The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Alexander Jackson Davis (1803-1892)

Title: Papers

Dates: 1826-1965, bulk 1826-1854

Call No.: Col. 114

Acc. No.: [various – see numbers on detailed description]

Quantity: 12 boxes

Location: 18 L 1-3, map case 3, drawer 1

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Alexander Jackson Davis (1803-1892) was born in New York City to Cornelius Davis and Julia Jackson. Early in his life, Davis showed remarkable talent for drawing, his sketches always having a meticulous, romantic look to them. When Davis was sixteen he dropped out of school and one year later he became a compositor in a printer's shop. During the 1820s, Davis took up lithography, becoming a respected worker in that field. Davis later met painter John Trumbull, an amateur architect and cartographer, who convinced him to become an architect.

In 1823, Davis was a member of the "Antique School," meeting in the rooms of the Philosophical Society in New York City. Later in the decade, he executed a series of architectural drawings of famous buildings in New York City and New England. As a result, Davis enjoyed a reputation as a well-known and masterful lithographer.

Even as he followed a career in lithography, Davis became an apprentice for J.C. Brady, a New York architect. Subsequently, Davis met Ithiel Town who was so impressed with his work that he asked Davis to be his associate in February 1829. After 1843, Davis embarked upon a solo career, continuing in practice alone for more than thirty years.

Davis--on his own and with Town--designed a remarkable number of buildings. As partners, Davis and Town primarily planned commercial buildings, including four State capitols (Indiana, North Carolina, Illinois, and Ohio) as well as New York’s Custom House and numerous museums, hospitals, and college buildings. Davis designed many churches, banks, and private homes as well. In addition, his studies inspired other individuals as they created their own designs. At one point in his life, Davis claimed to have designed the most buildings of any living American architect.

As one who appreciated all of the arts, Davis was involved with many societies during his life. Most important perhaps, Davis was one of three architects who established the American Institute of Architects in May of 1837. He resigned in later years because he believed the A.I.A. had strayed from its original purposes.

Davis' drawings and designs echo the trends of his time. Early in his career, Davis was a strong revivalist. He also became an advocate of the eclectic. And, throughout his work reflections of the romantic movement are evident, especially in his drawings and lithographs. Davis always referred to himself as an "Architectural Composer," an excellent descriptor considering that his designs and drawings exhibit the delicate, planned, romantic ideas that he creatively brought together.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection consists of material in a variety of formats that documents the architectural training and career of A.J. Davis. Included are blueprints, floor plans, photographs, lithographs, manuscript and printed volumes, newspaper and magazine articles, and correspondence. The largest single group of papers relate to the Rotch House in Massachusetts.

ORGANIZATION

Boxes 1-7 contain scrapbooks and other volumes that were created or used by A.J. Davis. Boxes 10 and 11 contain information about the house Davis built for William Rotch in Massachusetts. Boxes 8, 9, and 12 contain information about other of Davis’ projects.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from various sources.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Hubbard, Bela, 1814-1896.

Rotch, William James, 1819-1893.

Swain, D. S.

Town, Ithiel, 1784-1844.

Campbell, A., fl. 1878

Topics:

Bowery Theater (New York, N.Y.)

Branch Bank of the United States (New York, N.Y.)

Fonthill Abbey.

Indiana State Capitol (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Masonic Hall (New York, N.Y.)

Merchant's Exchange (New York, N.Y.)

Phoenix Bank (New York, N.Y.)

Rotch House (New Bedford, Mass.)

Second Congregational Church (New York, N.Y.)

St. Thomas' Church (New York, N.Y.)

St. John's Chapel (New York, N.Y.)

St. Paul's Church (New York, N.Y.)

Trinity Church (New York, N.Y.)

Washington Institute (New York, N.Y.)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Chapel of the Cross (Chapel Hill, N.C.)

Architects - United States.

Architecture, Domestic - United States.

Architecture - Designs and plans.

Architecture - United States.

Church architecture - New York (State) - New York.

Gothic revival (Architecture) - United States.

Historic buildings - United States.

Interior architecture.

Public buildings - United States.

Watercolor painting.

Heraldry.

