AR H 3703, 7703 19th Century American Architecture

Winter/Spring 2014

Class: Mon/Wed. 9:00 - 10:15 Room 158

Richard Guy Wilson, rgw4h@virginia.edu Office: Campbell 231 (924-6462)

Office hours: Monday 10:30-11:30 and Tuesday 3:30-5:00 and by appointment

Grader/TA: Leigh Hilton  email: lh3an@virginia.edu

_______________________________________________________________

"But how is a taste in the beautiful art to be formed in our countrymen, unless we avail ourselves of every occasion when public buildings are to be erected, of presenting to them models for their study and imitation?      . . . . You see I am an enthusiast on the subject of the arts. But it is an enthusiasm of which I am not ashamed, as its object is to improve the taste of my countrymen, to increase their reputation, to reconcile them to the rest of the world, and procure them its praise." Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, September 20, 1785 DLC, Writings of . . . Jefferson ed. Bergh and Lipscomb (Washington, D. C.; 1903-05) vol.5:134-137

 

“It has been my endeavor to show in the proceeding pages how every form of nobel architecture is in some sort the embodiment of the Polity, Life, History, and Religious faith of nations.”  John Ruskin, The Seven Lamps of Architecture (1849 and later editions)

 

“Architecture inevitably reflects the deeper beliefs of an age, it bears witness to current feeling about nature, about society, and about the very possibility of human improvement. . . architecture is like the human personality. It consists of body and spirit.”  

Lewis Mumford The South in Architecture  (1941)

 

Description

This course is a survey of American Architecture from c. 1780 to the eve of World War One. The course will stress the multi-dimensional nature of American architecture over this 130+ year period. Considered will be the continuities of expression and the breaks with tradition and the search for a new architecture.  Attention will be paid to foreign influences, social and cultural issues, landscape and city planning, and related developments in furniture, interiors, design, and painting.

 

Objectives

1. To understand American architecture and related developments in cities, landscape, interiors, art, and culture in the period, 1780-1914.

2. To identify the major themes, and sub-themes that animated American developments and how American identity was projected.

3. Recognize major buildings, architects and designers.

 

Methods

Lectures, in-class discussion (where possible), readings, and paper. This will be a lecture class and in-class discussion can be difficult but I will try to pose questions during class and ask for your response.

 

Honor Code

This class is run on the honor code and I expect everyone to follow it and subscribe to it on all papers and tests.  Given the ease of the internet and information please be careful and give full documentation of all sources.

 

Evaluation

Mid-term examination (Monday, March 3) and final examination (Thurs May 8, 2-5 PM, or Tues, May 6, 9-12AM—We need to choose) and a paper--prospectus due April 2; final paper due April 23 (see term research paper section below). The exams will be composed of visual images, short answer and longer essay questions.  The final will cover the entire course. Blue books are required. Grades will be weighted with about 25% for mid term, and 30% each for the paper and final plus class attendance and participation.

Selected mages from the lectures will be posted on the Collab site.

The teaching assistant will assist with grading those exams and papers. I am responsible for all grades and will grad the undergrad tests and papers and also the graduate students.

 

Class Attendance

This class meets twice a week, Monday and Wednesday, from 9 to 10:15. Attendance is required as with all Architecture School courses. Attendance is necessary if you are to understand the material. Missing class will affect your grade. There will be a sign in sheet; if you miss 3 classes your final grade will come down one full grade. If you miss more than that, I suggest you drop the course. 

 

Seating

I need to know who you are and want to try and put names with faces! I will pass around a seating chart the second period, please try and take a seat you will occupy for the entire class.

 

Advising

My office hours are noted above, but also I am around the building many other days. If you want to see me just stop by and if I am in and free, glad to meet. I am glad to discuss with you the term paper, topic and any other relevant subject related to the course, or architectural history in general. Please stop by since I would like to try and get to know you.

 

Field Trip

There will be a visit to the Lawn (this is the new date) on Sat. Feb 1in the afternoon as a followup from the lecture pervious Weds.

I am arranging a field trip to Richmond or Baltimore, date to be determined. Will need to share driving/car pool. The field trip is optional and not required but I hope you can make it, since it is a chance to see several major landmarks in the United States.

 

Daily Handouts and Bibliography

Please read the class bibliography. For most classes I will have a handout that lists some of the important names and dates and also relevant bibliography for that lecture. These are intended as references and also a guide for doing a term paper if you find that subject of interest. 

