The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Chapman, Samuel, 1860-1928

Title: Papers

Dates: ca. 1875-1930

Call No.: Col. 98

Acc. No.: 91x103

Quantity: 6 cu. ft. (26 boxes)

Location: 15 D 2-9, Map case C, drawer 6

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Samuel Chapman (1860-1928) was born in Manchester, England. He emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1865 and settled in Massachusetts. Chapman's father worked in the shipyards around Dorchester, and in time, young Samuel apprenticed with him. In addition, Samuel worked with John M. Woods, a furniture designer and maker from Cambridge. By 1875, Chapman had begun working on interior architectural ornamentation of dwellings and churches in the Boston area, including Trinity Church in Copley Square. In 1895, Oscar Norman, an architect from New York City, asked Chapman to help design the interiors of homes of his wealthy clients, including the Colgates, Cyrus Curtis, and the leather king Webb Horton, whose mansion took several years to complete.  As well, he made reproduction furniture for Cooper-Williams, Inc., a Boston firm, and was employed by C.A. Wellington and Co., a Boston interior decorating establishment.

Chapman eventually joined financier C.M. Tyler to form the Tyler-Chapman Co., an interior finishing company which specialized in elevator cab designs. Prior to World War I, Chapman designed and installed the first wood passenger elevator cab in New York City. He won an excellent reputation for his work and eventually dominated this field in the city; he installed other cabs in Boston and Philadelphia. In 1927, Tyler-Chapman Co. contracted to install the interior wood work in two sister ships, the Morro Castle and the Oriente. Chapman died before these commissions were completed; however, his three sons, Millard, Lester (“Pete”), and Harold (“Bootus”), completed the projects with high praise from the shipbuilding company on the designs and quality of the workmanship.  (Unfortunately, the quality and amount of wood used on the interior of the Morro Castle was the primary reason the fire aboard the ship was such a disaster.) Chapman also worked with his brother William (1879-1929), a Boston-area architect.

More biographical details are available at this repository.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection consists of watercolor and ink drawings of mantels (usually with front and profile views), wood panels of elevator cabs, and various furniture forms; photographs; pencil sketches; and art and design serials. The mantel drawings for C.A. Wellington & Co. sometimes includes sizes or scale, prices, and names or initials of those (not Chapman) who drew the sketches. Among the periodicals present that influenced Chapman's work are issues or parts of issues of American Architect and Building News, The Artworker, The Decorator and Furnisher, and Furniture Gazette.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

Most of the materials are in English. French and German publications are also found.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Gift of Harold W. Chapman, grandson of Samuel Chapman.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Norman, Oscar.

Tyler, C. M.

Woods, John M.

Chapman, Harold.

Chapman, Millard.

Chapman, Lester.

Topics:

Tyler-Chapman Co.

C.A. Wellington & Co.

Cooper-Williams, Inc.

Oriente (Ship).

Morro Castle (Ship).

Interior architecture - Massachusetts - Boston.

Interior architecture - New York - New York.

Interior decoration - Massachusetts - Boston.

Interior decoration - New York - New York.

Furniture design.

Furniture - Drawings.

Art literature.

Elevators - Massachusetts - Boston.

Elevators - New York - New York.

Elevators - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Elevators, Private residence.

Woodwork - Massachusetts - Boston.

Woodwork - New York - New York.

Ship decoration.

Veneer and veneering.

Mantels.

Photoprints.

Drawings.

Journals (periodicals).

Blueprints.

Trade catalogs.

Sketchbooks.

Watercolors.

Designers.

Furniture makers.

Veneerers.

Architectural firms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 15 D 2-9, Map case 6, drawer 6

Box 1: C.A. Wellington & Co. sketches

Folder1: Mantels: 7 sketches (oak, colonial over-mantel, ash, large front [nursery], mirror only, two not described)

Folder 2: Mantels: 7 sketches (dining room, simple, mahogany with Rideau grate, Rideau stove and clock, one description illegible, two not described)

Folder 3: Mantels: 9 sketches (with closet and drawer in pine, dining room, old oak, east chamber, parlor, two for chambers, white-wood, one not described)

Folder 4: Mantels: 7 sketches (two in cherry, chamber, mahogany, two for dining rooms, one not described)

Folder 5: Mantels: 8 sketches (corner, mirror only, parlor, lower chamber, dining room, three not described)

Folder 6: Mantels: 6 sketches (white wood to paint, cherry, dining room, chamber, two not described, one of which has armor mounted above the mantel)

Folder 7: Mantels: 7 sketches (dining room, two mirrors only, cherry, parlor, west chamber in oak, one not described)

