By Nathalie Belkin, Lead Processor; Gabriella Carl-Johnson, Kay Menick, Sara Fetherolf, Erin Allsop, Jessica Mack, and Katie Alleman, Interns
Title: Architectural Drawings and Blueprints, c. 1880s-1990s
Predominant Dates:1910-1930s
Extent: 0.0
Subjects: A. Faranda and Son, Acea family, Agoglia family, Altar to Liberty: Minerva, Architectural Drawings, Architecture, Arnold, K.F., Arnold, N.B., Arnold family, Art nouveau (Architecture), Bahrenburg, John H., Bahrenburg family, Barclay family, Barrow, ME James T., Barrow family, Barthman family, Beaux-Arts architecture, Benisch Bros. Monumental Works, Blueprints, Bourne family, Bromell family, Brown, John W., Brown family, Buildings--Design and construction, C.E. Tayntor & Co., Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History, Cinerary urns, Colyer family, Cushman, Eugene, Cutting, James D.W., Cutting family, Daly, Margaret, Daly family, Davis Granite Co, Architects and Contractors, de Aldama family, DeLaCour and Ferrara, Delafield, Major Rich D., Delafield family, Dewey family, Doerschuck family, Dunne family, Egyptian revival (Architecture), Euler family, Farrington, Gould and Hoagland, Feitner, John, Felzmann family, Flagg, Ernest, Gilbert family, Goodnough family, Gothic revival (Architecture), Gould, J. R, Gould, James S., Gould family, Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y., Greve family, Griswold family, Hapgood family, Harder family, Harrison Granite Co., Havemeyer family, Heins and La Farge Architects, Higgins, Charles, Higgins family, Hillside architecture, Hoffman & Prochazka, Designers, Sculptors, and Builders, Horn, Alfred E., Horn family, Howland family, John Thatcher & Son, Kampfe family, Kenneth, W.D., Lawrence family, Lingard family, Ludlum, Emma R., Ludlum family, Martin, Robert, Martin family, Mausoleums, McAlpin family, Murdock family, Obelisks, Parish family, Parsons family, Penn Brass and Bronze Works, Pitbladdo Monumental Works, Polak family, Presbrey-Coykendall Company, Presbrey-Leland Monument Company, Renwick, Aspinwall, and Tucker, Reynolds family, Riley family, Ritzheimer family, Robinson, F. Delancey, Romanesque architecture, Rosanelli family, Ruckstull, F. W. (Fred Wellington), 1853-1942, Sands family, Sarcophagi, Sculpture and architecture, Sepulchral chapels, Sepulchral monuments, Victorian, Sepulchral monuments--New York (State)--New York, Sepulchral monuments--United States, Sepulchral monuments industry, Smallman, Thomas F., Smallman family, Somers family, Stephens, Annie W., Stephens, Benjamin F., Stephens family, Stevenson family, Stone, Gould, & Co, Designers and Builders, Sullivan, John W., Sullivan family, Texter family, Tiefel family, Tombs & sepulchral monuments, Torrio, Johnny, Torrio Family, Umberto Innocenti and Richard K. Webel, Landscape Architects, Underground architecture, Upjohn, Hobart, VanRensselaer family, Vaults (Sepulchral), W.F. Benedict & Son, W.W. Leland Co. Inc., Walsh, James F., Warren & Wetmore, Wesselman family, Wood family, Woolley family
Languages: English
The Architectural Drawings and Blueprints collection contains over 150 separate series of designs, each of which has one to around 20 individual drawings. Each series represents designs for a mausoleum or other architectural feature at Green-Wood Cemetery.
Most of the designs are for private family mausoleums, although the collection also includes blueprint materials for the historic Green-Wood chapel designed by Warren & Wetmore, alterations made to the Fifth Avenue gate, and plans for the mid-twentieth-century Columbarium. Other notable features in the collection include the Higgins mausoleum series, which contains photographs and early designs of the famous Battle Hill monument Altar to Liberty: Minerva by sculptor F. Wellington Ruxell. Many additional series may include more famous names in New York City history, such as those for the Cooper-Hewitt family and the Torrio family.