 

Discussion Sections

A few discussion sections will be held for undergrads and graduate students. We will discuss possible meeting times early in the term.

 

Class Etiquette and Behavior

Please try and be on time; latecomers and early leavers are disruptive to both the class and the lecturer. If you must arrive late, please be courteous.  Please turn off cell phones. I do allow computers but ask you resist updating your face book page, emailing and texting during class. I realize that some people automatically become sleepy when the lights go out (as they must if we are to show images). I do not mind that in order to stay awake some of you might want to stand up and stretch, or stand in the aisle during lectures if that will help.

 

Materials Assigned for Purchase for 3703

Handlin, David, American Architecture (Thames & Hudson, 2004)

 

Materials Assigned for Purchase for 7703

Handlin, David, American Architecture (Thames & Hudson, 2004),

Downing, Andrew Jackson, Victorian Cottage Residences (originally published as Cottage

            Residences, 1842, Dover paper)

 

Reserve: Fine Arts Library

(some of the older books such as Benjamin, Lafever and Downing are on line and can be accessed there)

Benjamin, Asher, The American Builders Companion (NA2610. B4)

Downing, Andrew Jackson, The Architecture of Country Houses

Downing, Andrew Jackson, Cottage Residences

Glabb, Charles, ed. The American City: A Documentary Reader

Gifford, Don, The Literature of Architecture

Handlin, David, American Architecture

Jordy, William H. American Buildings and their Architects: Progressive and Academic Ideals at the

            Turn-of-the Twentieth Century(Doubleday paper, 1972) vol.3(4)

Lafever, Minard, The Beauties of Modern Architecture (NA2521.L2)

Lafever, Minard, The Modern Builder's Guide (NA2520.L25)

Maynard, W. Barskdale, Architecture in the United States 1800-1850)

Mumford, Lewis. ed. Roots of Contemporary American Architecture (Dover, 1952)

Pierson, William B. American Buildings and their Architects: The Colonial and Neo-

            Classical Styles (Doubleday paper, 1970) vol.1

Roth, Leland, America Builds: Source Documents...

Sanders, Barry, The Craftsman: An Anthology

Smith, Wilson, ed., Cities of Our Past and Present: A Descriptive Reader

Stickley, Gustav, Craftsman Homes

Sullivan, Louis, Kindergarten Chats

Szarkowski, John, The Idea of Louis Sullivan

Wicks, William, Log Cabins and Cottages: How to Build and Furnish Them

Wright, Frank Lloyd, Frank Lloyd Wright: Collected Writings vol. 1. 

possibly other items

           

Collab

Many of the individual readings and class materials are posted on the Collab site. Handlin is not on Collab; it is still in copyright. Not all of the readings in Pierson are on Collab (also in copyright) and you may have to read them in the library along with looking at books by Benjamin, Lafever and Downing.

 

Term Research Paper

The term paper should be an interpretation of a building(s) or a creation(s) that is related in some way to this course.  Subjects could include houses, train stations, skyscrapers, city halls, court houses, monuments, an interior, a park, a town plan, a suburban development, or even additions to a building. It should date within the time limits of this course. In some cases and with prior approval you can add another building, such as two houses by an architect such as A.J. Davis, or consider a complex of buildings, such as a college campus. Or it can be a piece of furniture, or perhaps an interior of some note. You can do a project such as a design (i.e.: a house by H. H. Richardson) never built, or you could research a house pattern book. Although not required, it is best if you have actually seen what you are writing about and can examine it first hand.  Hence, buildings in Virginia, Washington, D. C. and nearby areas might be considered, but feel free to choose from any place that interests you. If you are unsure about your topic, please check with me.  Most important, you should choose something that you find interesting, and also, that is significant and demonstrates an important theme(s) in American architecture related to the time period of the course.

 

Procedure

1. A one-page prospectus/description of your topic that includes a brief paragraph and three items of relevant bibliography are due on April 2.

            2. Final Paper due April 23 . Late papers will be penalized.   

            3. Format:

a. Typed, double spaced, length 7-9 pages, endnotes, bibliography and illustrations can be extra. Please number your pages.

                        b. Follow the MLA or some other style manual as to endnotes format, and etc. Do not use parenthetical notes but either footnotes or end notes.

            c. Illustrations will probably be necessary, Xeroxes if clear are fine.  DO NOT CUT OUT OF BOOKS OR MAGAZINES

            d. Number your pages upper right hand corner

            4. Content, this paper unless otherwise approved should be on one building, or as explained above, furniture, an addition, or an interior. While the building need not be a major monument, just choosing some old house is not very impressive, unless you do something with it.  Remember, this is to be interpretative, not just a recitation of facts.