London (England) - Pictorial works.

Architectural drawings.

Blueprints.

Drawings.

Letters.

Lithographs

Notebooks.

Photoprints.

Scrapbooks.

Watercolors.

Photographs.

Architects.

Artists.

Lithographers.

Elmes, James, 1782-1862. Metropolitan improvements : or London in the nineteenth century.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 18 L 1-3 and map case 3, drawer 1

Boxes 1-5: Scrapbooks kept by A.J. Davis, accession numbers 66x148.1-.5

.1 1st page "Memory- Noology, imagination, reason, reflection, singing. A.J. Davis"

Filled with lithographs and engravings including famous people (Samuel Morse, Rembrandt, Diderot, Rafael, Michelangelo), Greek urns, pedestals, vases, landscapes (Prevensey Castle, Sussex, Egypt);

Most lithographs appear to be from the same source, though it is not identified; many pages feature writing in French or Italian; one page with a quote of Diderot's with the English translation; at end, a copy of an engraving of Davis' own sketch of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.;

No binding, though pages still sewn together

.2 1st page: "Various;" full of engravings, mostly putti; antique and baroque scenes from Biblical and mythological stories; small landscapes; front cover is missing; many blank pages

.3 Title page "Monkeyana: or Men in Miniature;" 1st page, "Joseph's First Album, by John Allan and A.J. Davis, 1863-1865;" filled with pictures, mostly of military figures and dress, many of which were published by T. Goddard, 1 Pall Mall & 1 Booth, Duke St., Portland Place; birds and animals; some engravings have been colored; cover detached and most pages are still sewn together

.4 Lacks title page; filled with newspaper articles announcing meetings, gallery openings, speeches, art conventions, anything cultural; opening article from the "Evening Star" is about a meeting with Davis at his studio; some pages of quotes; many pages are loose

.5 "Letters of an Architect from France, Italy, and Greece, by Joseph Woods and corresponding members of the Society of Georgofili at Florence. London: Printed for John and Arthur Arch, 61 Cornhill, 1828." 2 vols. Davis wrote notes in the margins

Box 6: Printed volume, accession number 67x101

Metropolitan Improvements: or, London in the Nineteenth Century; Displayed in a Series of Engravings of the New Buildings, Improvements, etc…., by James Elmes. London: Published by Jones & Co., 1829.

Copy owned by Davis; inscribed "Cost me $13.00, Davis, Proof copy on endpapers."

Box 7: Four pamphlets, accession numbers 76x323.1-4

.1 "Erec. No. 1. Ionic: From the Flowered Ornament on the Necking, termed by Grecian Architects Anoemion." Describes the temples of Athens and in particular those of the Ionic order, especially the Erechtheion. Written on front cover in pencil : "the four A.J. Davis."

.2 "Erec. No. 2." Continues from .1, describing in detail the dimensions and decoration of the Erechtheion; last page in pencil: "In going to Astor Library, consult Inwood's Erectheion where he speaks of Besalibos."

.3 "Architectural Criticism." Criticizes several different buildings, usually Gothic, and how their additions have not been in keeping with their architectural style; quotes heavily from "Tappan's Professional Observations on the Architecture of France and Italy."

.4 “Character--causes of failure, etc." Continues from .3; praises the lines, beauty, and appropriate character of Greek architecture; pages in brown and blue ink and pencil; cover detached

Box 8

61x19.105-.106 Receipts for three months room rent in the Merchant's Exchange Building

.105 Dated May 2, 1853

.106 Dated February 1, 1861

67x102 Description of Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire, with Views. London: William Clarke, New Bond Street, MDCCCXVII

In ink on front: "Fonthill Abbey." Includes hand drawn floor plan signed by Davis.

Book has four illustrations, "drawn and engraved by J. Storer." On last page of book, the words splendor and Finis are written in pencil to look like typeprint.

68x96 Scrapbook, labeled on front in pencil: "Emblems[,] Symbols[,] Sir Joshua Reynolds[,] Bank Notes;"

Contains loose papers with cut banknotes and images taken from newspapers or magazines, usually with a mythological or classical image.

Attributed to A.J. Davis.