Folder 8: Mantels: 7 sketches (two for sitting rooms, parlor, hall, second front-lake side, oak, library)

Folder 9: Mantels: 6 sketches (dining room, old oak, ash, corner, parlor, one not described)

Folder 10: Mantels: 6 sketches (ash, mirror only, cherry, Rideau grate, two not described)

Folder 11: Mantels: 4 sketches (two for dining rooms, two not described)

Folder 12: Mantels: 7 sketches (chamber, two for parlors, oak, dining room, two not described, one of which has a grate)

Folder 13: Mantels: 8 sketches (stained white wood, chamber, with music case, office, two mantel studies [one with grate], pine to paint, one not described)

Folder 14: Mantels: 8 sketches (two in oak, two for dining rooms, white wood to paint, chamber, mirror only, one not described)

Folder 15: Mantels: 8 sketches (pine to paint, library, hall, and five not described, one of which could be in cherry)

Box 2: C.A. Wellington & Co. sketches

Folder 1: Mantels: 7 sketches (sitting room, dining room, two for parlors [one in mahogany], oak with brick fireplace, bed chamber in white wood, one not described)

Folder 2: Mantels: 7 sketches (sitting room, two for parlors, cherry, mirror only, pine or paint or hard wood, cherry)

Folder 3: Mantels: 8 sketches (small ash, sitting room, three for parlors, mantel top [over mantel], chamber, one not described)

Folder 4: Mantels: 7 sketches (two for dining rooms, mantel with canopy, smoking room, 2d rear, with Rideau grate, Mrs. B.’s chamber [mantel for lambrequin])

Folder 5: Mantels: 9 sketches (reception room, two for sitting rooms [one in cherry], chamber, oak, recessed mantel in cherry, west chamber, dining room, one not described)

Folder 6: Mantels: 7 sketches (three for chambers, suggestion [incomplete sketch], dining room, billiard room, one not described)

Folder 7: Mantels: 7 sketches (oak, dining room, east chamber in walnut, billiard room, mantel study, library or parlor in walnut, one not described but with musket and swords mounted above mantel)

Folder 8: Mantels: 6 sketches (with grate, parlor in mahogany, cherry stained dark [with name M. E. Graves], two studies, mantel and canopy)

Folder 9: Mantels: 7 sketches (with canopy grate, with canopy for chamber, sitting room in cherry, partial drawing, cherry, oak, sitting room)

Folder 10: Mantels: 7 sketches (corner in cherry, white wood to paint, chamber, brick and terra cotta and wood, parlor in cherry, sitting room, one not described)

Folder 11: Mantels: 8 sketches (mantel for Mrs. J. R. Bullard, two for chambers, mahogany, library, hall in quartered oak, two not described)

Folder 12: Mantels: 8 sketches (dining room, reception room in cherry, mirror only, oak, parlor, study for a chamber mantel for lambrequin, two not described)

Folder 13: Mantels: 4 sketches (a study and three not described)

Box 3: C.A. Wellington & Co. sketches

Folder 1: Bookcases: 6 sketches (book and bric-a-brac case, walnut, quartered oak, mahogany, old oak, and one not described)

Folder 2: Cabinets and stands: 7 sketches (sideboard and dish closet [two pieces in one drawing], two hall stands, utility article, and three not described)

Folder 3: Cabinets and stands: 7 sketches (two oak china closets, a partial drawing, cabinet-mantel [although no fireplace or grate is part of the design], music case, two not described)

Folder 4: Desks: 6 sketches (two oak, two writing, reading, lady’s writing)

Folder 5: Miscellaneous: 9 sketches (mahogany bureau, mahogany desk for Mrs. H. J. Biddle, door light [stained glass window design], oak wood-box, oak hall chest, bellows, wall bracket, wood box, young gentleman’s bureau)

Folder 6: Settees and sofas: 5 sketches (oak seat to open, mahogany sofa for dining room, oak hall seat, oak seat, Indian sofa)

Folder 7: Settees and sofas: 5 sketches (oak hall seat, seat with cushions, suggestion for sofa, two not described, one of which includes a seated woman)

Folder 8: Chairs: 8 sketches (oak dining, dining, hall or library, Gothic, mahogany, arm and side chairs, two chancel chairs)

Folder 9: Chairs: 8 sketches (oak, tete-a-tete, mahogany or ebonized, arm chair [incomplete sketch], oak corner, photographer’s chair, Chippendale, mahogany)

Folder 10: Chairs: 8 sketches (sheet of 5 dining room chairs, two corner chairs [one complete, one incomplete], dining chairs [side and arm], mahogany [with one arm], oak, incomplete sketch, front and side views of arm chair, side and arm chairs)