5. Sources: you are expected to do adequate research which means looking at  

    printed sources in journals, magazines and books.  Internet sources are fine, but

    you must have at least 3 print sources for your paper; these can be articles or books                           

       down loaded. With other internet sources make  sure you check the creditability.

            6. Grading: papers will be graded according to the following                     

                   criteria:

                        a. Brilliance of the choice and interpretation.

b. Adequacy of research as shown in paper, endnotes and bibliography.

                        c. Spelling, grammar, typing, and following above              

                         procedures.

Rebecca A. Cooper in the Fiske Kimball Fine Arts Library welcomes you to contact her to help with literature searches and other library issues regarding your topic.  Her phone is 243-4837, and email rcooper@virginia.edu   I have set up a class meeting with Ms. Cooper for March 24^th.  She will show you how to find some sources.

The following was developed a few years ago to assist students in analyzing buildings; you are not expected to rigidly follow these guidelines, but they do indicate some of the information that might be included.

 

Basic Facts

--architect (or designer), location, date

--where does it stand in relation to the architect's career

--this should include basic biographical facts about the architect

--what is its place in the history of American architecture

--what have the standard works said about the building and the architect

--how has this changed from one period to another

--The Building as an object

            --size, describe in terms of mass, height, etc.

--material, use of different materials to create texture/express structure, etc.

--What is its relationship to its surroundings? Is it regional?

--The Owner

            --Role of owner--or patron--did they have influence? how?

            --Did they find it satisfactory? Make changes after completed?

--The Builder (in some cases may be the owner), who? role? materials? anything different?

--Stylistic considerations

            --Source of style and details

            --Does it fit within any identifiable historic style?

--How are the stylistic parts treated?

--strict imitation, abstracted

--Composition

--fenestration, symmetrical/asymmetrical, diagonal, etc.

--how is it similar/different from other buildings of the period or within the same style?-Decoration

            --applied, integrated into the design, etc.

--Symbolic and Interpretative Content

            --What intangible elements are represented within the design?

--nature, democracy, energy, tension, etc.

--How are these expressed within the design of the building?

--architect's sources for these elements

--how does this represent themes in American architecture or America history?

See also relevant chapters in: Barnet, Sylvan.  A Short Guide to Writing About Art. 2nd. ed. Boston:  Little, Brown, 1985. Fine Arts Reference N7476 .B37 1985.

 

Spring 2012

Class Schedule ARH 3703/7703

 

The following schedule is tentative, there might be some adjustments. Reading assignments are to be done before the next class. Please note, much of the material is posted on Collab, however in the scanning some are put together as for example, the Latrobe materials are in a file with others, or the Mills materials are with Jefferson materials. So, please open the files and look through them.

 

1. Jan 13 M. Introduction

            Next class Reading assn: Handlin, Am. Arch. Chp 1; “3 Little Pigs as told by an

             architectural historian.”

 

2. Jan 15 W Themes, Styles and Eclecticism

            Next class Reading assn: Handlin, Amer. Arch. Chp. 2.

Jefferson, excerpts all on Collab:  “Notes on State of Virginia,” 22-25, on Virginia State Capitol, 28-31, and Letter to Trustees of East Tenn.” 31-32, are from Roth/Gifford.  Jefferson, Rush, and De Tocqueville on American Cities in Glabb, Am. City, 52-55.

            (On Collab there are four Jefferson entries, please read them)

            Pierson, American Buildings and their Architects: The Colonial and Neo-

            Classical Styles (Doubleday paper, 1970) vol.1 Chp. VI, is on Collab.

 

No class Jan 20—Martin Luther King day

 

Start class 15 minutes early?

3. Jan 22 W Architecture of Early Republic I: Thomas Jefferson

Next class Reading Assn: New York Commissioners Plan, 38-39, excerpt; Benjamin, The American Builder’s…, 39-43, and Latrobe, “Responsibilities of an Arch.” 43-47, in Roth, America Builds: #10, 11, 12 (All 3 of above are filed on Collab with separate names but are also part of one entry under Benjamin.  Also read: Latrobe, “Anniversary Oration to the Society of Artists” 8 May 1811, in The Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1984-88), vol. 3, pp65-91. (on Collab); also read Pierson,  American Buildings and their Architects: The Colonial and Neo-Classical Styles (Doubleday paper, 1970) vol.1 chps VII, IX (on reserve shelf, as of date offirst class not on Collab)

 

Canceled see below Feb 1 Field trip to Lawn Sat. Jan 25. Meet south steps of Rotunda 2:30PM unless bad weather, then inside.

