[Dome & Extension, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.] [graphic] / Tho. U. Walter, architect.

Format:

Image

Author/Creator:

Walter, Thomas Ustick, 1804-1887.

Contributor:

Visual Materials Collection (Athenaeum of Philadelphia)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Capitols--District of Columbia--Washington.

Domes.

Libraries.

Washington (D.C.).

United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.) Extension.

United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.) Dome.

Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.)--1852-1865.

Local Subjects:

Washington (D.C.).

United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.) Extension.

United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.) Dome.

Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.)--1852-1865.

Penn Provenance:

Athenaeum purchase,

Physical Description:

drawings : ink & wash on paper ;

drawings : pencil on paper ;

photomechanical reproductions : stats ;

Place of Publication:

[1851-1874]

Notes:

This set is composed primarily of original drawings, most of which are labelled with some variant of the building title "Extension, U.S. Capitol" and of the creator "Tho. U. Walter, architect". Also included are salt prints of Walter's own work, as well as reproductions of reference drawings originally created by Capt. M.C. Meigs, U.S. Engineers.

Approx. half of the drawings are dated, with dates ranging from 1851-1874.

Drawings are arranged in four subseries: [Subseries 1, SS1] Walter Vol 1. [Subseries 2, SS2] Walter Vol. 2. [Subseries 3, SS3] Loose Walter numbered items [Subseries 4, SS4] Athenaeum only numbered items. Approx. half of the collection is housed in the two albums, "Vols. 1 & 2". Walter has been identified as the creator of the volumes, as the drawing numbers & references match notes found in his diaries. See also the archival parent record for the Walter architectural drawings collection, and the Walter Archives for information on other related materials.

Subseries 1: Walter V. 1. This vol. has pages 2-21 with images front & back, and pages 22-35 with images on the front only. Pages 2-21 contain on each sheet front a plan & four elevations of a room in the North Wing, identified by room number. On the verso of the sheet are two or three details of the fireplace for that room. Front sheets usually have the title "Extension, U.S. Capital" "Tho. U. Walter, arch." Verso images have no formal identification, but sometimes have notes. Each front sheet and some verso sheets have a number from the drawings, including: 472, 377-380, 382-409 for front sheets and 834, 837-841, 885-888 for verso drawings. Some verso image has a number supplied by the Athenaeum, nos. *014-*021.

Subseries 2: Walter V. 2. Most drawings appear to be for the South Wing and contain one plan and four elevations of a room in this wing, identified by room no. on the drawings. The two exceptions are 41.1, details of fireplace no. 1 from the North Wing and 41B, plan & elevations for the Room over the East vestibule, Attic Story. This vol. has pages 37-40, 41,41.1,41A,41B, 42-53, 55-71.

Subseries 3: Numbered items, including nos. 458, 833, 858, 921, 1734, 1860, 1881, 1901, 1901a, 1902, 1902A, 1925, 1925a-b, 1926a-b, 1944, 1997, 2008, 2021, 2035, 2044, 2046, 2053, 2054, 2056, 2060, 2082 and 2104. Drawing no. 458 appears to be a stray from Walter V. 2, as it is Room no. 13 of the South Wing. Drawing nos. 833 & 858 also appear to be strays. Drawing no. 921 is an undated plan of the dome by Walter & Meigs. The remainder of this series are mostly dated from 1858 to 1863, and related to the construction of the dome. Many have Walter's name along with "W.B. Franklin, Capt. Lop. Engs. in charge". Drawing no. 2104 are roof details relating to the Congressional Library.

Subseries 4: Loose sheets with Athenaeum supplied nos. *001-*013, *023-*041. These drawings are a variety of miscellaneous materials which generally related to other drawings in the series above. Nos. *006-007 & 041 are detail for the "Library of Congress" or "Congressional Library". Nos. *001-003 & *039 are drawings related specifically to the dome. Nos. *008, *010-011, *023, *025 & *032 are plans, a perspective rendering & the exterior orders, most dated from 1853-1855, which have Walter and/or Meigs named. Items *004-005 are call "original design" or "original design adopted by the President", dated 1851, with Walter named. Items *012-013 are "Plans for enlarging the grounds ardoung the U.S. Capitol", "No. 1" & "No. 3" by "Tho. U. Walter, Architect of Pub. Buildings. 1853." Item no. *026 is a detail of the clock dated June 18, 1960 in the image. And, the entire set appears to culminated in drawing no. *027, called "Design for an Enlargement of the U.S. Capitol" by T.U. Walter, architect, Phila., Sep.24, 1874".

Forms part of: Walter, Thomas Ustick. Architectural drawings collection.

Cited in:

Laverty, v.1, p.242-249, WTU*059/