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: This short document contains information pertaining to the location, materials, finish, joint and bed work, type of cement to be used, the size of the sarcophagus (big enough to hold four coffins), how the doors shall be built and from what materials, as well as carvings to be engraved on columns and surfaces. The document also includes information on the clean-up process. The document agrees to all rules and regulations of Green-Wood Cemetery and is signed and dated by the Superintendent of Green-Wood.
Size: 9” x 11”
Drawing Material: Pale brown typing paper with black ink. The cover and back page are blue with a thicker feel.
Materials Noted: Cement, stone, glass, bronze, and granite
Condition: Excellent.
Details: Letter written from the Presbrey-Leland Company to Mr. Vail at Green-Wood Cemetery regarding corrected plans for the Kendall Mausoleum. The letter also requests approval of the corrections. The “General Specifications” cover the rules and regulations that will be approved by Green-Wood as well as excavation plans for the construction of the mausoleum. Foundation plans and granite work are also included, plus detailed information regarding materials to be used.
Size: Letter: 8.5” x 11”; Specifications: 8.5” x 13”
Drawing Material: Letter: plain letterhead of the company; Specifications: thin tracing paper with black ink typewritten notes and information.
Materials Noted: Granite, plaster, slate, glass, stone, marble, and bronze.
Notes/Markings: The envelope has pencil markings crossed-out.
Condition: Excellent.
Scale: ¼” = 1’
Details: 11 smaller blueprints make up this entire blueprint; each is called “Course A-K.” Note: there is NO Course I. Each course lays out the rise. Course A is 1’2”; Course B is 1’8”; Course C is 3’3”; Courses D-J are 2’3”; Course K is 10”; and Course L has no rise noted. Courses A-J show a view with the outlined column tops.
Size: 36” x 24.2”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Notes/Markings: In the middle of Course L, written in orange pencil is the note, “6 oblong be 3.”
Condition: Very good. Some wear and tear is present along the bottom of the blueprint. Two notable tears are visible along the top of the plan and they have been taped on the back. Two holes along the left side of the plan are also visible, as are folds.
Scale: ½” = 1’
Details: This blueprint contains 9 plans. The top left of the blueprint shows the Foundation Plan. The top of this part of the plan is ripped away. Below this is “Section A” which is a long rectangle split into squares and rectangles which are made of concrete. The bottom left plans are titled “Bottom Course B” and “Bottom Course C”. Each scale is ¼” = 1’. These plans outline the exterior walls of the mausoleum with the entrance and columns visible. In the center of the blueprint is a plan marked by the letters “M, N, O, P & Q” with a vertical line running down beside each letter. The line is broken up by the words “line” and “wall.” To the right of this plan are two smaller plans; the top one is simply titled “Plan” and the one below is “Section.” These two plans are of the sarcophagus bottom and side sections. Below these is a drawing titled “Top Bed Course K.” The scale of this plan is ¼” = 1’. The last plan at the right hand side of the blueprint is the isometric view of the sarcophagus itself.
Size: 36” x 24”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Material Noted: Concrete
Notes/Markings: The sarcophagus is made up of two stones. The front states “incised name,” and the side states, “side panels tracery ornaments.”
Condition: Good. The top left side of the plan is torn away with wear and tear along the left side. There is also some wear and tear along the top of the plan and a small tear along the bottom. Fold lines are visible. The back of the plan seems to have sustained some water damage and is much darker along what must be the space where it sat on the ground. Parts of the plan have been taped.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: This detailed plan of the front view of the mausoleum shows the front door and window above it. The decorative peaked roof and side views of the ornate columns are also shown. Below level foundation at the front is also detailed. A bronze hanger is noted at the top center of the plan, above the window and before the first peak of the roof.
Size: 31.3” x 35”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Materials Noted: Bronze, glass
Notes/Markings: In the center of the plan pointed towards the window is written, “vent in bronze frame.” Another written notation is also pointed towards the window, “potted amber glass not ___________ glass in windows.”
Condition: The drawing of the plan itself is in excellent condition. The bottom left side of the blueprint has significant wear and tear with the bottom left corner torn off. Creases running down the left and right side of the drawing are visible. The bottom right side also has some pieces torn away. The top of the plan has a hole in it.
Details: This detailed plan of the front view of the mausoleum shows the front door and window above it. The decorative peaked roof and side views of the ornate columns are also shown. Below level foundation at the front is also detailed. A bronze hanger is noted at the top center of the plan, above the window and before the first peak of the roof.
