The William Palmer collection of architectural drawings and personal papers, 1787-1815.

Format:

Archive

Author/Creator:

Palmer, William, 1771-1815.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Houses--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Churches--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

monuments--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Holy Trinity Church (Philadelphia, Pa.).

St. Johns Church.

Local Subjects:

Holy Trinity Church (Philadelphia, Pa.).

St. Johns Church.

Physical Description:

37 items

1 item

4 items

Other Title:

Fundamental articles of association of the American Colour and Paint Company in Philadelphia.

Arrangement:

Cataloged by specific architectural project, if known. RLIN visual materials file.

Place of Publication:

1787-1815.

Biography/History:

According to Tatman & Moss (1985) Biographical dictionary of Philadelphia architects, p.589 "William Palmer was a master builder elected to The Carpenters' Company [Philadelphia] in 1800." The drawings and documents in this collection were probably pasted down through the family in an old desk, made by Palmer. William McMullin I, d. 1770?, and William McMullin II, d. 1814, are both listed in the Biographical dictionary as master builders. It is probably the second who shared a mortgage with William Palmer.

Summary:

This collection includes 37 (including 28A & 28B) original architectural drawings with little or no identification on the drawings themselves. They appear to have been created by at least 3 different hands, probably some by William Palmer himself. The drawings include a steampipe(?), residences, public buildings, a cotton works, monuments, churches, and interior plans & details. The graphic is a broadside, labelled "Fundamental articles of association of the American Colour and Paint Company in Philadelphia", printed by John Bioren, no. 88 Chestnut Street. The 4 manuscript items include: [1] a document of the apprenticeship of William Palmer to Joseph Govett. Apr. 14, 1787. [2] a document of the apprentiship of Thomas Worn to William Palmer, May 1802 [3] Mortgage of William Palmer and William McMullen to Elizabeth Roberts, June 23, 1802 [4] a document of apprenticeship of Clarissa Jackways to William and Ann Palmer, May 29, 1805.

Notes:

Item PWM*001*007, is a plot plan intended to be sold to "Mrs Knox", at "Chevy (Cherry?) Street" near "Arch Street". Item PWM*001*010 is identified "Plan of building for cotton works, Aug. 4th, 1794". Item PWM*001*017 is identified as St. John's Church, from a figure labelled "St. John" above the main entrance. Item PWM*001*023 is reproduced & identified in James F. O'Gorman's The perspective of Anglo-American architect (1995), exhibit catalog, as the Holy Trinity German Roman Catholic Church at the ocrner of 6th & Spruce St., Philadelphia.

Local Notes:

Graphic Athenaeum copy: Exhibited: "Painting the Town Victorian: Selecting Colors for Historic Buildings," at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 1996-1997.