New York State Capitol competition drawings and construction photographs, 1866-1870

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is organized in two series: Competition Drawings and Construction Photographs.

• Series I: Competition Photographs
• Series 2: Construction Photographs

Description

Scope and Content

Included in this collection are nineteen albumen photographs and one lithographic print of architectural drawings submitted by architects for the competition to design the New York State Capitol building in Albany, circa 1866-1870. Competing architects and architectural firms represented here include Adams & Worthen, Louis Burger, Fuller & Gilman, Fuller & Laver, Schulze & Schoen, and several unidentified architects. Of note are drawings for the New York State Capitol by Louis Burger and Schulze & Schoen bearing inscriptions to Obadiah B. Latham, a member of the Capitol Commission. Also included are nine photographs showing construction in progress on the Capitol between July and September, 1869. Photographs of competition drawings by Schulze & Schoen for the Iowa Capitol, the New York Post Office, and the New York Life Insurance Company Building, as well as an unsigned drawing of the Ohio Capitol building are additionally part of this collection. Several of the images are labeled by the photographer E.S.M. Haines, also practicing as Haines & Wickes, in Albany, New York.

Nearly all competition drawings show a three-quarter view emphasizing the main entrance on the east façade , which faces the Hudson River and is the loftiest part pf the building. The land rises as one proceeds along the north and south sides to the west façade.

• Series I: Competition Photographs

• Series 2: Construction Photographs

Using the Collection

Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library

Other Finding Aids

Electronic inventory is available in the Dept. of Drawings and Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library.

Restrictions on Access

This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information and to make an appointment, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Permission to publish must be obtained in writing from the Director, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, 1172 Amsterdam Ave., MC 0301, New York, NY 10027.

Preferred Citation

New York State Capitol competition drawings and construction photographs. Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.

Acquisition

This collection was acquired by Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library in 1978.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Herbert Mitchell, Rare Books LIbrarian, Avery Library, circa 1979.

Revision Description

2007-10-31 File created.

2009-07-16 File revised.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical Notes

Adams & Worthen, architects and engineers, N.Y.C.

Julius W. Adams (fl. 1866- ) and William W. Worthen (fl. 1865- ). Only Worthen is listed in Wilson's New York Business Directory for 1865/1866. In the 1866/1867 volume, they are both listed at 128 Broadway. In Trow's New York Directory for 1867/1868, Adams still appears at 128 Broadway, while Worthen has moved to 482 Broadway. In Wilson's New York Business Directory for 1868/1869, Worthen still appears at 482 Broadway, but Adams is listed at 63 Williams St. Both men are classified as civil engineers in the directories.

Paul Schulze (circa 1827-1897) and Paul F. Schoen (fl. 1866- ).

Neither Schulze nor Schoen appears in Wilson's New York Business Directory for 1865/1866. In the volume for 1866/1867, Paul F. Schoen is listed but not Schulze. In Trow's New York Directory for 1867/1868, both are listed, although not as a partnership, at 88 Wall St. In Wilson's New York Business Directory for 1868/1869, they are listed as partners at 88 Wall St.