Folder 11: Tables and sideboards: 6 sketches (oak stand with wrought iron frame, oak table [front, side, and underneath views], sideboard, two oak tables, two oak hall tables [on same sheet])

Folder 12: Tables and sideboards: 6 sketches (round table with top to be covered, writing table [with detail of top], table with leg variations, library table [chair also shown], mahogany table [with drop leaves], drawing room table for Mrs. R. D.Evans [incomplete sketch])

Folder 13: Tables and sideboards: 6 sketches (oak library [with leg variations], mahogany or ebony Bible table, cabinet-table, ebony flower box, oak extension table [with underneath view], colonial table)

Folder 14: Tables and sideboards: 7 sketches (sitting room [with underneath view], drawing room, gateleg, three suggestions for tables [incomplete sketches], white hall table and mirror, three round tables [two labeled Stratford], drawing table)

Folder 15: Tables and sideboards: 6 sketches (drawing room, hall [with hat rack above], cabinet or sideboard, sketches for tables, oak table [with underneath view], hall [with view of carved top])

Folder 16: Tables and sideboards: 7 sketches (expanding [with underneath view], three hall [one in oak], library, mahogany office [with plan of top], extension [with plan of top])

Box 4: Fragments of issues of The Building News [see also Box 24]

1883 (partial: pages from various issues)

January-June 1884 (partial: pages from various issues)

January-March, June-December 1885 (partial: pages from various issues)

January-December 1886 (partial: pages from various issues)

July-December 1894 (partial: pages from various issues)

Box 5: miscellaneous, mostly publications

Folder 1: Moorish fretwork designs, B-K, photos from unknown source

Folder 2: Supplements to Carpentry and Building, 1891 (pictures of exteriors and interiors of buildings, details of brick work, and details of a drawing room in London)

Folder 3: Materiaux Documents (pictures of architectural vases, urns, grotesque heads, basins, wells, and baptismal fonts in European buildings)

Folders 4-11: American Architect and Building News:

1878-1879 (partial: pages from various issues)

1880-1882 (partial: pages from various issues)

1883 (partial: pages from various issues)

January-December 1885 (partial: pages from various issues)

February-July 1886 (partial: pages from various issues)

August 1886-1892 (partial: pages from various issues)

Folders 12-18: Fragments of The Workshop:

vol. II, no. 6, vol. III no. 4, 1869

vol. III, nos. 7 & 8, 1870

vol. III, nos. 9 & 10, 1870

vol. III, no. 11, 1870, vol. IV, no. 1, 1871

vol. IV, nos. 5 & 11, 1871

vol. IV, nos. 11 & 12, 1871

miscellaneous pages

Box 6: trade catalogs, photos, business records

Folder 1: Sales books: Mantels, Tyler-Chapman Co., two books, both containing pictures of same mantels lettered A-Y. One book also has a pencil sketch laid in and has an undated price list glued inside the front cover. The other book has a partial label on the front cover, dating the work to 1878-1905.

Note: original drawings for these mantels are found in Box 21.

Folder 2: Allen & Lotts (Boston?), trade catalog of cabinet hardware, no date (circa 1890? both covers missing)

Folder 3: Architectural Decorating Co. (Chicago), trade catalog of “Composition Ornaments Moderne,” no date (circa 1930?)

Folder 4: Dwight Lumber Co. (Detroit), “Catalogue of Marles Carved Mouldings,” August 1901, with order form laid in

Cover title: Carved Mouldings

Folder 5: Jacobson & Co. ((New York), “Chimney-Pieces, with price list, no date

(missing plates 20-21 and back cover)

Folder 6: Keenan Structural Slate Co. (Bangor, Penn.), Marbleized Slate Mantels, Wainscoting, Shelves, etc.: Illustrated Catalogue C

Cover title: “Mantel Catalogue C,” 1909

Folder 7: Lusky, White & Coolidge, Inc. (Chicago), “Catalogue E: Cabinet, Upholstery and Drapery Hardware; Cabinet Makers, Upholsterers and Carpet Layers Tools; Upholstery, Drapery and Decorative Fabrics, Trimming, Accessories,” 1918

Folder 8: The Stanley Works (New Britain, Conn.), “Stanley Furniture Hardware,” catalog no. 36, 1932, with supplement; laid in: letter to J. C. Ferguson Manufacturing Works, Providence, R.I., with poster stamp for NRA

Folder 9: Wallace Nutting (Framingham, Mass.), “Catalog,” 7th ed., copyright 1927, 1928; with 6^th revision of price list, includes furniture, hardware, doors, ironware, pictures, etc.