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Very good. There is a deep fold along the left side of the blueprint and visible wear and tear along the bottom of the plan. There are three large holes along the top of the plan.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: This is an extremely detailed blueprint of the front of the mausoleum. The second step from the bottom has “GEORGE H. KENDALL” carved into the stone with a notation to its right stating “included letters.” Three large and ornate Corinthian columns with decorative bases flank both sides of the arched doorway. The doorway itself includes two doors which both have carvings in them. Above the doors is a decorative archway with a base sitting on top of the arch for the window and its frame. The frame of the window arch is decorative in a similar style to the base of the columns. Above the window at the center of the rounded rod is a wreath pattern leading to a decorative oval.
Size: 31” x 36”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Notes/Markings: “Base shaft cut solid” is written above the decorative part of the left column. The word “joint” is noted on the left side columns both top and bottom
Condition: Excellent. There is some minor fraying along the edges of the plan, but nothing that touches the blueprint itself. There are two holes along the top of the plan and a crease line along the left side of the plan.
Size: 30” x 36”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Good. There are tears in the top right corner, along the bottom, and around the edges of the plan. A deep fold line is visible on the left side of the plan. The back of the plan has been taped along the bottom.
Scale: ½” = 1’
Details: Five plans are included on this blueprint: a plan, a front elevation, a rear elevation, a longitudinal section, and a side elevation.
Plan: this outline, located at the top left of the blueprint, shows the entrance to the mausoleum with “half section at top of base course” written in the center of the plan. The wall around the outside of the plot is marked out.
Front Elevation: this shows the front entranceway of the mausoleum. The stairs, columns, doorway, and window are all laid out with all ornamental details included. The bases of the columns each have rectangles in them saying “carved” on it.
Rear Elevation: this view outlines the back wall with the window and its details shown. The view also shows the top of the peaked roof and columns on each side and ground lines.
Longitudinal Section: located at the bottom left of the blueprint, this plan details the entrance and decorative Corinthian-style columns that flank the entrance way. The bronze hanger is also shown. Details for a door leaf are also provided, with “carved panel bas relief” noted in the drawing. A smaller drawing next to the door leaf is a thin rectangle noted as “Section AA.”
Side Elevation: this shows the side wall with a side view of the decorative entrance columns – the words “carved” are visible here too. The back of the wall also shows a thinner detailed column. The main part of the plan is the wall from the ground level up. From the ground up alphabetical letters A through L (minus I) are marked out in each separate section of the wall up to the top of the roof.
Size: 36” x 24.3”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Notes/Markings: On the right side of the plan is written “Models for bas relief panel are to be furnished by owner.”
Condition: Good. The top of the blueprint has wear and tear with visible rips down the center into the top center plan. There is wear and tear along the bottom of the plan and three holes along the left side of the plan. The back of the blueprint has tape where the tears are and has visible fold lines.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: This detailed view is a larger version of the longitudinal section shown in the Composite blueprint (Item “I” in this series). Carved and ornamental columns are visible on the left side of the plan, as is the side view of the entranceway to the inner mausoleum. Inside, bronze rosettes can be seen on either end. At the far right of the plan, the sarcophagus is shown with an ornate front end. The side view of the roof notes a vent and two bronze hangers at the top, plus a ventilator. The foundation line is also visible.
Size: 31” x 35”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Materials Noted: Bronze rosettes and bronze hangers
Notes/Markings: On the left side of the plan is a shaded square with some writing in it (unreadable) with a note below it that is only partially readable: “ _____ foot on _____ of doors.” The right side of the plan, towards the top of the column, has a handwritten note: “Provide vent in bronze frame”.
Condition: Very good. There is a deep fold along the left side of the plan. There are also small rips and tears along the bottom and left side of the plan.
Details: See Item J in this series.
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: The plans themselves are very clear and in good condition. Some of the blueprints are frayed around the edges with some tears and deep folds.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: This plan shows the side wall with a side view of the decorative entrance columns – the base of the column says “carved see front elevation.” The back of the wall also shows a thinner detailed column. The main part of the plan is the wall from the ground level up. Four vents are drawn in; two are on the bottom and two are on the top of the side wall – the top two are below the roof.
Size: 31” x 36”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Materials Noted: Bronze
Condition: Very good. Some wear and tear is visible along the bottom of the blueprint. There is a tear out of the top left of the plan and a hole in the top right part of the plan.
Details: See Item L in this series.
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Very good. There is a deep fold along the left side of the plan. The diagram itself is in excellent condition. The blueprint has a rip along the bottom center of the plan and some wear and tear along the bottom and left side of the plan.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: This blueprint provides the view from the back of the mausoleum from the ground up. The back wall is broken down into slabs with the side view of the columns on each side visible. Outlines of two ornate columns are also shown at the back of the print. The window is at the top center of the print. Above the window is the arched roof that also has a rounded smaller arch at the top with an ornamental top. Two vents are also marked on each side of the first arch of the roof.
