Alexander (Aimwell) Cantin built a number of buildings on the campus of the College of Marin, including the Science Building, the first permanent building on campus.  He is possibly best know for being the lead architect (while working at the firm of Miller and Pflueger) on the 26-story, Coast Division Building of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company at 140 New Montgomery Street in San Francisco.  He is also known for the number of movie theatres he designed throughout the Bay Area in the 1920's and 30's. He was issued his architectural license in 1901, and was a member of the AIA, with over 48 years of active practice. Of lifelong interest to him was the design of decorative columns. He was awarded patents for several of his column designs.

The A. A. and A.M. Cantin collection documents approximately fifty-six projects through textual records, drawings and photographs. The collection is arranged in two series:Office Records and Project Records. The office records include biographical information, notable projects, and letters of recommendation. The bulk of the collection is comprised of project records. Arranged alphabetically, they consist of correspondence, clippings, photographs and drawings. Also included in the project records are sketches of column designs by A.A.Cantin, some of which are noted as pending patents.