68x181 “Artistical Notebook. Index,” a manuscript volume (unbound).

Written on cover: "Moral Emblems a small quarto, coloured plates gilt."

Contains drawings and watercolors of what are termed “heroic devices & emblems,” taken from a work entitled Heroic Devices, dated 1557, in the possession of John Allan.

Attributed to A.J. Davis

68x198.1-3 Three letters in ink to A.J. Davis from Wm. J. Rotch discussing Davis' plans for a house for Rotch

.1 Rotch asks Davis to draw plans for his house in New Bedford; Davis had been recommended by John Angier; letter dated April 14, 1845.

.2 Rotch tells Davis that he prefers a "Gothic Cottage" and wants a wood house; he will pay up to $5000; refers to Downing's new book; letter dated April 26th 1845

.3 Rotch asks Davis about ideas and the costs of carving and materials in New York; he says the house will cost about $6000; in pencil "Broadway near Maiden Lane. locks, mortice $3.00, butts $4.00 per doz. 7/ per door;" in ink "Answered July 10 '45 ... best mortice locks $3.00, butts, per doz., 4.00, knobs of porcelain .87 1/2 each"; pencil and ink in Davis' handwriting; letter dated July 7, 1865

68x198.4-11 Eight letters in brown paper folder labeled in pencil "D.S. Swain, Gov., N.C.” At the time of these letters, Swain was president of the University of North Carolina

.4 To A.J. Davis from D.S. Swain; discusses the additions to Old East and Old West buildings at UNC; invites Davis to attend upcoming commencement exercises; mentions “societies” - these are the Dialectic and Philanthropic literary societies which were to have “odeons” (debating halls) and libraries in the additions; letter dated April 18, 1845 from Chapel Hill..

.5 To Davis from Swain; additional projects for UNC – landscaping, a bell tower [not built], a cemetery; dated June 13, 1845 from Chapel Hill.

.6 To Davis from Swain; please forward enclosed to Mr. Donaldson; reports crack in a wall; dated Aug. 8, 1845 from Chapel Hill.

.7 To Davis from Swain; would like to see the plan which was referred to in a letter Davis wrote Dec. 28, 1844; wants to hire a campus gardener for $400 a year; letter dated Oct. 3, 1846 from Chapel Hill.

.8 To Davis from Swain; comments on Davis’ engagement of P. McLoughlin as a landscape gardener [probably for work at UNC]; letter dated Feb. 26, 1847 from Chapel Hill.

.9 To Davis from Swain; mentions a professorship of agriculture; dated Oct 10, 1847 from Raleigh.

.10 To Davis from Swain; discusses the number of people who attend balls and the number of volumes in the library [Davis is working on plans for Smith Hall, which was used as ballroom and library; this building is now called Playmakers Theater]; dated Nov. 16, 1849 from Chapel Hill.

.11 To Davis from Bishop W.W. Green; requests help in finishing a church [the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill]; told to do so by Swain; inquires when Ruffin’s drawings of campus will be published; still looking for a campus gardener; letter dated Feb. 3, 1846 from Chapel Hill, NC; at end in Davis' handwriting: "Answered Feb. 23 '46 with acknowledgement of drawings by J.H. Ruffin of Campus."

68x198.12 Letter to Davis from C.W.T. Cromwell, discussing shape and size of siding for his house; dated Aug. 23, 1851 from Rye, N.Y.

68x198.13-15 Drawings of a man with a beard.

.13 Small pencil drawing; rear view of a man with a hat sitting in a chair and reading a newspaper; paper appears to be cut to crop picture.

.14 Pencil drawing of a man cutting his beard holding a mirror;

written on back of mirror "Reynolds 78 NY"; signed "A.J. Davis, Architect, NY"

.15 Pen and ink drawing; side view of a man sitting and reading a floor plan; chair appears to be a Greek Klismos chair; lower right corner, a cross with a winding bottom; upper right corner, "Reynolds NY 1878"; on back a crossed out watercolor, then cut to crop picture.