 

4.  Jan 27 M  Architecture of Early Republic II: Bulfinch and Latrobe

            Next class Reading: L’Enfant, Plan for Washington, 32-36 Roth, America Builds:  #8;

Glabb essays by Jefferson Mills, deToucquevile Rush on, American City, 28-42, 

(all on Collab) Pierson, Chps. X. Reserve

 

 

 

Start class 15 minutes early?

5. Jan. 29 W Architecture of Early Republic III: Washington, D. C.

Next class Reading: Handlin, chp. 3, Essays by Robert Mills in Gifford, Literature, 82-91 (Mills is on Collab the first part has some Jefferson materials)

 

Field trip to Lawn Sat. Feb 1. Meet south steps of Rotunda 2:30PM unless bad weather, then inside.

 

6. Feb 3 M Pre and early Victorian I: Greek Revival

Next class Reading:  Downing, “Rural Adaptations” in Mumford, Roots, 93-100. and Downing, “The Arch of Country Houses,” excerpts, in Gifford, Literature, 198-235. (both on Collab)

Examine one of A. J. Downing’s books: Cottage Residences (republished by Dover as Victorian County Residences), and/or The Architecture of Country Houses and compare it to a book by Minard Lafever, Modern Builder's Guide, or Beauties of Modern Architecture, or, Asher Benjamin American Builder's Companion.  All of these are on reserve in the Fine Arts Library.  What is different in the approaches between Lafever/Benjamin, and Downing?

 

7. Feb 5 W Pre and early Victorian II: Revivals, Revivals, Revivals

Next class Reading: Greenough, “Function in Am. Architecture” in Roth, America Builds, 77-89; or Gifford, Literature, 141-151 (the Greenough is on Collab in two versions under Greenough) Upjohn, “Rural Gothic” in Roth, America Builds, 50-52 (on Collab under entry Upjohn Wheeler.…just read the Upjohn section)

 

Optional reading Bilger, “Mystery on Pearl Street” New Yorker (Collab)

 

8. Feb 10 M  Pre and early Victorian III: Mid 19th Century House I: Downing and Davis

Next class Reading: Giedion “Balloon Frame and..” in Mumford, Roots, 201-206 (is on Collab); Bell” Carpentry Made Easy” in Gifford, Literature, 342-349; (is filed on Collab as Bell and Borgardus) Wheeler, “Cheap Wooden Buildings I” (on Collab as “UpjohnWheeler) and Beecher and Stowe, “American Woman’s Home,” in Roth, America Builds, 53-68, #14, 15. (filed as Beecher on Collab---be sure and read this one which is complete)

 

9. Feb 12 W Pre and early Victorian IV: House II: Pattern books and builders

Next class Reading: On Lowell, Mass. read the selection by M Lowell, in Glabb, Amer. City pp. 130-142 (is on Collab (part of a larger file on cities), and  Davy Crockett at the Mills from Smith Cities of Our Past... pp. 76-80 (on Collab as “Lowell Davy Crockett At Lowell Mills”)

 

10. Feb 17 M  Mills and the New Industrial City

Next class Reading: Bogardus and cast iron building sections in Gifford, Literature, 350-370; (is listed on Collab. Bogardus but has some Bell materials)  and read .Schuyler, “The Brooklyn Bridge as a Monument” in Mumford, Roots, 159-168., (on Collab under Schuyler Brooklyn Bridge)

 

11. Feb 19 W The new urban landscape of commerce and transportation.

Next class reading:  Olmsted Vaux,, “Central Park,” Olmsted “Public Parks,”  and “Plan for Riverside,” in Roth, America Builds, 174-182, 192-202. (all on Collab under Olmsted); also Mumford, OImsted’s Contibution (on Collab)

 

12. Feb 24 M Cemeteries and Parks: Olmsted.

Next class Reading, Handlin, Chp. 4. Ruskin, ““Seven Lamps” and, “Stones of Venice,” in Roth, America Builds, 99-122, #20, 21. (on Collab)

 

 

 

13. Feb. 26 W High Victorian I: Hunt

 

14. Mar 3 M      Midterm-bring bluebooks

            Next class Reading: Furness section in Gifford, Literature, 390-404. (on Collab);

            optional reading for those interested in Civil War and its impact, Meigs on Collab