Folder 10: Photos: elevator walls, panel work on the Morro Castle and Oriente, radio cabinet for Scott Radio, etc.

Folder 11: Morro Castle: bills, newspaper article, sea trial brochure, materials relating to buildings in Newport News

Folder 12: Payroll, financial data, estimate book; bill from George A. Tripp, Wollaston, Mass., for painting, 1927

Box 7

Tatham, Charles Heathcote. Etchings representing the best examples of ancient ornamental architecture drawn from the originals in Rome, and other parts of Italy, during the years 1794, 1795, and 1796. New York: Wm. Helburn, [n.d.]

Box 8

French furniture plates, from Le Garde Meuble, L’Ameublement et L’Utile, and Le Magasin de Meubles, used by Tyler-Chapman; some plates are in color

Box 9: blue prints, trade catalog, other publications

Folder 1: Photographs of 7 mantels; one stamped on back: C.B. Woods & Co.; some are priced; rough sketches on back of several

Folder 2: Blueprints (small); and photographs of 22 mantels, stamped on back: C.B. Woods & Co., with notes and rough sketches on back of some

Folder 3: Blueprints of 5 mantels (library, billiard room, chamber, and two not described)

Folder 4: Blueprints of 6 mantels (one for hall, others include front and side elevations)

Folder 5: Blueprints of 9 mantels (three parlors, chamber, hall, dining room, two library, billiard room)

Folder 6: Blueprints of 4 mantels (dining room, two not described but include front and side elevations, one not described but includes front elevation and floor plan)

Folder 7: Pyrogravure Co. (New York), Catalogue ... of Decorative Solid Wood, Panels, and Mouldings, 1890.

Note: catalog is brittle, use care when handling

Folder 8: Charles Emmel (Boston), printed photos of samples of architectural carving and papier mache, no date

Folder 9: “Einleitung,” German publication with pictures of design work (pages 2-8 and 51-54 only)

Folder 10: Das Deutsche Zimmer der Renaissance ... Georg Hirth. Munchen: G. Hirth's, 1880. (pages vii-viii, 89-140 only)

Laid into the printed work: photolithograph of Tables, German work, XVI century, with rough pencil sketch of a table on the back

Folder 11: “A Map of Old Boston,” printed ca. 1930 by Boston Five Cents Savings Bank, and “New England Old and New” [picture book], printed 1930 by Old Colony Trust Company

Folders 12-23: Fragments from The Artworker, January-December 1878

Box 10: Cabinet Maker & Art Furnisher

1886: February-June, July (spread across 3 folders; parts attached to August and October), August (partial), October (which is attached to July and is in a July folder), December

1887: January-June, September-December

Box 11: Cabinet Maker & Art Furnisher:

1888: January, February, May-July, October

1889: February-June, September

1890: May, June, August

Box 12: Cabinet Maker & Art Furnisher

1890: September, October, December

1891: January-August, October-December

Box 13: The Decorator and Furnisher

1882: October-December

1883: April, July-November

1884: January, March-July

Box 14: The Decorator and Furnisher

1884: August-December

1885: January-April, June-September, November

Box 15: The Decorator and Furnisher

1885: December

1886: January-May, August-October

1887: February, May-September

1888: July, August, October

1889: February, March, June

Box 16

Folder 1: 2 photographs of elevator paneling, both stamped Tyler-Chapman

Folders 2-14: color drawings of paneling, chiefly for elevator cars; two boards of drawings per folder. Tyler-Chapman, Inc. A few include scale, price, or note about kind of wood to use. Includes drawing of wall and ceiling of the car.

Box 17

Folders 1-14 colored drawings of elevator panels from the Tyler-Chapman Co. A few include scale. (two boards of drawings per folder, except folder 1 which has just 1)

Box 18

Folders 1-9 colored drawings of elevator panels from the Tyler-Chapman Co. Some include scale. (two boards of drawings per folder)

Box 19

Folders 1-9 colored drawings of elevator panels from the Tyler-Chapman Co. A few include scale, price, or client name. (two boards of drawings per folder, except folder 1 which has just 1)

Box 20

Folders 1-22: colored drawings of elevator panels from the Tyler-Chapman Co. A few include scale or other notes. (one drawing per folder)

Box 21

Folders 1-21 color drawings of mantels by Oscar Norman, lettered A-X, but missing K, N, and W.

Note: these are the original drawings for the mantels depicted in the sales books in Box 6, folder 1.

Box 22: Prints, sketches, and miscellaneous drawings

Folder 1: Color drawing of a mantel, with side and front views, “2^nd story rear”

Folder 2: Color drawing of a mantel, front and side views; C.A. Wellington & Co.