68x198.16-18 Drawings or watercolors signed by Davis;

.16 Tiny drawing mounted on blue paper; a Federal style house on a hill, 3 stories high with an arcade on side and a balustrade; labeled "New London Homestead" and "Lewis House" at bottom of drawing; "Drawn by A.J. Davis"

.17 Watercolor in brown; on left a man with a top hat sits next to a tree on a hill that overlooks a harbor; 6 sailboats and a dinghy in harbor; buildings and land in background; "A.J. Davis 1828" in lower left corner; "New York from Weehawk" in lower right corner

.18 Watercolor in brown; 12 men in top hats and tails milling around on deck of a boat; wood planks with a fence; 1 sailboat in water; skyline in background; along bottom sketches of tops of different buildings with names-"St. Peter, Murray, St. P. West, Wall, Trinity, Liberty, Dutch, Wm., Exchange, St. George"; signed "A.J. Davis 1828;" lower right corner: "NY from Steamboat"

68x198.19-25 Floor plans in color;

.19 Folded paper; on top 1 plan, when opened a second appears; first plan (at top in pencil "122," in ink "5") is plan of a house, probably the first floor; no bedrooms; central hall leads back to octagon shaped drawing room; library, cabinet, office on left side; dining room, stairs, breakfast room on right side; 2 wings, conservatory on left and kitchen on right, balanced and symmetrical; names of rooms written in English;.

2nd plan: first floor of a different house; central vestibule and atrium; on the left a library and another room; on the right 2 rooms; 2 wings featuring a gallery and arboretum on the left and a kitchen on the right; symmetrical; at top in pencil "123, See Elevation in Cosmorama"; in ink "no"; room names and scale recorded in Latin.

.20a 1st plan; floor plan with central hall to octagon shaped drawing room; on left, a boudoir, library, cabinet, office; on right, dining room, breakfast room, kitchen; not symmetrical

.20b 2nd plan; first floor plan; central hall leading to domed drawing room; library on left and dining room on right; 2 wings: conservatory on left and kitchen on right; sketched front elevation; domed Federal style house; symmetrical; scale for house which is 170 feet long; at top in pencil "125 Wm. P. Van Rensaler"; in ink "3"

.21 Floor plan; same layout as a classic Greek Temple; central hall with a drawing room on left and a dining room and library on right; in back, chambers and kitchen; an arcade surrounds the building; at top in pencil "Wadsworth"; in ink "Designed for Mr. Wadsworth, Geneseo NY by A.J. Davis 1833"

.22 Folded paper with 2 floor plans; on left of plan: details of walls and slopes of roof; central dome; circular staircase; "Second Story, W.P. Chapman Esq"; rectangular with wing on right where servants' quarters are located. On right of plan: first floor plan of same house; central, octagon shaped hall leading to library; parlor and another room on left; dining and other room on right; circular staircase; in wing: pantry, storage, kitchen; terrace on back corners. Total length including terrace is 113 feet; on upper right in ink "113"; "Gothic Villa of W.P. Chap. near Rye, Westchest. NY"; prices per room listed; right edge is cut off affecting text, but plan is intact.

.23 Floor plan of a small, almost square, building; central hall and salon; library and another room on left; dining and pantry on right; building surrounded by a terrace or porch; on bottom, in ink "Plan H. Sheldon, Millbrook. 1838"; on the back is a plan similar to the one on the front, though it is unfinished and not labeled; in pencil: "Study S.M. Fox Esq"

.24 Floor plan similar to that of a basilica; central hall leads to a salon; circular stairs and rooms; colonnaded front porch and on sides and back; "Study for Gardener Howland '30" on bottom in ink; on top in pencil "for G. Howland"; on back cut drawings and pencil study of a staircase.

.25 Plan similar to .24; labeled illegibly in pencil; on side in ink: "Study for Gardener Howland, Flushing, see the several Albums".

69x20 Davis family crest

Watercolor drawing of crest, glued to brown paper, showing a yellow horizontal band; 2 light blue and purple cinquefoils above band and one below band; above the shield is a pouncing lion, wearing a blue and orange crown with jewels and other decorations.

