of county of Prahova during 35 as. Born in 1929 in Păuleşti, M. Ilie knew personnally Toma T. Socolescu when he was a child.
• Template:Fr Vincent Gerard Duqué, grandson of Gerard Joseph Duqué, Ploieşti. The grandfather of Mr. Duqué was a friend of the architect. Both were active members of the Rotary Club of the city.
• Template:Ro Lucian Vasile, History student at the History University of University of Bucharest, Ploieşti.

Bibliography

• Template:Ro SOCOLESCU Toma T., Aminţiri, Editura Caligraf Design, Bucarest, 2004. 1 volume, 237 p. ISBN 973-86771-0-6.
• Template:Ro SOCOLESCU Toma T., Fresca arhitecţilor care au lucrat in România in epoca modernă, Editura Caligraf Design, Bucarest, 2004, 1 volume, 209 p. ISBN 973-86771-1-4.
• Template:Ro SOCOLESCU Toma T., Arhitectura în Ploieşti, studiu istoric, Editura: Cartea Ramânească, Bucureşti, 1937, 111 pages, reference: 16725.
• Template:Ro SEVASTOS Mihail, Monografia oraşului Ploieşti, Editura: Cartea Ramânească, Bucureşti, 1937, 1 volume, 905 pages. The chapters on architecture and urbanism are integrally made of the historical study Arhitectura în Ploieşti, cited above.
• Template:Fr SOCOLESCU Toma T., Vers une architecture roumaine moderne, Extrait du Bulletin de l'Ecole Polytechnique de Bucarest, XII-e année, n° 1 et 2, Tipărire Finanţe Si Industrie, strada Poetul Mecedonschi nr 8, Bucureşti, 1941, 5 p.
• Template:Ro SOCOLESCU Toma T., Prin Ardeal, note de drum ale unui arhitect, including illustrations, Ploieşti, 1923, 32 pages, illustrations, 16 cm.
• Template:Ro SOCOLESCU Toma T., Romanian translation and introductory study of the French book written by Jean Raymond L'urbanisme à la portée de tous, under the Romanian title Urbanism la îndemâna tuturor, Jean Raymond, R. Dautry, Editura municipiului Ploieşti: Cartea Românească, 1927, 172 pages, illustrations, figures, tableaux, 19 cm.
• Template:Ro SOCOLESCU Toma T., Monografie Ion Mincu, Bucureşti, 408 pages, (volumul I); 69 pages: illustrations; 32 cm (volumul II), ref: II166.

Notes and references

• Template:Ro SOCOLESCU Toma T., Arhitectura în Ploieşti, studiu istoric, Editura: Cartea Ramânească, Bucureşti, 1937, 111 p., référence: 16725

• Template:Ro SOCOLESCU Toma T., Memoirs of Toma T. Socolescu and book of Toma T. Socolescu: Aminţiri, Editura Caligraf Design, Bucarest, 2004, 1 volume, 237 p.

• Template:Ro SEVASTOS Mihai, Monografia oraşului Ploieşti, Editura: Cartea Ramânească, Bucureşti, 1937,

• Template:Ro TRESTIOREANU Constantin, MARINICA Gheorghe,Bicericile din Ploieşti, I Bisericile orthodoxe, Editura Ploieşti MILENIUM III, Ploieşti, 2003, 203p. ISBN 973-85670-4-1

• Other références:

External links

• Template:Ro RepublicaPloiesti.net is a site specializing in architectural history of the City of Ploieşti. It contains numerous photographs of the city taken between the beginning of the twentieth and 1945. Several works of Toma T. Socolescu are presented.
• Website of the Town hall of Ploieşti
• Template:Ro Website of the Town hall of Păuleşti commune
• Template:Ro County Museum of History and Archeology of Ploieşti
• Template:Ro National Institute of Historical Monuments: Institutul National Al Monumentelor Istorice

- Official list of historical monuments of Prahova county: Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004

- Official appendix of corrections regarding the Official list of historical monuments of Prahova county: Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004 - Modificări Si Completări

- Official list of historical monuments of Ilfov county: Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004

- Official list of historical monuments of Bucharest: Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004

• Website describing all historical monuments in Romania: Asociatia Prietenii MNIR
• By the law of 21 December 2005 was established in Romania an official institution to investigate the crimes of communism. It is also allowed to refer before a court in sentencing and reparation: Institute for Research into Crimes of Communism in Romania. The destruction of the natioanl heritage is also considered as a crime.
• Template:Ro Library of the Ion Mincu Architecture and Urbanism University
• Template:Fr Paris, Palais de Chaillot, Database of all scanned journals from the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine
• Association ProPatrimonio for safeguarding the architectural heritage of Romania.
• Template:Ro Save Bucharest": an association that fights to preserve Bucharest against the frequent destruction of its historical heritage.