Size: 30.5” x 35.5”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Very good. There is a rip on the left side of the blueprint drawing and a visible fold line. The bottom of the plan is ripped away in some places with wear and tear along the rest of it, but it does not affect the plan itself.
Details: See Item N in this series.
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Very good. The blueprint drawing itself is clear with a fold along the left side of it. There is visible wear and tear around the edges of the blueprint with rips along the bottom. The back of the blueprint is visibly darker along the bottom.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: This plan – one of the few designed by the Presbrey-Leland Company – is a very simple plot outline. It is a large oval with the mausoleum outline inside of the oval. A broken line goes through the entire blueprint with measurements from the outside of the oval along the bottom to the beginning of the inner outline (3’6”), from the inner rectangle to the top of the rectangle (27’1” H and 6’6” W), and from the top of the of the inner rectangle to the outer oval line (5’8”).
Size: 32” x 41”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Notes/Markings: Some pencil markings around the blueprint clarify measurements.
Condition: Very good. Some wear and tear is visible around the edges with the lower corners torn, but the blueprint itself is not affected. The back of the print has tape along the bottom.
Details: This plan is also designed by the Presbrey-Leland Company.
Plan: This is the biggest print on the page with an outline of the mausoleum itself – both the outer walls and the inner sanctum are marked out. The inside of the mausoleum is divided into sections with the top section marked “B” and the middle section marked “A.”
Section A-A: this plan, at the bottom of the blueprint, is the more detailed view of the section. It notes the grade line and is divided into ten blocks with the two blocks at the end measuring 2’7”, the next two blocks measure 3’3½” each and the center blocks measure 1’ across.
Section B-B: this is a long rectangle divided into five parts with each block split in the center. The left block measurement is 5-4” across; the next block measures 5’; the center and smallest block measures 1’” across; the following block is the widest, measuring 6’8” across, and the last block measures 2’ across.
Size: 26” x 31.5”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Notes/Markings: To the right of the Section A-A is a note that reads: “Note: concrete to start 1” below grade at lowest point…no foundation to be put in above grade at lowest point…setter to take care of same when setting…”
Condition: Good. The blueprints are faint, but in good condition. The paper is curled with a tear on the upper left-hand corner.
Details: This plan is also designed by the Presbrey-Leland Company.
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Very good. Better than “Q” in this series. There is minor tearing along the left side of the plan and it is slightly curled up.
Details: This plan is also designed by the Presbrey-Leland Company.
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Very good. Some minor tears are along the left side, which is also curled. There is tape on the back of the plan.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: Detailed outline of the mausoleum via an aerial view. The bottom of the plan shows the entranceway with column tops flanking each side; an archway joins them. Carved into the entrance before the doors are the words, “EVENING BRINGS US HOME.” The doors are outlined to open inwards with their sweep drawn out. Inside the mausoleum the floor is noted to have polished granite. As you walk further back marble outlines are noted as a faint shaded area is visible to the right of the center. The wall thickness and outline are also marked on the plan.
Size: 31.5” x 35.5”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Materials Noted: Slate, granite, bronze, and marble.
Notes/Markings: To the lower right of the blueprint is a faint hand-drawn step. The words look like they read “bronze steps.” Something else is written underneath but it is unreadable.
Condition: Very good. The blueprint is clear. There are visible tears and rips along the bottom of the plan and there is also a visible fold along the left side.
Details: See Item T in this series.
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Good. It is faded, especially along the bottom of the plan. There is a deep fold along the left side of the plan, with a tear at the bottom. Frayed corners and small rips are all around the edges of the plan.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: This blueprint contains two drawings. The larger of the two drawings is the Transverse Section, looking towards the rear. This plan is very detailed from the foundation to the roof. The center of this plan has three detailed plaques with carvings on them. The top one has the most detail but the lower two have a note in them to repeat the detailed carving. Above these, in the center of the plan, is the window, and to the right of the window and slightly below it are three delineated squares. The outer walls of the mausoleum are also shown as shaded areas. Vents are placed all around the transverse section. The smaller blueprint is the front elevation view of the sarcophagus. It is ornamental in design around the edges with “GEORGE H. KENDALL” engraved into the stone. The sides of the wall of the sarcophagus are marble.
Size: 31” x 35”
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Materials Noted: Marble, bluestone, slate.
Notes/Markings: Along the right side of the main plan, in faint pencil is written, “pencil size x given” with the date of 10/3/24 also noted.
Condition: Excellent. Fraying around the edges of the blueprint but nothing that impacts the drawing itself. There is a visible fold down the left side of the plan.
Scale: 1” = 1’
Details: See Item V in this series.
Drawing Material: Blueprint
Condition: Very good. There is a deep fold along the left side of the plan. The left side of the blueprint has sustained some wear and tear with the top of the plan faded. A small tear along the bottom left of the plan.
