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.
The four drawings include: Frieze detail (Anthemion Band) : ink and graphite on paper (33 x 49 cm) ; Plan and elevation for the fly-doors at the entrances of the New Custom House, N.Y. : pen and ink on paper, signed (33 x 40 1/2 cm) ; Plan of the Basement of the New Customs House, New York : Ink, brown wash, green wash on paper mounted on linen (64 x 97 4/5 cm) ; Plan of the Flagging of the Principal Floor of New Custom House, N.Y. : Ink on paper mounted on linen (59 x 93 1/3 cm). Condition: The two larger drawings are heavily varnished and stained. A medium size portion of the "Plan and elevation for the fly-doors" has been cut.
John Frazee's work on the New York Custom House and two drawings are cited in "John Frazee and the New York Custom House" by Louis Torres, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historicans, Vol. 23, No. 3 (Oct., 1964), pp. 143-150
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.
Method of acquisition--Purchased;; Date of acquisition--2011. Accession number--2011.017.
Columbia University Libraries, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
John Frazee was a sculptor and architect from New York City. On July 22, 1835, Frazee was appointed "Architect and Superintendent" in the construction of the New York Custom House, taking over for Samuel Thomson who resigned from the position in April of that year. When Thomson resigned, he took with him all of the plans for the building, which were modified plans of the original design by Ithiel Town and Alexander Jackson Davis. Moreover, the foundation had been laid prior to Frazee's appointment, leaving Frazee to draw new plans based on the already completed construction.
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