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
Scale: ¾” = 1'
Details: The entrance to this mausoleum is framed by four fluted Doric columns (two on either side of the doors). Each entrance door features a rectangular window with grille work situated above the handle, and a decorative panel below the handle. The frieze features triglyphs and metopes; carved into the center metope is “ADAM SCHULZ.” The mausoleum entrance is reached by a set of three stairs and the building is composed of 5 courses.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Notes/Markings: The title block reads “Vault Est. - 636 / Memorial Construction Co, Inc / 7 East 42 Str New York City / Scale ¾” = 1’0” / Order No 55”. Written along the bottom edge in black ink is “Lot 34137.” A stamp of approval, dated and signed by Elizabeth Schulz, is located in the lower left corner.
Condition: Embrittled throughout with staple and brad holes at the top and rips along the left edge. Encapsulated in Mylar.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Details: 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 five courses. In addition to the front-facing columns, there is a set of Doric columns at the rear. The triglyphs and metopes continue around the roof’s perimeter.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Condition: Slightly embrittled throughout with staple holes on the right and rips along the bottom edge. There is a crease running along the right edge to the bottom of the plan.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Details: This plan shows the rear of the mausoleum. A window is cut into the top three courses. There are columns at the corners and triglyphs and metopes throughout the frieze.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled with staple and brad holes along the top edge.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Details: This plan shows the back half of the mausoleum. There is enough room for six catacombs, three on either side of the vestibule, and a rear window. Dimensions are provided for the foundation, walls, roof, shelves, tablet, and height from floor to ceiling.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Materials Noted: Concrete foundation, granite floor, brick walls, slate shelves, marble tablets, stained glass window.
Notes/Markings: The ceiling hanger and ventilators are marked. In black ink the measurements for the brick walls are recorded and drawn and a note next to that reads “Brick walls to be 8”.” A measurement written in pencil is included near the foundation. On the reverse is a small lot plan sketched in pencil.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled throughout with staple and brad holes along the top edge.
Scale: ¾” = 1
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, columns, and doorway are shown, as are three catacombs and the rear window. The construction underground is also shown. Dimensions are provided for the building’s height, the floors, stairs, doorway, roof, etc.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Materials Noted: Ridge stone, rosettes, granite floor, concrete slab.
Notes/Markings: Pencil markings and dimensions included for the underground portion of the mausoleum.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled with staple holes along the right edge. The upper left corner is folded in and there is a crease along the right edge extending to the bottom.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Details: This plan provides an aerial view of the mausoleum. The entrance steps, columns, doorway, vestibule, catacombs, and rear window are indicated.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Materials Noted: Granite, marble, slate, brick.
Notes/Markings: “20 fluets [flutes] to each column”; “Steps to be rabble 2” into buttress”.
Condition: Somewhat embrittled with staple holes along the top edge and small rips along the right and bottom edges. The bottom edge is wrinkled.
Scale: ¾” = 1’
Details: This plan outlines the entire plot on which the mausoleum is situated. A side view of the foundation and grade line is provided along the right edge of the blueprint.
Drawing Material: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Materials Noted: Concrete
Notes/Markings: Written in black ink at various parts throughout the plan: “Solid foundation P.H.B.”; “Solid [vent] P.H.B.”. Pencil markings cross out some portions of the walls and create walls where there were none. On the reverse, in pencil, are the notes “Schulz 34137” and “Keep foundation 7 inches from rear line of lot on each side.” What looks like the beginning of a lot plan (a circle with two parallel lines cutting it in half) is drawn on the left side.
Condition: Embrittled with staple holes along the top edge and small rips along the left edge. The bottom edge is wrinkled. Encapsulated in Mylar.
Details: This 5-page document contains instructions regarding the construction of the mausoleum and the materials to be used.
Materials Noted: Barre, Vermont granite; Portland cement mortar; Atlas White non-staining cement; light veined Italian marble; bronze; slate; plate glass; art glass.
Notes/Markings: Page 2 includes a handwritten note concerning the foundation of the mausoleum: “Rubbel stone.”
Condition: Good. There are two staple holes at the top left of each page and some slight discoloration along the top. The last page has a small rip at the bottom.