At bottom center in ink: Davis; on left "Crest. A lion's head erased OR. Ducaly crowned GU;" on right, "A fess. OR. between three cinquefoils AR. upon a field SA." at bottom right of brown paper in pencil "drawn by A.J. Davis American Architect"

69x197 Two drawings: elevation and floor plan for Astor’s Hotel, in matted folder

At top: elevation of left side and front, of large domed building with towers on each corner; front entrance has a portico. Labeled: "Design made for Astor's Hotel, NY, by I. Town and A.J.Davis, Arc'ts, 1832, Stodart & Currier's Lith., 137 Broadway NY 1832"

Bottom half, first floor plan; shows rotunda, Gothic Hall, two open courts, a dining room, separate parlours for ladies and gentlemen, and private chambers. Labeled: “Plan by Ithiel Town, Arc’t….”

69x227 Color photo of a private home, Gothic Revival; shingled roof; clapboard siding; gingerbread. On back "George M. Cushing Photography, Boston. B7450-H. Wm. J. Rotch House taken Spring 1967 just before Mrs. John M. Bullard moved out." Glued to white mat

05x5.1-.2 Two prints of “Public Buildings in the City of New-York,” drawn by A.J. Davis, for the New-York Mirror, one engraved by Wm. D. Smith in 1830, and the other engraved by J. [or I.] Eddy. Both depict churches, both not ones designed by Davis.

Box 9:

68x198.26-31 Different elevations of a building designed for Philip and Archibald Kearney called "Central House".

.26 Front elevations of blocklike building with 3 vertical rows of windows, separated by pilasters; central door; rusticated surfaces; heavy cornice; flat roof with 3 atriums; "Study for Old Phil Kearney" on bottom; upper right corner, in pencil "no 4 See Kearney book full"

.27 Cross section of building in .26; 4 stories high with a basement; symmetrical; in ink "Section East- West thro center"; "VIII Kearney" in pencil

.28 Cross section of building .26; shows 4 stories and basement; "Section thro the center of Central House" in ink; in pencil "Kearney"

.29 Plan of the basement for the house in .26; "Basement" top right; in ink "for P.K."

.30 Floor plan; square; 3 vertical sections; to the left, 3 rooms with stairs in middle; central area: dining room, stairs, drawing room; to the right, 3 rooms with stairs in middle; "Principal Floor"; upper right in ink "for P.K.".

.31 Bound pamphlet in brown paper; on front in pencil "Old Phil Kearney"; first page: "Specification ... for building a dwelling house on 22nd St. between 4th Ave. and Bloomingdale Road for Philip and Archibald Kearney Trustees ... Alex. J. Davis, Architect"; explains all materials and building specifications for excavator, mason, brick layer, plasterer, carpenter, plumber, etc.

68x198.32-34 Floor plans drawn by Bela Hubbard, client and possibly friend of A.J. Davis

.32 Floor plan on tracing paper; not symmetrical; octagon shaped hall with stairs; on the left, a dressing room, bedroom, library; on the right, dining room, drawing room, and plant cabinet; wing on back with kitchen and pantry; total length of 75 feet; total depth including wing 83 feet; at top left in ink "Bela Hubbard, Detroit, Feb. 1854"

.33 Plan on graph paper; plan similar to .32; dimensions given for each room; at bottom, in pencil "Study by Bela Hubbard for 2' Story House at Detroit"

.34 Floor plan; central hall leads to stairs; on left, parlor and library; on right, bedroom, dining room, and drawing room; wing with kitchen and storage; overall dimensions: length 100 feet and depth 44 feet; at top in ink "Study for and by Bela Hubbard at Detroit".

68x198.35-43 Various elevations of different buildings

.35 Ink drawings of tracery for Gothic style windows or decorations for porch railings; at bottom in pencil "Details porch W.F. Worthington Esq."

.36 Front elevation of building; 3 stories; 6 windows across on second and third floors; 4 windows and door on first floor; windows in basement; no real decoration

.37 Front elevation; 2 point perspective; Greek Revival; 4 fluted columns forming an arcaded porch; central pediment and door; 2 wings with flat roofs and smaller doors; large dental molding and triglyphs; no other ornamentation; 8 steps to columns; written under pediment "Pietas Ludovigi Regis XV Christianissimi"

.38 Front elevation; townhouse; symmetrical; 2 central doors next to each other; bay window next to each door; second floor, 4 windows across (2 on each house); pyramid roof with 2 chimneys; bay window on each side; left house also has a porch on its side; at bottom in ink "Front"; at top in pencil "to keep B 5".