The majority of these drawings are printed on large blueprint paper, although there are a significant number of series that contain original drawings on tracing paper or drafting linen, as well as prints on Mylar, photocopy paper, or other reproduction materials. Many series also contain specifications documents—legal agreements between the architectural firm and the cemetery, which outline the plans, materials, and workman regulations for construction. In some cases, there is additional material, such as correspondence with lot owners and alternate mausoleum designs.
The collection’s dates range from the 1880s to the 1990s; the majority of the mausoleum designs were created between 1910 and 1930, at a time when it was widely popular among upper-class families to have a mausoleum or vault in which to inter their deceased relatives. Many architects of the time specialized in mausoleum design. Architectural firms that produced a large number of mausoleum designs in this collection include the Presbrey-Leland Monument Company, John Feitner Architects, and the Harrison Granite Company.
Researchers may wish to consult a specific series, which can give an interesting insight into the family in question, or they may wish to look at multiple series in the collection, in order to gain an example of the way construction and design aesthetics changed over time. The collection is a particularly valuable example of the way cemetery architecture developed in its golden years, particularly because many of the wealthiest and most prestigious New York families chose to be interred at Green-Wood.
The collection is currently stored in two locations—some material is in the Green-Wood archives, while many other blueprints are kept in the surveyor’s office of the administrative building. The container list has additional information on each item in this significant and highly variable collection, including notes on the date of designs, the architectural firm that created the drawings, and information on the size, condition, markings, and design features of each piece. All blueprint materials have been scanned and are digitally available; a preview of the image file is attached to each item. High-resolution images of each scan are available upon request.
The material is in varying condition, and embrittled drawings have been encapsulated in Mylar to ensure preservation.
The Green-Wood archives hold additional records acquired from the Presbrey-Leland Monument Company relating to Green-Wood Cemetery, and researchers may find it useful to consult this collection in conjunction with the Architectural Drawings and Blueprints.
A. Faranda and Son
Acea family
Agoglia family
Altar to Liberty: Minerva
Architectural Drawings
Architecture
Arnold, K.F.
Arnold, N.B.
Arnold family
Art nouveau (Architecture)
Bahrenburg, John H.
Bahrenburg family
Barclay family
Barrow, ME James T.
Barrow family
Barthman family
Beaux-Arts architecture
Benisch Bros. Monumental Works
Blueprints
Bourne family
Bromell family
Brown, John W.
Brown family
Buildings--Design and construction
C.E. Tayntor & Co.
Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History
Cinerary urns
Colyer family
Cushman, Eugene
Cutting, James D.W.
Cutting family
Daly, Margaret
Daly family
Davis Granite Co, Architects and Contractors
de Aldama family
DeLaCour and Ferrara
Delafield, Major Rich D.
Delafield family
Dewey family
Doerschuck family
Dunne family
Egyptian revival (Architecture)
Euler family
Farrington, Gould and Hoagland
Feitner, John
Felzmann family
Flagg, Ernest
Gilbert family
Goodnough family
Gothic revival (Architecture)
Gould, J. R
Gould, James S.
Gould family
Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y.
Greve family
Griswold family
Hapgood family
Harder family
Harrison Granite Co.
Havemeyer family
Heins and La Farge Architects
Higgins, Charles
Higgins family
Hillside architecture
Hoffman & Prochazka, Designers, Sculptors, and Builders
Horn, Alfred E.
Horn family
Howland family
John Thatcher & Son
Kampfe family
Kenneth, W.D.
Lawrence family
Lingard family
Ludlum, Emma R.
