McDonald Brothers was a Louisville-based firm of architects of courthouses and other public buildings. It was a partnership of brothers Kenneth McDonald (died 1904), Harry McDonald (aka Henry P. McDonald), and Donald McDonald founded in 1878.
Harry McDonald was the senior member of the firm. He served in the American Civil War as a confederate soldier. He later was elected to the Kentucky legislature and died while in office, in 1904.
Donald McDonald graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1873.
Kenneth McDonald died in 1904.
The partnership lasted from 1874 until 1896. Kenneth McDonald practiced individually after then, until 1901.
Many of their works survive and are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Their Adair County Courthouse, for one example, was built in 1885.
Works (with variations in attribution to both or either) include:
Adair County Courthouse, built 1885, 500 Public Sq., Columbia, Kentucky (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Adath Israel Temple, 834 S. 3rd St., Louisville, KY (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Aurora City Hall, 216 Third St. and 233-237 Main St., Aurora, IN (McDonald Bros.), NRHP-listed
Burlington Historic District, (Boundary Decrease, Boundary Increase), portions of Washington,Gallative, Perlate, Temperate, Garrard, Jefferson, Ohio Sts., Nicholas Ave, and Union Sq., Burlington, KY (McDonald Brothers, McCarvey Brothers), NRHP-listed
Casey County Courthouse, Courthouse Sq., Liberty, KY (McDonald Bros.), NRHP-listed
Cumberland County Courthouse, Court House Sq., Toledo, IL (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
First Cumberland Presbyterian Church-McKenzie, 305 N. Stonewall St., McKenzie, TN (McDonald Bros.), NRHP-listed
Gibson County Courthouse, Town Square, Princeton, IN (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Goodnight House, 201 S. Main St., Franklin, KY (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Henry County Courthouse, Jail, and Warden's House, Courthouse Sq., New Castle, KY (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Hickman County Courthouse, Court Sq., Clinton, KY (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Kentucky National Bank, 300 W. Main St., Louisville, KY (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Old Eddyville Historic District, Off KY 730, Eddyville, KY (McDonald Bros.), NRHP-listed
Old Jail, 103 Court St., Washington, GA (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Sevier County Courthouse, Court Ave., Sevierville, TN (McDonald Brothers of Louisville), NRHP-listed
Simpson County Courthouse, KY 73, Franklin, KY (McDonald Brothers), NRHP-listed
Washington County Courthouse, Public Sq., Salem, IN (McDonald Bro.), NRHP-listed
Bartow County Courthouse, Courthouse Sq., Cartersville, GA (McDonald,Kenneth, & Co.), NRHP-listed
Lincliff, 6100 Longview Lane, Louisville, KY (McDonald,Kenneth), NRHP-listed
Muhlenberg County Courthouse, Courthouse Sq., Greenville, KY (McDonald,Kenneth,Sr.), NRHP-listed
Rossmore Apartment House, 664 River City Mall, Louisville, KY (McDonald,Kenneth), NRHP-listed
Calvary Episcopal Church, 821 S. 4th St., Louisville, KY (McDonald,Henry P.), NRHP-listed
Owen County Courthouse and Jail, N. Thomas and N. Madison Sts., Owenton, KY (McDonald,H.P.), NRHP-listed
Jefferson County Courthouse Annex (1901), 517 Court Pl., Louisville, KY (McDonald,Kenneth,Sr.), NRHP-listed
Alfred Joseph, who later founded Joseph & Joseph architects in Louisville, worked for the McDonald Brothers firm before also working under McDonald and Sheblessy, and under McDonald and Dodd.