.39 Front elevation of a symmetrical town house; central arched doors separated by a Doric column; bay window on each side of door; 5 steps to doors and a small balcony over doors; pyramid roof with two chimneys; at bottom in pencil: "Front elevation avowing [sic] an attic, or inferior story, making carved arched heads in 2d story windows necessary as they rise above the beams of the attic floor. Plain Tuscan portico"

.40 Top shows a front elevation; central recessed portico two stories high; 11 steps to portico; 3 pilasters; 4 windows above 4 windows; simple decoration; on roof 2 urns with a statue in between; bottom shows a floor plan of the building; no rooms shown or dimensions

.41 Top is a front elevation of a Greek style structure; bottom part has 2 short Doric columns and the top 2 tall Corinthian columns; building named N.Y. Geog.; bottom drawing shows 3 floor plans without description or dimensions

.42 A cut-out front elevation of a Gothic Revival building; 3 central doors; windows across top 3 floors; pattern of first story: 2 windows, 2 doors across building; pilasters separate each window and door; fairly flat roof

.43 Front elevation; bottom 1/5 of paper folds up, beneath fold is a variant of how the building might appear with a door and more windows; 3 sets of windows, 3 stories high; decoration around windows increases from left ones to right ones; 5th Avenue address

68x198.44-.47 Elevations and floor plans

.44 Six separate colored drawings; long, thin plans for each floor of a townhouse featuring an oval staircase; dimensions given; a-"Attic;" b-"Third Story;" c-"Second Story;" d-"First Story;" e-"Basement;" f-"Cellar"

.45 Floor plan in pencil for a theatre; circular central section with side seats forming two aisles; lower right: "1570 spaces ... 755 seats ... 2 galleries"

.46 Floor plan--half in pencil, half in ink--for a theater in a semicircular shape; at top 2 small drawings of theaters in 2 squares

.47 Cross section showing 1/2 dome on right, flat ceiling on left, small portico on right, large arcade on left with Doric fluted columns

68x198.48 (in map case 3, drawer 1) plans for “A Villa,” dated December 1878, “Arch. A. Campbell,”

two plans on one sheet of paper, on left: plans for the lower level, with kitchen, servant’s hall, laundry, furnace room, and storage;

on right: floor plan for main floor, with vestibule, stair tower, dining and breakfast rooms, parlor, conservatory, butler’s pantry, piazza; this plan also shows placement of driveway and garden walks

68x198.49 Line drawing of a Gothic Revival house

68x198.50-.52 Drawings of furniture and panel

.50 Watercolor drawing of 3 furniture pieces: a desk, a writing desk, and a Gothic Revival chair

On back: Mathesius and Frey, Cabinet Furniture and Upholstery, 91 Bleeker St., NY

.51 Watercolor drawing for bench, front and side views

in pencil: "Scale 1 in. = 1 ft."

On back: Mathesius & Frey, Cabinet Furniture & Upholstery, 91 Bleeker St., NY

.52 Watercolor drawing of a cabinet; design on cabinet panel similar to panels on bench (68x198.51) and writing desk (68x198.50);

In pencil at bottom: "Scale 1 inch = 1 foot"

On back: Mathesius & Frey, Cabinet Furniture & Upholstery, 91 Bleeker St., NY

Box 10: Watercolors of Rotch House (accession number 69x220.2-.14)

.2 Watercolor of exterior of Rotch house

Angled front and right side; large front yard; on back "Wm W Crapo New Bedford 275 25629"

In white mat

.3 Watercolor of interior of Rotch house

upstairs landing; painted walls; carpeted floors; stairs to right with statue and clock on half landing; large chest to left with sconce and picture above on wall; 3 doors to rooms; pictures on walls and windows above landing

In white mat

.4 Watercolor of interior

Vertical; large window with window seat; rocking chair and table in front of window

In white mat

.5 Watercolor of interior