Ludlum family
Martin, Robert
Martin family
Mausoleums
McAlpin family
Murdock family
Obelisks
Parish family
Parsons family
Penn Brass and Bronze Works
Pitbladdo Monumental Works
Polak family
Presbrey-Coykendall Company
Presbrey-Leland Monument Company
Renwick, Aspinwall, and Tucker
Reynolds family
Riley family
Ritzheimer family
Robinson, F. Delancey
Romanesque architecture
Rosanelli family
Ruckstull, F. W. (Fred Wellington), 1853-1942
Sands family
Sarcophagi
Sculpture and architecture
Sepulchral chapels
Sepulchral monuments, Victorian
Sepulchral monuments--New York (State)--New York
Sepulchral monuments--United States
Sepulchral monuments industry
Smallman, Thomas F.
Smallman family
Somers family
Stephens, Annie W.
Stephens, Benjamin F.
Stephens family
Stevenson family
Stone, Gould, & Co, Designers and Builders
Sullivan, John W.
Sullivan family
Texter family
Tiefel family
Tombs & sepulchral monuments
Torrio, Johnny
Torrio Family
Umberto Innocenti and Richard K. Webel, Landscape Architects
Underground architecture
Upjohn, Hobart
VanRensselaer family
Vaults (Sepulchral)
W.F. Benedict & Son
W.W. Leland Co. Inc.
Walsh, James F.
Warren & Wetmore
Wesselman family
Wood family
Woolley family
Details: The entrance to this mausoleum is framed by four smooth Ionic columns (two on either side of the doors). Each entrance door features a rectangular window with grille work. “SEAMANS LOOMIS” is carved into the frieze, with a small cross separating the two names.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.</span></span>
Notes/Markings: Measurements are provided for the entrance stairs, columns, doors, and courses. Both the road line and grade line are indicated. Included near the bottom of the drawing is the note “Design No. 194 A” and a note at the upper right corner reads “Order No. 130 Seamans Green-Wood Cem. Brooklyn N.Y.”.
Condition: Embrittled throughout with staple and brad holes at the top and rips along the right edge. Encapsulated in Mylar.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Detail: This plan shows the right side of the mausoleum, with the building’s front facing the left edge of the plan. The sides are solid and are composed of four courses..
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Notes/Markings: Measurements are provided for the courses, stairs, columns, and roof. A note written next to the columns reads “Entasis to Columns”. “Design No. 194 A” is written in the lower left corner and “Order No. 130 Seamans” is included in the upper right.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled with staple and brad holes on the right side and small rips along the left, right, and bottom edges.
Details: This plan shows the rear of the mausoleum. A window is cut into the two courses nearest the roof and is protected by bronze grille. Volutes from the two outermost columns can be seen projecting out.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Notes/Markings: Measurements provided for each course, the window, and the height of the mausoleum. “No. 194 A” is written in the lower left corner and “Order No. 130 Seamans” is included in the upper right.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled with staple and brad holes along the top edge and small rips along the top and left edges. Lower left corner is folded in slightly.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Details: This plan shows two views simultaneously. On the left, the view toward the rear window is given. On the right, the view toward the entrance door is shown. There is room for six catacombs. A light fixture is shown hanging from the ceiling. The whole drawing is crowded with dimensions for various parts of the structure.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Materials Noted: Concrete, slate, stone.
Notes/Markings: “All stone must be to size” is written on the right side of the drawing. “No. 194 A” is written in the lower left corner and “Order No. 130 Seamans Green-Wood Cem. Brooklyn N.Y.” is written in the upper right corner.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled throughout with staple and brad holes, as well as small rips, along the top edge.
Details: This plan shows the interior of the mausoleum as if the viewer were standing in front of the right side and looking in. The stairs, column, and doors are shown, as are six catacombs and the rear window. The construction underground is also shown. A small sectional view is included on the right side of the blueprint; it provides details on the window’s bronze frame.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Materials Noted: Concrete, bronze rosettes, bronze frame, leaded glass, granite, marble.
