Tharp moved with his parents to California in 1874. He spent four years at the San Francisco School of Design and in 1896 went to Europe to study. At the time of his death, he was City Architect of San Francisco. Among the public buildings designed by him in this capacity are the Hall of Justice, the Infirmary, and a group of hospital buildings.
| period | name | type |
|---|---|---|
| from 1902 | American Institute of Architects | member |