 

15. Mar 5 W High Victorian II: Furness and the Philadelphia School

Next class Reading: Mumford, “Regionalism of Richardson,” in Mumford, Roots, 117-131 (on Collab under Mumford)

 

Spring break

 

16. Mar 17 M High Victorian III: Richardson

Next class Reading: Upjohn, Richard M. "the Colonial Architecture of New York and the New England States,"  Architectural Review and American Builder's Journal, 2 (March 1870), pp. 547-550, or in Proceedings of the Third Annual Convention of the American      Institute of architects Nov. 1869,  pp47-51. (On Collab as Upjohn Colonial Architecture); Read Wilson, Richard Guy, “ What is the Colonial Revival?” in Wilson, Eyring, and Marotta, Re-creating the American Past: Essays on the Colonial Revival 2006, pp.1-10. (On Collab under Wilson)

 

17. Mar 19 W Late Victorian I: American Wooden House and the Colonial    Revival

Next class Reading: Handlin, chp. 5, Schuyler, “Last Words about the World’s Fair,” “Schools of Architecture, “ and “Architecture Made Easy,” in Schuyler, American Architecture, vol. 2, 556-578, 583-587; (all on Collab under Schuyler) Selections on World’s Columbian Exposition, in Gifford, Literature, 588-605. ( listed as “Monroe Sullivan On Worlds Columbian Exposition on Collab)

 

18. Mar 24 M Late Victorian II: The American Renaissance I

Next class Reading (or viewing), the model footage is on Collab (WCE) also photos are available in Souvenir of the World’s Columbian Exposition on Collab

 

After class meeting with Rebecca Cooper on research and term papers.

 

 

19. Mar 26 Late Victorian III: The American Renaissance I: Beautiful cities, Campuses and

            Palaces

Next class Reading: Wicks, Log Cabins and Cottages: How to Build and Furnish Them, 7-20, 46-53, etc. Burroughs, “Naturalization of the House” (Collab)

 

 

20.  Mar 31 M Log Cabins and the Rustic Image

            Reading: Schuyler “the Chicago Renascence,” in Mumford, Roots,

            207-230. (on Collab under Schuyler)

 

           

           

21.  Apr 2 W Chicago School I Term paper prospectus due

Next class Reading: Sullivan, “Towards the Organic”, Adler,” Function and Environment” and “The Chicago Period in Retrospect” in  Mumford, Roots, 74-81, 243-258, and “The Tall office Building Artistically Considered.” (are on Collab under Adler, and Sullivan)also read Jody, Chp. 2 Sullivan (on Collab)

 

22.  Apr 7 M Chicago II: Sullivan I

Next class Reading: Look at Szarkowski, a book of photos of Sullivan’s buildings;  (on Reserve) and read Sullivan selections in Gifford, Literature, 484-510(listed on Collab as

Sullivan fm Autiobiography and Kindergartenchats) Sullivan, Kindergarten Chats “Spring Song, (Collab), Tallmadge Sullivan’s Bank in Sidney (on Collab)

 

23. Apr 9 W Chicago III: Sullivan II

Next class Reading: Stickley, Gustav, ”The Craftsman Idea” Craftsman Homes 194-205, (on Collab as Stickley), Wicks Log Cabins (on Collab)

 

24.  Apr 14 M Arts & Crafts in America I: Stickley and Greenes

Next class Reading: Wright from Frank Lloyd Wright: Collected, “The Art and Craft of the Machine,” 58-69 and “In the Cause of Architecture, 84-100. (on Collab)

 

25.  Apr 16 W Arts & Crafts in America II: Wright I

Next class Reading: Ashbee, “Frank Lloyd Wright, an Appreciation” and Berlage, “The New American Architecture,” in Roth, America Builds, 391-402,  #47, 48 (on Collab as “Ashbee Berlage…”)

 

26.  Apr  21 M Arts & Crafts in America III: Wright II,

           

Next class Reading: Brooks, “Chicago Architecture: It’s Debt to the Arts & Crafts” Journal Society of Architectural Historians, 30 (Dec. 1971), 312-17 (on Collab)

 

27. Apr 23 W  Arts & Crafts in America IV: Prairie School Term Papers Due

Next class Reading: Gill, “House of Future” in Sanders, Craftsman Anthology, 308-314 (on Collab as Gill)

 

28. Apr 28M  Medievalism and the new skyscraper

 

Final examination, Thurs  May 8 1400-1700 (2-5pm), or May 6 0900-1200 bring blue books