Notes/Markings: Written across the catacombs is the note “Interior to be best light [illegible] with Aventatto trim. Highly polished.” The sectional view is of “bronze frame, extreme sizes.” In the lower left corner: “No. 194 A” ; in the upper right: “Order No. 130 Seamans”.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled with staple and brad holes, as well as small rips, along the right edge.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Details: This plan provides an aerial view of the mausoleum. Four sections of catacombs are shown (presumably with three in each section for a total of twelve catacombs), as are the entrance steps, columns, and rear window. Dimensions of various sections and structures are given.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Materials Noted: Marble floor, “sand, rubbed”.
Notes/Markings: “No. 194 A” written in the lower left corner; “Order No. 130 Seamans” in the upper right corner. On the reverse are two notes written in pencil: “34425” and, above that, “Under floor 16’0” x 4’8” x 1’6””.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled with staple and brad holes, as well as small rips, along the top edge.
Details: The Foundation Plan is drawn on the left side of the paper and provides an aerial perspective of the mausoleum. The Longitudinal Plan is drawn sideways on the right side of the paper and focuses on the entrance steps and the underground construction. The Transverse Section is drawn upside down at the top of the paper and and shows the underground construction.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Notes/Markings: “Order No. 130 Seamans” and “Lot No. 34425 Sec. No. 130 Green-Wood Cem. Brooklyn N.Y.” are handwritten at the top right of the blueprint. Stamped toward the bottom of the blueprint is “J. L. Wegenaar Co., Inc. / 239 Broadway, / New York”. On the reverse, in pencil, are calculations and a small drawing of the foundation. “Seamans” is written in black ink in the upper left corner.
Condition: Embrittled throughout with several small tears along the edges and one large tear on the right edge. Staple holes on the right edge. Large section of the upper left corner missing. Encapsulated in Mylar.
Details: This plan contains four drawings showing the grade lines for the left side, front, right side, and rear of the mausoleum.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Notes/Markings: “No. 130 Seamans” is handwritten on the left and “J.L. Wegenaar Co., Inc / 239 Broadway / New York” is stamped on the right. Green-Wood’s superintendent initialed and dated the blueprint in red pencil near the lower left corner. On the reverse, in pencil, is the note “Seamans 34425”.
Condition: Several rips are taped on the back and there are staple holes in the front. Embrittled throughout with a small portion of the bottom edge missing. Encapsulated in Mylar.
Scale: ¼” = 1’
Details: This plan shows an aerial view of the mausoleum and its surrounding circular lot.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Notes/Markings: The center of the mausoleum is indicated by vertical and horizontal lines. “Order No. 130 Seamans” and “Lot No. 34425 Sec No. 130 Green-Wood Cem. Brooklyn N.Y.” are written on the right side of the plan.
Condition: Staple holes and a small tear on the left edge, vertical crease lines throughout, and a small part of the right edge folded up.
Scale: ¼” = 1’
Details: See Item I.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Notes/Markings: See Item I. The superintendent’s dated initials are written in red pen beneath the title block.
Condition: Slightly embrittled, especially on the left edge. Staple holes and a small tear on the left edge.
Scale>: ¼” = 1’
Date: January 12, 2000
Details: Shows an aerial view of the mausoleum and its surrounding circular lot, with graves indicated by dashed lines.
Drawing Material: Black ink on white printing paper.
Notes/Markings: Drawn by K[estutis] D[emereckas]. Future capacity for 6 graves is noted.
Condition: There is a center vertical crease; otherwise, excellent.
Details: Six-page document bound by two staples at the top left and right corners; discusses the material, workmanship, and labor required to erect and complete the Seamans mausoleum.
Materials Noted: Portland cement, concrete, light Barre granite, La Farge cement, slate, marble, light cloud Vermont marble, bronze, plate glass, art glass.
Notes/Markings: Stamped in the lower right corner on every page: “Approved 1/11/1916 By [signed] G. W. Grassau, Superintendent.” Pen marks on page 3 correcting typewritten errors. Typewritten on the cover: “NOTE: All to be erected in accordance with the plans and specifications prepared by J. L. Wegenaar Co., Inc., 239 Broadway, New York City.”
Condition: Slight discoloration/smudges on the lower half of the cover sheet.