Folder 3: Color drawing of an antique oak wardrobe, C.B. Woods & Co.

Folder 4: 10 drawings on tracing paper, chiefly of mantels (mantels: 2 variations of mantel #4, Mrs. W’s room over library [C.A. Wellington & Co.], #776 for J. S. Cowan[?] & Co., dining room, three white mahogany, sketch of half a mantel; also a carved design, perhaps a frame)

Folder 5: 23 drawings on tracing paper, chiefly of mantels (painted bath commode; birch Croyden bench; mantels: 11 not described, rococo, for room 117, chambers 2 and 3, sycamore for parlor [stamped William Chapman, architect, Dorchester, Mass.], own bedroom, living room, dining room, sitting room, cherry sitting room)

Folder 6: 11 drawings on tracing paper, chiefly of mantels (round table, marble-topped side table; 9 mantels, including one for a dining room and one for Stanley library)

Folder 7: 5 miscellaneous prints published by George Barrie: “Canal in Rotterdam” by G. Schoneleber; “Pastime in Ancient Egypt” by L. Alma Tadema; “The Wheat Field” by John Constable; “The Food Bath” by A. E. Plassan; “Homeless” by G. Doré

Folder 8: 5 miscellaneous prints published by George Barrie: “God’s Acre” by Emily Osborn; “The Welcome Home” by Benjamin Vautier’ “San Giorgio, Venice” by S. R. Gifford; “Nature’s Mirror” by Leon Perrault; “Jesus at the House of Simon” by Rubens

Folder 9: Color drawing of chamber oak mantel; with measurements and floor plan; B., des.; M. G. finished; C.A. Wellington & Co.

Folder 10: Color drawing of Cumberland St. parlor cherry mantel, W. D. Virial(?), with some measurements and side view; B., des.; C.A. Wellington & Co.; rough sketch on back

Folder 11: Color drawing of shelves(?), topped with shell ornament, rising above table or cabinet

Folder 12: Color drawing of a sideboard

Folder 13; Color drawing of furniture: table, side board, arm chair

Folder 14: Pencil drawing of a mantel

Folder 15: Color drawing of mantel, with some measurements; on back: profile of lion’s head (part of mantel decoration) and notes about billing and shipping the mantel

Folder 16: Color drawing of oak hall mantel, with some measurements

Folder 17: Color drawing of mantel, with side view and very rough sketch of floor plan; size of over-mantel mirror is indicated

Folder 18: Color drawing of mantel no. 8; initialed T.I.

Folder 19: Pencil drawing of a mantel, with only part of design drawn in

Folder 20: Color drawing of mantel, with only part of design drawn in; includes side view

Folder 21; Color drawing of mantel, with scale

Folder 22: Color drawing of mantel, #X52, with only part of design drawn in

Folder 23: Color drawing of mantel for McIntosh spare room, with book case on one side, includes side view and floor plan

Folder 24: Color drawing of mantel, #19

Folder 25: Color drawing of mantel, with side view

[Box 23: number not used]

Box 24: Fragments of The Building News [see also Box 4]

June-December 1884

January-December 1885

January-December 1886

Box 25

Folder 1: Sketchbook of furniture, including chairs, settees, desks, curtain and valance designs, screens, book cases, mirrors, plant stands, tables, beds, wardrobes, wash stands, etc.

Folder 2: The Manchester Guardian, May 5, 1921, special 100^th anniversary issue

Folder 3: American Architect and Building News, 1879-1885 (plates of buildings and designs)

Folder 4: American Architect and Building News, 1885 (plates of buildings and designs)

Folder 5: American Architect and Building News, 1885-1886 (plates of buildings and designs)

Folder 6: Furniture Gazette, 1874-1881 (fragments, mostly plates of furniture, but also including mantels)

Folder 7: Art Age (undated fragments, mostly plates of buildings, furniture, and designs)

Folders 8-9: plates of assorted buildings, furniture, designs, from various sources

Folder 10: photo of carved bed with tester

Folder 11: photo of carved bureau with mirror and a coordinating full-length mirror

Box 26

Talbert, B.J. Examples of Ancient & Modern Furniture, Metal Work, Tapestries, Decorations, &c. Boston: James R. Osgood, 1877.

Box 27

Mauch, J.M. v.. Die architektonischen ordnungen der Griechen und Romer und der neueren meister. Berlin: Ernst & Korn, 1862.

Oversize folder, in Map case C, drawer 6

blueprint of paneling for Morro Castle, “Typical panel formations showing distribution of veneers,” drawing no. 81, Feb. 10, 1930, Barnet Phillips Co.